THE LETTERS

CHAPTER FIVE:BITTER PAST.

''Are you really going to help! You really mean it?''Tommy said in excitement.

''Yeah...I'll try my best,'' Anna said with uncertainty.

''So what should I do? ...I mean, where should we start?''

''Meet me tomorrow by the swings, during lunch hours then I will help you with the letter''

''Well, I wanted to start now so that we can post them later on in the afternoon. Why don't we just work on it right now.''

''First of all Tommy, I'd expect you to know that the Post Office is not opened on Sundays. Second, I'm in quite a bad mood right now and I wouldn't want to ruin the mood of your letter.''

''Oh, Okay...See you tomorrow then.''

''Sure thing.''

''Do you want a ride back home on my bike?''

''Nop...I'm good.''

Tommy felt sorry for her. He couldn't just leave her all by herself sad, in a park filled with happy people. That would be so unfair and mean of him.

''Umm...I was wondering if you can teach me how to write a poem.''

''I thought you were going home.''

''Actually, I remembered Mrs.Henderson told me to write her one poem to help improve my writing skills.''

''Okay, Sure...''

''So the first thing you need to identify is the theme of your story. The theme is the main idea of your story. There are many themes, there is the theme of friendship......

While Anna was busy talking, Tommy carefully observed her. He had never noticed that her eyes were more green and not blue. He also had never noticed that she had a large birthmark on her neck. Probably because she was always in a hoodie. But what shocked Tommy more is that she had a tattoo. Was she a rebel? Was she bad news? Jane would hardly let Tommy have coffee without her permission. She said the caffeine wasn't good for him, and Anna had a tattoo?

''So, have you understood who a persona is?''

''Yeah....totally.''

''Okay, so let's continue''

''Wait, Anna...Can I ask you something?''

''Yeah...What is it, Tommy.''

''Are you okay?... I mean is everything okay? At home, in school...You can tell me.''

''Why do you have to ask that? You only wanted my help with your letters. Stay away from my personal life! ''

Please, Anna ...I can tell everything is not okay.You know they say when you share your problems with somebody, you feel much better.''

''Well Tommy, you have only known me a few minutes ago and you can already tell whether my life is okay or not. Besides, I don't believe in that. It is my burden to bear...not yours .''

''We've all got problems. Do you think you are the only person who has problems? I have never met my dad in my whole life, my mother is often very sad and depressed because of everything, my friends...They're all just fake. Nobody's life is perfect Anna...''

''If you think your life is so screwed up, welcome to mine. My brother died when I was seven from undiagnosed heart disease. It was the worst day of my life. My life was completely torn apart by his death. He was my best friend. My parents and I decided to move to Newyork to clear away all the sad memories and start new lives. On our way, we got involved in a car accident. Luckily I survived but my parents didn't. I was very traumatized. None of my relatives wanted to take me in. Soon, I ended up in an orphanage. Trust me, it is the worst place to be. I was often very lonely. I had no friends. A year later I was adopted by an old couple. I was very happy to be out of the orphanage. They were very nice and sweet to me. They treated me as if I was one of their own. They bought me toys, nice clothes. They were simply the best. For a moment there, I almost forgot all that had happened to me. I was almost getting a perfect life I had once before until Mr.Godwell died of a heart attack months later. Mrs.Godwell was very sad. But she still took good care of me despite the hard times she was going through. That same year, during Christmas, Mrs. Godwell also passed on in her sleep. That Christmas wasn't very merrily. Most people in my neighborhood thought I was cursed. Was I? Bad things were only happening to people when I was around. Some people in our block wouldn't let their children even play with me. They thought I would bewitch them or something. The will stated that all their wealth should be transferred to their only son under the condition that he would take good care of me and provide for me all the basic and secondary needs. I was happy that I wasn't going back to the orphanage. I had never met their son Peter. But they often sang praises of how hardworking and respectful he was. They were very proud of him. Peter was very nice just like his parents. He was very hardworking and busy most of the time but he would spare time for me. We would go out for lunch and have some ice cream along the way. We would play together in our backyard. He was such a' good father.' Until...''

''Until what...what happened?''

''Lucia. He married Lucia.The most merciless woman in the world. She completely changed Peter. She made him lose his job and lured him into alcoholism. Lucia made him use his money for her own selfish needs. But what Lucia hated, even more, was me. Many were the times she begged Peter to take me back to the orphanage. She told him I was only increasing his expenses. When you live with Lucia, the orphanage is a thousand times better. Soon, Peter became bankrupt. Peter became frustrated, Lucia even more. She just wouldn't live without money. She ran and left us a few months later. She never loved Peter, She was only interested in his money. Peter's life became very messy. The once beautiful house we had is now a junk. The' good father 'I once knew turned into a wreck. Peter began selling items in the house to buy beer. He was no longer able to take good care of me as he did before. Many were the times I would sleep hungry because he could no longer provide for me. I tried to make Peter better , but he'd scold me and call me names. That is why I am always quiet. My life hasn't been that easy.''

''Would you like to live with us? My mother has an extra bed in her room...''

''No Tommy, Peter is my family and I am not going to let him live a sad life. I have to stay around and try to make things as they were before. But thank you.''

''Okay, but if you have any problems do not hesitate to come by my place. I live just up the street.''

''I know where you live ...but I think I am gonna be okay.''

''Okay..But why do you have a tattoo?''

''Oh, this...My brother and I got matching tattoos on his fifteenth birthday. Whenever I look at it I always remember him. It gives me assurance that he is watching over me from heaven. I miss him so much. Maybe life wouldn't be so screwed-up with him around.'' she said with tears in her eyes.

''Hey ...don't worry . I know that things are going to be alright. I know that you are going to overcome this because you are a strong girl. Soon, you are going to have your happy family back...I promise.''

''Thanks, nerd.'' she chuckled as she wiped down her tears.

''So Anna are we like friends now?''

''Would you like us to be friends?''

''Yeah...I mean...I guess...''

''Hey Tommy, It is totally fine if you are afraid of people making fun of you because of being friends with me. I understand ...totally.''

''No, no, I would love it if we became friends.''

''So friends..''

''Friends,'' Tommy said as he shook her hand