Dear Gauche,
Hi, it's Lag Seeing, from Cambel Litus. Remember you delivered me here? You told me to try writing a letter. So I had Auntie teach me how to write so I could write you one. I hope you're doing okay, Gauche. I think about you everyday. Tell Slyvette I say hello and that I want to meet her too.
I don't know if you heard me before you left, Gauche. But I was thinking, that one day, I might become a letter bee like you. I asked my friend Kokesu if I can have an old gun that he has at his shop. I'll practice and become a letter bee so I can work with you. You'll be my boss though, because you'll be the head bee. And I'll meet Aria and Sylvette, and maybe Sylvette will want to become a letter bee too when her legs are better. Wouldn't that be great?
I have to go walk with Auntie to the mail post so one of the letter bees can pick this up. I wanted to wait there until the bee came but Auntie said that it could takes weeks and that I would catch a cold so I have to come right back. I really miss you, Gauche. You're my first friend. The other kids in the neighborhood make fun of me. They say, "that's the kid the government man brought." But I'm going to try and make more friends. Tell Sylvette that she's my friend too, even though I haven't met her. She's really pretty.
Auntie wonders if you'll really write me back, but I know you will. Because you're Gauche. I know you will.
From,
Lag Seeing
Dear Lag Seeing,
I'm happy you decided to write letters, Lag. Letters are truly great things, the HEART of the people. And I couldn't forget you, what made you think I could forget my good friend? You write really well for just learning. You write better than Sylvette. She says hello to you. I told her all about you and what happened on our journey. She wants to meet you too. She says that if you're my friend, you're her friend. You have two friends, Lag.
I'm sorry those kids are being mean to you. No one seems to like letter bees. I'm sorry because it's because of me. But give them time, Lag. They'll get used to you and you'll definetly make more friends.
You're going to be a great letter bee one day, Lag. But don't let Kokesu give you that gun. A Shindanjuu is dangerous and I don't want anything to happen to you. Tell him to hold it for you till you come to Yuusari. I do hope that will happen someday, that I will be head bee and heal Sylvette's legs. We can all live in the capital together. Sylvette can cook for you, too. She's a great cook. She makes my favorite soup. Do you remember? I got it in Yuusari and it comes in three flavors. It's delicious.
Right now, Roda and I are on a delivery. After I delivered you, I was promoted to Akatsuki. But my delivery brings me back to Yuusari, so I'm staying with Aria. I have to go back to Akatsuki now. Keep writing, Lag. Letters are the things that connect our HEARTS.
Your friend,
Gauche Suede
Dear Gauche,
I was so happy when I got your letter, Gauche! That was the first letter I've ever gotten. I read it over and over again. You're right, Gauche, it is a great thing when you get a letter. I hope you were happy when you got my letter. I wrote it with all my HEART.
I wish I was with you and Aria and Sylvette in Yuusari. Auntie and I got into a fight this morning. She said I need a haircut but I don't want one because then people would see the spirit amber in my eye. Mama, Auntie, and you are the only ones who saw it. I want it to be our secret, because Mama told me to only show people I trusted with all my HEART. But Auntie thinks I look like the pirates that dock at the shore and come into the village.
And I'm sure Sylvette is a great cook. She looked like one when I saw her in that dream I had. But I don't think that anyone can make that soup taste good. Ask Roda. It's horrible. Auntie's a good cook, too. But Auntie and probably even Sylvette aren't as good of cooks as my mama. Mama made everything taste good. I miss her, Gauche. I miss her everyday. I want to go look for her but I'm not ready yet. I don't know what to do. They took my Mama away from me. And I don't even know who they are.
Auntie's saying I have to go to Kokesu to pick up something. I wonder what it is. I miss you too, Gauche. Almost as much as I miss Mama. I can't wait till I become a letter bee so I can see you. And Sylvette and Aria.
If writing gets my HEART closer to yours, Gauche. I'll keep writing my letters.
From,
Lag
Dear Lag Seeing,
I don't know what to say about your hair, Lag. I'm not good with things like that. But I wrote a letter to Sylvette and she said to at least cut it a little. You don't want to be mistaken as a pirate. I'm glad that you finally understand the joy that letters bring. Even though I'm a letter bee, I don't get letters that often so I was happy to get your letter, too.
You should see where I am, Lag. I'm sitting in my new home in Akatsuki. It's so bright here. I'm right near the man-made sun. It's really big and really hot in the capital. The markets are busy and everyone is doing something. It's a lot different from Yuusari. You would like it, Lag. It's daytime all the time, which makes it hard to sleep, but still, it's incredible.
I've been asking around for your mother, but no one knows Ann Seeing. I'm sorry, Lag. I know it must be hard for you. You've done so much, I'll try my best to find her and bring her back to you. I miss Sylvette. She writes me letters and sometimes I just feel like going back to Yuusari to see her. But I know this is the right thing. I've left her alone in our house. The only thing I can do now is raise enough money to bring her to Akatsuki.
I'm going on a delivery now; it will be a long one so I do not know when I can write you again. I hope I will be back in a couple weeks. I will make a good sum of money for this delivery, and the head bee is impressed with my work, this might be what gets me in.
So remember me in your HEART, Lag Seeing, because soon I may be head bee.
Your friend,
Gauche Suede
Dear Gauche,
I'm so happy Gauche! This is amazing! You're really going to do it, Gauche. You may really, really do it. You're getting me excited, Gauche. Everything is going exactly as planned. Even here, the kids are starting to like me now and everything's okay.
I'm trying to train a dingo. My friend said I can use his dog but he's fat and lazy and doesn't listen to me. It won't even sit when I say so. And you know what the worst thing is, Gauche? It listens to Aunt Sabrina! It does whatever she says and won't even look twice at me. It's harder than I thought. How did you get Roda? Was she your pet or did you find her and train her like I'm trying to? I don't think I'll use a dog...maybe I'll get a falcon...or a cougar...a cougar would be awesome, don't you think, Gauche? Tell Roda I said hello. And that I'm sorry she has to deal with you and your nasty soup.
Good luck on your delivery, I know you'll come back and get another promotion or award. That's how great you are Gauche. I'll be there one day too, I know it. Being a letter bee is what my HEART wants me to do.
From,
Lag
Dear Gauche,
I can't believe it's already been two years and a half since you brought me to Cambel Litus. It feels weird that I haven't seen you in that long. And it's been 14 months since my last letter. You haven't responded to it, but it's okay. I know you must have completed your delivery and got a big promotion in the capital. You must be really busy and not have time to write. So I'll keep writing to keep you company when you're up there. I know you must miss Sylvette and Aria. You must be so lonely Gauche. But it's okay. Because I'll keep writing my letters, even if you can't.
But anyway, there's nothing really new here. I'm nine now, so Auntie's letting me do things I couldn't do when you left. I walk to school myself now and make my own lunch. I guess you were right when you said I've become a man. Hahah, see? Even my writing's gotten better. All the kids hate school and I don't really like it either. I only like writing class because I like to write. The better you get at writing, the more letters you can write…which means the more HEART you can show people.
Auntie doesn't like my science grade though. I don't really like it, but it doesn't matter, right? I won't need to know that stuff when I become a letter bee. Just writing…and maybe some math. And how to use a gun. But I doubt they teach that at school.
Even though I'm a man now…I was thinking back to the time when I was a letter with you and Roda. I miss those time. They were so much more fun and interesting and, even though they were scary, they made me feel something. I don't really know what it was, Gauche, but when I think of it, I'll tell you. It was like…I really felt safe for the first time in a while. Mama kept me safe. But when you were with me, it just felt so much more real. I think that's what I think it was anyway.
But sorry, you probably don't even have time to read this long letter because you're so busy. So I'll tell you what it basically said. I miss you and I'm okay. And I want you to do your best Gauche, because I'm doing my best over here.
I'll be doing everything with all my HEART.
From,
Lag