Nicola Barker - Burley Cross Postbox Theft

I wish you could have seen his face, Mummy! He said he knew the poem already and it was one of his favourites. He had tears in his eyes. He thought my calligraphy was amazing. He just kept saying, ‘I can’t believe you did this all by yourself! That’s incredible!’ He just couldn’t stop staring at it!

Anyway, I hope you won’t mind about Jonathan Livingston. If I get time over the holidays I might do it for you anyway.

Aunty P is taking me and Evaline (the girl from school I told you about with all the amazing, red hair — her mum and Aunty P are friends from bridge) into Leeds early next week to look for some boots and the black skinny jeans I want. Evaline has a pair exactly like the ones I’m after. She got them at H&M in August. I just really hope they still have them in stock. She says you can only get the ones I want at the bigger branches — so fingers crossed.

I was telling Aunty P that Evaline gets the Otley bus to school in the morning and says it’s really well supervised. She said we could meet up every day and I could catch it with her, then Uncle Angus wouldn’t need to drive me, although — don’t get me wrong — I do enjoy getting a lift in the morning, especially in wet weather!

Uncle A and I always listen to the news together and then have heated discussions about the big issues of the day. It’s fun! I would definitely miss that if he gave up driving me. But then I know how far out of his way he has to go to take me, and he works such a long day! It makes me feel guilty sometimes.

Did Dad tell you about the speech I made in school assembly for Macmillan Cancer Relief? I raised £33! Some kids even gave all their lunch money. People said I was really brave, but I said I wasn’t brave at all, I said you were the brave one. I said you were so brave that it made us all want to try harder to be the best people we could be. I said you were an inspiration (AND I DIDN’T CRY! NOT EVEN A SNIFF!), because it’s true. I said that I loved you SO MUCH and that you are the cleverest and the funniest and the kindest, sweetest, most generous person in the whole universe (Okay. Maybe I did cry, just a little bit).

Afterwards Mr Benson said that it wasn’t only about the money (he gave £5!) but about spreading information and creating awareness. Anyway, I just wondered if Dad had told you?

Oh, I wish I could speak to you more, Mum! I know it’s hard for you to hold the phone, and that you’re very weak, but if I could just text you sometimes and tell you what I was doing — silly little things about my day etc. I would love that so much! I wouldn’t even need any texts back from you! I’d just like you to know that I am thinking about you ALL THE TIME!!

It would be great to have my phone back so I could do that, although Jake Spencer says the electromagnetic fields caused by mobiles mean that sparrows can’t reproduce properly. He said it’s, like, destroying the sparrow population!

Weird, huh?

So maybe it’s good I’m not using my phone after all!

See?! I’m trying to look on the bright side of things!!!

Okay. I’ve got to go now, Mum. Aunty P wants to set the table for dinner.

I love you SOOOOO much!

Please, please, please, please, please, please, please, please, please, please, please, please GET BETTER SOON!!!

LOVE YOU, LOVE YOU, LOVE YOU!

Astrid

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(+XXXXXXXXXXXXXXX from Ethan, too)

PS. He’s just finished the vegetables. What a mess! Bits of peeling all over the table and the floor. And the veg are so small, they look like Dolly Mixtures! Aunty P’s getting the peas out after all!

AAAAARGH! BOYS !!!!

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Hawksleigh House

5 Shortcroft Rd

Burley Cross

21 Dec ’06

Dear Gabriel,

This’ll have 2 be quick because Aunt P is watching me like a hawk. I CAN’T blow it this time. That fat old cow notices my every move. I am 6st.2oz. I have gained 2oz since I spoke 2 U on the phone from Hazlewood. It might just be water, though. I hid the plastic cup in the cistern like U said and it works a treat! You’re a genius! I have at least three glasses every time I’m in there! She ALWAYS knows if I’m drinking from the tap. The pipes in this hellhole start screaming whenever you turn them on. It’s sick.

I HATE THIS PLACE, GAB! I AM GOING INSANE! U’VE GOT 2 COME AND GET ME!!!

We don’t have much time, now — I’m sure Ethan’s starting 2 buckle. There’s a new teacher at his school who’s making a real effort with him — there’s only so much longer I can get the stupid, little troll 2 keep his fat mouth shut about the hike etc.

I can’t wait 2 tell U about the move I pulled with Mr Wolf! OMG! It was a masterstroke! What an idiot! I almost felt SORRY 4 him! They’re all so easy 2 play, it’s, like, totally ridiculous! I’ve been being everybody’s perfect little miss! I have Uncle A eating out of my hand, now. I even made a speech at school to raise money 4 charity! I’m being the perfect, little ZOMBIE CHILD just like they all want me 2 be!! They’re all so stupid and pathetic! They make me SICK!!! I can’t wait 2 make them pay for what they’ve done 2 me!!

None of them understands me like U do, Gab. None of them speaks 2 my soul like U do, my sweet, dark blade, my blood, my black, black Prince, my beautiful, brave and broken, skinny, Skinny Lad.

I am working on a scheme 2 get my phone back, but it might end up taking too long. They watch my EVERY move — esp. Penelope. That ugly, fat cow HATES me. She’s so jealous of me, it’s pathetic! She keeps telling me lies about you, just like Mum did. WHY DO THEY NEED TO DO THAT?! DON’T THEY KNOW IT JUST MAKES US STRONGER?!

WE R INVINCIBLE!!!!!

I’m pretending to write 2 mum right now (in hosp.) so that I can write 2 U instead. They won’t even allow me 2 keep my pencil case when I get home from school! First the internet, then the phone, now this! I even have to ask permission to write my diary! I know they are reading it behind my back! How stupid do they think I am?!

Is there NOTHING they won’t take from me? Is there NO DEPTH these zombies won’t stoop to?

The plan is that we meet up on Christmas Day, behind the church (St Peter’s) at 3pm EXACTLY. I’m planning 2 feed them a cock&bull story about going 2 light my mother a special candle in church. Nobody will suspect. I won’t be able 2 ring U again or contact U 2 confirm.

REMEMBER! Our Song! ‘STICKWITU’!!!!

UR my life!

UR are my blood — my smooth, smooth knife — my Guardian Angel — my soul!

Until the 25th, then — and eternity.

Sing our song if U feel low:

And now ,

Ain’t nothin’ else I could need…

I’m crying cause you’re so, so into me,

I got you ,

We’ll be making love endlessly ,

I’m with you ,

Baby, you’re with me…

Nobody gonna love me better ,

I’MMA GONNA STICKWITU FOREVER ,

Nobody gonna take me higher ,

I’MMA STICKWITU .

A X

PS PLEASE, PLEASE DON’T FORGET ABOUT ME, GAB!

I AM DESPERATE! I AM ALL ALONE! I AM

DEPENDING ON U!!

Tollhouse Cottage

Fitzwilliam Street

Burley Cross

20/12/2006

Dear Teddy,

Festive Greetings from Burley Cross, England!

I have enclosed the set of Christmas stamps, as requested. Once again, secular designs. They’re perfectly passable, I suppose. Two each for First Class and Second Class. I especially like the £1.19 Christmas Tree and Presents. Can’t help thinking the Father Christmas on his Chimney and the Snowman are somewhat workmanlike, however…