“Shut up,” Tritia said, continuing to read. “She says that she’s happy but misses Santa Fe. She hopes I haven’t forgotten about her. She may be taking a trip to the Grand Canyon in August and wants to know if she can stop by and see us.”

“I’ll think about it,” Doug said.

“Ha ha.” She read in silence, turning the page.

“Well, what else?”

“It’s personal. Girl talk.” Tritia read the second and third pages, then folded the letter and put it back in the envelope. She shook her head. “Paula. I can’t believe it.”

Doug pulled a screwdriver from the drawer and closed it. “You miss her, don’t you?”

“Of course I do. Oh, here, I almost forgot. Some mail for you.” She handed him the other three envelopes.

He tore open the top letter. “You’re not going to believe this,” he said.

“What?”

“It’s from Don Jennings.”

“Jesus, you haven’t seen him since—”

“—you saw Paula,” he finished for her.

She laughed. “That’s a weird coincidence.” She moved forward to peek over his shoulder, but he pulled away, hiding the letter.

“It’s personal,” he explained.

She hit him lightly on the arm. “Very funny.” She stood next to him and read along, catching up on the events in Don’s life. Don had taught social studies at the high school and had been hired at about the same time as Doug. The two neophytes on the faculty had become friends out of necessity, but they had grown very close. A city boy, Don had never really been happy in Willis, and about ten years ago had taken a job in Denver. The two families had kept in touch for a while, writing letters, calling on the phone. Doug and Trish and a baby Billy had even visited the Jennings in Denver one summer. But new friends had come along, responsibilities had grown and shifted, it was no longer as convenient to keep in touch, and gradually the families drifted apart. Doug had said to Tritia many times that he “should call Don” or “should write Don,” but somehow he never did.

Now Don had written to say that he and Ruth were moving back to Arizona. He had gotten a job at Camelback High School in the Valley and suggested that when they moved and got settled in, the two families should get together.

“Are you going to write him back?” Tritia asked when she finished reading.

“Of course.” Doug opened the other two letters. One was from the district, announcing that an agreement had been reached with the teachers’ union for a cost-of-living raise next year. The other was from the Department of Education, announcing that the deadline date for the grant application was actually a week later than stated on the form and apologizing for any problems caused by the misprint.