worry. I’m still having a nice time. I like the kids. I’ll tell you more when I see you. Which won’t be all that long. As for that story about the island … Russ did get it wrong. Or anyway, sort of wrong. There were two people who used to work here, then left and went someplace else, where they got into trouble and got shot or something … but they were losers to begin with. And they didn’t get into real trouble until after they’d gone and no longer had anything to do with the island, which—believe me, Dad—is totally cool and safe.
I have to go now. Linda’s calling me for dinner. She’s made shepherd’s pie, my favorite, with vegetables from the garden. You would like her garden, Dad, though I keep wondering what you would say about her using old golf clubs stuck in the ground to mark the rows.
Oh, and one more thing. Have you heard from Sophie or seen her or heard anything about her? I don’t imagine you would. I know your paths never crossed except that one time when her car broke down and I needed you to pick us up. Wasn’t that the first time you met?
But it’s just that I was expecting a letter from her on the ferry that just came in, and there was no letter. So I was wondering. I’m sure I’ll get a letter from her next time. But I was just wondering. Meanwhile, forget I asked.
Love,
Jack
DEAR SOPHIE,
Hi, remember me? Recognize the return address? Sophie, why haven’t you written?
I keep thinking your letters must be getting lost somewhere. Otherwise I would have heard from you by now. You have to write to me. In a way, you could say I’m only here because of you, and I miss you, and when I don’t hear from you … it makes me feel kind of crazy. Plus, out here on this island, there’s not much to do except think and worry, and suddenly there’s a lot to worry about. I worry about this ghost or whatever it is I’ve been seeing. Am I starting to lose my mind? I worry about Miles and Flora and what might have happened to them. I worry about everything they’re not telling me.
Did I used to seem like a worried guy to you? I never used to worry, though I had stuff to worry about. But now I worry about you and why you’re not writing to me and whether you’ve forgotten me completely. So you know what? I think I’ll just end the letter here and wait till I hear from you to write you another of those long letters where I tell you every little thing that’s happened on this wacko island with these strange little kids … and maybe a ghost or two.
So, okay. It’s your move. I’m waiting to hear from you. Good night till then.
Love you,
Jack
DEAR JACK,
I’m sorry if you were worried about me. And I’m sorry for not writing. Actually, I sort of thought I did write to you, and then I kind of remembered I didn’t. I don’t know how that happened.
Nothing much is going on here. But I’ve been kind of busy. I can’t remember if I told you that Josh is back in town and that he came around the house to say hi the other day. Of course, it’s completely over between us. He’s so self-centered and snobby and full of himself. The minute I talk to him, I remember why we broke up! But it’s nice to have an old friend around, someone I used to know so well. It helps distract me from missing you, which I really do.
Otherwise, I don’t know what to say.... My job is boring. But I already told you that. I can’t wait till you get back.
What’s happening with you and the kids sounds exciting but also a little disturbing. Maybe you should tell Linda, who I feel I know, almost like a friend, just from reading your letters. What if this person you’ve been seeing is not a ghost but someone who got on the island and is stalking the kids? How many movies like that have we seen? The creepy revenge murderer hiding in the woods outside the lonely country house. And everyone knows who the psycho killer attacks first. It’s always the babysitter!
Sorry, I don’t mean to scare you,
I have to go now. Linda’s calling me for dinner. She’s made shepherd’s pie, my favorite, with vegetables from the garden. You would like her garden, Dad, though I keep wondering what you would say about her using old golf clubs stuck in the ground to mark the rows.
Oh, and one more thing. Have you heard from Sophie or seen her or heard anything about her? I don’t imagine you would. I know your paths never crossed except that one time when her car broke down and I needed you to pick us up. Wasn’t that the first time you met?
But it’s just that I was expecting a letter from her on the ferry that just came in, and there was no letter. So I was wondering. I’m sure I’ll get a letter from her next time. But I was just wondering. Meanwhile, forget I asked.
Love,
Jack
DEAR SOPHIE,
Hi, remember me? Recognize the return address? Sophie, why haven’t you written?
I keep thinking your letters must be getting lost somewhere. Otherwise I would have heard from you by now. You have to write to me. In a way, you could say I’m only here because of you, and I miss you, and when I don’t hear from you … it makes me feel kind of crazy. Plus, out here on this island, there’s not much to do except think and worry, and suddenly there’s a lot to worry about. I worry about this ghost or whatever it is I’ve been seeing. Am I starting to lose my mind? I worry about Miles and Flora and what might have happened to them. I worry about everything they’re not telling me.
Did I used to seem like a worried guy to you? I never used to worry, though I had stuff to worry about. But now I worry about you and why you’re not writing to me and whether you’ve forgotten me completely. So you know what? I think I’ll just end the letter here and wait till I hear from you to write you another of those long letters where I tell you every little thing that’s happened on this wacko island with these strange little kids … and maybe a ghost or two.
So, okay. It’s your move. I’m waiting to hear from you. Good night till then.
Love you,
Jack
DEAR JACK,
I’m sorry if you were worried about me. And I’m sorry for not writing. Actually, I sort of thought I did write to you, and then I kind of remembered I didn’t. I don’t know how that happened.
Nothing much is going on here. But I’ve been kind of busy. I can’t remember if I told you that Josh is back in town and that he came around the house to say hi the other day. Of course, it’s completely over between us. He’s so self-centered and snobby and full of himself. The minute I talk to him, I remember why we broke up! But it’s nice to have an old friend around, someone I used to know so well. It helps distract me from missing you, which I really do.
Otherwise, I don’t know what to say.... My job is boring. But I already told you that. I can’t wait till you get back.
What’s happening with you and the kids sounds exciting but also a little disturbing. Maybe you should tell Linda, who I feel I know, almost like a friend, just from reading your letters. What if this person you’ve been seeing is not a ghost but someone who got on the island and is stalking the kids? How many movies like that have we seen? The creepy revenge murderer hiding in the woods outside the lonely country house. And everyone knows who the psycho killer attacks first. It’s always the babysitter!
Sorry, I don’t mean to scare you,
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