WRITER 82

Charlie, in Chbosky’s "The Perks of being a Wallflower," is constantly communicating with someone he refers to as “dear friend” through what are meant to be letters. He never mentions receiving any response from the aforementioned “dear friend.” However, I think it would be very interesting to imagine how “dear friend” might respond to Charlie’s letters. Maybe “dear friend” would say something like this…

Hi Charlie,

Sorry I haven’t responded sooner but you write so many letters that it’s hard for me to keep up some times. Anyways, I have been thinking a lot about what you have written and there are a couple of things that keep bothering me. I know that we haven’t meet but I am still very concerned about what’s happening to you. Why have you started up with the LSD again? I understand that your feelings start to choke you sometimes and that you just want to escape but getting high off of LSD is not the solution.

You’re so smart and capable of so much and it hurts to hear how down you get. Do you think that you could tell your brother about the things that bother you? I know that you don’t talk much, especially with him playing football in college now, but I really feel like you need to talk with someone in your family and your mom and dad don’t seem like they get it. I’d tell you to consider talking with your sister but I think she has issues of her own that need to be sorted out. I can’t believe that that guy slapped her right in front of you. What kept you from hitting him then and there? Regardless, I’m glad that you didn’t because who knows what kind of problems that would have caused.

Is there something about your aunt Helen that you’re not telling me? It just seems like your writing becomes spaced out in a weird kind of way when you talk about her. I don’t know, maybe I am just reading too much into it but sometimes I get this feeling that I can’t shake, like your problems run much deeper than you’re willing to let on. You asked what I have been up to. Well, not much to be honest. Sure, I go to school everyday but it doesn’t feel like I’m doing anything worthwhile yet. You always talk about participating in life and I think that’s a skill that everyone needs to improve on, myself included. However, thanks to your letters I feel as though I have started to participate in my life more and I thank you for that Charlie. You’re a good friend, you really are. Speaking of friends, Sam and Patrick sound like wonderful people. If Sam is half as cool as you describe her then I think I would love her too. Love is difficult because we never know if it will be returned. I hope that yours is Charlie because you deserve it.

What does Bill have you reading now? It seems like he really know his stuff. I wish I had an English teacher like Bill. I read "The Catcher in the Rye" after you mentioned it to me and I thought it was terrific. Holden reminds me of you in a way but I can’t quite but my finger on it. Maybe it’s the fact that you both have troubles but still try to find your own path in the world. Wow, I can’t believe that it’s this late, it’s almost midnight and I have to catch the six o'clock bus to school because my mom needs the car tomorrow. Anyways, I am writing you back so that you don’t think that I have forgotten about you. My letter writing will pick up, I promise. I hope that this letter finds you doing well and good luck with that essay you’re working on. I know it will be great.

Your friend,

R