I heard Patrick coming in the door, so I stuffed them both in envelopes and
put them in a
desk drawer. As I was going down the hall, I realized neither letter sounded like it came
from me, and they defiantly didn't sound like I did when I lived in Seattle. I decided to do
a rewrite after Nicolas and Patrick went to bed.
I didn't even think about the letters until after dinner, when Nicolas was doing his
homework. He was using the computer to finish up an essay, when he opened the drawer
to get some paper for the printer. I don't know why he opened the envelope, because he
normally wouldn't go into something that wasn't his, but he did. I was in the den, helping
Patrick study for his final, when I heard Nicolas holler. Thinking he was hurt, I rushed
down the hall to the office. When I saw what he had in his hand, I sent Patrick back to the
den. After closing the office door, I asked Nicolas what was wrong.
"What is this?" he asked.
"A letter, to my friend, you."
"It's more than just a letter! Who is Cindy?"
"Cindy is my best friend, from Seattle. You know. I grew up there."
"And Max? Why did you sign it 'Max'?
"Nicolas, you know I changed my name to Kori when we moved here. I had to change all
our names when we arrived."
"You changed my name too? You never told me that!"
"Yes, I changed your name. I changed Patrick's name slightly, and I changed my name
completely."
"I don't get it! Max, Kori, who are you? Who am I?"
"You are Nicolas Alexander Cale. I am Kori Cale, your mother."
"No, you're Max, mother of whoever it is that Cindy is taking care of! Just how old is
this baby of yours? And why did you leave her behind but pick us up along the way!"
"It's not what you think, Nicolas."
"It's not what I think? You never tell us anything about where we came from, our only
father is a photograph, you write mysterious letters to mysterious people about running
away and leaving your baby girl, and now you want to drag us to Seattle! What don't I
understand?!" He ran out of the room, slamming the door behind him.
"Nicolas!"
~~
desk drawer. As I was going down the hall, I realized neither letter sounded like it came
from me, and they defiantly didn't sound like I did when I lived in Seattle. I decided to do
a rewrite after Nicolas and Patrick went to bed.
I didn't even think about the letters until after dinner, when Nicolas was doing his
homework. He was using the computer to finish up an essay, when he opened the drawer
to get some paper for the printer. I don't know why he opened the envelope, because he
normally wouldn't go into something that wasn't his, but he did. I was in the den, helping
Patrick study for his final, when I heard Nicolas holler. Thinking he was hurt, I rushed
down the hall to the office. When I saw what he had in his hand, I sent Patrick back to the
den. After closing the office door, I asked Nicolas what was wrong.
"What is this?" he asked.
"A letter, to my friend, you."
"It's more than just a letter! Who is Cindy?"
"Cindy is my best friend, from Seattle. You know. I grew up there."
"And Max? Why did you sign it 'Max'?
"Nicolas, you know I changed my name to Kori when we moved here. I had to change all
our names when we arrived."
"You changed my name too? You never told me that!"
"Yes, I changed your name. I changed Patrick's name slightly, and I changed my name
completely."
"I don't get it! Max, Kori, who are you? Who am I?"
"You are Nicolas Alexander Cale. I am Kori Cale, your mother."
"No, you're Max, mother of whoever it is that Cindy is taking care of! Just how old is
this baby of yours? And why did you leave her behind but pick us up along the way!"
"It's not what you think, Nicolas."
"It's not what I think? You never tell us anything about where we came from, our only
father is a photograph, you write mysterious letters to mysterious people about running
away and leaving your baby girl, and now you want to drag us to Seattle! What don't I
understand?!" He ran out of the room, slamming the door behind him.
"Nicolas!"
~~