Tally and Kai, Week 8 - November
944 Words
Morning, Kai.
What a weekend!
Dinner was fantastic, by the way. I can’t remember if I told you that. The whole day sort of blends together in my mind, from costume shopping with the gang (great job on your Jimi Hendrix costume, by the way. I think Memphis almost ditched Gray and fell in love with you instead) to dinner to the absolutely insane party afterwards.
I fear that I didn’t properly warn you how off the walls these parties get. But you actually seemed pretty unfazed by it all, which was kind of impressive.
As far as what you said in your last letter—thank you for that. And I think I understand, as much as someone with two white parents can understand.
Crazy question, but have you ever considered traveling to Somalia? I know you mentioned it can be dangerous, and I wouldn’t want you to be in harm’s way. But if you found a safe way to do it, I think maybe it would answer some of the questions you have about yourself, and your roots, which you feel were taken away from you without your permission.
Hope you had a good Sunday.
Tally
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Hey Tally,
I’m glad I was able to make you think I was unfazed by the party, because believe me, I wasn’t.
Don’t get me wrong—I had a great time. But it was certainly unlike anything I’ve ever seen.
For starters, can we talk about Bridget’s house for a minute? I mean, that was nuts. You could get lost in that house, even die in there, and they wouldn’t find you for weeks.
And the champagne fountain? The ice luge? I didn’t even realize ice luges were a real thing.
You were a great Amy Winehouse, by the way. As my mom would say, I didn’t even know kids our age knew who Amy Winehouse was. And Bridge as Cherie Currie?
(Okay, even I technically had to look her up. But I do remember The Runaways. My dad always plays Cherry Bomb when he’s in a girl-power mood.)
You three are really too cool for school. It’s a good thing you’re graduating soon.
It’s weird—I actually haven’t thought very hard about traveling to Somalia before. I mean, sure, it’s crossed my mind, but my mom always talks about how unsafe it is, so I always sort of wrote it off.
I think you might be right, though—it would be a good idea to learn more about my heritage.
I’m going to start doing some research on that. Maybe you want to join me at the library this weekend? If that isn’t too boring for a rock and roll legend like yourself?
Kai
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Hey Kai,
Uh-oh. You sound overwhelmed. Were we a little much for you?
I guess I was a little wild, you know, compared to how I usually am. The truth is, sometimes I actually look forward to nights like that. I’m always just so good, you know, well-behaved and all. I mean, I guess that’s not entirely true, since we sometimes skip class, and other times break the law. But of the three of us, I’m definitely the least troublesome one.
Sometimes I like to be the troublesome one, for a change.
Not that I really was. Bridget, to my surprise, was incredibly well-behaved, and Mem, less to my surprise, was the problem child.
I’m really glad she’s going to go see your mother, Kai, because she makes me more and more nervous by the minute. I can’t tell if this Gray thing is going to be a good thing for her or a very, very bad one.
Anyway, just to come right out and say it, I hope I didn’t take things too far when I kissed you. I just felt like being brave, for a change. But I couldn’t quite tell if you liked it. So maybe I shouldn’t have.
I would be happy to help you research Somalia at the library this weekend, as well as have ice cream. I’m a big fan of the cookie dough flavor.
Tally
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Tally,
I must be a really terrible kisser if you couldn’t tell whether I liked it or not.
Believe me, I liked it.
Lame as this will sound, that was actually my first kiss. And as soon as it happened, I just kept thinking, you i***t, you waited too long, it should have been you making the first move. And then I was sort of mad at myself, so maybe that’s what you were sensing.
That, or shock. Are you aware that you’re, like, ten thousand miles out of my league? Every time you agree to meet up with me, I go back and re-read it three times to make sure my eyes aren’t deceiving me.
Anyway, I think I’ve sufficiently embarrassed myself for this letter. Looking forward to this weekend.
Yours,
Kai
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Kai,
You aren’t a terrible kisser at all.
But you should probably keep practicing, you know, so that your inner anger and shock don’t come through as much.
I would be willing to help you with the practicing, if you would like.
Tally
- Writer
