Note: I've been wanting to write a story like this for awhile, but I never really had any ideas for it until SHMACK! All these ideas practically hit me in the face and I couldn't help but write.
I should mention that my inspiration for this is the novel 'Feeling Sorry For Celia' and 'The Year of Secret Assignments' which are by Jaclyn Moriarty and are v. cool books. I also borrowed the letter-writing idea she had which I thought was really fun. BUT that's all I borrowed. The characters and ideas are mine. Please don't steal them.

Rating: PG

KISS AND TELL

Daily Teenage Horoscope!!

LEO

Today will be a fantastic day for you!! Really! We’re jealous!! That big stress factor in your life will finally resolve itself today!! And that giant assignment you’ve been diligently working on night and day that’s due really soon, like NOW almost... well your work will pay off girl! You RULE!! With this load off your shoulders you’re shining like a star! So bright we need sunglasses! B) You’re bound to attract some attention from a certain crush! Go after what you want! You can’t possibly fail!


SERENA!!!

HEY! It’s your very very best friend!
I can’t stay for school today, as Jack and
I are going to the beach (sooo romantic right!?)
But I’ve left my Science assignment and French
homework right under that funny pig-shaped magnet
I never really realized was in your locker
until now. Is that new? ANYWAY! Please
please please hand these things in for me!!
THANK YOU!
Much love,
Cathy
P.S. Could you possibly write a note
for me explaining why I’m not there?
Say I have the flu or something.
GOOD LUCK ON THE HISTORY TEST!!! :)

Dear Miss West,
It has been noted that your failure to hand in several assignments has caused your English grade to drop a considerable amount. You, in turn, may have noticed that without completing an extra credit assignment you will not pass the course.
PLEASE ATTEND A MEETING AT LUNCH IN THE LIBRARY TO FURTHER DISCUSS YOUR SITUATION!!!
Concernedly,
Mr Drewery (Your English Teacher)


Dear ______ (this is blank because I don’t know your name. I have no idea who you are. It’s a very odd feeling writing to nothing.)

Hello. I wonder if you know that this is a mandatary extra credit assignment? It’s an invention of my English teacher. He thinks that not only will this boost our enthusiasm for English and the written word, but will also allow us to establish a connection of sorts because we go to a HUGE school with thousands of students. He thinks we can’t possibly know them all.

I bet we’ve met before though. You were probably the guy who ran right into me this morning causing me to drop my History study notes all over the floor and then just kept walking. Leaving me to fend for myself as I desperately tried (and failed) to pick them up and avoid getting my fingers stepped on by the millions of students rushing to get to first period. THANKS A LOT!!!
Sorry. I don’t actually think you’re that person... BUT IF YOU ARE DON’T BOTHER WRITING BACK UNLESS IT IS TO APOLOGIZE!!...

Anyway, I’m kind of in a bad mood right now as you’ve probably managed to pick up on. It’s for these reasons:

a) I dropped all my study notes and got my fingers stepped on trying to retrieve them. Now the index finger on my left hand is severely bruised (green at the moment, but will probably turn an interesting shade of purple at any moment) and throbbing painfully. This is more of a nuisance since I’m left handed.

b ) My best friend skipped school today to hang out with her boyfriend. It wouldn’t be so bad except that we’re in all the same classes and she’s the only one I talk to. I’m afraid I’ve lost my voice. Can you lose your voice from lack of speech?

c) I’m pretty sure I failed my Science assignment which I had about a month to work on but only remembered at 6am this morning.

d) I’ve been forced to waste my lunch hour by sitting in the school library (something I never even knew we had until today) because I’m failing English. I was supposed to use this time to do some last minute studying for my History test next period, but it probably wouldn’t have helped much anyway.

That last one is actually what’s contributing to my bad mood the most. I think that if your native language is English you should just be automatically given a 95% and told to please find better ways to spend your time. It’s not like I need English. It’s not as though I’d be in danger of forgetting the language by not doing the work.

You’ve probably tired of my complaining by now and thrown this out, but I’m supposed to tell you a bit about myself. I’m not allowed to tell you my name though. Mr Drewery explained why but I didn’t listen... I was looking around the library in amazement (how could it be so big and I missed it?!).

My favourite thing to do: I really don’t like this question. How am I supposed to choose? It really all depends what I’m in the mood to do, what’s available to do, what the weather is like etc. I like to paint, but not when it’s a gorgeous day. I like to play sports but not if I’m tired or have better things to do e.g. shopping with friends.

My family: A brother. A father. A mother.

Aspiration: to make it out of this library alive.

There’s a few other things (my fave colour, music, tv show etc.) I don’t think you really care about those things. Do you? You don’t right? Let me know if you do.
Bye,
Aurora Rose

P.S. That is a fake name as per instructed for this ‘assignment’. Just so you know. If there happens to be an Aurora Rose in the school please don’t hunt her down and talk to her because she will have no idea who you are or what you’re talking about. I’d like to save you that kind of embarrassment.


Cathy,

I handed in your assignments.
F.Y.I. You’ve been experiencing symptoms
that connect to tuberculosis and your
mother thought it ill-advised to send you
to school as you might spread it around/worsen
your condition Maybe you should consider coming to
school tomorrow (most likely your today).
It’s not fair for you to be having a blast
at the beach while I’m stuck here.
But I hope you had fun anyway.

-Serena


RENA!
Hey! I’m out with Chelsea and probably won’t be back until late.
Tell dad for me would you? Except maybe you shouldn’t tell him
I’m with Chelsea? Maybe you could make up something for me
e.g. I had football practice and then study group? That’s what I
plan on telling him anyway. If you think of something better please
text me what it is!!
Your loving(!!!) brother who would most likely do anything for you,
Jamie

Dear Serena,
I’m working in the study if you need me. The money you may have noticed resting
on top of this note is for the take out of your choice for supper tonight. I would like
the usual Courageous Carnivore pizza. Call me down when it comes.
Don’t forget to work on your homework if you have any. I hope you had a nice day at school.
Love,
Dad
P.S. Please inform Jamie, when he gets home, that I was not born yesterday and
am aware that he is out with Chelsea and that he and I will talk about this tomorrow evening.

To: Jamie and Dad
I am going to sleep now.
Jamie – you are busted. Don’t look at me that way. I tried.
From: Serena

Interesting and original... I think I'd like to read more.
Keep it up!


:love:

Very interesting Cat. Is this the story you ahd the cast call for or is this a different one? Just curious and please update soon, this sounds really cool.
:love:
~Kit-Kat~

PS- opps, I accidentaly replied twice. :blush:

Aw, thanks guys! I'm glad you like! :hug:

No, this isn't the story I did the cast call for. That'll be posted in the Lads sometime in May or at the very latest Mid-June, but I'm glad you're excited for that one Kit-Kat ^_^

AHAHAHA! I love this...I cannot believe you didn't tell me, you know how much I like the Year of Secret Assignments (or do you?)
Anyways, I'm late getting to bed, I'll see you at rowing!
-Sarah

How did I miss this??? I mean, its amazing and such a cool way of writing it. I wonder how this anonymous penpal thing will work itself out. Hmm...

Post more soon, I really really LOOOOVVVVVVE it!!!

:heartbeat:
Samma

I'm intrigued. Reminiscent of John Marsden's "Letters from the Inside", and, to some extent, "Secret Scribbled Notebooks" by Joanne Horniman, and "Jinx" by Margaret Wild (Read 'Jinx' if you haven't, it's amazing.) Oh oh oh, Aiden Chamber's "Breaktime", perfect, he approaches things in the same kind of stle, telling a teenage guy's story using a kind of disjointed fragments, threads reflecting the journey with very specific things in a non linear way. He argued that the reason people were readin less bewfore he wrote it is that fiction was becoming an anachronism, obsolete and exclusionist, that to tell a contemporary story and conftront contemporary issues you have to adopt a more contemporary style familiar to current society.
Sorry, I have a thing about how if you want to write, you have to read a lot as well, so those are just random suggestions

Quite lyrical yet realistic, with a strong sense of voice, interesting use of non-linear plot elements and approaching the story of one's life as an amassed fragments of text and sensation. Gentle, optimistic, very immediate and syccinct. Consistant with tone. Good choice of setting, you can take this in innumerable directions. Exceptionalness, my angel.

This is really cool, its original and lets you look into the character instead of narrating the story in third person.

Looking forward to more.

Thanks so much guys ^_^ I'm so glad you like it!!


Thought For The Day

There’s nothing more satisfactory in life than a hearty breakfast, so make sure to eat up!

*

SERENA!!!

Hi!! I thought you should know that I am
here today, but only for the morning. I
have a ‘dentist appointment’ this afternoon.
I had to come in early to write the history
test I missed yesterday. I’ll be in the history
office so if you feel like slipping some of
the notes under the door than I’d be forever
grateful!! The beach was a total blast and I
can’t wait to tell you about it!!!
See you soon,
Much love,
Cathy
P.S. While Jack and I were coming home
from the beach we ran into Jamie and
Chelsea. I thought you said your dad forbid
them from seeing each other? What’s going
on there?

*

Miss West,
The Attached is the response to your letter of yesterday. I trust you remember writing that letter, yes? I’ll see you in class. Please be kind enough to arrive on time for once.
Sincerely,
Mr Drewery (Still your English teacher)

*

Dear Aurora, (this is not blank because I DO know your name. Your pseudo one at least)

Hi! Yes! I did know this was a mandatory assignment! At least it is for you, I’m doing this because I want to! I think Mr Drewery was quite right to do this, otherwise you might actually have to go to summer school! Not that you’re any stranger to that, are you? Considering this probably isn’t the first subject you’re failing! Well I think I can help! What if I gave you grammar questions and you answered them and I told you if they were right? It’d be like a little letter school! How fantastic!

So here’s the first one:

On March 21 2005 George Burnestein went to the convenience store located near his humble abode.

Now you put in the proper punctuation and I’ll correct it!!

[Unintelligible scribbling]

Hey. This is a new person writing to you. The other person who started this letter is an unbearable twit and I kind of stole your letter when they got up to do some prattish thing or other (e.g. suck up to the teacher in ways that make people blush in embarrassment just from witnessing the interaction). Hopefully you’ll appreciate all that I’ve done for you thus far. I don’t believe that in normal circumstances that I could get into any kind of trouble for this, but who knows what lengths the teacher’s pet will go to just to maintain order.

I think you’ll be relieved and happy to know that I am not the jerk who bumped into you in the hallway. I think you should send a picture and I’ll repay him the favor if I ever see him. He’s definitely to blame for all the miserable things that made up your day.

I think it’s entirely possible to lose your voice from lack of speech. I mean, for example, when I wake up in the morning my voice is always really scratchy and it takes a few minutes for me to get it going again, and why is this? Because I don’t speak at night! So next time your best friend decides to run off with her boyfriend you should remind her that by doing that she is taking responsibility for the destruction of your vocal chords.

I know you probably don’t want to hear this, but I think missing once lunch hour is alright if it means you don’t have to waste several of your precious summer hours in summer school. And that wasn’t the wisest move with the science assignment either. Not that I haven’t done the same thing, it’s just not worth the stress to leave it until the last possible moment only to fail. I know you said you forgot about it, but if you knew a month ahead, did you spend the entire month forgetting?

Since I didn’t rip up your letter from all of your complaining, I think you should return the favor by not ripping up my letter due to all my admonishments.

Anyway, English is the only subject I’m really good at, so it’s going to go without saying that I don’t agree with your automatic 95% idea. I’m actually surprised that the person who began this letter didn’t burst into tears upon reading that. Once again I think you should pause for a moment and remind yourself how lucky you are that I stole your letter.

Here’s the stuff about me:

My favourite thing to do: Read. I have a lot of favourite things to do too, and you’re right that it depends on a lot of things, but I like reading whenever. I don’t mean just books though, I mean magazines, comics, internet blogs, subtitles of a movie etc...

Family: A father.

Aspiration: become an intern at a law firm and eventually a lawyer.

Music: (I have to put music even if you didn’t) Everything. I live for music.

Mr best friend: This wasn’t really on the list, but you told me a bit about yours so I thought I’d tell you about mine. He and I have been friends since junior high. At first we didn’t really get along ‘cause we were both after the same girl... long story... to keep it short we both found out how horrible she actually was and bonded over that. We didn’t keep the same viewpoints unfortunately. He gets really obsessed by girls and his girlfriend of the moment is psycho. She always picks a fight with him just so he’ll run after her and do something insane to prove how much he loves her. It’s a mess right now.

But anyway, how’d your day go? Did your best friend decide to show up or did she run off with her boyfriend again? And no I don’t particularly care about your favourite color or show... that was definitely a stupid question, and people talk about T.V. too much as it is.
See ya,
Mikey Porter
P.S. That is also a fake name, so ditto on the hunting down thing. Don’t do it for your own sake.

*

Sis,
You may be surprised that I’m leaving you a note here
in your locker. You may be thinking something like;
‘But this is where Cathy puts all her senseless ramblings!’
or ‘How did he even know my locker combo!?’ the answer
to the later is the that we are twins and I called upon our
telepathy!!! (Not really, Cathy gave it to me).
ANYWAY!!! The reason for this note is that I want you
to know that I won’t be home tonight or tomorrow. Maybe
we’ll be gone the next day too, I’m not so sure.
Chelsea and I decided it’d be best if I disappeared for
awhile so that Dad can really appreciate me as his only
son.
Oh, no, sorry, that’s not it. It’s so that he’ll understand
that Chelsea and I are in love and nothing he can say or
do will be able to stop that.
We’ll actually just be up at her cottage, but don’t let Dad
know that until he’s satisfactorily worried and in the type
of mood where he’s past punishing me. Call me when that
time comes, okay? I have my cell phone with me.
Er... also, could you possibly drop some of my clothes out
of my window at around midnight? ... Maybe you also feel
like packing them in a back pack for me along with my
toothbrush and toothpaste, and shampoo? Stuff like that.
Thanks!
Love you lots and lots (and even more if you agree to
do all I’ve asked!!)
- Jamie


Jamie,

I hope you realize just how stupid you are. Last week you were thinking of breaking up with Chelsea yourself until Dad forbade you from seeing her.
Anyway, here are your clothes and I’ll see you tomorrow. (You have band practice, remember? You can’t miss it).
Oh, and you know that Dad would never even consider not punishing you, right? There's no such thing as him 'getting past the point' because the point doesn't exist. But I'm sure you know that.

Love,
Serena

P.S. If you’re given a Science Assignment and told it’s due in a month, you don’t do it until a couple ours before the class it’s due, right? Even if you know you’ll fail? I'm just curious to know.

I really like this 'Mikey' guy: how he loves reading everything he can get his hands eyes on. Even movie subtitles! This guy's a keeper. Again, i have to reiterate my admiration of this style! It must make her feel so important to get so many notes! :lol:

Hmm. i wonder how much trouble dear dear Jamie'll get into. And that whole thing... too true. Why is it that we don't like something, but once its forbidden, its so attractive? Reverse psych, man.

Beautiful update, my dear. :hug:

Samma

Squeeeeee! I can't believe I missed this! This is what my school life is like, only cooler. And my english teacher is a total homework Nazi, and there's no way we'd be able to do an assignment like that. Unfortunately. <_<

Hope to read more soon! ^_^