Page 2 of More Than Pen Pals

My favorite subjects are English, reading, and writing. I want to work at a newspaper when I grow up. What do you want to do?

I have never been to Illinois. Does it get really cold in Chicago in the winter?

Since you’re a Cubs fan, I don’t think we can be friends. Just kidding. Who’s your favorite baseball player? Mine is Lou Brock.

Please send a picture. I want to see you in my head when I write to you. Right now I imagine what you look like, but I’m probably wrong. I would ask you what color your hair is, but I’ll see it when you send that picture.

Your friend,

Les

* * *

July 9, 1973

Dear Les,

I’m finally sending you a picture of my family. I’m sorry I didn’t send one before, but my dog chewed up the first one my mom gave me and then I forgot to get another one. I’m the one in the blue and red striped shirt.

I haven’t written to you in a month because I was at camp in Wisconsin. Randall and I both went. It’s fun being outside all the time and playing sports and stuff. I don’t like making crafts, though. I wish they didn’t make us do them, but if we complained we got in trouble.

The other thing I didn’t like about camp is there were a couple boys that were mean to me, and the counselors didn’t care.

Do you and Shannon go to camp?

Is it strange having a girl as your twin? I think it would be.

Sincerely,

Ash

* * *

July 16, 1973

“Aunt Star, I need your help.” I settle next to my aunt on her couch with the envelope from Ash.

“What is it, Les? You know I’ll always help you, kiddo.”

“I have a pen pal. We’ve been writing to each other since January.”

“That sounds fun. What’s her name?”

I bend the envelope back and forth. “Um, Ashley. I thought she was a girl, but she’s not. She’s a boy.”

I show my aunt the letter and photo I got in the mail the day before I left home to visit her and my grandparents in Missouri.

“See?” I hold up the picture. “The kid in the blue-and-red striped shirt is a boy.”

“Yes, he is.”

“And look at what he said in his letter about being twins with a girl.” I point out the last paragraph. “I’m pretty sure he thinks I’m a boy and Shannon is a girl. Both of us were in the picture I sent him, so he has us mixed up.”

Aunt Star nods. “I think you’re right, so you need to tell him you’re a girl. You also need to tell your parents he’s a boy.”

“Do I have to tell him?”

Her eyebrows raise. “Why wouldn’t you want to?”

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