A 9-year-old Zoe ran up to her room closing her door behind her. What had started as a writing assignment for class, had turned into a friendship through pen and paper. Zoe had plenty of friends at school but with her pen pal she could tell him any thing. She laid down on her stomach on her bed. She carefully opened the envelope that traveled from Bluebell, Alabama.

Zoe,
Guess what? My parents got me a fish. Remember how I told you about my mom being sick? It's gotten worse, I hate seeing her so sick, I wanna make her feel better. My dad says all I can do is be there for her and love her. My brother is never home any more. I miss him to. Your dad is a doctor, can't he help my mom? Can you ask him?
Wade

Zoe could see spots on the paper that looked like tears had landed. She didn't quite understand what was going on with Wade, but she'd ask. Zoe ran downstairs and barged into her father's office.

"Zoe how many times must I tell you to knock?" Ethan asked. Zoe shrugged looking down. "What's wrong, Zoe?"

"I told you about, Wade, well his mom isn't doing good, she's really sick, she has cancer, can't you go make her feel better?" Zoe asked. Ethan motioned Zoe to come sit on his lap. She did just that.

"Zoe, I would help if I could but I work on people's hearts. There isn't anything I can do to help."

"Can't you find someone who can?" Zoe asked with her brown eyes filled with hope.

"I'll see what I can do, but I make no promises."

"Ok daddy," Zoe replied running back upstairs. She closed her door getting a notebook out.

Wade,
My dad works on people's hearts so he can't help, but he's gonna try to find someone who can help your mom. How's it going with your fish? I think that's cool. I can't get a pet, I hate it. Being an only child can get lonely, I'd do anything to have a sister or a brother. I know it's not the same but I'll always be here for you, Wade, always.
Zoe

After folding the paper and getting it in the envelope that had Wade's address on it. Licking it to seal it shut, Zoe run downstairs to get a stamp put on it. With the stamp in the corner Zoe went to the mail box on the corner of the street to mail it. She really hoped that her dad could find a doctor for Wade's mom.

"Oh Wade, you got a love letter," Jesse called walking into the house with the mail.

"It's not a love letter," Wade seethed grabbing the letter from Jesse.

"Sure it's not," Jesse chuckled. Wade ignored his brother and took off upstairs to his room. He went to slam the door but caught it at the last minute not wanting to disturb his mom. With a chair in front of his door to keep his brother out, Wade sat on his bed and opened Zoe's letter.

Zoe,
Having a brother can be annoying at times too. That's awesome news Zoe, I wont be to disappointed if he can't find anyone to help her. We've seen a lot of doctors lately and they all say the same thing. Thank you for trying though. The fish was kinda boring, so I gave him to a friend that a had a few already. I'm trying to get a dog, that's a bit harder. It bites you can't have a pet. Knowing I'll always have you is a good feeling to have, you may not have a brother or a sister but you got me, Zo.
Wade

Wade had a dug an envelope out and wrote the information out. He stuffed the letter in it and sealed it shut. He raced downstairs and dug through the drawers until he found a stamp. Wade raced out the door and ran all the way to the post office to mail his letter.

"What's the rush, Wade?" George asked Wade the second he walked out of the post office.

"I had a letter to mail," Wade replied.

"You're still writing to that pen pal of yours from the school year?" George asked shocked.

"Yes, we've become really good friends. You don't still keep in contact with yours?" Wade asked getting George to shake his head.

"Nah, he stopped writing me. He was kinda boring anyway," George replied back shrugging. "You ever gonna met her?"

"Tucker, we're only nine," Wade told him giving him a push.

"So?" George questioned seeing Lemon. "I gotta run, dude." Wade rolled his eyes at his friends actions. He walked home thinking about what George had asked him. Being friends through the mail was one thing but to meet in person was a different thing altogether. He knew she wasn't a creep or anything like that. They became friends through the school system. He pushed the thought away as he got home. He walked through the door and headed up to his parents room to see his mom.

"Hey, mom," Wade said softly sitting on the bed by her.

"Hey, my baby boy," Jackie replied with a smile.

"Mom, I'm not a baby," Wade scoffed.

"To me you always will be my baby, Wade. Where were you?" Jackie asked with a small cough.

"The post office. I had a letter to mail," Wade told her kicking his shoes off so he could lay back on the bed.

"You have become close to one Zoe Hart over the last 6 months."

"It's easy though mom. She can't judge me because all she knows is what I tell her in the letters. But her life seems messed up to. Do you think we can really be friends for life, mom?" Wade asked gently laying his head on his mom's shoulder.

"I don't see why not, Wade. No one is judging you," Jackie told him putting her arm around him.

"Everyone in this town is, it's just nice to know one person that isn't." Wade replied kissing his mom's cheek. "I love you, mom," Wade said getting off the bed and getting his shoes put back on.

"I love you too, Wade. Good luck at little league try outs," Jackie replied. She hated that she wasn't feeling well enough to go watch her son. Wade gave her one last hug and headed out to the field for try outs to start.

Zoe paced by the door waiting for the mail to come. It had been a few days and today should be the day Wade's letter would arrive. She was starting to get worried that the mail man had got lost, had a heart attack or something. Ethan was at the hospital working and Candice was out in a meeting so she was left with a nanny. Zoe ran out the door to get the mail from her mail man. He smiled handing the small stack of mail over. Zoe ran back inside flipping through the mail until she found the one she wanted. She dropped the rest on an end table and ran to her room to read the letter.

Wade,
I broke my arm the other day well swinging at the park.

Zoe couldn't figure out what else to write when an idea popped into her head. She had Wade's address, she'd go visit him. It was the summer, her dad was always busy at the hospital lately. Ever since she had fallen and broken her arm at the park. Her mom was even to busy for her. She didn't wanna be stuck with her horrible nanny all summer long. Zoe grabbed a bag from her closet and stuffed clothes into it. She made sure to grab all her letters from Wade. She pulled her bank off the shelf and counted out that she had a little over $150. She snuck downstairs going to the kitchen finding the spot her parents kept the emergency money and stuffed it into her pocket. She would count that later.

Mom and dad,
I'm headed to Bluebell, I'll call when I get there. I'll be fine.
Love, Zoe

Thoughts? The first few chapters will be when they are 9 and 10. After that I'm not really sure right now.