Literature

Booyah!When Danny finishes reading Tiffany’s latest letter, he sighs, scratches his Afro, and looks out my bedroom window for a long time. I want his reaction because he is the…

Best IntentionsPat, It’s been a while, hopefully long enough. If you haven’t ripped up this letter already, please read until the end. As you have discovered, I am a much…

I Need a Huge FavorOn New Year’s Eve day, after agreeing to buy unlimited beer for our neighbors, Jake manages to trade seats with the season-ticket holder in front of…

How Is She?My birthday falls on a Friday. December 29. In the afternoon, Mom helps me tape trash bags around my cast so I can take my first shower since…

Mad NipperWhen I wake, the rain has stopped, but I am shivering. I sit up, and my whole body hurts. My overcoat is gone. My leather loafers are gone. All…

An Episode Seems InevitableI rise before dawn on Christmas morning and begin my weight-lifting routine. I am nervous about being reunited with Nikki today, so I double-time my exercises in…

Letter #8-December 24, 2006Dear Pat, I won’t be coming on Christmas. I won’t be coming ever. Move on. Start over. Tiffany and your family will help you through this. Goodbye…

This Square in My HandMy father refuses to go with Mom, so I put on the new suit she bought me earlier this month and accompany her to the candlelit…

Letter #7-December 14, 2006Dear Nikki, I believe in happy endings with all my heart. I’ve worked too hard on self-improvement to give up on my movie now. Remember where I…

Letter #6-December 13, 2006Dear Pat, I’m sorry your childhood hero committed suicide. I’m sorry McNabb was injured. And I am especially sad to hear that your father is still allowing…

Letter #5-December 3, 2006Dear Nikki, The night after the Tennessee Titans destroyed the Eagles on their home turf – a game in which Donovan McNabb tore his ACL, ending his…

Letter #4-November 29, 2006Dear Pat, Tiffany informs me you are sincere, and from what she has told me about your new personality, it seems as though you are a completely…

Letter #3-November 18, 2006Dear Nikki, As soon as I read your letter, I had my mother check out The Adventures of Huckleberry Finn from the Collingswood Public Library. Eager to…

Letter #2-November 15, 2006Dear Pat, First, let me say it’s good to hear from you. It’s been a long time, which has been strange for me. I mean, when you…

Like a Shadow on Me All of the TimeVeronica drops us off in front of the Plaza Hotel on Saturday, saying, “Break a leg,” just before she pulls away. I…

My Movie’s MontageExplaining how I learned Tiffany’s routine and became an excellent dancer would be difficult – mostly because our rehearsals are long and grueling and extremely boring. We do…

I Will Have to Require a First-Place Victory”Question number one,” my father says. “How many touchdowns will McNabb throw against the Saints?” I can hardly believe I am actually eating…

As If He Were Yoda and I Were Luke Skywalker Training on the Dagobah SystemWhen we finish discussing our Kubb tournament victory and Mrs. Patel’s extraordinary ability to render an…

Weathering the Relative SqualorWhen I ask to see Jake’s wedding pictures, my mother plays dumb. “What wedding pictures?” she asks. But when I tell her I have met Caitlin -…

The Asian InvasionAfter a relatively short workout and an even shorter – and silent – run with Tiffany, I hop a train to Philadelphia. Following Jake’s directions, I walk down…