The Neighbor Favor(10)
I’m really buggering this up. I promise I’m not obsessed with your feet and I won’t mention anything about their appearance ever again.
It’s a good thing you’re asleep and I’ll be somewhere without service soon. Hopefully when we reconnect, you’ll have forgotten about these messages.
FROM: Lily G. <[email protected]> TO: N.R. Strickland <[email protected]>
DATE: July 22, 7:21am
SUBJECT: Re: You can call me Strick
Dear Strick,
These emails were hilarious to read, mostly because they were proof that you can be awkward sometimes too lol. You’re correct: the tattoo is a drawing of a lily flower. My sisters have flower tattoos to match their names too. We got them after I turned eighteen.
I realized we’ve been talking about my career a lot, but not yours. What will you be writing about in Vietnam? What do you usually write about while on assignment in general?
XO,
Lily
P.S.—Thanks for saying you think I sound impressive. That really means a lot.
FROM: N.R. Strickland <[email protected]>
TO: Lily G. <[email protected]>
DATE: September 12, 10:14pm
SUBJECT: I’m alive
Lily—
It’s been almost two months since I last wrote. You probably won’t believe this, but my backpack fell into the water while I was on a boat in the Mekong River. Both my laptop and phone were unsalvageable. Usually, I take notes in my journal by day and transcribe them on my laptop at night, but I had to write the entire piece by hand this time (which I actually enjoyed). So that is why you haven’t heard from me in so long. Sorry!
For work, I write a column called “A Day in the Life.” I spend weeks with a person native to the country where I’m on assignment, and I accompany them as they go about their daily duties. I also take time to explore the area on my own. As far as jobs go, it’s pretty decent. I meet a lot of people, and there is no monotony. My salary is shit, but the magazine covers travel and lodging, so I guess I can’t really complain.
While in Vietnam, I stayed in the city of C?n Th? and spent time with a family who worked at the Cai Rang Floating Market (where I stupidly dropped my bag). Other than damaging my ridiculously expensive electronics, it was a pretty great experience. I liked being completely disconnected. Maybe that’s why I took a stab at writing fiction again. It was terrible and reaffirmed that part of my life is indeed over.
I landed in Budapest this morning and finally bought a new phone. My next paycheck is going toward a laptop.
How was the rest of your summer? How is Tomcat?
~Strick
FROM: Lily G. <[email protected]>
TO: N.R. Strickland <[email protected]>
DATE: September 12, 10:57pm
SUBJECT: Re: I’m alive
Strick! I’m so happy to hear from you. I thought maybe you’d felt so embarrassed after commenting on my feet that our correspondence was over. I’m sorry that you dropped your laptop in a river, but I’m glad that’s the only reason you weren’t talking to me.
You have the best job. You can travel and be free and do what you need to do without anyone breathing over your shoulder or micromanaging you. That must be so nice.
I don’t have any interesting updates to share. I had a midyear review with my boss that didn’t go so well. A couple weeks ago I forgot to add a dentist appointment to her calendar (a task that’s not in my job description) and now she’s written me off as useless. Would you be surprised to learn that I’m her third assistant in four years?
Tomcat is doing well! He’s chunky and healthy and continues to be the best cuddler. One of my roommate’s dogs ate an entire bag of Tomcat’s dry food while I was at work last week, and my roommate refused to reimburse me, so that was fun. I had another bad date, this time with one of Iris’s business school friends that ended with him pitching to be my life coach. I went to the beach with Iris and my niece. That was probably the highlight of August. Summer went by in the blink of an eye.
And wait. You tried to write fiction? Was it a short story? The beginning of an Elves sequel??? I’m sure it wasn’t terrible. You can always share your writing with me if you want an opinion!
XO,
Lily
FROM: N.R. Strickland <[email protected]> TO: Lily G. <[email protected]>
DATE: September 14, 9:42pm
SUBJECT: Re: I’m alive
Lily—
I haven’t forgotten that you are a publishing professional. There is absolutely no chance I am sharing any of my subpar writing with you. I won’t even share it with my agent.
I’m sorry to hear about your boss and the flatmate. But glad to hear Tomcat is faring well (even if I’m still skeptical about his supposed sweet nature).
I’ve missed reading your emails. I promise not to drop my laptop in a river and go another two months without speaking.
~Strick
FROM: N.R. Strickland <[email protected]>
TO: Lily G. <[email protected]>
DATE: September 29, 6:13pm
SUBJECT: Re: I’m alive
Lily—
Maybe I jinxed myself with that last email. Two weeks is nowhere near as long as two months, but I’m checking in to make sure all is well?