You have no idea how bad my mom is. You should have seen her when we were kids and anyone would say or do anything remotely unpleasant about us or to us. She could call us ungrateful, lazy, dumb brats, but if a teacher said we needed extra help, you’d figure we were geniuses by how offended she got. No one can talk shit about her kids but her.

I have my own list for you:

You can trust Aries too. :P (Why can you only trust some of your friends?)

Try sitting on a toilet seat that’s been peed on and tell me it isn’t a big deal for the pee-ee (person guilty of peeing) to not be conscious about it.

Maybe we all lie, but there’s a difference between a white lie and a being-an-asshole lie. Think about that.

Your first girlfriend was that girlfriend. I see. My two best friends each had boyfriends in high school and those guys all cheated on them. Now that I think about it, every relationship I know of in high school had that happen, not that it was always the guy who did it. I think that’s just the norm. We all have to grow up. Have you ever cheated on anyone?

That person I was goo goo gaa gaa over is a nice guy. Honestly. I don’t have love glasses on. You’re right though, maybe he could have handled the situation differently, but then again, so could I. I could have accepted he didn’t like me a long time ago and not… forced myself on him. “Every idea I have of where I’ve met women wouldn’t work for you,” oh brother. Going to try not to judge, but it’s hard. Lol. I already told you I know meeting people at a bar or a club is a bad idea, sensei.

“Every relationship turns into a bad one unless you find somebody to stay married to you for the rest of your life.” That’s an interesting way of looking at the truth. :)

Send me a picture of the puppy if you have a camera! If not, it’s not a problem. I’m attaching a picture of Sylvester, my ferret, in exchange.

Also, my sister (Jasmine) didn’t do so well at her competition. That’s why I never brought it up. After her short program, she placed third, which wasn’t so bad. She got sick the night before and was really weak. In her free skate, the nerves got to her and she fell twice. She came in sixth. No one in my family is bringing it up. Can you tell it’s a sore subject?

-Ruby

P.S. Girls like me. That sounds worse than it is. I’m not “sexy” or really confident or even really funny. I like doing dorky things, and I’m okay with all that. Most guys want someone who has a big rack or a big butt, or at least think or act like they do, or they like funny, outgoing girls. I’m not any of those. It is what it is. I’m just Ruby.

From: [email protected]il.mil

Date: December 24, 2008 1:01 p.m.

To: [email protected]

Subject: RE: You’re welcome

Ruby,

First off, Merry Christmas, crazy stalker girl.

Second, the socks did fit. I was relieved you bought XL ones instead of going down a size. For future reference… and not that you need to buy me anything again… I wear a size 12 in shoes. I’m six foot two.

I cancelled my Myspace account a while back, but if you’d friended me, I would have accepted it.

So you know… I read The Alchemist since I wrote you last. I’m sure you wouldn’t mind, but I let a friend of mine borrow it already. I started that Darkness something book you sent last night… the title is long and I can’t think of it. At the rate I’m going, I’ll be done with all the books you sent in two weeks.

Where did your brother and his bf meet? I don’t know how he managed to keep it a secret for that long, but it had to be tough. Can’t say I blame him though. There’s an equal amount who would and wouldn’t care.

Does your mom boss everyone around? Even her husband?

There is a difference between a white lie and a being-an-asshole lie. I’ll give you that. And I can only trust some of my friends because once somebody screws you over once, there’s always the chance they’ll do it again.

Talking about lies, I’ll tell you I wanted to be an asshole and lie to you, but I’ll tell you the truth. When I was younger… and dumber… I cheated on a couple of girlfriends. It’s been at least ten years since then. I’m not that same person. I was a teenager.

I don’t think I’ll ever believe you about that guy being “nice,” but whatever floats your boat, Rube. I’ll judge silently… and out of our judge-free zone. Just saying, I still think if he’d really cared about you, he would have said something to let you move on.

What? It’s the truth. Most bad decisions involve bars. Take it from me. I’m glad you know that. I’ve picked up women at them before… and parties. Don’t do that. Don’t trust anyone who would do that to you either.

All right maybe that was dark, but half of marriages end in divorce. At least a girlfriend can’t take half your money and kids.

^^^ Just because I’ve had a shit streak doesn’t mean you will.

Sylvester is cute. He’s browner than I figured he’d be.