Fourth Grade Pen-Pals

Chapter Ten /Sean/

*** Tenth grade

I laid on my back, tossing a ball into the air. It gave the normal sound of it hitting the ceiling, and I caught it again. My last letter was sent to Vanessa almost two years ago, and I'm pretty sure she wants to find me and kill me. I really wish there was a way to tell her about my mom.

All she wanted was to be there for me, and I told her off, like what she was doing was annoying. When really, I needed someone like her. I knew she would listen to me talk about my mom. My dad was right- I shouldn't have said that to her.

"Dad!" I shout as I walked downstairs to see him in the kitchen, tossing a salad around in a glass bowl.

"Hey, kiddo. What's up?"

"How much is a plane ticket to New York from here?"

"Why a plane ticket?"

"I need to talk to Vanessa again... and a letter feels a little impersonal. I think it would mean more for me to show up at her front door," I sat down at the table.

"Didn't you think ending contact with her was the best thing to do?" He asks, glancing up at me.

"Yeah, two years ago. But I'm really lonely, dad. The guys don't understand... I feel like Vanessa would. She would try to cheer me up."

"If you have the money saved up, take the chance. I'll call your aunt to see if you can stay with her since she lives in Manhattan. Which seems close to Vanessa," my dad says, putting plates on the table.

"Are you serious? You're letting me go up to New York City on my own, alone?" I felt like I was dreaming.

"Well, you're fifteen now. And your aunt will be there, so you won't get mugged as easily..."

"You can't believe how happy I am right now!" I laugh, rushing upstairs to order my plane ticket.