JLNicky: Umm, scribbler u wanna say anything?

The Scribbler: Nope

JLNicky: Me neither. Hope they like it.

The Scribbler: Me 2! Oh wait. I do have something to say. As always, this is for the love of my life!

JLNicky - Damn I wish I had one of those. (Pout) I just want to dedicate it to all the women in uniform…you hawwwwwt ones you. (Wink)

Second Letter To Home (PART 2)

Trina,

Sorry it will probably take a while for this to get to you. But mail is sporadic at best. So I am hoping this letter reaches you before I get home. (Haha)

I..umm…don't know what to say. I'm so happy and at the same time I'm devastated. You and your brother wrote me two completely different letters and I…well let me explain. I am not sure any more about your brother and I being friends any longer. And nosy one that you are, please leave it be until I get home and maybe then we can all try and overcome our differences. But you know how stubborn we both can be. Remember that time; oh let's see you were about 5 or 6? And he got it in his head you were adopted and we dragged you around the neighborhood looking for your "real" parents. We got in a fight over you then. I told him he was so wrong. He gave me my first shiner. Then we had to make up a story, so we wouldn't get in trouble.

Well he is mad now and has expressed himself very clearly. I love him like the brother I never had but we are all grown adults here and he needs to understand this is not something I've just discovered. I think you knew I was escaping from many things but…between my unexpressed feelings for you and my disaster of a family life with my parents it's been difficult to cope. Here it seems so remote and somehow easier to believe I'm normal. Am I normal, Trin?

This country we are in seems so far removed from civilization as we know it. The sands blow and just like in the movies you can't see anything. It gets everywhere. And I do mean everywhere. I can hear you laughing now; little miss 'can't get her hands dirty'.

God, it's so cold here sometimes and then in the day it's so hot I sweat my body weight off. We are required to drink so much rationed water a day for fear we might pass out or something. Some of the guys have. The weird thing is it's taken for granted by us that we have water. Some of these civilians, the kids especially, that we see in the occasional villages, just stand staring as they watch us down bottle after bottle. It makes me ill knowing they don't have water. The trash we make from eating MRE's (meals ready to eat) is collected and sent to someone in the villages to be recycled. I'm so glad they make those MRE's hot now.

I'm really sorry about smudging the paper. I haven't had a chance to shower lately and I'm kind of filthy. I itch from the grime. We don't have showers when we travel so we cut off the top of large water bottles. One is used to soap up and one to soap down. I haven't felt really clean since arriving. It's OK though. I have on clean underwear!

How are you doing in school? Bet you have all the guys drooling over you. Keep your nose in the books kid. It will help you in the end. I can tell by your letter you're already very skilled in writing. Do you still write those great short stories like you used to? Damn. The lights are going out in two minutes. I'll finish this tomorrow I hope. God I miss you and Trent. Good night.

Hi. Where was I? Today the heat is pretty bad. We just got in fresh supplies and I think I lost 5 pounds just unloading it. After the weather turns cooler we will begin dispensing aide. I saw a little girl early this morning and she reminded me of you, when you were about that age. But the contrast between her and you is so great; you were so bubbly, always seeming like you had a joke about life. I kinda envied that, I think. This little girl doesn't have the sparkle you did. She doesn't have that same joy but her face did light up when I gave her some chocolate. All women, even tiny ones like their chocolate . I remember that time the chocolate melted and you got it all over you. Of course your brother got in trouble for it, but I had a good laugh after I ditched you both. Bad wasn't I?

Why is it that I feel so drained and depressed? I know it has everything to do with your brother's letter. I have tried a couple of times to write him back. I just can't find the words. I'll sit down today after dinner and write him. No matter what he says I still can't change my heart. I'm mailing this now. Write me,

Jo

Letter From Home 2

Jo, I was so happy to receive your letter yesterday. It had some black marks scorched on it. I don't even want to think about what that may mean.

Anyway I just got back to the college dorms. I've put my dorm box address on the return envelope for you to write me. My brother practically turned purple when he saw you had written. I explained that I had sneaked a peek at your letter and he got so angry. I think he has lost it. He has suddenly become a huge angry crazy person and he even tried to forbid us writing to each other. When I challenged him and asked why he just went all tight-lipped about what your letter said. I am sorry Jo. He was angry for a couple of days and now he just looks unhappy. I think he realizes he may have made a mistake and I hope he gets over it soon because I can't stop having feelings for you. No matter what happened between the two of you in your letters he will eventually have to accept us. I know you told me to butt out. But I can't. He looks like you sound, upset, lost, and hoping for guidance. Trying to keep sane I was waiting for your letter like a religious experience. Unfortunately my mailman was not feeling the 'amen' when it arrived. He now thinks I need medication, I'm sure. I have been listening to the news how bad it is there with our soldiers dying everyday. I pray you stay safe. It amazes me the things you remember about me when were just kids. I can clearly recall when I would follow you two like a lost puppy dog. And I was so happy when you took me with you. Not that you all didn't do it that often, unless mom made you. As a matter of fact I remember one time when you and bro were going out with other friends. Me and I think it was my friend Janice wanted to go to the movies. But bro didn't want to take us. So I remember mom telling him, that when he wasn't able to drive she had driven him all over. Now, it was his turn to drive his baby sister. I remember fake gagging when she said that and you just looked over at me and winked. I wanted to sink in the floor.

There is a campus party tomorrow night. It's to celebrate the return from our break since we will all have to get back to the grind (sigh). I can't wait until school is over. I am glad to be able to take classes in a variety of subjects but…when will I ever use Advanced Geometry? Some of my courses suck, obviously. Do you know when you'll be coming home? I have had a bad feelin lately. Please tell me it will be soon. I wish I could fix the rift between you and my brother. He is acting like an idiot and I have told him as much. Maybe your letter will help. I know your gonna explain it to him so he can understand. I need you two back as friends. You're my family. Besides, we both love you and that wont ever change. You remember that OK?

Please write me soon. Your girl,

Trina

Letter To Home 3

Dear Trent,

I hope you read this and give me a chance to explain my side. I'm so sorry you are angry with me. I can't help but feel like I've let you down. You're my best friend and somehow I just thought you would know me better. I would never try to hurt you. I damn sure don't want to hurt your sister. I…just wanted you to know my feelings. In several ways you two are the only ones in my life that I count on to tell it to me straight. I just hope you understand I love you both, very much. I guess that's all that I have to say on it.

Being your best friend (still?) I need to talk to you. It's hard to tell anyone what I've seen and felt since coming here. I've aged. I mean I can't tell you where I'm at but…the whole scene is sometimes surreal. I don't mean in a good way either. We have had bombs exploding and sirens go off almost every night since we arrived at this location. It's a hotbed of fighting. I've barely slept and should be sleeping now. I just cant.

I've shot my gun through three full magazines and that's a whole lot of bullets. It's the scariest thing shooting at the flashes of gunfire you see. I have to believe that I've hit some targets over there in the dark. I didn't earn this marksman ribbon for nothing. I guess that whole 'women don't belong in combat' joke will forever fall flat.

I watched an RPG strike a building I was across the street from. We had to pull the bodies clear of the debris. Dead, broken, bodies, helpless causalities of war, God help me. I've stopped throwing up when I see them now.

I was hoping the memories that were running on all the memory reels inside my head would help me get through this but I am still empty. I miss you and your family. I think of all the things we did together while growing up and I'm surprised we made it to be adults. I don't want to…over here. Hell, I can't even write it.

That was an AT4 missile whistling right over our heads. I can tell by the sound now. We are leavin on a convoy in a just few hours and I will be so glad. I am not sure when I will get to write again. Please write me. Even an angry letter is better than nothing from you. Don't show this letter to Trina.

I should get some sleep. My flight leader is pacing. That's a very bad sign. I will try and write more tomorrow.

Your Best Friend,

Jo

Continued...