Drafted

TW: Mention of disappearance by means of force

August First (8/1)

Dear Dad:

Hi! I wanted to write you a letter because I really miss you, and you don’t call us a lot, so yeah. I really wish you could be here, but Mom tells me that you are being really brave because you’re fighting all the bad guys. I wish I could be super cool and tough like you! Anyway, school is starting soon and it’s going to be a little different because you won’t be there to drop us off in your Jeep with all the little rubber duckies. Mom says that my teacher’s name is Mr. Hall. He sounds fun, but I dunno. But I’ll see him on meet-the-teacher night. Can you believe that I’m already in fourth grade? I can’t, honestly. But I’m using these letters to practice writing good sentences and getting my handwriting good so that Mr. Hall will be impressed.

Anyway, I hope you can write back!

Love, Carmen

***

August Eighth (8/8)

Dearest Carmen-

I’m sorry I can’t call that often. Life is busy here overseas. But I really miss you and your mom, too, my little angel. You are brave and tough like me, just in a different way! I know school is starting soon. I’ll miss driving my Jeep with you to school. But I still want you to collect some more rubber duckies for me. We have to grow the collection! Mr. Hall sounds really fun. I hope you have such a good time in fourth grade!! (No, I still can’t believe that you’ve grown up so much!)

This seems like the perfect way to impress your teacher, Carmen. Your handwriting and sentences are really good!

Best wishes, Dad

***

August Fifteenth (8/15)

To: Dad

Hiya! School started today, and I am really liking Mr. Hall and all my classmates. Remember my friend, Imogene? She’s in my class! And I have two teachers this year, and we do something called switching with our teachers. So I have Mr. Hall for math & science and then I have Ms. Ingram for English and social studies. I like both of them really much, and all of my classmates are really fun. There’s also this new kid, Ricky, and I really like him! When I told Mom about it, she said that I have a crush. I think I do, but crushes are only for big kids. But Ricky and I are still friends. But yeah! I rode the bus instead of your Jeep, which was a little different, but I made a new friend on the bus because Imogene doesn’t ride the bus with me. She goes with her Mom in their Ford. But anyway, I sat with a girl named Eileen, and she’s in fourth grade, but not in my class. But I still see her at recess and on the bus in the morning and in the afternoons. So yeah!

Love ya, Carmen

***

August Twenty-Fourth (8/24)

My dearest Carmen,

I’m really glad about all of your new friends! Yes, of course I remember Imogene, and I’m glad you made another friend, Eileen, on the bus! I’m sorry again that I can’t drive you, but I hope you’re still collecting those ducks! Remember our goal? 100 duckies by the end of the year! How many are we now? Anyway, Mr. Hall & Ms. Ingram sound really nice and fun. I think you’ll fit right into the fourth grade sequence. You got this! Also, I’d like to hear more about that Ricky kid. I’m just kidding! But seriously, I think all you need to do for Ricky is be nice to him. I hope Mom is doing okay. There’s not much service over here, which is why I can’t call, unfortunately.

Anyway, I really hope you are doing great in school and that you make even more friends.

With lots of love, Dad

***

September Ninth (9/9)

Dear Dad-

Today, we took an English test and I got a 100! I was one of the two people in my class to get a 100- me and a boy named Josiah. He’s really smart. Also, me and him got a Jolly Rancher and then we got to play games on our computers after we all finished the test. I also have gotten all A’s on my spelling quizzes, so this has helped! Also, when are you coming home? Friday night dinners in the living room with old Disney movies without you are no fun. Oh well! Have you made any friends in the army? I feel like you guys would be all friends because you’re on the same team. But anyways, life is usual for me. Imogene and I are still great friends, but I’m also getting closer to Eileen. And obviously I still like Ricky. He shared his Go Go Squeeze with me at lunch a couple days ago, so I think we’ll be really good friends. Maybe we’ll even be the BEST FRIENDS! That would be so cool. And also, there’s this girl in Mr. Hall’s class that I don’t really like. Her name is Genevieve, and sometimes she’s mean to Eileen and Imogene and me, who hang out together at recess. Anyway, I’m doing what Mom told me to do and just ignoring her.

I hope I get to see you soon!!

Oodles and Oodles of Love, Carmen

(P.S., unfortunate was one of our spelling words! I studied your letter and then I spelled it right!!)

***

September Twentieth (9/20)

Carmen!

Hey girl! I was so happy when I got your letter! I’m not sure quite when I’ll be back home, but for now all we can do is pray that the Good Lord will send me home when He feels that I’ve proved myself. But I’m still there with you in soul, Carmen. Don’t ever forget that. Anyway, I do too miss having Friday night dinners & old Disney movies with you. Here on Friday, we all gather round a campfire and sing some songs. We have a fun time, and most of us forget about all our worries for a bit. But anyway, I still don’t know when I’ll be home. Sorry, Carmen, my little angel.

I am so, so proud of you for getting a 100 on your English test! I always knew you were really good at English. I was never good at stuff like that, but I was better at science and math. Anyway, I’m really glad that these letters are working. I’m going to have to go and fight off all the bad guys, so I may not be able to get your letters and reply for a while, but I’ll try my best. :)

About that Genevieve girl- I think what you’re doing is okay for now. Ignore her until she breaks ya, and then tell Ms. Ingram or Mr. Hall that she’s being mean. But I know you can do it, Carmen! I hope I get to see you soon, too!

Bunches and Bunches of Love, Dad

(P.S., that is so cool! I’m glad I helped you get a word right! How about this one: address?)

***

September Twenty-Ninth (9/29)

Dear Dad:

I may not be able to write for a little bit just because Mom says we ran out of stamps, and she doesn't know when we can get some more. But anyway, address is a word! How did you know?? You have like, super senses or something like that. Anyway, your Friday tradition sounds really fun as well. I'm glad you've made some friends in the army. It's really sad that you don't know when you're gonna come home, but I really hope it's soon. I guess it works out that you won't be able to write either. But I'll still be there with you when you fight all the bad guys. I'll be cheering you on! Genevieve was still being mean even when we ignored her, so we went and told Ms. Ingram, so I think Genevieve is going to get in trouble. But whatever. Anyway, I really miss you and I hope you can first fight off all the bad guys and then slay all the dragons and slay the day and then come home.

10,000 Million Pounds of Love,

Carmen

***

October Eleventh (10/11)

My dearest daughter-

Hey again! This'll probably be the last letter for a while, but I'll really try my hardest to read and reply to your letters. I've been loving all of your stickers and stamps, Carmen. Mom picked out some good stamps (my favorite was the elephant), and you picked out some awesome stickers (my favorite one was the sparkly cat in the pool! All of my army friends have had a fun time seeing what stickers you put on your next letters). Pray for me while I go out to fight these bad guys- and hope that I win with all of my friends by my side. WHOA- address is really a word?? That's insane. I do have super senses. I mean, you never see me and Spider Man in the same place at the same time... Anyway, I'm glad Genevieve got what she deserved. Keep fighting! How about you make up a cheer to say to me every night? That'd be perfect.

100,000,000,000 (0 x 10,00) Pounds of Love,

Dad

***

January Sixth (1/6)

Hey, Dad!

It's been so long! I missed hearing about all your army friends. Anyway, it's been a really long six months or so, and I miss you more every day. Imogene, Eileen, and I have all forgotten about Genevieve. She moved halfway through the year because she had to move for her mom's work. Speaking of Mom, she's been doing okay so far. I know it's been really hard for her, and it's been really hard for me as well, but I think it hits her even harder. If you ever see this letter, I want you to know that I'm still thinking about you. I hope you're fighting all the bad guys really well. I got some cool stuff for Christmas, but I really wanted you. "All I Want For Christmas" made me tear up a little bit this year, to be honest. I've kept up with all A's, so I'm doing well in school. I hope you can come back soon.

Love,

Carmen

***

February Fourteenth (2/14)

Dad-

Happy Valentine's day! Today was a bit rough for Mom, but I still really hope you're doing the best you can. I watch the news now, and apparently you are beating all the bad guys. Congrats! I'm glad all my cheering and praying worked. I'm almost done with fourth grade, but I'm still maturing. I hope you and all your army friends are doing something to celebrate this day of love. Send me and Mom all your hugs and kisses this year.

Love,

Carmen

***

May Twenty-Third (5/23)

Dad~

How are you? I'm doing okay now. School ended today, and I'm honestly looking forward to the summer break. But, I'm starting fifth grade, so I'll have to toughen up a lot. Ricky and I are still friends, but he's been a bit weird around me for a while now. I think we might like each other, but I still don't know how I feel around him. Anyway, I turned ten this year, and I finally hit double digits! I wish you had been at my party- it was amazing! All of my friends came and we had strawberry cake- my favorite! I am still hoping that you come back for my fifth grade (or sixth grade, it's okay) year. I really miss you, but I can handle the feeling now. I talk to my counselor about it, and sometimes I talk to Mom. Anyway, sorry about all that sad stuff.

Love You,

Carmen

***

April Fifteenth (4/15)

Dad:

Hey there. How are you? I'm still doing okay. I kinda forgot about our letters for a little, but I've kinda been obsessively reading all of yours, ha. Anyway, I'm almost done with sixth grade, which I actually think is insane. Like, I haven't written to you since like, end of fourth grade. Insane! I don't know if I'll send you a whole lot of letters, because I know you're busy all the time. And I still watch the news- it looks like you're kinda losing, no offense. I just hope you can come back home safely. Well, just come back home. When are you actually going to come home? All of the news anchors with the grave faces are saying that it'll be at least two more years, but I really hope it's less than that. Ricky and I are actually dating now. Mom said that we were cute, but maybe it was a little early to be dating. I scoffed, because that's obviously what she would say. But I have a strong feeling that she actually doesn't care and that she's happy for me because I'm actually thriving in a world like this- and doing it with the people I love. The best thing to happen to me right now would be for you to come home. Sick or healthy, we'll be here for you.

Golly, that was deep.

~Carmen

***

July Tenth (7/10)

-A MESSAGE FROM THE U.S. ARMY-

Hank Family-

On behalf of U.S. Army Troop #23

Currently, Colonel Patrick Hank's status is unfortunately unknown. He was ordered to retreat by General Walt Coleman, but his status was eventually found unknown. We do not currently know any other details. We will update you with any that reach our services immediately, but for now we do not have any information other than the fact that his status is currently unknown.

Sincerely,

Sergeant Watson Gill

***

August Seventeenth (8/17)

Dad~

I don't know where you are or if you're safe, but I just want you to know that I love you. I started 10th grade (sophomore year, holy cow) today, and I felt like I needed to write to you, if you can even get your hands on this. I keep on seeing the news, and apparently a lot of your friends' families got the same letter we did. I don't think the army cares about our feelings, no offense. Watching the Super Bowl this year felt so empty without you to see it and yell with me, as if the players could hear us. It was the 49ers and the Eagles this year. The 'niners won. Our team won! I wonder if you can keep track of the NFL stats overseas. George Kittle finally wasn't injured this year. Woof.

Anyway, I still miss you. It's gotten a little bit more bearable, but I still miss you like hell.

Why won't you just come home?

When can you come home next?

I really miss you. Please come home.

Love,

Carmen

(P.S., I know you're being really brave out there, fighting all the bad guys. Keep fighting. For me, for Mom. I know you got this.)

***