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stuffed the note back in the envelope and put it aside. I grabbed my notepad
and pen, figuring it was best to just write him back now so that I didn’t have
to worry about it later.

 
    Dad,
    I’m fine. It’s not that hard. The food is
probably just as bad.
    Spencer

 
    With much more
enthusiasm than when I opened my dad’s letter, I moved on to Ellie’s. Hers was
considerably longer. I was surprised by how happy I felt as I saw her familiar
handwriting on the page. Then I got a whiff of something distinctly feminine
and glanced around the room, seeing only the same smelly recruits I’d been with
the whole time. Looking down at the paper, I wrinkled my nose and gave it a
whiff. It was scented .

 
    Dear
Spence,
    I read online that recruits can get messed
with pretty bad if they get a letter with perfume on it, and just because I
love you so much, I decided to test that theory. Let me know how that goes for
you.
    It sounds like this is going to be pretty
crazy. I don’t know when you’re going to get this letter, but hopefully you’ve
adjusted pretty well by the time you do. That’s absurd that they made you stay
up for so long in the beginning. I would have been giggling like an idiot… you
know how weird I get when I’m really tired! And yes, I agree that it’s odd not
being able to talk to you all the time. I’m going through sarcasm withdrawals!
    By the way, Sarah and Ashley both asked me
why you weren’t answering their calls. Did you forget to tell some girls that
you’d be unavailable for a few months? I’m not your secretary, slut!
      Have you heard from your dad? I gave him
your address. In fact, he was the one that called me asking for it,
surprisingly. I wonder if he’s regretting being gone the whole weekend before
you left. My family says ‘hi’ back, and hopes you’re doing well. My mom asked
if she could send you some cookies, and I told her I’d ask you. If it will have
a similar effect of perfume on a letter, I’m all for it.
    In response to your question, nothing new is
happening over here. Tim and I are doing fine, as usual. He’s leaving for
Sacramento soon, so I guess we’ll be doing the long distance thing. I’m not gonna lie, I’m really not looking
forward to it. I feel like I probably won’t be good at maintaining a
relationship like that, but I guess we’ll see. At least I’m getting practice
writing letters to you, so thanks for that.
    Come
back soon,
    E.

 
    “Is that a letter
from your girl?” A voice from above made me jump. I looked up to see my rack
mate hanging over from the bed above mine.
    “No, just a
friend.”
    “Smells like more
than just a friend.”
    I widened my eyes,
hoping the letter didn’t attract too much attention in case what Ellie said was
true. “You can smell it from all the way up there?”
    Mills grinned.
“After being surrounded by a bunch of dirty assholes for the last few weeks
that letter is like a beacon in the night.”
    “Where do you come
up with this shit?”
    “I’m a pretty
smart guy, you know. Smart enough to know that that girl is more than just a
friend.”
    I rolled my eyes.
“Give it up. She’s not. Did you get a letter from your girl?”
    “Yes, thank God. I
was beginning to think she already forgot about me.”
    “She should, I’ve
seen the Vienna sausage in your pants. That poor girl needs to move on.”
    Mills glared in
mock fury and rolled back onto his rack without another word. I picked up my
notepad and pen again and began writing Ellie back. I hesitated for a moment,
trying to figure out how to start. I settled on keeping it light, even though
hearing from her was the best thing that had happened to me since I’d gotten
there. It was strange how disconnected from reality I felt, and every mundane detail
from the outside world was welcomed.

 
    Ellie,
    Your attempt at sabotage with the perfume
didn’t work at all. It was just awesome to smell something other than all of
these nasty assholes