We Could Still Be Pen Pals

And where is your end

of your paper, Sammy?

My dog ate it, Miss Lewis.

You don't have a dog, Sammy.

My paper is finished, Miss Lewis.

Why, thank you Stacy.

Hope it's okay.

I'm sure it is.

You're a talented writer.

Well, we learned a lot of new things

this year, didn't we?

Yes, Miss Lewis.

Okay everyone, have a great summer.

And remember to always be

Eager Explorers!

That's right.

Okay, check the lost and found before you leave.

Yes, Damien, what is it?

I'm going to sixth grade next year.

It's middle school.

I know, it's exciting.

Yeah, well, I had a question.

I was wondering,

maybe you could come teach at the middle school.

Teach all of us for sixth grade.

I'm sorry. Damien.

I'd love to keep teaching you,

but you're going to have new teachers

teaching you all kinds of new things.

I know.

Damien.

Do you remember when we learned

how to write letters to each other?

Oh when you assigned us pen pals?

It was fun.

My pen pal was Stacy.

Her letters were always small, but they were funny.

Well, this is my address.

What if you wrote some letters to me sometime?

Would you like that?

I'd be your pen pal?

Yes. You could write

and tell me all about what

it's like at your new school.

All right.

And I'd get mail back from you.

Yes.

I'll write and tell you all about my new classes.

Won't be as good as us, though.

I'm sure they won't.

Bye, Miss Lewis.

Have a good summer.

You too.

But, when did he say he wanted to see you?

He said sometime next week.

Hey, how was the last day?

It was good.

I'm writing a letter to my teacher,

Miss Lewis.

Oh, that's nice-

Are you okay, mom?

I'm all right.

Dear Miss Lewis,

Today's the first day of summer vacation.

I'm so excited for summer

and for being pen pals.

I can't wait to get your next

letter back.

I'm excited to start sixth grade,

but also scared a little bit.

Anyway, hear from you soon.

Your student. Damien.

Dear Miss Lewis.

Today I started middle school.

There are a lot of people,

and I have a new teacher.

Her name is Mrs. Clarke.

I'm excited to learn more

from sixth grade.

I miss my old class though.

Damian, this time of your life

is such a great time

to learn new things and explore. Have you tried out for

any new sports teams?

I don't think sports are for me.

Or music class.

I like the writing classes, though.

We're learning to write short stories.

I have one about a red robin bird.

I have a copy here.

I hope you like it.

I'm sorry to hear about your mother, Damien.

Writing is the only thing

I can really understand in my school.

I wish I could do it as a job one day.

My dad says it's a soft subject, though.

- -

Writing is so beautiful.

You can put into words on paper

sometimes things we don't feel we can say in real life.

Never stop writing.

Damien, if you like to write,

then it is 100% what you should pursue.

Always remember--

Creative writing,

Damien?

Could you have picked

a more unreliable future?

I don't know dad, I was thinking

about becoming a content creator

this semester.

Relax, dad.

It's too late for a change now anyway.

And when did you make this decision?

I don't know, must have been

first semester, sophomore year.

Look...

I was making my way through my G.E.'s,

and I needed to pick a focus.

So I picked what I love doing.

And why am I just now hearing about this now?

When I reach out to my law contacts,

do I hear that you have wasted

the past three years of your education?

I don't know, maybe

because you never asked.

I didn't--

I didn't think you'd care.

Of course I care, Damien.

We had a plan. Pre-Law.

It's reliable.

Flexible.

Good. I get it all right, Dad, you love law.

You love your job

and your office so much,

you spend more time

there than you do at home.

But I don't.

All right. I don't.

Thanks for the catch up.

I'll see you at Thanksgiving.

Damien.

Oh, that look like a fun conversation with your dad.

Yeah, I don't really want to talk about it.

Okay, good. Me neither.

That sounds like a drag.

I think we should talk about Saturday night.

Oh, it's the first week of the semester.

Surely your coked out

friends haven't had time to plan

one of their obnoxious parties out there.

Okay, well,

we can just hang out with your friends

if you prefer.

Oh.

Only issue is you don't have any.

Oh, okay. Cut deep, why don't you.

I just.

I just feel like you're not really trying to participate

in this relationship.

Um, I'm sorry,

Does participating in this relationship need to just be

parties and drinking?

Look--

Okay.

I'm--

I'm trying to figure out my future here, Stacy.

You are too.

Ah, come on.

-Fine. Okay. -Yay!

- -But, I am not playing beer pong

with those meat heads

Jessica is always bringing around, alright?

Okay. Thanks, babe.