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Thursday, January 9th

For 139,

Numbers seem so strange to me. It's all I can think of, in getting this to you. It seems like something out of 1984. But with the opposite purpose; to build a bond instead of destroying it.

I'm sorry, only two sentences in and I digress to literature. But other than that, I'm not sure what to say. Are these letters to be random, entirely the result of happenstance? I have a list of questions. I'm supposed to pick the three I would like you to answer, not the three I myself like the most.

But this is the first letter, and all I have is a number. So here are three questions that I would like someone to ask me.

1. What's your favorite book?
To pick a favorite from the incredible number would be impossible, but I do have a favorite author. I mean, it's quite the cliche, and perhaps boring, but… if so feel free to warn me of it. But I cannot help but adore Shakespeare, both for his poetry and his plays.

2. Have you ever been out of the country?
I haven't, no, but it is a wish of mine. Of course I tell myself it doesn't really matter where you are. But the atmosphere of places is quite a factor in whether or not one should live there, and I find myself drawn to places I have never been.

3. Last movie you saw?
This is a bit of a cheat since it has such a simple answer, but perhaps it will still say something about us? The last movie I saw was Indiana Jones and the Last Crusade. Don't let this discourage you; I did not have control of the remote, and I wasn't about to give them the satisfaction of leaving the common room.

So I think that's it for the first letter? I'm not sure what else to say, or how else to say it.

Sincerely,

145

Hi 287,

I hope the number 2 isn’t the only thing we have in common! I do believe in some version of fate. I think there are definitely some things in life that are supposed to happen, that you can’t escape.

Writing in small print or blocky text isn’t appealing to me either smile So I’ll avoid that. I’d appreciate the same, I don’t have the attention for that kind of thing at all.

Um, yes, I like breakfast foods. I really like scones, vanilla ones, but I agree that waffles, pancakes, and bacon are great. Do you only eat breakfast food in the morning? Or any time of day? I like breakfast any time of day really.

I’m sorry to hear about your roommate. Flirting has never bothered me before, so there's no problem there. Besides, I like to flirt.

I’m majoring in fashion, and minoring in I don’t know what yet. Maybe environmental science? I like nature, it’s cool. Even if you’re undeclared, you must be leaning toward something, even just a little. You should tell me what that is. If not, you know, what classes do you want to take before you graduate? (Or you could always answer both questions.)

Oh, those things sound amazing. Well, random walks sounds a little iffy, but the other things definitely. I like to go horseback riding, specifically trail riding, though I also know dressage. If you took me on an adventure, where would you take me?

Patiently waiting,
23

P.S. Was this an okay letter? I don’t write letters that often, well, I don’t write that often.
I’m sure I didn’t reach the word thing either, we’ll just keep that our secret.

Friday, Jan 10

To 139,

To be entirely honest, I had not even considered the methods used to separate the groups, though it seems obvious there must have been a reasoning behind it. Whatever the methods, the results seem to be successful. If you would agree?

I must agree that writing physical letters must naturally be more of a window into another's mind than any electronic communication. For this letter I've set aside time I'd normally spend on my own in a computer lab.

My favorite Shakespeare work…this might answer two of your points, in fact. I will say The Twelfth Night. I find it frustrating when a person insists that a piece must be tragic to be worth reading; to me Twelfth Night says just as much to society and humanity as Macbeth or Henry V.

And as for comedy, I do not mind it in the least. Not ever moment can be deadly-serious, or nothing would get done. I will certainly look into The Grand Budapest Hotel.

As for a particular place I'd like to be, I have always been fond of Spain, especially cities like Malaga or Barcelona. There is so much color even in the buildings there, and I must admit while I enjoy the occasional snowfall, English winters are not for me.

Perhaps I should have answered your last question first. It it by far the most important, after all. But the words have been set to paper and nothing would sound as good in another draft.

To end my rambling, I use male pronouns. And to open with another question, might I ask why you avoided Ireland (or attempted evasion)? It has always struck me as a nice enough place, though I wouldn't want to stay there forever.

Yours,

145

Friday, January 10th

One Forty Five,

Not many people would consider numbers, I imagine, so there is no fault on your part. However, saying that it seems to be successful is rather bold—and normally I would take some sort of offense and perhaps I do. But I’m also intrigued on why you would think so and I admire your ability to say such an outlandish thing and perhaps, that little thing might be exactly what makes me think that the process was somewhat successful. Regardless on what exactly the process entailed.

Twelfth Night. I’ll keep that in mind. But I must ask, what if I were one of those people insisting that apiece must be tragic to be worth reading? How incredibly awkward this situation would have turned out to be.

Spain, ha. What an interesting choice. That’s all I’ll say.

Now to answer your one and only question, I wasn’t avoiding Ireland. I was avoiding the Silver Strand. Ireland is beyond beautiful—it’s a heart breaking country that has almost as much to offer as France. The Silver Strand however, is not something I would ever wish to be involved with. To further explain, it’s a beach in short and I absolutely cannot go into large bodies of water.

Now I guess, I should ask you questions to further our education on one another. Unless we are to talk simply about day-to-day events—though that won’t reveal much about us in my mind for we will only point out the obvious details of what happens to us. When really it’s the small, insignificant things that happen in those moments that really define us.

So I’ll ask you questions to see if I can perhaps capture small seemingly insignificant things, if you don’t mind. If you do mind, then simply state so and deliberately avoid my questions.

Religious affairs, any, none, unsure? I’m asking more so I don’t offend. I personally have no real opinion on the subject matter.

Is literature your major? I imagine such, considering your references.

Do you write? If so, perhaps one day we will be comfortable enough in one another's company to share such intimacies. If you don't, which I doubt is the case, I'll be only moderately disappointed.

I will wait patiently for Monday's letter. May your weekend be grand.

Sincèrement,
One Thirty Nine.

Monday, January 13

To 139,

I must beg you not to take offense at anything I say, I have been known to suffer a foot-in-mouth syndrome more than once, especially in recent times. Perhaps a clarification? For I only meant to say that this is but my third letter, and yet we have established a common ground, and neither of us have stormed away in frustration (which my roommate has, after he was the one to convince me of the project's interest).

To your choice of plays, I would find many arguments (as compelling as I can make them, for the subject is near to my heart) to support my own view, and I would hope for rebuttals as many and varied as my own supports. A good debate is part of the essence of understanding literature. And either way, I think both sides learn a great deal (if conducted correctly).

Right, onto the questions.

I'm not sure I believe in much of the spirituality of our world. Perhaps in other times, it had (or will have) an impact on me. But for now, I'm resting quite peaceably in an in-between sort of place, where I don't bother religion and religion doesn't bother me.

Well, perhaps I can learn to be a bit less obvious of my academic leanings in the future. Yes, English Literature is my major, and I must say I'm enjoying it quite a bit. May I inquire into your own studies?

Well, my writing is nothing to be particularly fond of, but it doesn't embarrass me too much. Perhaps it's because I've accepted that it won't ever be enough to keep me going on it's own. I think that most avid students of English have at least a day dream of being their own authors. And perhaps, if you would not be adverse to the idea, we could share small bits and pieces of what inspires us most. For me it is poetry, though I know it isn't so with all others.

And now I must ask questions of my own. I think I will ask three, and leave any continuous threads from above for you to pick up or drop, as you like.

Hobbies: what do you do for relaxation and fun? I read (a huge surprise, I know) and there are a couple of television shows I tune into regularly. As noted in the above Spain question, I have a quite amateur love of architecture and color.

What skill do you most wish you had? This has to be an interesting one, but I think I'm going to say the ability to throw something and have it hit the target you were aiming at. I cannot for the life of me muster anything resembling hand-eye coordination.

And for the last question, a simpler one: cats or dogs? I think I prefer cats myself, though it all depends upon the breed of dog involved.

Yours,

145

Monday, January 13th

Dear 287,

Hmmm, I’m very curious about the quite a few things you mentioned. I’m sure it isn’t too forward (and I’m sorry if I was). Breakfast is always an excellent option though, even if we don’t do anything before.

That sounds like a brilliant set up. I only wish I had gotten as lucky. Although, as a neat freak, does she get mad when you leave stuff around? Or does she just clean up after you? I’ve always wondered how that dynamic works. Unless, of course, you also like to keep things clean? I didn’t mean to assume.

A breakfast date sounds delightful, where would we go?

Oh, a cabin would be wonderful. I can’t cook worth anything, so we could absolutely have someone make us breakfast. Cooking is far from one of my talents.

We should go to Italy sometime. It’d be an adventure.

Now I’m curious about the tattoos, they sound interesting. The piercings sound like they add to your overall gorgeousness, or the gorgeousness you keep telling me about so much.

I have no tattoos and the only piercings I have are two in each earlobe. So there’s nothing much to tell there.

Red is a nice color I suppose. I hate wearing it though, it clashes with my hair. Green is my favorite color and most of my wardrobe is comprised of it.

Fiddle around sometimes. That made me smile. You sound like a very musically inclined person. I would love to hear you play, if we were allowed to meet of course. I play the violin some, but I’m not very good. I didn’t keep up with it like I should have.

More questions?

How’re your classes going so far?
If you could have one superpower what would it be?
What’s your favorite phase of the moon? (Mine’s when it’s a very thin crescent and it looks like the sky is smiling.)

Sorry for the randomness of the questions!

Eagerly waiting,
23

P.S. I missed you too. Your letters are something I look forward to. Maybe we saw each other and didn’t even know it. Wouldn’t that be strange?