but we thought we were so cool! Remember that time on Christmas Eve absolutely years ago when we had a ‘Santa’ watch? We planned it for weeks, drawing little diagrams of the road and maps of our houses just so we could cover every angle and not miss him. You were on the 7–10 p.m. watch and I was on the 10 p. m.–1 a.m. watch. You were supposed to wake up and take over from me, but – surprise, surprise – you didn’t. I stayed awake all night, screaming down into that walkie-talkie, trying to wake you up! Ah well, it was your loss. I saw Santa and you didn’t …
If you stay with us, Alex, we’ll be able to talk all night! It would be so much fun. When we were kids we always wanted to live together. Now’s our chance.
Talk to your mum and dad about it. Convince them to say yes. Anyway, you’re eighteen so you can do what you like!
Rosie,
I didn’t want to wake you so your mum said she would pass this on to you. You no I hate goodbyes, but anyway, it’s not goodbye because you’re going to come over and visit all the time. Promise me. Mum and Dad wouldn’t even let me stay with Phil, never mind you. I couldn’t convince them. They want to keep their eye on me for my final year of school.
I have to go … I’ll miss you. Ring you when I get there.
Love,
Alex
PS. I told you, I was awake that Christmas Eve. My battery just went dead on my walkietalkie … (and I did see Santa, I’ll have you no).
Alex,
Good luck, little brother. Don’t worry, you’ll enjoy yourself once you get there and I can’t wait to come and visit. Despite having Margaret and the kids, I still feel like moving over with the lot of you. I’ll miss you all. It won’t be the same without you. Stop worrying about Rosie. Her life’s not going to fall apart just because you’re in different countries. But if it’ll make you feel any better I’ll look out for her for you – she does almost seem like my little sister. By the way, if Sandy doesn’t learn how to control her bladder in this house then I’m sending her over to you on a plane.
We’ll miss you,
Phil (+ Margaret, William and Fiona)
From Rosie
To Stephanie
Subject Urgent sisterly advice needed
I can’t believe he’s gone, Steph. I can’t believe you’re gone. Why is everyone leaving me? Surely you could have ‘found yourself’ a little closer to home? But France? Alex left only a few weeks ago but I almost feel like he’s dead …
Why did he have to break up with Slutty Bethany just two weeks before he left? Then I wouldn’t have gotten used to him being around so much again. Things really got back to normal, Steph. It was brilliant. We spent every second together and had so much fun!
Brian the Whine threw a going-away party for Alex just last week; I think it was just an excuse for Brian the Whine to get permission from his parents to have a party, to be honest, because the two of them never liked each other. Not since that pizza in James’s hair incident. But anyway, Whine held the party in his house and invited all of his friends, and me and Alex knew hardly anyone in the entire place! The people we did know we can’t stand, so we left and headed into town. You know O’Brien’s where we held your surprise 21st? Well, we went there and Alex had the bright idea of standing outside the pub door and pretending to be the bouncer. (There was none on the door that night because it was only a Monday.) Well, he pulled it off anyway because he’s really tall and muscly – you know Alex! Anyway, we stood there for ages turning people away; I don’t think he let one person in. Eventually we got bored and headed inside to the empty pub. Of course, the more drinks we had, the more me and Alex ended up getting all weepy about him moving away … Apart from that the night was brilliant. I miss the times we had, just us together like that.
You can’t imagine how lonely it is at school these days. I’m just short of getting down on my hands and knees and begging for someone to be my friend. How pathetic. No one really cares. I spent the last few years ignoring them so they don’t feel like they really have to talk to me. I think some of them are even enjoying it. The teachers are loving it. Mr. Simpson called me back after class to congratulate me on how well I’m doing lately. It’s shameful; Alex would be appalled if he found out I was actually working at school. I’m horrified that things have gotten so bad that I actually pay attention to the teachers. They’re the only people who even talk to me from one day to the next. How depressing.
I wake up in the morning and I feel like I’m missing something. I know that there’s something not right, and it takes me a while to remember what it is … then I remember. My best friend is gone. My only friend. It was silly of me to rely so much on one person. It’s all coming back on me now.
Anyway, sorry for whinging on and on all the time. I’m sure you have enough problems of your own to worry about. Tell me how my sophisticated big sis is doing over in France. Strange you’re over there – you always hated French class. At least it’s only for a few months, right? And then you’re coming back? Dad’s still not happy about you dropping out of college. Why you had to go away to find yourself is beyond me. Just look in the mirror. What’s the restaurant like? Have you dropped any plates yet? Are you going to work there for long? Any nice men? There must be; French men are yummy. If there are any spare men that you don’t want, send them my way.
Love,
Rosie
PS. Dad wants to know if you have enough money and if you’ve found yourself yet. Mum wants to know if you are eating properly. Little Kevin (he is so tall now you wouldn’t believe!) wants to know if you’ll send him some video game or other over. I don’t know what he’s talking about so just ignore him.
From Stephanie
To Rosie
Subject Re: Urgent sisterly advice
Hello, my darling little sister.
Don’t worry about Alex. I’ve thought long and hard about it and I’ve come to the conclusion that it’s a good idea he’s not there for your final year of school because at least for the first year EVER you may not get suspended. Think of how proud you would make Mum and Dad. (Oh, by the way, tell them I’m broke, starving and currently looking for myself in an internet café in Paris.)
I definitely know how you feel right now. I’m alone here too, but just stick the year out and when you’re finished maybe Alex will move back to Ireland, or you can go to college in Boston!
Aim for something, Rosie, I know you don’t want to hear it, but it will help. Aim for what you want and the year will all make sense. Go to Boston if that will make you happy. Study hotel management like you’ve always wanted.
You’re only young, Rosie, and I know that you absolutely hate to hear that but it’s true. What seems tragic now won’t even be an issue in a few years’ time. You’re only seventeen. You and Alex have the rest of your lives to catch up together. After all, soulmates always end up together. Silly Bethany won’t even be remembered then. Ex-girlfriends are easily forgotten. Best friends stay with you for ever.
Take care. Tell Mum and Dad I said hi and that I’m still looking for myself but may have found someone else in the process. Tall, dark and handsome …
