Letters from the Inside Read Free Page A

even be friends. If we went to the same school for instance.
    Well, we took the basketball game, 54-50. It wasn’t one of our best efforts, but we won. Day after tomorrow’s the first final — if we take that we go straight to the grand final. I’m nervous already, to tell you the truth. It’s against a team called Chieftains who’ve beaten us twice this season. Last time they thrashed us but that was the worst we’ve played. (Our best player had suddenly left so we were a bit of a mess.)
    We had training this afternoon — I’ve just come in, had a shower and sat down to write this letter. It was a hard training for once — our captain, a girl called Kylie Patrick, ran it, and Mrs Strauss let her. Kylie knows more about basketball than Mrs Strauss anyhow. So it was good. I like it better when it’s hard, even though during it you’re thinking, ‘I hate it, I wish it was over.’
    I keep coming back to your letter. I’m not sure what to think when you talk about ‘the real me’. I thought I was writing about the real me. But I’ll try to answer your questions.
    What do I look like? Well, I’m tall (176 cm) and I think I’m overweight, although everyone else says I’m just being anorexic. Wish I did have anorexia sometimes (though I’ve seen a few girls with it, and it’s pretty off). I’m blonde, my hair’s long at the moment, I’ve got blue eyes, fair skin (burns easily), have a modelling contract already signed — as if.
    I don’t believe in God, definitely not.
    I don’t do drugs or smoke, don’t drink or talk to strange men. Actually I sink the odd can or two and I wouldn’t mind talking to some strange men if I could find any.
    I get on with everyone in the family — we’re close, like I told you. I can talk to my parents about anything and they’re really proud of us. So many kids’ parents get divorced, but mine have been married twenty-five years, and they never argue or anything.
    I don’t follow footy much but I go for Norths. (Mainly because of Sam Marcroftsis, he’s so cute. He reminds me of my brother.)
    I’m not a brain at school but I do OK.
    What kind of jokes make me laugh? Well, here’s the latest:
    Q. What do you call a fly with no wings?
    A. A walk.
    Pretty funny, hey?! Oh well, I thought it was.
    What kind of clothes do I wear? I don’t like to dress up, although my father likes me to. He always wants me to wear expensive skirts and stuff, but I’m happy with jeans and a top. Those American sweatshirts, for example: I’ve got a few of those. I like clothes by Daniel, Heresy, Double First. I wear quite a bit of jewellery. I guess I do like some expensive things.
    And for your final question: We went overseas, to Disneyland and Hawaii and London, when I was little, but I don’t remember much about it.
    Now I’ll ask you some questions. What kind of stuff do you do with your friends? What’s your room like? Is it your own or do you share? What do you look like? Send me a photo. (Sorry I haven’t got any of me that I like.) Why’s your brother creepy? (You never answer that one.) How strict are your parents? Do you believe in God?
    You see, you’re getting a taste of your own medicine now.
    I’m so jumpy tonight. I think it’s that basketball. I’m all over the place, been having fights and getting in trouble, can’t do any work. Wish Casey was here to hold me and press against me and run his fingers down my back. God I love that guy. But he’s training tonight — he’s so fit. Well, I might go and play some music — Nicotine Monsters, I think. That’s the mood I’m in.
    Wish me luck! See you!
    Tracey

    Mar 31
    Mandy!
    WE WON! I can’t believe it! By seven points! I’m so excited I had to tell someone, and you’re it. I mean nobody, just nobody, beats Chieftains. And I played OK too — sixteen points, second highest, and some good rebounds. Got fouled off in the last two minutes, but who gives? It’s so great — hope we can keep our heads on till