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Subject: Pen Pal Request
From: [email protected]
Dear, slowpokegeeky96
Hello! I saw your post request on the anonymous board for a pen pal, and I’m also looking for a pen pal and thought we could pair up! You listed your interests and a few of them align with mine (here is my profile and interest list: funnfriendsfanboard.com/profie;jchristygirl03).
If you’re interested, let me know.
Regards,
Jcnggirl03
From: [email protected]
Subject: Re: Pen Pal Request
To, jcnggirl03
Hi!! I’m totally up for accepting your pen pal request! If I’m being honest (which I guess I should since this is what having a pen pal is all about hehe) I was worried no one would send a request at all. And you were the first so… Yay!
I looked at your profile and you’re right! A lot of our interests align. Also I’m open to even talking about any of your interests that I don’t know much about too!
Btw: I think we should use nicknames, writing out our full email addresses is a little silly hehe. You can call me Slowpoke!!
Excited for your reply. :D
Sincerely,
Slowpoke <3
Subject: Our First Message
From: [email protected]
Dear, Slowpoke
Hello again. I’m happy to use nicknames, I will admit typing out your full email was a little tedious. Haha. And I’m surprised no one wanted to send you a pen pal request. You seem pretty cool to me!
Much like you, I’m willing to discuss any of your interests that I don’t have listed. My parents always tell me a friendship goes both ways, and I suppose this is what this is. Or will be. I’m not sure we could call ourselves friends just yet. Haha.
Oh, and you can call me Christygirl. I look forward to speaking more.
Regards,
Christygirl
From: [email protected]
Subject: Re: Our First Message
To, Christygirl
Hey! Nice to have a name to put to the… profile pic?? Idk but it’s nice knowing what to call you. I also thought it would be a good idea to share pronouns if you’re comfortable with that. I use any pronouns! I also saw on your profile that you were interested in learning about queer stuff, so I could help with any of that because I am super queer hehehe!
I’m also curious about your interest in Christianity? I’m guessing both your nickname and email are linked to that and I’m interested to know more! And how do you manage faith with being queer.
I don’t know much about Christianity tbh. I’m Jewish but me and my family don’t really practice and from what I’ve heard there are a lot of differences. I mean, Jesus was a Jew so that’s fun! Anyway, yeah, I’d be happy to learn more if you wanted.
I also had another fun idea! This pen pal will work best if we have consistent communication so we should try and send at least one email a day. Of course if you miss a day that’s fine! But it’s like a fun idea I think! :// We could recount our days to each other if you want (I know I would find it super cathartic personally, but if you don’t want to it’s fine.)
I guess I might as well get started with the day thing so we can see how it goes, huh?
So, today was actually a pretty good day to me. I had school (which I saw on your profile that you're in high school too! Maybe we’re in the same grade, I just started junior year) and managed to avoid most of my bullies. And: no death threats today! Yay! Me and my best friend (I’ll call him…. Robo) even got tickets to a musical touring at our local theater!! (I love theater btw). My other friend (I’ll call him Panda) just got a new collectors binder for his pokemon cards which I’m super jealous of. I’m gonna have to save up cause there’s no way my mom would let me buy that without putting my own money into it.
Oh! Another great thing: I found a penny on the street today. That’s supposed to be super good luck I think, but I’m not a superstitious person so idk. Anyway, that’s been my day. I’d be excited to hear about yours if you’re comfortable with that (again, if not, that’s totally cool)!
One more thing, here’s a great joke:
What do you get when you cross a cow with an octopus?
Sincerely,
Slowpoke! <3
Subject: About My Day
From: [email protected]
Dear, Slowpoke
Hello! I agree knowing what to call each other is a good step towards a friendship. I’m not super confident with pronouns beyond their literary use but I think my are she, her and hers? And it’s good to know if I have any questions about “queer stuff” I can ask you, I’m really new to this stuff and very uneducated.
I am a Christian, yes! I was raised from birth and am still pretty devout, but more recently some things in my life have made me question certain aspects of my faith and that’s part of the reason I was looking for a pen pal. I’m not 100% sure I am “queer” yet, but accepting that and my faith is a struggle I admit and I’m not sure I’ve fully figured it out yet. However, I would be willing to answer any questions you have about that or my faith in general! Christianity is one of the few things I’m an expert in, so I could answer literally any question you have.
The idea of emailing everyday is nice and I will try my best to do that! But I am using my local library's computer for this in between doing my homework so I might miss some days sadly. And I agree, talking about my day would also be cathartic.
I’m also a junior in high school, and I think we have much of the same experience at school. I think people are less aggressive with me than you (I haven’t gotten a death threat, not to my face at least) but mine is mostly centred around my faith. Though, I can’t entirely blame them, I’ve done and said a lot of stuff I’m starting to regret on reflection. If it isn’t too revealing can I ask what musical you and Robo will see? I’ve never been much into theater but maybe this could be the gateway! I’m also not sure what a “pokemon” is but that sounds cool, I’m happy for you friend and hope you get this binder too.
It’s true that finding pennies is lucky, but I’m also not superstitious. Unless you count faith as superstition, which some do, in which case I’m very superstitious.
As for my day, not much happened. My dad is a realtor and just sold another property so we can replace our TV, so that’s cool. Sadly, they only watch News channels and TV shows approved of by our pastor. Other than that not much happened. Bible study was fun—my friends (I’ll call them Moon and Night) are dating so I feel like a third-wheel most of the time. But they’re not overly affectionate or anything. They’re a year younger than me and just a Christian as I am, or maybe used to be, so they don’t do much more than talk and hold hands sometimes. And now I’m at the library doing my homework since my parents don’t allow technology in the house besides my dad’s work phone and a house-phone.
About your joke: I’m not sure, why?
Regards,
Christygirl
From: [email protected]
Subject: Re: About My Day
To, Christygirl
Heyy!! So, pronouns are just what you like people to call you! If you feel comfortable being referred to with she/her then those are your pronouns. For example I’m okay with you (or other people) using any pronouns for me. This includes she, he, it, they! Anything!
And wow! I can’t imagine how hard it must be struggling with your faith and potentially being queer, but I’m here to help.
Oh, and Pokemon is just a video game / giant franchise. There's an anime and stuff, but I’m talking about these cards you can collect. I have a few, but my friend Panda has a ton and has this little book to put his inside in order and flick through. It’s super cool!!
It’s totally cool if you can’t email one day! Doing all your internet stuff at the library must suck. :// Your parents seem pretty strict. The musical we’re going to see is Mama Mia, it’s a jukebox musical that has a ton of ABBA songs so it’s fun! Not my favorite but it’s better than seeing another rendition of the birth of christ (no offense, haha, I like it I’ve just seen it a million times lol).
I’m glad your day wasn’t awful, and here’s hoping for a better one tomorrow! Luckily my friend’s aren’t dating anyone, all three of use are single pringles hehe. And hey, now you’ll have a friend that doesn’t make you a third wheel (me)!
Oh! And the answer to my joke:
What do you get when you cross a cow with an octopus?
A meeting with the ethics committee and the swift removal of your research funding. Hehehehe. That one gets me EVERY TIME!!
Sincerely,
Slowpoke! <3
Subject: Re: Re: About My Day
From: [email protected]
Dear, Slowpoke
I don’t get the joke.
I thought it would be something like a cowtopus???
Explain!
Regards,
Christygirl
From: [email protected]
Subject: Re: Re: Re: About My Day
To, Christygirl
The joke is that a biologist is experimenting by combining the genes of a cow and an octopus, which would be an ethical nightmare. So the ethics board intervenes and they get no more money for their research!
But I also think cowtopus is also pretty funny hehehe. Cowtopussy… Hehehe…
Sincerely,
Slowpoke! <3
Subject: Stupid Joke
From: [email protected]
Dear, Slowpoke
Okay. That joke isn’t very funny (sorry.) I think cowtopus is funnier.
Anyway, I’m heading home now so I won’t be able to reply. I’ll talk to you tomorrow! Goodnight.
Regards,
Christygirl
From: [email protected]
Subject: Re: Stupid Joke
To, Christygirl
That’s fair! To each their own I guess! And like I said, cowtopussy is pretty funny.
Goodnight! I hope you have a good day tomorrow and am excited for your email!
Sincerely,
Slowpoke! <3