Young Jane Young(44)

P.P.S. Mrs. Morgan is wrong. People have a “right to know” who they are voting for.





To: “Fatima” [email protected]

From: “Ruby”

[email protected]

Date: October 31

Re: Re: Re: Re: Re: Re: Re: Re: Re: Re: Re: Re: Re: Re: Re: Re: Re: Re: Re: Re: Re: Re: Re: Re: Re: Your American Pen Pal, Friends Around the World Pen Pal Program





Dear Fatima,

I’ve come up with a plan of action. It’s happening so don’t try to “write” me out of it.





1.




I am going to Miami to meet Congressman Aaron Levin. If he’s my father, I want to see him and talk to him. If he’s my father, he should know that he has a daughter. If he’s my father, he probably won’t mind if I move to Miami. There is NOTHING for me in Allison Springs.





2.


I am going to leave an “anonymous” note for the Allison Springs Cryer about Aviva Grossman. Maybe Mrs. Morgan is right and it doesn’t matter. I think VOTERS deserve to know.





I spent last night researching flights and hotels. It is a little bit harder to travel when you are thirteen.

Luckily, you can do almost anything with a smartphone and a business American Express card and a personal PayPal account and Google and a printer. For example, the airline website has their policies for “unaccompanied minors,” and I had to write a note that said it was “OKAY for me to fly alone and not be met at the gate,” and then I had to forge my mom’s signature. I have been forging my mom’s signature for years, but I have never forged it without her knowing about it.

For the record, I am not stealing money from my mom. I have been very carefully budgeting my trip so that I will not exceed the amount remaining in my bank account, which is $3,770.82.

I also wrote the note for the Allison Springs Cryer. I wrote many drafts, but I decided on:



To the Editor in Chief, Allison Springs Cryer — GOOGLE “AVIVA GROSSMAN”

— A Concerned Citizen





I thought the part with “a concerned citizen” was very good.

I printed my note, and then I put it in a security envelope, and on the way to the airport, I had my airport taxi stop at the newspaper, and I put it in the mail slot there. I tried not to feel like a terrible person, though it was probably the WORST THING I HAVE EVER DONE.

But then I decided I didn’t care. I felt cold as Maine in January. I felt cold as an ice cream brain freeze. Maybe I am a terrible person. Maybe I am a terrible person because that’s what happens when you are LIED to your whole life.

The taxi driver said, “You’re a little young to be traveling alone.”

I said, “I’m older than I look.”

“How old are you?”

I said, “I’m fifteen.”

The taxi driver said, “I would have guessed eleven.”

I said, “Most people think I look thirteen.”

The taxi driver said, “Hmm. You’re going to miss Halloween.”

I said, “I’m not that into Halloween.” But actually, I LOVE HALLOWEEN. I love dressing up in costumes, and every year my mom and I do a “joint costume.” Last year, for example, my mom and I were Zombie Bride and Groom. And the year before that, we were Hot Dog and Bun. And the year before that, we were the people from Portlandia, which is our favorite show except for The Walking Dead and House of Cards. And the year before that, we were Zombie Bridesmaids. And the year before that, we were an iPhone and an iPad. And the year before that, we were Willy Wonka and the Golden Ticket. And the year before that, we were a waffle and a pat of butter. And I don’t want to tell you any more costumes because I’m almost crying as I type this already. Anyway, with everything that has been happening, I totally forgot it was Halloween and I guess Mom had, too. Do they have Halloween in Indonesia?

“They still have Halloween where I’m going,” I said to the taxi driver. “I am going to South Florida to see my father.”

“Lucky you,” he said. “Weather’s a lot nicer there.”

I said, “I like the weather in Maine.”

“Even in winter?”

I said, “It’s so pretty in winter. Everything is so bright it hurts your eyes. The air is so crisp, your throat feels like straws of ice. My mom… My mom’s an event planner, and she says the winter weddings always have the best pictures.”

“You’re a Maine girl is what you are,” he said.



I’m at the airport now. I got through security, no problem. My forgery worked just fine.

Hold on.

Mom just sent me a text: ARE YOU ALREADY AT SCHOOL? WHAT ARE WE GOING TO DO FOR HALLOWEEN TONIGHT?!?!?

I replied, 2 Late.

She replied, You can’t be mad at me forever.

I replied, Teacher says to put my phone away.

She replied, I love you, Ruby.

Then I blocked her number from being able to text me again. I’ll unblock her when I get to the hotel in Miami. Once I’m there, she can’t try to stop me from going. That is a “tautology,” but it is also “true.” A “tautology” is “when you say the same thing in different words.” Ms. Reacher says they should be “avoided whenever possible.”