Page 3 of Anders and the Girl Worth Fighting For
This is her first child.A reasonable part of me thought.Maybe she didn’t really fit in there, either.
“Robert was so surprised when I told him the good news.” Kaye continued, “We were sure it wasn’t going to happen.” Her hand still cupped her belly and she glanced down at it. She wasn’t showing yet. “But then, God blesses the faithful.” She looked at me when she said that, pity and judgment written all over her face. I focused back on the card I was making, tears pricking my eyes.
“Oh yes,” my mother replied. “He certainly does, and who’s more faithful than the pastor?” The women laughed at this. I tried to tune them out. I knew dwelling on this would only lead to more pain. I’d had enough of that for one day.
I settled on my favorite stamp set. It always had a way ofcheering me up, and I set to work decorating the envelope. I lost myself in the work, tuning out my mother and Kaye’s gossiping, the spaces in front of them full of treats, but no letters.
The Letters
July 3
Dear Soldier,
You don’t know me, and I don’t know you. My name is Grace and my church, Revive Flood Harvest Church of Infinite Redemptions and Glory, didLetters from Homethis year as our annual service project. We wanted to honor the men and women who protect us and let us live free and safe here at home. I was very excited to hear about the project and signed up right away. I even brought my (probably too big) collection of rubber stamps. Some of which I featured in this letter for your enjoyment.
I don’t know how much information you get while you are wherever you are, so I’m going to pretend like we aren’t complete strangers and that you receive no other information about the world otherwise and catch you up on all the goings on here at home.
A tropical storm blew through recently. I had downgraded from a hurricane before it could reach land. We thanked God for that. Our church held a candlelight vigil and bible drive after the storm to help the community after the storm had passed. I suggested to the committee that perhaps we should work on preparing for the times we may need to provide help. Forexample, we could have shelter and food for neighbors. That was not well received. I guess all I can do is try to keep participating and hope it matters. I’m sure the Lord has a plan and I’ll be here to carry it out when He needs me.
The farmers’ market is in full swing this time of year. The peaches are delicious. I wish I could send you some. Nothing beats a juicy Georgia peach.
I made some cookies to sell at my cousin’s craft soap stand. They sold out quickly. I love making cookies and Jessica, my cousin, recommended I enter them into the next market bake-off. Bill, my husband, pointed out that there just wouldn’t be any time for me to perfect my recipe, bake enough to sell, and take care of everything I had to do at home. He’s probably right. I suppose there is always the next bake-off to try.
Bill has been watching the local high school football team practice for the upcoming season. He played when he was in school and I think it’s his way of coping with the fact that we haven’t had children of our own yet. He seems very excited about this year’s lineup of players. I don’t really follow it all. Football was never really that interesting to me, which is very controversial in these parts, so I’d appreciate it if that information stayed between us. Bill seems very invested in it, though. He says they have a real chance of going to state this year and is talking about going to watch the game when it happens. It’s all he’s been talking about lately. I guess I hope they win, if it makes Bill happy.
I hope the news in this letter doesn’t make you homesick in a bad way. I hope it finds you well and reminds you of the good things about home. I’ve never been good at ending things, letters to strangers being no exception. Be safe and return home to your loved ones. I’m sure they are praying for you every night. I don’t know your name and probably never will, but I will add you to my prayers tonight, too.
With Care and Consideration,
Grace Witherwood
July 29
Hello Grace,
Never call me a soldier. I’m a marine. Soldiers are army. I’ll forgive your ignorance once, but anything more than that and I’ll have to assume you’re meaning to insult me.
I almost threw your letter away without reading it. I hate random letters from home. Why are earth would I want to hear nonsense from some person I’ve never met? Then I saw that damn unicorn stamp, and I figured the letter was from a kid. Those are good letters. The guys always get a kick out of letters from kids. So I opened it. Turns out, I was wrong.
What kind of grown-ass woman puts a unicorn stamp on a letter to a marine? Even if you didn’t know I was a marine and thought I was a soldier. I suppose if I were a soldier, a unicorn stamp would be perfect. So then, I had to read the damn thing to figure out what kind of person you were. I still have no idea. Well, I have some guesses, but I’ll keep those to myself for now.
Your church sounds like the most ridiculous thing I’ve ever heard. Who named it that, anyway? Some pompous ass, I’m sure. Revive Flood Harvest Church of Infinity Redemptions and Glory? Really? Does that mean you get to fuck up a ton and be saved? I can see how that’s appealing,
Also, if they can’t see that your plan for future hurricanes is a good idea, then they need to pull their heads out of their asses, where I’m sure it’s firmly lodged. Of course, you should stockpile for future disasters. Any idiot knows that. Except, apparently,the idiots on your church’s committee. Just as ridiculous as that name.
You should enter that bake-off this year if it isn’t too late. I’m sure your cookies would be amazing if they sold out at a soap stand at some farmers’ market. You’d probably win. Even if you didn’t, what harm would it cause? If it makes you happy, then you should do it.
All this talk of cookies is making my mouth water. I don’t suppose you could ship me some. Could you? I’m sure they won’t be great by the time I get them, but I would love them all the same. Are they chocolate chip or some exotic flavor? I’ll take anything. Even plain sugar cookies with no frosting. My grandma used to make these lemon-flavored sugar cookies that I swear were the best things on a hot summer day. Somehow cool and tangy all at once. Damn, I really want cookies.
I used to be stationed at Parris Island and spent a lot of time in your neck of the woods. Even thought about retiring to there someday. So I say this with extensive personal knowledge — Georgia peaches really are the best. I love how the juices drip down my chin when I bite into a perfectly ripe one. Damn, they do not feed us well here. Can you tell? I’ll have to have cookies and peaches when I get back now. See what you’ve done. You went and made me look forward to things.
I didn’t mean to seem like an ass at the beginning of the letter. I am really curious about that stamp, though. Why a unicorn? And why does it look like you took the time to color it in? Is this that “care and consideration” you signed off with? I’m not really sure what to do with that.
With Curiosity and Confusion,
Anders Gonzales
August 31
