This Is What Happy Looks Like (This Is What Happy Looks Like #1)
Jennifer E. Smith
To Mom, with love
From: [email protected] Sent: Thursday, March 7, 2013 10:18 PM
To: [email protected] Subject: (no subject)
Hey, we’re running pretty behind here. Any chance you could walk Wilbur for me tonight?
From: [email protected] Sent: Thursday, March 7, 2013 10:24 PM
To: [email protected]
Subject: Re: (no subject)
I think you have the wrong e-mail address. But since I’m a dog owner too, and I don’t want poor Wilbur to be stranded, I thought I’d write back and let you know…
From: [email protected] Sent: Thursday, March 7, 2013 10:33 PM
To: [email protected] Subject: Re: (no subject)
Ah, sorry about that. New phone, so I’m typing in the address. Looks like I forgot a number. Wilbur and I both thank you. (And by the way, he’s actually a pig.)
From: [email protected] Sent: Thursday, March 7, 2013 10:34 PM
To: [email protected]
Subject: Re: (no subject)
A pig! What kind of pig goes for walks?
From: [email protected] Sent: Thursday, March 7, 2013 10:36 PM
To: [email protected] Subject: Re: (no subject)
The very sophisticated kind. He even has his own leash…
From: [email protected] Sent: Thursday, March 7, 2013 10:42 PM
To: [email protected]
Subject: Re: (no subject)
Some pig!
From: [email protected] Sent: Thursday, March 7, 2013 10:45 PM
To: [email protected] Subject: Re: (no subject)
Oh, yeah. He’s terrific! Radiant! Humble!
From: [email protected] Sent: Thursday, March 7, 2013 10:47 PM
To: [email protected]
Subject: Re: (no subject)
Wow, a pig owner and a fan of Charlotte’s Web. You must be either a farmer or a librarian.
From: [email protected] Sent: Thursday, March 7, 2013 11:01 PM
To: [email protected] Subject: Re: (no subject)
I dabble in both.
From: [email protected] Sent: Thursday, March 7, 2013 11:03 PM
To: [email protected]
Subject: Re: (no subject)
Seriously?
From: [email protected] Sent: Thursday, March 7, 2013 11:04 PM
To: [email protected] Subject: Re: (no subject)
No. Not seriously. What about you?
From: [email protected] Sent: Thursday, March 7, 2013 11:05 PM
To: [email protected]
Subject: Re: (no subject)
I’m neither a farmer nor a librarian.
From: [email protected] Sent: Thursday, March 7, 2013 11:11 PM
To: [email protected] Subject: Re: (no subject)
Let me guess then. You’re an underemployed dogwalker who’s been sitting by the computer in the hope that someone might ask you to walk something more exciting than a poodle?
From: [email protected] Sent: Thursday, March 7, 2013 11:12 PM
To: [email protected]
Subject: Re: (no subject)
Bingo. Guess this is my lucky day…
From: [email protected] Sent: Thursday, March 7, 2013 11:13 PM
To: [email protected] Subject: Re: (no subject)
Really, though. What’s your deal?
From: [email protected] Sent: Thursday, March 7, 2013 11:14 PM
To: [email protected]
Subject: Re: (no subject)
… asks the random stranger from the Internet.
From: [email protected] Sent: Thursday, March 7, 2013 11:15 PM
To: [email protected] Subject: Re: (no subject)
… says the girl who’s still writing back.
From: [email protected] Sent: Thursday, March 7, 2013 11:17 PM
To: [email protected]
Subject: Re: (no subject)
How do you know I’m a girl?
From: [email protected] Sent: Thursday, March 7, 2013 11:18 PM
To: [email protected] Subject: Re: (no subject)
Easy. You quoted Charlotte’s Web.
From: [email protected] Sent: Thursday, March 7, 2013 11:19 PM
To: [email protected]
Subject: Re: (no subject)
So did you!
From: [email protected] Sent: Thursday, March 7, 2013 11:24 PM
To: [email protected] Subject: Re: (no subject)
Yeah, but my parents are teachers.
From: [email protected] Sent: Thursday, March 7, 2013 11:26 PM
To: [email protected]
Subject: Re: (no subject)
So does that mean you’re not a girl?
From: [email protected] Sent: Thursday, March 7, 2013 11:27 PM
To: [email protected] Subject: Re: (no subject)
Nope. Not a girl.
From: [email protected] Sent: Thursday, March 7, 2013 11:31 PM
To: [email protected]
Subject: Re: (no subject)
Does that mean you’re a creepy old Internet predator using your pet pig as an excuse to stalk 16-year-old girls?
From: [email protected] Sent: Thursday, March 7, 2013 11:33 PM
To: [email protected] Subject: Re: (no subject)
Busted.
No, I’m only seventeen, which I think lands me pretty solidly outside of creepy-old-man territory.
From: [email protected] Sent: Thursday, March 7, 2013 11:38 PM
To: [email protected]
Subject: Re: (no subject)
Fair enough. Though, unfortunately, I’m still not available to walk Wilbur tonight. And even if I was, you’d probably have to find someone a little bit closer, since I doubt you live anywhere near me.
From: [email protected] Sent: Thursday, March 7, 2013 11:39 PM
To: [email protected] Subject: Re: (no subject)
How do you know?
From: [email protected] Sent: Thursday, March 7, 2013 11:40 PM
To: [email protected]
Subject: Re: (no subject)
I’m from Middle-of-Nowhere, Maine.
From: [email protected] Sent: Thursday, March 7, 2013 11:42 PM
To: [email protected] Subject: Re: (no subject)
Oh, then I guess you’re right. I’m from Middle-of-Everything, California.
From: [email protected] Sent: Thursday, March 7, 2013 11:43 PM
To: [email protected]
Subject: Re: (no subject)
Lucky duck.
From: [email protected] Sent: Thursday, March 7, 2013 11:44 PM
To: [email protected] Subject: Re: (no subject)
Lucky pig, actually.
From: [email protected] Sent: Thursday, March 7, 2013 11:48 PM
To: [email protected]
Subject: Re: (no subject)
Right! Hey, weren’t you running behind with something?
From: [email protected] Sent: Thursday, March 7, 2013 11:51 PM
To: [email protected] Subject: Re: (no subject)
Yeah, I should probably be getting back to it…
From: [email protected] Sent: Thursday, March 7, 2013 11:55 PM
To: [email protected]
Subject: Re: (no subject)
Okay. Nice talking to you. And sorry I couldn’t come through for Wilbur.
From: [email protected] Sent: Thursday, March 7, 2013 11:57 PM
To: [email protected] Subject: Re: (no subject)
He’ll forgive you, I’m sure. He’s a very magnanimous pig.
From: [email protected] Sent: Thursday, March 7, 2013 11:58 PM
To: [email protected]
Subject: Re: (no subject)
I’m relieved to hear that.
From: [email protected] Sent: Friday, March 8, 2013 12:01 AM
To: [email protected] Subject: Re: (no subject)
Hey, E?
From: [email protected] Sent: Friday, March 8, 2013 12:02 AM
To: [email protected]
Subject: Re: (no subject)
Yes… G?
From: [email protected] Sent: Friday, March 8, 2013 12:03 AM
To: [email protected] Subject: Re: (no subject)
What if I e-mail you again tomorrow?
From: [email protected] Sent: Friday, March 8, 2013 12:04 AM
To: [email protected]
Subject: Re: (no subject)
I don’t know. I’m not exactly in the habit of trolling the Internet for pen pals…
From: [email protected] Sent: Friday, March 8, 2013 12:05 AM
To: [email protected] Subject: Re: (no subject)
But?
From: [email protected] Sent: Friday, March 8, 2013 12:07 AM
To: [email protected]
Subject: Re: (no subject)
But I’m also terrible at good-byes.
From: [email protected] Sent: Friday, March 8, 2013 12:08 AM
To: [email protected] Subject: Re: (no subject)
Okay then. I’ll just say hello again instead.
From: [email protected] Sent: Friday, March 8, 2013 12:09 AM
To: [email protected]
Subject: Re: (no subject)
I like that better. And I’ll say: Good morning!