April 11th , 1942
Dean,
Don't worry; I'm not going to get a cat. I know you're allergic and would swell up all red and blotchy.
Remember that one summer when we were still in grade school; before we moved up to California, when we were still at your parents' house? It was always so hot in Lawrence; and we would spend almost every hour over at your house in the backyard. I don't remember tanning so much in my life; and you gained patches of freckles all over your chest and face (like galaxies- I told you). We decided to go to the creek and the end of the street to try and escape the heat; even though your mother told us not to.
You jumped right down the slope and gestured for me to follow. When I asked you how we planned on getting back up the side of the bank; we quickly found out that it was definitely something we should have thought about sooner. We were so young that I had no hope of pulling you up myself; which left you hoping up and down; trying to climb the steep slopes of the bank. You kept sliding back down right back where you started no matter how many times you tried. If it wasn't so terrifying I would have died with laughter.
It took you an hour to admit defeat and let me go back and find something resembling a sturdy branch or a rope. When we eventually came back into the house; we were both covered in scratches and had sweated enough to appear as if we had jumped in the creek after all.
In fact it was hilarious... until we found out that the whole bank was coated in poison ivy and we had rashes for weeks. I don't remember days more painful than the ones that followed; and I couldn't heli believe you when you told me that's what it was like for you when a cat or dog came too close; if for a much shorter period.
So maybe I'll get a fish. You can't be allergic to fish; right?
See you s
I'm not quite sure what to say right now- it's only been a week. I keep calling your name to ask a question or get you to grab me something before remembering that you're not here anymore. I think it might take me a while to stop; and right now I can't tell if that's a good thing or not. I don't know how to think abo
See you soon; I'd for hate you to take too long to come home and tip my hands in terms of the cat. I've already got a name picked out.
1088 more days
