20 Years of Silence

Dear June,

February 15, 1984

            Hello June! 20 years have elapsed since we talked or wrote to each other. How have things been for you and for Neil? What does Neil do for a living? The news says that Indiana is sweltering- you should be feeling as home. I also heard that lots of people in the place you live lionize you for your music. August told me that you have gotten lots of money as a musician because you joined an orchestra and became the lead chelist. Is it true that you are writing songs to make your first record? Oh sorry- this is embarrassing- this seems like an interrogation.

            I want to go visit you to finally meet your daughter, October. I cried the day August told me that you named her as I wanted to be named. I didn’t know that you knew that I wanted to be called October- to have a calendar name as you and your sisters. I don’t know how tell or show you how happy I am. For this reason I am telling you that I love you in four ways. Te amo. Ek is life vir jou. I love you. Je t´aime.

I also want to give you a small heads up about my life. After Zack came from the north- after he became a lawyer- we got married, which was imminent. We are living with August- taking care of the bee farm, as you know if there is no queen in the hive things will get in a state of anarchy. I have been very meticulous about the bee farm because if something happened to the bees I will never pardon my self. I also became an author but wile I am not writing books I work in the farm. My first book was about the moment in which Zach was apprehended. I gave you a copy of that book and a copy of my second book- hope it already was delivered to your house. My second book was about the prohibited love between Zack and me, I hope you read it. For a third book Zach and me are conspiring together to right about how white and black people can be as successful as white people. Oh dear I am getting out of topic. What was I talking about? Oh yes abut me getting married with Zach.  For most of the people in the town it was bizarre for them to see a white woman and a black man married- those people can’t assimilate that love is colorless. T. Ray did not come to the wedding because he felt dissension about the idea of me getting merry to a black man. Oh I forgot to tell you that T. Ray was arraign because he assaulted a women back in Sylvia.

I almost forgot to tell you very good news! I am pregnant! Also the most important thing is that if it is a she we will call her May- just like old May. I still feel that May dying has been calamitous- after a year of May’s death August started crying when she passed near May’s wall. The problem is that if it is a boy we don’t know how to call him. Zack and I don’t want to be the type of family in which every son or daughter is called as his or he parents. Maybe you can write back to me with a good name. Well please answer me back and lest see if I can arrange a visit to your house one day to see your daughter. I will also like to figure out a way for you to come here to meet my child when it is born.

Love, Lily