9.16.2008

Dear Friend,

I am writing to you because I miss Larry. He was shipped out to Afghanistan in June and I’m worried about him. I just need to know that he will be ok, and that he will come home safe. I think you of all people would understand that because your brother was shipped to Iraq two years ago. It’s hard to stop thinking about all the bad things that can happen to our friends and family in the war. There are so many dangerous situations they are put in and we have no control of anything. So, this is my life. And I want you to know that I’m scared.

Larry is my best friend. We have been inseparable since we met freshman year of high school in honors history class. We were both huge “nerds” according to the popular kids in class. I was a quiet, teacher’s pet who always sat by herself in the back of the class. On the first day of class Larry sat next to me. He was loud and obnoxious and always had an opinion about everything. He used all these fancy word that no one could understand and I liked that about him. I’m not sure why, but as soon as I we met I knew that we would be friends. I offered him a piece of gum ‘cause I couldn’t think of anything good to say. I asked him if he had ever seen Veggie Tales. It’s a religious carton with “inspirational” stories for kids. My step-dad made me watch them when I was little, because I “needed to accept Jesus Christ as my lord and savior”. Larry said no, and that organized religion is “bullshit”. I agreed with him, but I would never say that out loud. I told him how one of the main characters was a talking cucumber named Larry. He asked what talking vegetables have to do with God, and I had no clue, but it made both of us laugh. From then on I brought him a piece of gum and a picture of Larry the talking cucumber every day. I think he still has a stash of Larry pictures somewhere. I guess now that he is in the Marines I should draw a picture of Larry the cucumber in uniform standing in the desert with a gun and a camel spider and an American flag.

I haven’t herd from Larry in a few weeks and I wonder if anything bad has happened to him. I guess the real reason I wrote this letter is, in case Larry dies, I want one other person to know that he was a person that laughed at talking cucumbers even though they have nothing to do with God.

XOXO,
Avery

P.S.-There is a picture of Larry the Cucumber in the top right corner of the screen for your viewing pleasure!!!