Letters From Far Away
"Cursive"
Wolf waited quietly by his cell door, head leaned against the cold wall beside him. He could hear echoes down the block - the daily mail being passed out to their recipients. Hushed tones of excitement or disappointment came from the prisoners as the cart passed by their cells.
As the cart squeaked even closer, he wondered if he would get anything. Its been a few weeks since his arrival here, and —
The cart squeaks and stops at his door, piloted by none other than Snake.
A big smile sprouts on Wolf's face as he presses his snout through the bars. "Snake! How's it going, buddy! How's the mailroom treating you?"
Snake returns the smile. "Oh, I'm doing well enough. Probably the most boring job they could have put me on, to be honest," he pauses for a moment and tilts his angular head in thought, "although – I find it's nice to relax every once in a while. I didn't realize how exhausted I was from running from the cops every other day!"
Wolf chuckled. He knew Snake was right. The dull walls surrounding them made it easy to remember the good ol' days, back when they could roam the city freely. Well, mostly free – more often than not, their presence sparked a city-wide police chase. And though the days were long here at the prison, Wolf could appreciate the peace and quiet.
However, they couldn't do much about the boredom that came along with said peace – a promise to go good to the public was a promise to themselves too. The judge seemed to indicate that they would receive a reduced sentence for good behavior during their time in the desert prison, certainly making it less tempting to escape.
Even so, Wolf and the gang had already found more ways to escape than they could count on their fingers, fins, and scales.
I suppose that is what we are, for now, Wolf ponders. Stuck.
"Oh," Snake coils upright. "I forgot why I was here for a moment. I have something for you."
He snags an envelope off of his squeaky cart and slides it through the bars, into Wolf's waiting paws.
His eyebrows raise as his eyes drift down to the letter. "Oh - and who might it be from? I bet it's from Marmalade's lawy-"
The name of the sender was written in eloquent cursive handwriting.
Diane Foxington
"It's…Diane! Nice to know she didn't forget about us!" Wolf jokes.
Snake peers through the bars to study the letter himself. "Wolf, this letter isn't even from the Governor's Office! It's addressed from another place. Maybe her house?"
"Seems like it," Wolf says.
Snake glances down the cell block. "Anyway, I gotta finish handing these things out. The mail doesn't deliver itself you know, " Snake pauses, "and Shark, Piranha n' Tarantula all say hi."
"Okay buddy, tell them I said hello! I'll see you around." Wolf holds a closed fist out of his cell as his best friend bumps his head against it, squeaking off out of view.
Wolf retreats to the bed at the back of his cell and inspects the letter in his paws. He traces his eyes along the curves of the wording on the envelope, following it as the pen marks move smoothly from one letter to the next.
Diane Foxington
It doesn't even say Governor Foxington, Wolf muses. He appreciates the informality that the name implies. Very thoughtful of her.
Wolf pops a claw out and cuts through the letter. Unfolding it, he slides the message out of the envelope and reads each word carefully.
To Mr. Wolf,
I apologize for waiting so long to write to you. Considering what happened before you were re-re-arrested, I have been very busy between paperwork, reporters, and Chief Luggins alike.
Wolf smiles as he imagines her teasing him for being arrested for the third time. I'll allow it, he thinks as he continues down the paper.
Besides those issues, it has really been a boring three weeks since you and the crew turned yourselves in. I have been asked more about you guys than any other question! The public is starting to turn a corner – seeing the good in you as I do. I imagine that they were a factor in the judge offering a reduced sentence. With that being said, no escape attempts! That does count as bad behavior.
"Ouch," Wolf chuckles, "she can read my mind."
I hope that you're doing okay, Wolf. I don't know what life holds for you and the crew in there, but I want you to be safe. I can't help but worry for you.
One of these days, when I wrangle myself free from the office, I'll come down and visit you. I'll keep writing in the meantime.
I hope that you do the same.
Wolf squints and brings the paper closer, seemingly inspecting the meaning of each word. "Visit…you?" he thinks aloud. "Just me?"
P.S. I'd really like to know your first name. I want to write to whoever that is. After all, we do have something good going here, don't we Mr. Wolf? ;)
In my thoughts,
Diane
Wolf laughs to himself as he reads the postscript. "She's still kinda cute," he says aloud once more. Smiling, Wolf folds the letter back up and tucks it into the envelope.
"Cute, huh?"
Wolf's entire body snaps toward the cell door, only to see that Snake had never left earshot of his talking – victorious smirk and all.
"You – Snaaaaake! You get back here you legless lizard!" He rushes to swipe at him, but his head slams into the bars just as Snake pulled out of reach.
"Ow! Seriously, Snake! There was a reason that was addressed specifically to me…" Wolf groans, rubbing the newly formed sore spot on his forehead.
Snake has doubled over, uncontrolled laughter spewing through the entire cell block. "Oh man, I didn't know you kids were that far along," Snake lowers his voice to a whisper. "No wonder you recognized her home address."
"That's not — I," Wolf squeaks out.
All he can do is watch as Snake slithers away.
—
The next morning, Wolf is prepared for the worst of it.
As he slinks into the prison cafeteria, he couldn't help but notice the side-eyes and smiles that some of his fellow inmates were giving him as he made his way toward the rest of his friends – each step is like walking on hot coals. He paces a little faster, ears now pinned to the back of his head.
As he sits down, Snake, Shark, Piranha, and Tarantula are all having trouble hiding their laughter too.
Nevermind. Wolf was not prepared for the worst of it.
"Okay, look. I – quit laughing, Piranha! Snake, I will get you back for this," Wolf swears, pointing a finger in his snorting face. "Out of all of us, once more! Snake is the last one to truly go good."
"Whoa, chico," Piranha laughs, "that was a low blow!"
Wolf's appetite for breakfast had mysteriously disappeared. "Look, guys. I don't know what in the world Snake told you, but he definitely blew it out of proportion. I mean – he was probably just getting back at me for putting the push-pop in the fridge, right guys? Right?" Wolf pleaded more, to no avail. "It was just a nice letter. And I appreciated it. So I said something nice, out loud, about Diane. That's it."
"You miss her. A lot" Shark goaded, leaning closer to Wolf.
Tarantula ignores his explanation as well. "Maybe enough to write a letter back?", she teases.
Wolf turns to Piranha and crosses his arms. "Hermano? Got anything to add before I hide in my cell for the rest of the day?"
"I think you and her would be great together."
"Not helping my case here."
A flustered Wolf stands up to leave, but Snake's tail grabs his shoulders and guides him back into his seat. "Look, Wolf, we know you've been missing her," Snake says earnestly, "and we tease you because… well, it's hilarious and there's nothing else to do. But we just want the best for you. I want the best for you."
Snake slides out of his chair and right next to Wolf. "And we think Diane would be great. You would be…what is the saying – as thick as thieves! Anything to keep your mind off prison life, you know?"
"She's more than just something to keep my mind off the prison," Wolf laments, "and besides, If I did start anything with her, it's gonna be impossible from here. I mean, I can't even see her regularly!" Wolf droops his head, upset now.
"She's an important politician. She has an image to keep up. Even if the public likes us more by the time we get out of this dump, she can't be coming here every other day to chat."
"Wolf, don't be so down in the dumps," Snake encourages, sensing his friend's distress.
"You can always send her letters back. After all," he says, a sinister smile forming, "you two have a good thing going, don't you Mr. Wolf?"
"Wait – I was reading that out loud too?! Aaaaagh!"