Chapter 36

March 2

Dear Lady Penelope,

I was very surprised to hear that you had to walk 5 miles in the snow to retrieve the mail. This is outrageous. You should not be walking in that type of weather; you could suffer from hypothermia or frost bite. Please refrain from doing this again as you can become ill of even lost in a snow storm; I could not bear it if I am the reason for this.

You asked me in your letter why I decided to study physics. The answer is not an easy one. I just wanted to see if I could stop all the noise in my head. All the questions that would arise every time I would open my eyes, I couldn't even look up to the stars without wondering where each one was, what it signified, where we were in this universe and even more questions. Studying physics has helped me understand the greater meaning of things, however the noise in my head didn't stop, to the contrary it just gets louder and more insistent for answers.

The only time that the cacophony of sound in my head is even a little satiated is when I read your letters and talk to you on the phone. It seems like there is no need to ask anything, I am just content in listening, my mind wants to listen to your words and answer your questions. I know it sounds strange, but it is the only time of day that I feel somewhat normal. I can now understand a little more the reason why people seek friendship in those around them. There is a sense of calm to an almost chaotic internal existence. I hope this answer is satisfactory for you.

As for your guess of the constellations, it was very inquisitive of you to do research into the constellations that are visible in Texas during this time of year. I am very impressed, you are becoming quite the scientist yourself Penny. It is a lot more fun to search for the answers than just have them given to you, am I right? You have been awarded one Cooper Coupon. See below for details*.

Thank you very much for the tea. I did try some and it did offer some soothing relief, however I felt the flip in my stomach again, actually I felt it again when I went to the mailboxes to retrieve my mail. I figure I will need more time to fully develop a hypothesis and conduct further research. To answer your question, I prefer Kirk to Picard, but Next Generation over the Original Series. Spock however, is my idol. I know it sounds strange to use that word 'idol' but if I can model my life after anyone it would be Spock. Your challenge this week is to watch an episode of Star Trek with Spock and let me know what you learn. A 'Cooper Coupon' awaits your answer.

Your story of falling down the stairs reminded me that I also fell down a flight of stairs…twice. I also fell out of the hay loft at my Meemaw's barn…twice. I also fell in a well if you can believe that. My sister Missy threw my Star Trek communicator down into it and when I tried to retrieve it with an apparatus I fashioned from my father's tools my foot slipped and I fell. I must have stayed down there for what seemed like ages, for as much as I yelled into the communicator; Scotty did not beam me up.

It's my turn: Question 2: The other night I saw a spider in my dorm room, and I am ashamed to say, I had to hold on to Kitty until it decided to scamper away, it made me think about fear. What, if anything, scares you Penelope?

Your friend always,

Sir Sheldon Lee Cooper

P.S. If I am Sir Sheldon than you are of course 'Lady Penelope'. Enclosed find your Cooper Coupon which entitles you to a free astronomy lesson during our meeting at the fair. The Texas sky is very clear that time of year and I am sure I can point out some interesting constellations.

Also, to fulfill my challenge, I have enclosed a picture of me smiling. Seems it was easier to smile when I put on the scarf you knitted for me. I had to explain to my professor that the kitty needed to be in the picture for "scientific" reasons. My eye may look like it's closed a bit, but that is because it twitches when I am not 100% truthful (built in lie detector). My mother says Jesus did that as a way to keep me from being naughty, but I think that is balderdash and hokum. I think the scarf you knitted for me looks a lot like the scarf Doctor Who wore. Good thing it is cold in Texas, I plan on wearing it every day, Kitty however doesn't fair too well with it on, feels it's too warm. (That was an attempt at humor). Do I win this challenge? I am not sure that a Penny Blossom would look as pretty on me as on you, but I will be glad to receive it, however I don't know how you can turn a kiss into a hair accessory, is there a specific process? I have never gotten a real or flower kiss before. What is the protocol?

On another point you may not have felt like Wonder Woman when you fell down the stairs, but I think the fact that you walked 5 miles in the snow makes you more like Supergirl. ..SuperPenny