Bastien Excerpt; January 17th (Age 14)

“Dear Dad,

It’s too bad that you’re always so busy. I keep asking Aunt and Uncle when you’ll come home, but they say you’re simply too busy. I suppose that’s understandable; the stage seems to demand your presence even more than I.

The other day there was a program about you on the biography channel; it was very recent! I didn’t know you were doing a special with them. I was going to watch it, but Auntie came home and sent me to my room to do my homework. I told her to record it, but she couldn’t get the Tivo to work. Hopefully I won’t miss it next time it airs; I’ll keep an eye out for it!

By the way, I still need to give you your Christmas gift. I know it’s the middle of January, but since you couldn’t make it home to spend Christmas with the family, I’ve just been holding onto it for you. I know you’ll like it; I want to tell you what it is, but that would spoil the surprise! I’ll tell you this much, though, I made it all by myself.

Where are you now, dad? I haven’t seen you since the fall, and even then, you didn’t even stop by the house to see Auntie and Uncle! Whatever you’re up to, I bet you’re doing excellent work as always. Even if you don’t write me back, I’m sure I’ll hear all about it in person, won’t I? I can hardly wait until then.”

The fourteen year old set down his pen, staring at the letter. He wrinkled his brow, sighing softly to himself. He then took the parchment in his hand and crumpled it to a ball, tossing it into the recycling bin. “No, that won’t do…” he murmured to himself. Even if he did finish the letter, it wasn’t as though he’d get to mail it. He had no adress to send it to, after all. Instead, the balled up paper sat atop a mountain of others like it in the small, plastic waste bin.

Bastien stared at his desk, deep in thought for a moment, before grabbing a fresh piece of paper.

“Dear Dad…”