Letters With Boys

Tally and Ezra, Week 2 - September

Hello Ezra,

Well, I’m officially concerned.

I hope you don’t mind me offloading some of my concerns onto you? You seem to be a really good sport about this sort of thing so far.

I know I should be talking to my own friends about this sort of thing, but, well, I tried.

It’s about Memphis.

Like I mentioned, we went to NYC this past weekend to visit my brother. Well, Mem, being from Brooklyn, claims that she still knows the city backwards and forwards, even though she’s lived here in Granger for eight years now. I would have thought that was a good thing—her knowing her way around. Like she'd know where all the fun spots were, I guess.

Well, to her credit, she did. Unfortunately, though, she had a little too much fun. Which usually means there’s something going on with a boy.

Thing is, the only boy that could be is Gray Gehrig, her pen pal. And according to you, he’s violent and dangerous.

It’s not even just you. It’s the way she’s acting. She wouldn’t be so off the walls if he was nice to her, you know? If he put her at ease. Which means he makes her nervous—which could mean he’s being unkind to her.

I told Bridget I want to try to sneak a peek at their letters. Bridget told me that was categorically unacceptable.

What do you think?

Tally

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Tally,

I think I need some more details of what went on before I can help you. What do you mean by too much fun and off the walls?

I get that you probably don’t want to out your friend here, but if she was doing hard drugs, for example, that might be more concerning, versus a little harmless drinking.

Similarly, sleeping with random strangers would be a little slutty, whereas a little harmless flirtation wouldn’t be a big deal.

You know?

As for Gray, well, I already told you how I feel about the guy. He’s a lowlife. Hopefully your friend is smart enough to see that. Has she said anything about him that might indicate she’s started dating him? If so, I think that does, indeed, call for an intervention—for your friend’s sake.

Ezra

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Ezra,

All due respect, I don’t like your use of the words “a little slutty.”

Mem didn’t sleep with anyone this weekend, but if she had, it wouldn’t have made her “slutty.” She’s 18 and single and is free to do whatever she wants with whoever she wants, free of judgment.

Anyway, Bridget convinced me to go a wiser route than reading Mem's letters: we took her out for dim sum and buttered her up with pork dumplings. That did the trick—she talked. 

She’s definitely not dating this Gray guy. She likes his personality, but was put off when he went out of his way to find out what she looks like, despite her not being on social media. (She quit social a few years ago for personal reasons.) He’s been trying to weasel his way back to her good graces, and apparently it’s working. She went a little hard in NYC to deal with some of the frustration of that situation, I guess.

Since you asked for specifics, a little hard, in this case, means rolling on X at a club. Which, you know, in the scheme of things, isn’t that bad. 

It’s not something I would do, mind you. I tried MDMA once, and the come down was way too intense for me, being an athlete and all. I wasn’t in playing shape again for like a week.

Anyway, she’s going to be okay. I just hope she keeps her emotional distance from this guy, even if she has to keep writing to him. Sounds like a dirt bag, like you said.

Tally

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Whoa there, tiger. Didn’t mean to upset anyone. I guess “slutty” is one of those words we can’t say anymore—my bad.

Ecstasy is no joke—you’re right to stay away from it. A buddy of mine rolled his tongue so hard on X, he had sores for a week. Couldn’t even kiss his girlfriend. With tongue, anyway.

Which is the only way that counts, wouldn’t you say?

Speaking of which. There’s another party this weekend. I’m the one throwing it this time. Why don’t you swing by? You’re welcome to bring your friends… though it sounds like you might have to keep this Memphis on a leash.

Don’t worry—I can assure you that Gray Gehrig will NOT be there.

But I sure hope you will.

Ezra

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Ezra,

I think I need you to clear up something for me before I decide whether or not to attend this party of yours.

What are you inviting me as? Are you inviting me as your pen pal friend who you’d like to have a beer with and hang out with, in person? Casually?

Are you inviting me as the “pretty girl” you’d like to drink with and hook up with? Casually?

Or is it a little less casual?

There’s no wrong answer here, Ezra, but I do need to know. I’m not the casual hook-up kind of girl. 

To be clear, there’s nothing wrong with that kind of girl. It’s just not me.

Hope you can understand.

Tally

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Tally,

Noted—not the casual hook-up type.

Come to the party anyway. I guarantee you’ll have a good time.

Ezra