Dear Aaron Read online

  RubyMars: No, but I’m sure I can come up with something. It can’t be any harder than that dress I made for my sister I sent you.

  AHall80: Even I know you can do it.

  AHall80: Hey, I gotta go. We’ll talk soon.

  AHall80: Don’t give up and get a job yet, all right?

  RubyMars: Fine. :) I won’t.

  RubyMars: Take care. Talk to you soon.

  AHall80: Bye, Ruby Cube.

  March 13th

  AHall80: Hey

  RubyMars: Hey you

  RubyMars: This is a miracle. It’s 12 p.m. here.

  AHall80: I know… It’s a miracle you’re awake.

  RubyMars: Har har

  AHall80: How you feeling?

  RubyMars: Sleepy but good. :) You?

  AHall80: Rly tired

  AHall80: Long long day

  RubyMars: Go to bed.

  AHall80: I will in a min. Just wanted to get on and check on you for a sec.

  RubyMars: Go to sleep. I’m all right. I still haven’t gotten another job, if that’s what you’re wondering.

  AHall80: It is, but good.

  AHall80: Back to normal? Feeling better?

  RubyMars: Yeah, I’m good now. I’m back to eating normally too.

  RubyMars: You okay?

  AHall80: Yeah, everything’s as good as it can be.

  AHall80: Your mom doing all right?

  RubyMars: She’s good. We’re all still kind of spoiling her and she’s eating it up, saying she should have gone to the doctor sooner if we were all going to be so nice to her afterward.

  AHall80: That’s…

  RubyMars: Awful. I know, she’s out of her mind.

  AHall80: Heh

  RubyMars: Are you ready to come back to the States?

  AHall80: More than ready.

  AHall80: Max has been sending over info on Scotland. I try not to look forward to things because shit happens, but it’s getting harder.

  RubyMars: :) That’s sweet and terrible at the same time.

  AHall80: It’s reality.

  RubyMars: I know.

  RubyMars: :)

  AHall80: I’m falling asleep. I’ll try to get on soon.

  RubyMars: Okay. Sleep good.

  AHall80: Night, Rube.

  March 16th

  AHall80: Rubes

  RubyMars: Hey.

  RubyMars: How are you?

  AHall80: All right. You?

  RubyMars: Pretty good.

  RubyMars: I have news. Guess what?

  AHall80: You found a job?

  RubyMars: No.

  RubyMars: I appreciate the reminder.

  RubyMars: :/

  RubyMars: I have a date.

  AHall80: With who?

  RubyMars: My friends invited me over for a potluck last night, and this guy I’ve known for a while was there too. We weren’t really friends before, but we got along, and before I left, he asked if I’d go out with him. I thought of you and said sure.

  RubyMars: I’m kind of regretting it now, but I don’t want to say never mind. I think I’m being a chicken.

  AHall80: You are.

  RubyMars: …..

  AHall80: You know him?

  RubyMars: Well enough. He’s really nice, but he’s younger than me.

  AHall80: How much younger?

  RubyMars: 2 years

  AHall80: So he’s what? 21?

  RubyMars: Yeah.

  AHall80: hmm

  RubyMars: Hmm what?

  AHall80: 21 year olds are shitheads. Don’t let him get away with too much.

  RubyMars: Jeez. What kind of girl do you think I am?

  AHall80: A good girl. That’s what I’m trying to say.

  RubyMars: :) Okay good.

  RubyMars: I have zero expectations, except hopefully having a free meal, lol.

  RubyMars: If my older sister saw me write that, she’d kill me.

  RubyMars: One time a few weeks ago, I made a joke about looking for a sugar daddy and she lectured me for half an hour.

  AHall80: Let me know how it goes. Don’t go back to his place.

  AHall80: You don’t need a sugar daddy.

  RubyMars: I’m not. I swear. Just a meal.

  RubyMars: I know. :)

  RubyMars: Speaking of, were you a shithead when you were 21?

  AHall80: Yeah, I was a complete shit back then. I’m telling you from experience.

  AHall80: :]

  AHall80: How’s the job hunt going?

  RubyMars: Bad, but I got more work doing ice-skating dresses for a few girls up in New York, and this one popular male figure skater’s coach wrote me today, so we’ll see what happens. My older sister is paying me to make her dog some bandanas. We’ll see how that goes too. I won’t say no to pity money.

  AHall80: Good

  RubyMars: I’ll let you know what happens, but I promise I’m not jumping into anything random. I’m just trying.

  AHall80: It’s about time you did.

  RubyMars: Hey, I got those pictures you e-mailed me yesterday of Ax with her collar on. If I thought it would get there before you leave, I’d send her a bandana.

  AHall80: Make one for Aries. I’ll pay you.

  RubyMars: I’ll make one for him, but you don’t have to pay me. Just tell me where to ship it.

  AHall80: I have a job, you don’t. I can pay.

  RubyMars: All I see is “Blah, blah, blah.” Give me an address to ship it to.

  AHall80: ….

  RubyMars: ….

  AHall80: Your mom isn’t the only bossy one.

  RubyMars: :)

  RubyMars: Send me the address.

  AHall80: I’ll think about it.

  AHall80: I gotta go.

  AHall80: Talk soon.

  RubyMars: Okay bye.

  AHall80: Bye RC

  March 19th

  AHall80: Hey

  RubyMars: Hey.

  AHall80: I got your box today. Thank you.

  RubyMars: You’re welcome. I hope you aren’t getting bored I’m always sending the same kind of stuff, but why mess up a good thing?

  AHall80: It’s all great. I’ve told you before you don’t have to send me anything, but I’m not going to say no to books and food.

  RubyMars: I forgot to ask. Did you end up trading for The Hobbit?

  AHall80: Yeah. Already finished it and traded 2 Dan Brown books for the first LOTR book.

  RubyMars: That’s a fair trade. Tell me what you think.

  AHall80: I will.

  RubyMars: Have any of your other Help a Soldier people sent you things recently?

  AHall80: A couple weeks ago I got a big box of socks, baby wipes, and snacks.

  RubyMars: Sounds like fun.

  AHall80: It was. I already ate everything. :]

  RubyMars: Party animal. :)

  RubyMars: Have you heard anything else about when you’re leaving for good?

  AHall80: Not yet, but everything seems to be on schedule. Should be about 8 weeks. The longest 8 weeks of my life.

  RubyMars: I’m sure.

  AHall80: I want a shitty, greasy, deep dish pizza like you can’t imagine. I can already taste it.

  AHall80: A hot shower… a real bed… AC everywhere…

  RubyMars: Clean clothes?

  AHall80: Clean clothes. Clean socks. No sand.

  RubyMars: Clean underwear.

  RubyMars: No sand? I thought you were planning on going to the beach?

  AHall80: The beach is different. There’s water. It isn’t just desert and more desert.

  RubyMars: I guess that makes sense.

  RubyMars: My brother said once that his goal is to never see sand in his life again.

  AHall80: For real.

  RubyMars: What I didn’t finish saying was that he said that, but he’s gone to Cancun twice with his boyfriend, LOL.

  AHall80: It’s different. I’m over this sand shit.

  AHall80: Never again

  RubyMars: Does that mean you’r
e dead set on not re-enlisting?

  AHall80: …

  RubyMars: Whatever you want. I’m not judging. We don’t have to talk about it.

  AHall80: It’s not that I don’t want to talk about it…

  RubyMars: But you don’t want to talk about it.

  AHall80: :] Basically.

  RubyMars: I’ll change the subject then.

  RubyMars: Have you gone #2 lately?

  AHall80: Three days ago.

  RubyMars: Are you joking?

  AHall80: I wish.

  RubyMars: AARON

  AHall80: I know. I KNOW.

  RubyMars: Does it hurt?

  AHall80: Uh, when it comes out?

  RubyMars: Omg

  RubyMars: Aaron

  RubyMars: I meant your stomach.

  RubyMars: Does your stomach hurt?

  RubyMars: I can’t breathe

  RubyMars: Or type

  RubyMars: I didn’t mean your… rectum.

  RubyMars: Aaron?

  RubyMars: Aaron?

  RubyMars: Are you there?

  RubyMars: AARON?

  AHall80: You’re not the only one who couldn’t breathe or type.

  RubyMars: LMAO I’m crying.

  AHall80: me too

  AHall80: me too

  RubyMars: I mean… you can tell me if your butt hurts too, I guess.

  AHall80: Ruby, stop

  RubyMars: Seriously. You can tell me. I won’t judge.

  RubyMars: It happens.

  RubyMars: I think.

  AHall80: Stop

  RubyMars: I can’t breathe

  AHall80: I don’t know when the last time I laughed so hard was.

  AHall80: Everyone is looking at me wondering wtf happened.

  RubyMars: Your rectum happened

  AHall80: BYE

  RubyMars: I can’t stop laughing

  AHall80: You’re never hearing from me again

  RubyMars: There are tears coming out of my eyes.

  AHall80: Bye. I’ll write you again when I find my balls.

  RubyMars: It was nice knowing you.

  AHall80: BYE

  March 22nd

  AHall80: Hey

  RubyMars: Hey

  RubyMars: How are you?

  RubyMars: And by ‘you’ I mean you as a whole, not any specific body part.

  AHall80: ….

  AHall80: ….

  AHall80: Never living that down, am I?

  RubyMars: What do you think?

  AHall80: I’m thinking that’s a negative

  RubyMars: :)

  RubyMars: I’m still laughing about it.

  AHall80: I bet you are

  AHall80: Miss I walk into closed doors

  RubyMars: Har har

  RubyMars: I’m guessing you found your balls somewhere?

  AHall80: …

  RubyMars: I’ll take that as a yes.

  RubyMars: Guess what?

  AHall80: You’re not constipated?

  RubyMars: Yes because I eat enough broccoli (covered in cheese), but besides that.

  AHall80: What is it?

  RubyMars: I went on a date with that guy.

  AHall80: The 21 year old?

  RubyMars: Yep, and it was only awkward about half the time.

  AHall80: What’d you do?

  RubyMars: We went to this comic book store and then went for coffee.

  AHall80: A comic book store?

  RubyMars: He’s into comics. I like graphic novels more. The stories are better and they’re longer.

  AHall80: Hmm.

  AHall80: Did you have a good time?

  RubyMars: Yes. He’s a little shy, but it was nice.

  AHall80: Did he pick you up?

  RubyMars: And tell him where I live? You nuts?

  AHall80: Smart girl

  RubyMars: Duh. We met up by the comic book store and the coffee shop was in the same shopping center. He had to wake up early for school, so we weren’t out all night or anything.

  RubyMars: He texted me an hour afterward to see if I’d like to go out with him after his midterms in a couple weeks.

  AHall80: Did you say yes?

  RubyMars: Yeah. What do you think? I’m not in love with him or anything like that, but I didn’t mind spending time with him. I figured I’d give it another shot and see how it goes.

  AHall80: “didn’t mind spending time with him…”

  AHall80: Hmm

  AHall80: Go with him

  AHall80: I’ve done worse with girls I did mind spending time with.

  AHall80: And here I am

  RubyMars: Yeah, I’m sure.

  RubyMars: I’m still going to finish my dating profile though. Why not?

  RubyMars: “and here you are,” damn it, Aaron. You’re just picking the wrong ones is all.

  AHall80: Good girl

  AHall80: I never said I was picking good ones, more like “good for now.”

  RubyMars: “Good for now”

  RubyMars: ….

  RubyMars: All I’m going to say is, maybe you just need to find the right girl. Not at a bar.

  RubyMars: Maybe she’s waiting for you at a church or a shelter.

  AHall80: You’re a pain in the ass, Ru

  RubyMars: Yeah, you don’t like that idea so much when someone turns it around on you, huh?

  AHall80: …..

  AHall80: How’s your little sister?

  RubyMars: Fine, we’ll change the subject.

  RubyMars: She’s being a pain in the butt. She still hasn’t gone to the rink. I don’t know what to do.

  AHall80: Drag her.

  RubyMars: She’s bigger than I am, and stronger.

  AHall80: How tall are you? I looked up a video of her and she looks small.

  RubyMars: You did?

  RubyMars: I’m five one. She’s five three.

  RubyMars: She’s freakishly strong, don’t let her deceive you.

  AHall80: You can take her

  AHall80: Why didn’t I know you were short?

  RubyMars: Honestly, I’m scared of her. You just have to know her to get it.

  RubyMars: My mom is five feet tall. It isn’t a big deal in my family. We’re all short. I don’t even think about it half the time.

  AHall80: Why are you scared of her?

  AHall80: Your brothers are short?

  RubyMars: Because she’s a crazy person. She doesn’t care about anything right now. When things are going her way, she might give two craps in a day, max. She can be the meanest person I know on a good day. I caught her eating ice cream straight from the gallon while watching Glee. She’s relapsing.

  RubyMars: One of my brothers is like five six and the other one claims he’s five eight, but he’s full of it.

  AHall80: Isn’t Glee the show about the kids in choir?

  RubyMars: Close enough, and yeah, that show. It’s a bad combination. It’s the beginning of the end. I know I need to do something, but no one else wants to say anything to her. They’re all letting her sulk. If it wasn’t for her going to work, I doubt she’d leave the house.

  AHall80: Do something

  RubyMars: I will, but I’m not forcing her to the rink. Actually, I think I have an idea…

  AHall80: What is it?

  RubyMars: I think I’m going to make her the nicest ice-skating dress I’ve ever made, since it’s not like I’m swamped or anything. She’s a sucker for the good ones.

  AHall80: Do it

  RubyMars: You think so?

  AHall80: Yeah

  AHall80: Have you talked to your aunt, the wedding one?

  RubyMars: Yes.

  AHall80: What did she say?

  RubyMars: I talked to her about a new dress she wanted me to start working on.

  AHall80: Ruby

  RubyMars: I know, I know.

  AHall80: You can do it. I believe in you.

  RubyMars: You’re a good friend to me, Aaron not-an-asswipe.

  AHall80: I’d be a better friend to you i
f I got you to stand up for yourself.

  AHall80: I have this feeling she doesn’t pay you as much as you deserve.

  RubyMars: :)

  RubyMars: Probably not. I don’t look at what she charges anymore.

  AHall80: Ask her for a raise at least.

  RubyMars: She was just complaining about how she’s broke.

  AHall80: I’m going to drop it for now, but I know you know she’s taking advantage of you.

  RubyMars: I know…

  AHall80: I gotta go, but think about saying something. For real.

  RubyMars: I will.

  AHall80: I’ll msg you soon. Bye

  RubyMars: Bye, Aaron.

  March 24th

  AHall80: Rubes

  RubyMars: Hey you.

  RubyMars: How is everything?

  AHall80: Good. About to go play some Halo.

  AHall80: Check your e-mail

  RubyMars: If you sent me a chain letter…

  AHall80: Just check your e-mail.

  RubyMars: Okay, one second.

  RubyMars: He’s so handsome!!!

  AHall80: I told you you didn’t have to send Aries anything.

  RubyMars: I know you said I didn’t, but you did give me your dad’s PO box, and I had leftover material. It looks perfect on him.

  AHall80: Max saw him and asked if you could make three more. He has two huskies and a lab mix.

  RubyMars: Of course I can.

  AHall80: How much should I tell him to send you?

  AHall80: You better not tell me you’ll do it for free.

  RubyMars: Why?

  AHall80: Why what? Why you can’t make them for free?

  RubyMars: Yes.

  AHall80: Because you should sell them

  AHall80: And we both have jobs and you don’t.

  RubyMars: ….

  AHall80: :] Let him pay you. I’ll tell him $20 each, or more?

  AHall80: You can say more.

  RubyMars: $20? Are you crazy?

  AHall80: 15

  RubyMars: No!

  AHall80: 14.99

  RubyMars: When did you become a pest?

  AHall80: You’ve rubbed off on me.

  AHall80: 10

  RubyMars: $10 is too much. It’s from an old bolt I had and the bandanas aren’t even reversible, and it’s you.

  AHall80: $9?

  RubyMars: Stop. $5 each. That’s my final offer.

  AHall80: You sure?

  RubyMars: Positive

  AHall80: K. To the address you sent them from?

  RubyMars: Yes, stalker

  AHall80: ….

  RubyMars: ….

  AHall80: How’s the job hunt going?

  RubyMars: Terrible, but I’ve picked up a few more dress jobs and my brother’s boyfriend ordered dog bandanas and so did his mom. Something is something. As long as my mom doesn’t kick me out, I’ll be fine. No going out to eat for me unless someone treats, but that’s okay.