Rumors circled around Trout Town about bottled messages appearing by Seashell Shore. Folks said that if one lets a bottle ride in the waves during high tide, by low tide, it will arrive to the other side which was Coral City. Monica has longed desired a friend outside town and wanted to test that one out and see if she would get a bottle in return and gain a friend as well. Little did she know that her experiments would yield a result far greater than she had expected.
Monica rushed downstairs of her small little hut home and ran outside to see the crisp sunset and its red reflection on the sparking shores. The winds blew gently opposite the direction she was facing and made her orange hair fly gracefully. She glanced at the other areas of the shore to see many people readying their bottled messages. Night was fast approaching, and that would mean high tides.
“I want to send bottled messages as well,” Monica lamented, “but where does one find a bottle so easily?”
“Monica, are you here to send bottled messages also?” a small girl tapped her side, getting her attention. A small boy was beside her.
“Oh, Wendy and Sunny,” Monica replied with a subtle smile, “I want too, but I don’t feel like it…”
“Aww…you didn’t get a reply?” Sunny asked curiously while looking at the shores.
“Nope,” Monica replied back as she looked at the shores as well. “It seems that it’s not working for me. I’ve been sending messages for a week, but I’m not getting any replies at all. Maybe I’m doing it wrong…”
“Don’t worry about it!” Wendy said with a smile. “I’m sure you’ll get a reply someday. Coral City folks aren’t really the, you know, message writers, since they have so many of those technology things.”
“There are some people who still write,” Sunny added. “I’m sure of it.”
A large wave splashed on the shore, and the people began to gently set their bottles on the shore and allowed it to be carried off. Belong long, the bottles disappeared from sight.
“It’s beginning to turn dark. Bye, Sunny and Wendy and good night!” Monica waved at her two companions as she started walking back home.
“Bye, Monica!” Sunny and Wendy waved back at Monica as the two let go of their bottles as well.
Monica arrived home, quickly finished her dinner, went upstairs to her room, and pulled out a piece of paper. She sat down and started writing.
Good morning, Coral City! Greetings from Trout Town, where the best fishes can be caught! We are a kin indeed.
“Tch,” Monica sighed. “No one would reply to such cliché message.” She crumpled the piece of paper out of frustration and pulled out another one.
Her sister Frida came upstairs to see what she was doing.
“Monica? Whatcha up to?” Frida asked.
“It’s no use,” Monica replied. “Help me think of a message for Coral City.”
“Coral City?” Frida giggled a bit. “The people there are so busy making money they don’t have time to go to their side’s Seashell Shore to even bother picking up bottles.”
“I’m being serious here,” Monica said in a desperate tone. “I’m sure my writing’s not THAT bad, but I don’t get replies.”
“Maybe you should write casually,” Frida told Monica in a calm way. “I mean, if you write so formally, well, it’s awkward. Just write the same way as you talk. See ya.”
“Okay?” Monica replied with some doubts as she watched her sister walk back downstairs.
“Time for some ‘casual’ writing,” Monica told herself.
Nice to meet you. I’m from Trout Town. PS. This is just a test to see if this bottled message thing works. Please reply, even a simple hi. Thanks!
“This isn’t the casual thing I’m thinking, but I’ll give it one more shot and see if I get a reply,” Monica said as she rolled the paper, shoved it inside her bottle, and sealed the opening with a cork. She tied a small pink ribbon around it to indicate it was hers and ran to the Seashell Shore.
The stars glowed in the stars luminously, giving a romantic atmosphere. The radiance of the moon reflected on the waters and gave it a sparkling effect. But Monica didn’t feel any different that night. She just wants to get her task done. Gently, she threw the bottle into the waters and walked back home once again to sleep.
The next day, Monica sprinted to the Seashell Shores and quickly checked the waters to see if her bottle came back to her. To her dismay, she only saw the other people’s bottles which were being taken already. She sat on the sand disappointedly, hoping that her bottle would quickly come. After everyone left, Monica left as well, seeing there’s no use in waiting any longer. She planned to look at the shores again the next day.
When another morning broke out, Monica decided to look one final time. If she didn’t get her bottle back, she would never try sending messages ever again. She sat on the same spot, not expecting anything this time. When everyone had left already, Monica felt like leaving as well, for she seemed to have wasted another morning. She slowly stood up, took one last glance at the shores, and turned her back from the waters, only to be stopped by her two little companions from yesterday.
“Monica, Monica,” Wendy called out, holding a bottle with a pink ribbon.
“Is that one yours, Monica?” Sunny asked, excited for an answer.
Monica jumped with joy and surprise. “Wow!” she exclaimed, receiving the bottle from Wendy and raised it up to take a good look. “I see some writings on the paper!”
“Yay!! Congrats!” Wendy shouted with joy.
“See? What I told ya? There are some people who still write,” Sunny smiled.
“Yeah, you’re right. I guess I shouldn’t give up that easily,” Monica replied back with a smile.
By the time Monica arrived home, she ignored her breakfast lying on the table and ran upstairs to read the message she had received. She took out the cork and laid it on the side and shook the bottle to bring out the paper. She unrolled the piece and opened it wide.
Good morning to you, Trout Town fellow. Yesterday displayed a beautiful night with the stars shining with unity. Hope you have a great day, mademoiselle. And yes, bottled messages do get delivered to Coral City. I’m sorry if you got tired of waiting. Also, if this is your first time, you should expect to get replies every other day. Thank you for writing.
Monica danced with joy and immediately wrote back in reply.
Thank you for replying! Sure am happy to meet someone from Coral City. So you’re a writer? That’s pretty cool. I’ve always wanted to be a writer, but I’m not that good in writing, you know. I’m just a normal person here. You know, fishing. It gets dull a bit, but I enjoy it, except the waiting part. The night was beautiful last time? I didn’t really notice that one, hehe.
Two days later, she got a reply, encouraging her to continue to write more.
Yes, Miss, I’m a writer. You want to be a writer as well? Cool. Your grammar’s not bad. There’s always room for improvement. Give it a try, you’ll find yourself with the skill if you do. So you’re the lady who catches the fish being delivered in Coral City, eh? I must admit, Coral City’s fishes are nowhere as good as your place’s. Trout Town’s fishes have that property in them that just makes them taste so good, and that special part of them lacks in Coral City. As expected, a town has cleaner and clearer waters than a city. Have you been to Coral City before? I’ve seen Trout Town’s delicacies, and the place has class, even if it is small. Actually, sizes shouldn’t even matter. Quality over quantity, you know? Please don’t give up on fishing. Your efforts are never wasted. By the way, when the night displays a full moon, would you take time to look outside and admire the beauty of the moon? I got my hands busy, and I don’t get to admire nature as much, but since I found a new friend, I’m going to try to not miss outside if possible. Have a good day, Miss.
This reply made Monica wonder, “So, judging by the way the Coral City person writes, I’m thinking it’s a guy…? And he knows I’m a girl…how is that?”
“Duh,” Frida answered as she continued reading with her sister. “You tied that bottle with a pink ribbon, right? The first impression would be a girl who sent that bottle. But seriously, he writes pretty well and neat, as expected from a writer.”
As the months pass, Monica saw the letters getting longer and longer, sometimes even extending to the back page. Monica felt happy to be able to meet a new friend outside Trout Town. Her shelves were starting to be full of messages from her friend. One time she even told her sister, “It’s weird, but I find him to be a really kind person. I mean, even if we’ve never met, I’m sure he’s a sweet guy. It’s sure tiring to have to drive all the way to the beach for a bottle every other night!”
But one vital thing she doesn’t know, what’s her friend’s name anyway? Until now, she never revealed her, nor did she ever decide to. It just seemed impractical to reveal one’s name to someone whom you’ve never met in person. But her decision had to change when she received a letter that had these words.
Mademoiselle, happy birthday to our writing. It’s been one year, if I remember correctly, since I received your first message. I’ve kept the papers in my shelves and have left them untainted. One thing though, I can’t help but notice that we never exchanged our identities before. If it doesn’t mind you at all, would you kindly write your name? And if I happen to know of your name, well, what a funny coincidence that we’ve met again. I’d gladly visit you in Trout Town in the next full moon.
This made Monica feel surprise. She called for her sister for some tips.
“My pen pal wants to know my name,” Monica announced to Frida, showing her the letter. “Wow, after a year, this is the only time he realized it?”
“Ahh…” Frida replied slowly with a smile. “Maybe he’s like you.”
“Like me? Wait, what?” Monica replied with a blank expression.
“You know what I mean,” Frida chuckled. “If a person wants to know your name, it means that that person wants to know you more. It’s been so long since you two have sent letters back and forth. Look at his past writings. All he’s ever written is a gentlemanly ‘Miss’ to pertain to you. Would be nice if he knows your name, right? Well, it wouldn’t hurt to reveal yours. Even your first name will do.”
“I guess I should,” Monica nodded her head as she started writing. Two days later again, she received a reply that puzzled her.
Monica? It sounds familiar. I’ve met someone with that name. What’s she like?
Monica wasn’t so sure if she should reply in an honest way, but seeing how long they’ve been sending letters to each other, she thought, “I guess it wouldn’t hurt.”
Monica, now I remember. Do you remember me? It’s I, Thursday. Does that name echo in your mind? It’s nice to meet you again, Monique.
“WHAT?!” Monica shouted to the top of her lungs with a red face. Frida came running to see what was going on. “What’s wrong?!” Frida panickly asked.
“Oh no, why did I write those things!?” Monica exclaimed, beginning to scratch the table in distress.
“Hey, tell me what’s up with you?” Frida asked once more.
“Thursday!” Monica answered, still with a face red.
“Yeah, today is Thursday. Problem?” Frida said, scratching her head in confusion.
“R-Remember,” Monica stuttered, “the time when I told you about…” she trailed off.
“About…” Frida whispered back then after realizing it, she exclaimed, “OH!! THAT THURSDAY!! Wait, seriously?!” She laughed hard and giggled, “What a lucky ‘mademoiselle’ you are, Monica. Hahaha!”
Monica didn’t laugh with Frida. Instead, she was panicked and in distress. Her previous letters to her pen pal contained her secrets and childhood memories. One of the replies from her friend about some ideas of writing a story about love was this.
Story about love? Hahaha. Yeah, I think love stories are the easiest to write. That is, if you’ve experienced it yourself, but since you said you’re not sure about it, and you’re giving me the honors of giving you an idea, I’ll tell you then! Hmmm… where do I start? Ah! There was a time way back then when I liked a classmate. His name was sure easy to remember! I mean, you can see it in the calendar and places that contain the date! Ohohohoho. We were good friends and all, but he never saw that I liked him even with my stuttering and whatnot. Then one day, he moved, so I never got to see him again. Really too bad, since he’s so caring and understanding. He’s smart as well, like a bookworm! And he once told me that when he grows up, he wants to be a writer and journey far away! I wonder where he is today and how successful he has become after all these years…
“I want to slap myself so badly…” Monica started to shed some tears. “That sure is one heck of a confession. And he mentioned that he’ll visit me in the next full moon which is next week! WHAT DO I DO?!”
“Oh, calm down,” Frida told Monica. “I bet deep inside you’re pretty excited. Wow, you get to meet the person you’ve admired for so long, and you’ve shared almost everything that’s needed for him to know.” She waved at her sister, “Good luck with that~”
In hopes of not turning out to be a snob, Monica replied back in a way that she still viewed Thursday as an unknown person. However, he didn’t reply not until the night before full moon.
Monique, it’s really you. I had a feeling that we’d meet again, even not in person. In the whole year that we sent messages back and forth, I learned something new, and that life is full of evanescent chances. I wanted to ask, but I was hesitant; perhaps you’d find me a weird person and all, and your stories and jokes made me forget the thought of even asking for something simple as your name. I told you I’d come to visit the next full moon which is tomorrow, but unfortunately, I’m moving out of Coral City. It’s quite sudden, and even I’m surprised myself. I don’t know if we’ll ever meet again, but who knows, Fate may be just as kind like this time. Good night, Monique. Sweet dreams. At least I get to know you more, and I won’t forget that orange-haired lady that I used to make fun of you… From, Thursday
It was just a short moment. A year didn’t take a long time, and before Monica realized it that her pen pal who lived on the other side of the shore was leaving already. She felt bittersweetness. Bitter that she couldn’t communicate with him again, but sweet that she got the chance to at least have a friend, and the letters that she kept in her shelves remain untainted, just like what her friend did to hers. She declared that she didn’t want to see him, but deep inside, she would like to see her friend again, now all grown up, but it’s just that she’s shy, and she thought that if the two of them would see each other, they would run out of words to say. Fate was kind enough to her to grant her wish of meeting a friend, hopefully a friend that she had previously known. Even though it was just bottled messages back and forth, Monica was content and happy with it already.
The next day followed, and when night came down, the stars aligned in perfect harmony, creating a beautiful picture in the sky. The waves coalesced with the atmosphere, and beside the seashore was a shadow standing and looking on the reflection of the full moon glistening.
“Good night, Thursday,” Monica whispered under the starry night. “Reach out to your dreams and go further, just like what you aspired to do when we were kids back then. As for me, I’ll get started on my manuscript like what you’ve encouraged me.” Looking up, Monica closed her eyes, “Maybe one day I’ll read your thoughts, and you’ll read mine as well.”
KitKat's World 