Sincerely,
Glory
July 22, 2004
Dear Glory,
I learned how to play Satellite. It took me a long time, but it’s a cool song. I was surprised that you like those songs. I thought you’d like something by Britney Spears since you dressed up as her for Halloween. All of her songs are really easy to play.
I’ve never been to a summer camp. My mom said I could go to a math camp this year, but that didn’t sound very exciting to me. And my mom decided not to work this summer, so I don’t have to watch my siblings, thank goodness. Instead I’ve spent most of my time making money. I’ve gone around collecting cans and taking them to the recycling center. Then my brother Alex and I found an old wagon in the dumpster, and we cleaned it up and painted it and now we go sell bottled water and chips at Navy Pier every weekend. It’s been really fun, and by the end of the summer I should be able to buy a new guitar. Oh, and I finally bought all the Harry Potter books (I gave the first three to my sister since I’ve read them), and I read the fourth, fifth, and sixth books all in the last week and a half. I haven’t really slept much, but I couldn’t help it, they are so good! I wish I had taken my time though, because now I have to wait so long for the seventh book to come out. I guess I can reread them a couple times.
Have fun at space camp. Maybe you’ll learn more about how to live on Mars.
Bye,
Collin
September 3, 2004
Dear Collin,
Space camp was right before school started and it was so awesome! And Ididlearn about living on Mars because they had a whole simulation set up that looked like Mars and we wore special suits and we got to spend the night in it! It was so sweaty and hot and everyone else was complaining but I loved it! I am definitely going to live on Mars someday!
How is school going? How does it feel to be in middle school? I was a little nervous about going into a new school because everything was so much bigger and so different, but now I feel better about it. I like having so many classes and meeting lots of new people.
That’s cool that you got to make a lot of money. I get an allowance so I can spend money on stuff I want, but my parents won’t let me have a job or make money or anything. They tell me I need to spend time on school and learning right now and I can get a job after college.
I’m glad you like Satellite, and no, I don’t really like Britney Spears, even though all my friends love her songs. When I listen to her songs, I feel weird. I just finished the sixth Harry Potter too and it’s amazing! I agree, it’s going to be so hard to wait for the next one. Do you still look like Harry Potter? If you do, I know about a dozen girls that would probably be in love with you.
Did you watch the summer olympics? I can’t believe Michael Phelps won all those gold medals. Maybe if I can’t be an astronaut I can be an Olympic swimmer instead. I’ve been practicing in my pool.
Sincerely,
Glory
October 9, 2004
Dear Glory,
I really like middle school. It’s exciting to be in a bigger place with lots of people, and it doesn’t feel like someone is just babysitting me all day. It’s not fun to be the youngest in the school, though. Some of the older kids like to push me around and play jokes on me. They’re mostly my brother Patrick’s friends. I wish he would tell them to stop.
I do still look like Harry Potter and I kind of hate it. All these girls are always pointing at me and giggling or asking me to dress up in robes. It’s stupid. I don’t want girls to be in love with me because I look like Harry Potter. I want them to leave me alone. Bradley, this really cool kid in my English class, says that I’m lucky that I have so many girls chasing after me. I don’t know why the girls aren’t after him. He has shoes with wheels in the heel and can roll down the hallway. I think that’s pretty impressive.
I did watch some of the Olympics. But if I were going to be an Olympic athlete, I think I would want to do weightlifting. Those guys are intense.
I bought a new guitar and it’s so much easier to play. Also, I made friends with the janitor of our apartment building and he showed me how to get up onto the roof, so I go up there all the time to play my guitar. It’s my favorite place to be. Do you have a favorite place?
Bye,
Collin
November 15, 2004
Dear Collin,
I hope your brother will tell his friends to stop bothering you. He’s your family and he should protect you, but I’ve heard some of my friends talk about how their older brothers and sisters are mean to them.
How did you become friends with the janitor? Do you guys hang out or something? I just think it’d be weird to be friends with a janitor, but that’s awesome that you get to play your guitar on the roof. It seems like something that would be in a movie.
