Secret Mystery Friends

Hi, my name is Ellie. I found your secret hiding place in the beech tree by the river. I promise, I didn't take nothin. But I looked at your collection and thought you had some tops stuff. I think we could be friends, if you want. I walk through here twice a week on my way to the market. I’ll check back for a reply when I come past next.

Hi Ellie. Im Miles. Thank fer the note. I cant writ 2 gud but I lik 2 be frenz friends. I am 14 but I had 2 kwit skul wen Pa lost hiz job in the crash. I used to hat skul but now I miss lurnin. I werk wen I can find sumfin. Days I cant find a job I fish or hunt skwirls fer dinner. Sumtimes I find stuff I lik by the river or in the woods + keep it heer. I luft a neklas fer you. I find it by the rivr + fiks it. Hope you lik it.

Hi Miles. Thank you for the necklace. It's aces. Mama always says I'm real lucky to get to go to school. I guess she's right. I brought you some of my readers from a few years ago. Mama also says reading is the best way to learn. I hope you have time to do a little reading. I can bring you some more books if you want. I was thinking about trying to meet you in person, but I think it's kind of fun to have a secret mystery friend.

Your Friend, Ellie

You are Tops, Ellie! I been reading thoz readers you bring me and Im getting lurned real gud. I been sharon them with Sissie 2. Ma is sur pleazed. Sissie never got 2 go 2 skool. But Pa is none 2 happy. He sez reading dont put fud on the tabel. But evrything makes him mad these dayz. Ma sez hes not really mad, hes scared. Its real nice to hav sumthing to read when Im fishing. I drawed a piksher fer you. Thanx fer being my secret mystery friend.

Your Friend, Miles

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Dearest Miles,

Yesterday all my school friends came to my sixteenth birthday party. We had cake with strawberries from the garden on it. Everyone brought me nice gifts and we played some fun games. But during the party I looked around and realized no one there knew me as well as you. Of all the gifts I received, none were as special as the pictures you draw for me or the treasures you find and fix. For the past three years you have been the one person I can tell everything to. I do so enjoy having a secret mystery friend, but maybe it's time we finally meet.

Your Forever Friend, Ellie

My Sweet Ellie, I think of meeting you all the time. I dream of you and long to hold your hand. You are my most cherished friend and because of you I can read and write. But I have no education, like you. I'm afraid we would be too different. But I'm afraid we could never be friends in the real world. We are not really from the same world and others would never accept our friendship. I could not bear to meet you just to lose you forever.

Your Dear Friend, Miles

You are such a dilly twit, Miles! How dare you think so lowly of me? After all this time, you think I would meet you and all my feelings would suddenly change? I know you have no formal education​ but I also know you love learning and have educated yourself. That's far more impressive. I know you are kind and share all you have with Sissie. I know you work hard now your Pa's gone and don't complain about missing out on fun things. I know you have a talent for drawing and you can fix broken stuff. I know you always have the right words to make me feel better when things are hard. I don't care what the world thinks of our friendship. It is the most precious thing to me.

--Ellie

My sweet Ellie, please forgive me. Of course, I know that our friendship is not that superfishal. You are a dandy friend, truly the cat's meow. But I do fear the world would never accept us. We come from opposite sides of the tracks. I couldn't bear to think of how cruel others might be to you because of me. I just want to keep you safe.

Love always, Your Miles

Dearest Miles, I am disappointed but I could never stay mad at you long. I understand you aren't ready to meet. But when you change your mind I will be more than ready to finally be able to hold your hand. You remain my best friend and there is no one in this world I would rather have in my life. It seems the world is changing. Perhaps it will one day be ready for us. But please know, I don't intend to wait for the world. We only have a couple years before we're both old enough to leave this town. We can go somewhere up north where people don't care what side of the tracks we belong on. I will go anywhere, if it means I can be with you.

Love, Your Sweet Ellie

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My Sweet Ellie,

I'm so sorry I haven't written for a few days. I made a decision and I've been so worried about telling you. The country is going to war and they need soldiers. I can earn a bit to help Ma and Sissie out. And, I feel as though I can prove myself worthy of you to the world by serving our country. I've joined the Navy. I report for duty in two weeks. I hope you ain't too mad that I didn't ask you about it first. I hope you are proud of me.

Love always, Your Dear Miles

Dearest Miles. I'm not mad. I've been expecting this since the attack. I knew you would want to do your part. But I will never forgive you if you leave before meeting me in person. I know I said I would wait until you were ready, but our time has run out. I will wait for you by this tree all day Saturday until you come. I hope you don't keep me waiting too long.

Forever Yours, Ellie

My Sweet Ellie, These long months at sea have been hard. I miss Ma’s cooking and my own bed. But mostly I miss sitting under our tree and reading your letters. The only thing that gets me through the long nights is picturing you waiting for me at our tree. I fall asleep​ remembering how it felt to finally hold your hand. The taste of your soft kiss still lingers on my lips. I long to come home to you. We can move up north and get a little house together. Maybe have a family. I won't have much to get us started. Most my salary goes to Ma and Sissie. But I promise, once we're together I will work hard to provide you everything you want. Thank you my sweet Ellie, for leaving me that first note in the beech tree and offering to be my secret mystery friend. You are everything I never knew I needed before I found you. You are my heart.

Love Forever & Always, Your Dear Miles

My Dearest Miles, I'm sitting under our tree thinking of you. Sissie has been leaving your letters here for me as you asked her to. My heart aches to see you, to hold your hand, to kiss your lips. I dream of being your wife and sharing the rest of our lives together. I don't want anything more than to have you by my side. When you get home, we can go wherever you want, as long as it's together. We can bring your Ma and Sissie, too. I know you will always want to take care of them. It's one of the things I love about you. I knew from the moment I first saw how carefully you kept your collection that you take care of the things most precious to you. Thank you my Dearest Miles for always being my secret mystery friend. You help me see the world differently, better than I did before I knew you. I am different, better than I was before you. You are my heart.

Love Forever & Always, Your Sweet Ellie

Dear Ellie, Two soldiers came to the house today with the news. I can't bring myself to write the words. It's too horrible. I'm sorry, Ellie. He really loved you.

Sissie

My Dearest Miles,

I finally cleared out the secret nook in our tree. Sissie helped me. We've become great friends. It's been easier for both of us to lean on each other. We've decided to move up north together and get an apartment, somewhere that isn't full of your memory. Your Ma is going to start working for Mama as a live-in cook so you don't have to worry about her anymore. As I sit here one last time under our beech tree, there are things I need to write to you. I am angry you are gone. I am angry I only got one kiss, one afternoon with you. Why did we have to wait so long to meet? Why didn't you come home to me? But, I see now you were right. I'm old enough now to see the hate in others. The world would never have accepted us together. It would have been hard but I still dream at night of having a little home with you. I'm certain I will never love anyone else as much as I love you. I can hardly remember a time that you weren't the first person I wanted to share everything with. Perhaps in Heaven we can finally be together, forever. Until then, I carry you with me in my heart. All my love.

Forever Your Sweet Ellie