Dreaming of His Pen Pal's Kiss - Jessie Gussman Page 0,8

that well.

Obviously, the man wasn’t interested in anything she was interested in. So, she supposed it was up to her to be interested in what he was.

But what was that? The other thing he loved he couldn’t tell her, and she couldn’t get upset with it because the terms of the pen pal relationship were to not disclose any details of their personal life. Even her saying she was a nurse might have gone a little close to that line, although there were lots of nurses in the country. It wasn’t exactly an identifying characteristic.

She racked her brain as she had been doing for ten days to find something, anything, that she could talk to the man about that wouldn’t allow the irritation that she felt at his less-than-complimentary question to show through.

Maybe he was shy. She hadn’t considered that. Maybe he didn’t know how to ask without feeling like he was being rude or pushy.

Maybe he just wasn’t a very good writer and didn’t know how to phrase things so that it didn’t hurt her feelings.

Always think the best of people. Assume the best in their motivations.

Race had told all of them that throughout their teen years. He was right as always. It did make things go more smoothly, when one assumed the best about others.

She would go with it, because it was right. She needed to assume the best and not be offended over stupid things.

But what to say?

It was two days later before she finally figured something out. She actually thought it was a really great idea.

But she supposed she’d have to wait and see what Computer Geek thought.

Hopefully, he wrote back quickly.

Dear Computer Geek,

I have an idea for an app.

As far as I know, and I looked it up online, no one else is doing anything like this.

Ready?

What if you made a hospital app?

I know you don’t like nurses, but what if there was an app to rate nurses? Or at least to rate hospitals and rate the service that you feel you’re getting in the hospital?

I think you’d have to be careful, because you wouldn’t want to make anyone mad or hurt anyone’s feelings, but it could be kind of like stats for sports figures? You could include doctors in it too.

Even the food...you could have a place to rate the quality of the TV or the physical therapists. Really, the sky is the limit.

And as a nurse, I think it would inspire me to want to do better. Of course, I wouldn’t like reviews or comments that weren’t complimentary, but it could be like restaurant reviews. Everybody has their own opinion.

Anyway, I thought of it and thought you might be interested.

It’s just a thought, but it might give people in hospitals something to do.

You never did get back to me on the sheep question.

I’m not sure you get winter where you are, but if you do, I’m hoping you enjoy spring. It’s beautiful here in the Ozark foothills.

Sincerely,

The Healing Pen

DEAR HEALING PEN,

I loved your idea!

That’s why it’s taken me so long to write back. I actually started the day I got your letter—I’d gone home the day before and was already bored out of my mind—on working on the app that you suggested.

It was a brilliant idea. And you’re right, there’s nothing like it.

And why not? Shouldn’t doctors and nurses be held to the same standard that everyone else is? You can rate restaurants, hotels, B&Bs, books, movies...why not healthcare?

So anyway, it’s been two weeks, and I actually have a bit of a prototype that I thought you’d be interested in trying.

Now, I know you don’t have a computer, and I know we’re not supposed to send detailed information. The man who set us up on my end told me that much. However, if you send me your email address, I’ll give you a link where you can try out my app. I’m still developing it, but you can give me some feedback.

I think I’m a no on the sheep. I don’t want to be a sheep. I want to make my own way. I think people sometimes just hear stuff and believe it, and they’re afraid to branch out from their little bubble and listen to anything that doesn’t agree with what they already believe or to be different from everyone around them.

I don’t want that ever to be me.

I’ve never really fit in anywhere, so the sheep thing isn’t for me.

You never answered my question. What do you like to do other