Dear Ma

Dear Ma,

Well…Another week's passed since I sent you my previous letter. Not yet gotten a response. I hope it didn't get lost in the mail…I hope you're well enough to write back. Has your back problem resurfaced again?

Don't worry. I'm a big boy now, and I'll take care of you. Aerrow will understand if I leave the team. But really, I hope you're alright. I always do. How's dad? Is he still at work? Give him my love.

I've been good. It's been a pretty eventful week. My knuckle busters are all busted as a result. Stork said he'd help me fix them and I'm going to go start working on them as soon as I finish this letter. Everyone's fine. Well, Radarr had a head cold the other day, but he's alright now. Stork says he got lucky because the mind-worms like to target a tired brain and he's not infected as yet.

Piper and Aerrow are getting closer. Finn says so anyway. I didn't notice anything different, but he won't be kidding about something like that, right?

I'm starting to think my friends don't appreciate your recipes. Which doesn't make sense because you're the best cook in the world and you taught me all you knew. I guess they just haven't acquired the taste for gourmet Wallopian cuisine. Silly people.

I miss your cooking. Piper's nice. And she's got a light touch with sandcakes, but you, Ma, were the best-est-est-est-est! I miss the way you'd kiss my forehead before I slept, and I miss how you read me stories. I can read to myself now, but it's not the same.

You will reply to this letter though, right?

Tell me about Dad. It's been a while since he wrote to me. Is he still mad with me about being a disgrace? I'll bet he is. I know he loves me, Ma. But…I don't think he likes me very much. Tell him I said I'm sorry for being a sissy-Wallop. I didn't do it on purpose, it's just that I can't seem to help it.

Oh Ma. I'm crying. How Dad hated it when I cried! Can you see the teardrop marks on the page?

You need to know that I absolutely must be informed about your health as soon as possible. If you need me to come home, just tell me and I'll be there. Oh, and enclosed in the envelope is a feather from a phoenix bird—they're supposed to be amulets for good luck…I guess we all need that, don't we?

Take care of yourself, Ma.

Love,

Junko.

A/N: Don't ask me why. I just had to.

Thanks for reading. Leave a review? :)