Yes, your fish are F-I-N-E. I can’t believe you’re still asking about your fish. You care more about those fish than every person on the planet put together. Yes, Papa got promoted. No, I’m not going to smelt all my trophies into cannonballs(?!). Yes, hooray, I’ve graduated to an A cup. Yes, I’m wearing makeup, and frankly I don’t care if you approve or not. No, no one asks about you anymore. Zilcho, nada. But what do you expect, Lotte? You’ve been gone forever.

I’m tired of answering questions. If you really cared about the answers, you could get better, come home, and find them out yourself.

Sorry if that was mean. I’m a bitch, ha ha ha. Probably because of the pressure I’m under. At least that’s what they tell me. Funny, I don’t feel any pressure. Think of all the meetings, rehearsals, and responsibilities you used to have. Now double it: that’s my schedule. And you know what? It’s easy. You ever wonder why other people are so bad at everything? I can’t figure it out. However, I did figure out your trick for making Mama and Papa quit watching so closely. If you do everything, you can get away with anything.

You know what I’m talking about. You’re depressed, not dumb. So I’ll answer one more question. Yes, I do visit the neighborhood south of The Glenn. Mama and Papa would wig out if they knew, and I suppose I can’t stop you from tattling. But if you do, I’ll deny it. Remember which of us is the “crazy” one.

It’s not like I’m hurting anyone. That one, single time I mentioned Jody in a letter, Mama demanded his pedigree papers. I haven’t mentioned him since. But he lives right over on Yellow Street (the bulldozers aren’t quite there yet) and I see him most days. He may not be smart, but he’s smart enough not to care that I’m President of Coding Club and have the dance solo in High Voltage. He likes me for me. He’s the only one in the world who knows the things that really go on in my head. Well, you may have some idea, ha ha ha.