“James. Sexy name. He send you a naughty photo?” Lanakila, the next sister up from Hoku in age, shook the envelope that had been sent back with her pen pal’s reply, hoping for a Polaroid to fall out. When nothing did, Lana pouted, placing the envelope with its letter back on the kitchen counter.
“He’s in the S.A.S, I doubt they have any privacy to even take photos like that, even if they want to.” The windows in the kitchen were the one wide open to let the hot air from the oven out. Hoku set the next batch of goodies to cool from the oven; these were a pile of fat chocolate chip and walnut cookies. They were going in the pretty wrapping in the box with the Dream Bars; squares of graham cracker crusted coconut and chocolate delights.
Delights that Hoku had to slap her sister’s hand away from as she reached for them. Lana pouted, rubbing her hand dramatically. “Oh, come on. Just one isn’t gonna hurt.”
“Nope. These are all going. I’m not even eating any.”
Lana let out a mocking gasp of horror in which Hoku flipped her off. “This guy must be important to you if you’re not even eating any. They’re mom’s recipe.”
“Well, yes. He’s serving his country and probably hasn’t had any home baked goods in a while.”
“Are you gonna send him a photo of yourself?”
“I don’t know, I’m thinking about it.”
Later that night, all the goodies were packed away and ready to be sent, and Hoku just had to write her letter. She tapped her pen on the surface of her desk before she started scribbling, nibbling on her bottom lip.
I can’t even begin to imagine what it’s like being an only child. I have six older sisters myself, and let me tell you, it was hell growing up. Of course, I adore them and wouldn’t trade them for the world, even if the one closest to me in age, Lanakila, kept trying to steal the goodies I made you. I hope you like them; they’re my mother’s recipes and she’s owned her own bakery the last twenty years. My sisters and I are half English on our father’s side, but it’s been sometime since I’ve been there.
I had thought about teaching younger children when I had first started but then I realized older kids need slightly more guidance and I’ve come to love working with teenager, even if they can be little punks at times. There’s nothing else I rather do with my life; I’d like to think that I’m helping shape them into the awesome adults they’ll someday be.
On a more personal note, I’m single with no children (save for my cat) and I consider my students my kids. Truth be told, I’m not sure if I’ve ever even been on a proper date before. I’m terribly shy when it comes to men and even writing these letters have been a little challenging.
I know you can’t really tell me where you are or what you’re doing, but what do you like to do in your free time? I’ve found I’ve been thinking about you in my own free time. What you look like, your hobbies, that sort of thing.
Well, I have papers to grade and it’s nearing ten pm now. I hope you enjoy your goodies and I can’t wait to hear back from you.
PS. I thought I would send you a picture just so you can know who it is making you cookies
She had actually enclosed a couple different photos. One of herself, of course, in a school shirt and jeans with her class on a field trip and one with her holding Kalapana in her arms and smiling at the camera. What she hadn’t realized was that Lana, before she had left earlier in the day, had slipped a photo of Hoku in her bikini on the beach in the envelope.
Then it was a waiting game after she sent off her letter and the big box. Everyday she was checking the mail, only to be disappointed when it was either ads or a gross bill. When his letter did finally arrive, Hoku squealed in a very undignified way and practically ran back into the house to devour it.
The baked goodies were delicious, and he had to smile when he read the story about her sister trying to steal some of the treats that she was making. It reminded him of what domestic life could be, and as much as he tried not to think about it, he missed that part of his life. Rather than reply right away, he kept her letter only to realize that there was something else in the envelope. The first two were photographs of Ms. Crawford, who was as beautiful as he imagined she would be. The third one was…well. He wasn’t sure what to feel about it ( or the fact that she’d included it with the others ) but considered the possibility that she might have mistakenly included it in the envelope. He’d return it to her when the time came for their replies to be mailed back.
James’ decision to share some of the cookies made him very popular among his companions and commanding officers, and they jokingly expressed their jealousy that he ended up with the teacher and not one of her students. Some even reminded him not to seduce her; their letters were still being checked for inappropriate content. He found it amusing that she managed to sneak in a sexy photo of hers and reconsidered returning it; he could just do so in person.
After a few days, all of the cookies and Dream Bars were finished, and he finally had time to sit down and write his response. The deadline for their letters was coming up in a couple of days, and he had two more weeks left. So, it was probably his last chance to write to her again, unless she decided to meet him in person and get her photographs back. He decided to include one of his photos: the most recent one was him with some of the members of his unit, and he placed a red line by his feet so that she knew who he was in the photograph.
Thanks for the cookies and bars. They were delicious, and you became more popular with the other soldiers at the base. I hope you don’t mind that I shared them with some of the soldiers; they needed a reminder of home, and you gave me more than I could eat. They say thank you and mention that if you ever decided to open up a bakery in Texas or Arizona, they’d be the first ones to visit.
Your students are lucky to have a teacher like you, and I’m sure they consider you as their pseudo-mom. Thank you for the effort that you put into your teaching, and you may have just taught the next president of the United States in your classroom. As for your shyness, it’s normal. I only talk when spoken to, and I don’t talk too much even with friends. My hobbies are boring. I like reading history books and visiting shooting ranges, and I miss going horseback riding and playing tennis. That’s about it. The rest are related to my work, which is ending in a couple of weeks. So I guess this will be the last letter from me you’ll be receiving.
I got the three photographs you sent me, by the way. You’re very beautiful, and your cat is just as gorgeous as her owner. The third one may have been included by mistake, so if you want them back, I can return them to you in person. Or just mail them to you once I return to America. I’ll be in Florida for a few weeks, and I’ve written the address on the next page, as well as my contact number. Just call me and let me know how to best return them to you.
P.S. I also attached a photograph, just to be fair.
His letter was among the others that were mailed to Ms. Crawford and her students, and by the time they were received, he was already formally discharged from the army and unpacking his things in the home he’d rented. He’d also adopted a white kitten who he called Snowball, or Snowy, and he was currently sleeping on the patch of sunlight that was streaming through the front window. He wasn’t expecting a call or a visit, and he was in the bedroom folding his shirts when he heard something.
prguitarman
gummygunk
stormborns
areudirty
vaporwave
janainaart
annaxmalina
