Letter 4

July 11th
From Alex Tailler; Daly City, California
To Derick Levine; Spencerport, New York

Dear Rick,

I received a letter from Cassidy in the same post as your own. As I have recently mentioned her to you, I must ask if you provided any encouragement in the matter. I am tempted to say things that carry great risk of face and friendship. I must implore you to discourage me as you used to before my tongue carries my life too far. I take comfort in the fact that I will be refined to Crestmont's boarding house for eight semesters to come.
I do have so many things to say to your step-sister, but I doubt the advantage of many of them. I do hope that you won't begrudge me my desperateness and that our friendship will endure.
I am gaining some confidence in my academic ability, but I still have a long way to go. I have found that if I use mnemonics of a designing nature, I take to the knowledge much more quickly than otherwise. Perhaps if I design that which reminds me to check my tongue and my pen, that will become easier as well.

Please forgive my short letter,
Al Tallier

Letter 3

July 10th
From Alex Tailler; Daly City, California
To Cassidy Levine; Spencerport, New York

Cassidy,

I admit that I am surprised to hear from you. I appreciate your well wishes and assure you that I am staying safe and studying often. Given this opportunity, I'd like to again thank you for your tutelage last year. I couldn't have passed Crestmont's standards without it. Even if your teachers are putting you in eighth grade, I'm quite certain that you belong in the twelfth.
I suppose you are correct in assuming it to be quite ironic that you fancied me at that time. Contrary to your belief, I would never hold it against you. I would be a hypocrite if I were to admonish you for it.


Sincerely,
Alex Tailler

Letter 2

July 6th
From Alex Tailler; Daly City, California
To Derick Levine; Spencerport, New York

Hey Rick,

I was glad to hear back from you. I can't tell you how happy I am to hear that Cassidy is well. If I can say so in confidence, I quite miss seeing her. I think about her more now than I ever had when she lived down the street. I must apologize again if I make you uncomfortable. I must implore you to keep my confidence if at all possible in the course of conversation with Cassidy.
I've enclosed a copy of my new mailing address. I will be leaving at the end of August, but the address will not be effective until mid-September because of some formality or another. I can't believe I'll actually be getting one step closer to bringing my textiles to the world. Even better, I'll be among people that won't think I can be both a guy and a fashion designer. It'll be great to meet some guys who can understand my interests and not assume that I'm into them. Maybe I'll find a nice girl; maybe I'll be able to... I can't bring myself to finish the thought. I could not forgive myself.
I went into Union Square over the weekend and found some really cool inspiration for designs. I know it's an odd thought, but I'd love to have a model to dress in my designs. A pretty face to represent the deeper motivation behind my pieces. I somehow think walking up to a stranger and asking to dress her would not be successful, however.
I'm happy to hear that you live so close to your new school. I suppose neither of us will be walking very far to our classes. If I do well enough at Crestmont, my work might be displayed at schools around the country. Maybe you and Cassidy will get to see it.
I would write more, but I have to study so that I can do well enough in classes in the fall to stay at Crestmont. I fear that I won't be good enough for the school even though I've already gotten in. I could get kicked out at any time since it's not a public school!

Until Later,
Al Tailler

Letter 1

June 28^th

From Alex Tailler; Daly City, California

To Derick Levine; Spencerport, New York

Dear Rick,

How are you? You only moved a month ago, but it's already boring here without you. I guess I got too used to having you around for ten years!

I can't believe that I'll be in ninth grade already. We're finally going to be high-schoolers! I just hope that I can find an environment different from middle-school. Remember Alyson Jacobs from second grade? I ran into her at the library and she's as snotty as ever. I think I might finally have a chance to get away from it all, though! Guess why.

I finally got into Crestmont Academy! I know that I'll have to live away from my family, but it's totally worth it for their design program. I've been waiting for this since grade school! I'm disappointed you won't be able to join me, though. I'm glad that your parents are getting back together, but they certainly aren't making it very convenient for us, are they?

I really hope I'll be able to make some interesting friends. Everyone here has gotten so boring. Maybe I've just become too jaded? It's a little hard to find fun when you and Cassidy are two thousand miles away. In any case, I'm looking forward to the change of scenery. I'll send you my new address when they assign dorm rooms. I'll keep you up to date on all progressions.

How is Cassidy adjusting to the East Coast? I can't imagine her away from our sunny shores; she's not meant for snow or rain or lake effect. I hope her nosebleeds have not gotten any worse with all of the pollution over there. I know it creeps you out when I talk about her now that she's your step-sister, but I've tried to keep it to a minimum.

I hope to hear back from you soon! It really sucks that your dad has some problem with wireless routers, but I won't have a computer at Crestmont, anyway, so snail mail will have to do for us. I hope to tell you more after I receive my schedule!

Your Friend,

Al Tailler