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to Nollop for alengthy visit, for purposes of investigating this odd, unprecedented political and social crisis in which you now find yourself embroiled. Since my interest in Nollop has been hidden to some degree by the veil of academia, my name and face may not be known to the Council, and so my application for short-term visa may stand a chance for approval. I know that the Council has, since Statute 24-37, refused entry to all American journalists and scholars. (All the news of the latest goings-on has come from those who have involuntarily—or in an increasing number of cases, voluntarily—left the island.) As an added precaution I will assume, with your permission, the role of “old friend of the family.” Mr. Creevy reports that you and your daughter have remained in Council favor, and so I’m hopeful that such a visit won’t raise governmental objections.
    I know that I am asking much from you; I am, after all, a total stranger to the two of you. (And yet from Mr. Creevy’s descriptions of you both, I do feel that I know you somewhat. I understand that some of Mr. Creevy’s happiest childhood moments were spent in your company—with you as his second grade teacher and your daughter Natassa as his middle school English tutor.)
    I will certainly understand if you have reservations, and if those reservations prevent you from allowing me to stay. (If this turns out to be the case I trust that you will divulge to no one the fact that I approached you in this regard.) But if you feel as many of your fellow islanders do, that the actions of the Council should be brought to the light of public scrutiny with my earnest little journal serving as appropriate vehicle, perhaps your convictions might outweigh any misgivings you may have about the reason for and the manner of my visit.
    I look forward to your response.
    Sincerely
,
    Nate Warren
     
    NOLLOPVILLE
    Monday, September 4
(American Labor Day)
    Dear Mr. Warren,
    I have discussed your petition with my daughter Tassie. She has allayed my minor concerns, and so I am able to hereby welcome you to our home as “good old friend of the family.” I look forward to hearing if your application for visa will be approved. Please let us know if there is anything we can do to help.
    Best wishes
,
    Mittie Purcy
     
    NOLLOPVILLE
    Monday, September 4
    Dear Cousin Ella,
    Mother is better, buoyed somewhat by the strangest letter we received last week, from a gentleman named Nate Warren who publishes a journal about Nollop. He wants to write an article for American readership on the Council’s actions of late, and for this purpose has asked if he might come to stay with Mother and me. Mother immediately wrote him back to say yes, by all means. I have never known her to act so hastily in any regard!
    I must say that I am rather looking forward to the young man’s visit.
    With love
,
    Your cousin Tassie
     
    NOLLOPTON
    Wednesday, September 6
    Dear Tassie,
    I am excited to learn of your soon-to-be houseguest. Anything to boost Aunt Mittie’s foundering spirits, and yours as well!
    Perhaps, by now, you have heard of the tragic public flogging of the Rasmussen family—all six members whipped like misbehaving canines on the public green as was their choice following the soon to be infamous Daffy and Donald affair.
    Their offense? Each member in deliberate provocation of the High Island Council had marched single file into last Tuesday’s open session wearing cartoon masks and making loud duck sounds—sounds which any sentient Nollopian knows by now are forbidden—while holding aloft large cardboard containers of a certain recently outlawed brand of American oatmeal.
    As the Rasmussens were being manacled by members of the L.E.B., Council Member Willingham asked for the reason behind such a flagrant flouting of the “clear and unambiguous” law against use of the seventeenth letter—a flouting made all the more “pernicious” by the enthusiastic abandon with which it was