: Chapter 10
Love and Other Words
From: Macy Lea Sorensen
Date: January 1, 11:00 PM To: Elliot P.
Subject: book Hi Elliot, Thanks again for Bridge to Terabithia and sorry for getting snot all over your shirt when I was trying to talk about it. Maybe now on the computer I can explain what I was trying to say.
I get why you gave me this book, and I just want you to know how thoughtful it was. I keep thinking about the first day I saw you in the closet, and how itâs sort of how Jesse hated Leslie for beating him in a race. I didnât hate you, but I wasnât sure I liked you, either. I guess it doesnât matter because now it feels like youâre the person who understands me the best. Jesse and Leslie made up Terabithia as their sanctuary and when she died he brought May Belle there to be the new princess. Mom created this world of books with me, but without her I can bring you to the closet to share them instead.
I read it again on the drive home and started crying all over again and I thought my dad was going to totally lose it. He probably had no idea what was going on. He was all What is with you, weirdo? So he just pulled over and kept breathing all deep and asking me what happened. I told him you gave me this sad book. I told him how much it made me miss Mom. And then he cried when we got home, at least I think he did. Heâs always so quiet so Iâm never sure.
I hate being sad in front of him because itâs like he has this giant vault of sadness already and then he has to lock that all up just to take care of me. And when I think about it, I still have him, but he lost his whole world. Mom was the person he chose out of everyone and sheâs gone. I donât know. I think he doesnât like to see me cry. But it was good to talk about her. Iâm scared Iâll forget her. I miss her so much I need a new language for it.
There I go again. Anyway, did you finish Ivanhoed? That book was ginormous I would be asleep in about five minutes. I read the first page when you went to the bathroom and was all what? I understood about a millionth of it. Whatâs it even about?
Anyway, school tomorrow. Thanks again for the book. And for just letting me talk about it I guess.
xo Macy PS No one here understands that I just want to be another girl at school not the kid whose mom died and who needs to be treated like she can break. Thanks for just saying stuff and not acting like itâs all taboo.
From: Elliot P.
Date: January 2, 07:02 AM To: Macy Lea Sorensen
Subject: re: book Hi Macy, Youâre welcome for the book. It made me cry the first time I read it, too. I know I didnât tell you that, but I guess I should have.
Iâm sure your dad figured out why you were crying. Also, I think it probably makes your dad happy that youâre crying about it even if heâs sad that youâre sad. But I hope heâs not mad at me for making you cry. I mean it was the book . . . I wouldnât want to make you cry because of me.
I donât think youâre weird or different because your mom died. I think youâre actually pretty cool, but it has nothing to do with whether or not you have a mom. Youâre cool because youâre you. As an aside: youâre handling it pretty well as far as I can tell.
Ivanhoe (no d) is pretty good. Itâs set in the 12th century after the Third Crusade. (Some of the current idea of Robin Hood is based on a character, Locksley. But heâs not the main character.) I like the action and the style. I used to role-play a little with my friend Brandon in seventh grade so I guess thatâs where the interest in 12th century England came in. If youâre still into Nicholas Sparks you probably wonât like Ivanhoe.
See you, Elliot PS I didnât mean that to sound condescending. Dad told me I can be like that and so Iâm not sure if that was. Iâm sure Nicholas Sparks is really good, just different than Sir Walter Scott.
From: Macy Lea Sorensen
Date: January 2, 8:32 PM To: Elliot P.
Subject: re: book Hi Elliot, Nicholas Sparks is really really good. My friend Elenaâs mom met him at a book conference and said he was super nice and way smart, too. I bet heâs read Ivanhoe (no d).
What do you mean you and Brandon role-played? Like the dork guys at the park with swords and flags?
xo Macy From: Elliot P.
Date: January 2, 08:54 PM To: Macy Lea Sorensen
Subject: re: book Hi Macy, Yes. Exactly like that. And also helmets and cardboard horses.
Elliot From: Macy Lea Sorensen
Date: January 2, 9:06 PM To: Elliot P.
Subject: re: book I swear you make me laugh so hard. I know youâre kidding but I can totally picture you on a cardboard horse all âOn guard!â and âIvanhoe!â
Macy From: Elliot P.
Date: January 2, 09:15 PM To: Macy Lea Sorensen
Subject: re: book I was serious. We really did role-play like that. Itâs actually a very well organized community called The Nobles and there are battles and royalty and itâs really fun. But Iâm sure you wouldnât like it because thereâs no soft focus kiss at the end.
Elliot From: Macy Lea Sorensen
Date: January 3, 6:53 PM To: Elliot P.
>
Subject: Crazy!
Hi Elliot, Iâm pretty sure that was you being condescending last night, so here is me being mature and ignoring it.
Want to hear something crazy? My friend Nikki got suspended for making out with a guy in the cafeteria today! I was all oh my god what is happening? I told Dad and he asked if I had kissed any boys and I was all no way! Who would I kiss at school theyâre all losers!
Anyway that was crazy!
Macy From: Elliot P.
Date: January 3, 08:27 PM To: Macy Lea Sorensen
Subject: re: Crazy!
My friend Christian got suspended last year for building a rocket in shop. Iâm not even sure where he got the fuel but it totally flew through the window and hit a car in the parking lot. It was awesome.
So you donât hang out with guys at your school?
Elliot From: Macy Lea Sorensen
Date: January 4, 7:32 AM To: Elliot P.
Subject: re: Crazy!
I do Doug and Cody have been in school with me since first grade so we are sorta close but kissing close? Uh no theyâre nice but I think Iâll probably meet a college guy at some point because the guys at my school are all into video games and skateboards and Danny (another friend) totally tried to touch my butt once at a dance but I was all I donât think so.
Macy From: Elliot P.
Date: January 4, 07:34 AM To: Macy Lea Sorensen
Subject: re: Crazy!
Macy, Punctuation is your friend.
Elliot