The Letter
Point Place, WI
(three years later)
2003
4:30PM
Eric waited for the water to boil so he could pour the egg noodles in the pot.
Once the divorce was finalized Eric and Jacen had to move to a smaller apartment.
He hated having to uproot his son from the only house he has ever known. He just
couldn't afford the upkeep on the modest sized home with only one income and this
time he had to politely refuse Jackie's money. He had to watch the messages he
was sending his son. His boy was twelve now and usually could be seen in the
daydream state with his hormones about to burst and society telling kids it is "okay
to have sex" when they were sending messages to kids that seemed to be getting
younger and younger. He still had dreams floating in his head over Mindy. Who
wasn't the neighbor girl anymore. She was the twenty block away girl, so if you want
to call that a neighbor girl then go right ahead. Then there was Jaina Lutz the only
one he sat through Star Wars for when her father came to visit Eric two years ago.
She had a huge crush on his son but he only saw her as a friend. Someone to email
and tell jokes with. Someday that was going to come to a head and Eric hoped
everyone involved would come out of it unscathed.
"Here's the mail, Dad." Jacen put it on the counter and went to the refrigerator to
drink out of the skinny milk carton.
"Thanks. Jacen, use a glass."
"But you drink out of the carton."
"Don't do as I do, do as I say. I think your Grandmother's spirit came into my body
just there." Eric laughed as he put the noodles in the boiling water.
"I miss Grandma Kitty."
"Me too. Would you set the table?"
"Sure…Dad—uh, nevermind."
He went to get the dishes.
"What is it, son?"
"Remember the pinky ring that I gave Mindy? She's been wearing it around her neck
on as a charm necklace for years now. She took the whole thing off today and I'm
not supposed to be mad! But I am."
"Jacen, you're only twelve. Why are you in such a hurry to grow up?"
He rolled his eyes like Eric used to do when he was listening to his parents when
they didn't understand him.
"Dad---"
"The last time I checked Mindy was also twelve. You have plenty of time to figure all
this out. I know how much it hurts you and I'm not trying to minimize your pain. But
you have your whole life to decide. Take the salad out of the fridge while you are just
leaning against it."
"She's pissed because she saw Jaina kiss me on the cheek that one time she came
in for a visit. But she's just a friend."
"That's a dollar for the swear jar."
"And worth it." He took four quarters out of his back jeans pocket and placed them
in one of Grandma Kitty's old glass mason jam jars. So far they had twenty dollars
and forty-nine cents accumulated.
"What did you want on these noodles?"
"Butter. Where's the bread?"
"In the microwave."
"I tell you, Dad, I do not get girls at all."
Eric laughed. "Neither do I son, neither do I."
Tarrytown, NY
4:30PM
Jackie felt bad that she was still in bed. She was wrapped in a silk sea foam
green silk ensemble and layers and layers of pure white cotton sheets with tiny pink
rose petals on them. She didn't have to go to work today. She didn't have to go to
work any day if she chose not to. She missed her regular chats with Eric. Jackie
was lucky if she could get an IM to him on the office computer. Phillip didn't like her
talking to Eric. He wasn't abusive and never once yelled at her or lifted a fist to hurt
her, but he didn't like her talking to Eric. Eric was wonderful and said "he
understood" and the rules "do change" when you become involved with someone.
"I only want you to be happy." He said to her on the phone last week, which seemed
like a lifetime ago.
She missed her Eric time. He was the only one from Point Place, WI that she ever
kept in touch with. She was godmother to his son for god sake.
"Fuck this," Jackie tore the sheets off her body and went to her laptop computer that
was on her desk.
Email #1
TO: Eric Forman
FROM: Jackie Burkhart
I MISS YOU!!
Here's a cute picture of puppy and kitten sending emails to one another. Give that
beautiful boy a hug from me.
Love,
Jackie
It was Eric's turn to put away the dishes and he wanted Jacen to get started on
his English homework that even if it was his sons night he still would have let him get
started on his studies. He put the last dish away when he finally reached for the mail
that's been on the counter for an hour and a half now.
Light bill, phone bill, credit card bill
Point Place High School? What do they want? You are cordially invited to………..25th class reunion
Please RSVP call or email Jake Bradley at……..
Eric put the letter back in the envelope before ripping it in half and throwingit in the trash.
There was no way he was going to go. No fucking way in Hell.
Email #2
ERIC! I know you haven't answered my last email yet, but I just got an email from
Leslie Cannon and your graduating class is having its 25th reunion next month. And
since Phillip is going to be away, I would LOVE to accompany you! It'll be fun.
When are you going to come online?!
Love, Jackie