Sahm I Am - By Meredith Efken Page 0,17

remarkable throwing abilities yesterday, we would like to extend an invitation to try out for our team. We have been discussing the idea of having a few good women on the team—it would be great PR, with all the controversy about gender equality in sports. Please reply at your earliest convenience.

Sincerely,

Mike Gumble

* * *

From:

Dulcie Huckleberry

To:

The Millards

Subject:

Re: Your pitching ability

* * *

Dear “Mr. Gumble,”

Thank you for that…gracious offer, but I am not interested. AND IT ISN’T FUNNY, JOCELYN! SO GIVE ME SOME SYMPATHY INSTEAD OF MOCKING MY PREDICAMENT!!! DON’T YOU HAVE ANY COMPASSION FOR MY POOR, BLACK-EYED HUSBAND?

Yours truly,

Dulcie Huckleberry

* * *

From:

The Millards

To:

Dulcie Huckleberry

Subject:

Re: Your pitching ability

* * *

Oh, come on, Dulcie—Shane thought my e-mail was hysterical! :)

Seriously, I’m sorry Tom got a black eye. I hope he doesn’t stay mad at you for very long.

* * *

From:

P. Lorimer

To:

“Green Eggs and Ham”

Subject:

Thank You

* * *

Dear Brenna, Zelia, Dulcie and Jocelyn,

Thank you so much for letting me be part of your chat group last night and including me in your e-mail alias. You have no idea how badly I am in need of friendship right now. Jonathan and I have been married only about eighteen months, and we moved about six months ago to Kellom, Wisconsin, where we pastor a small town church. It’s Jonathan’s first church, and he’s been very busy trying to get acclimated. Plus, Bennet was born a month after we moved, so I have been far too exhausted to socialize much. I’ve met few women my age, and those I have become acquainted with seem to have little in common with me except for our children. As much as I love Julia and Bennet, I simply don’t want to spend all my free time talking about them. Chatting with you last night was the first opportunity I’ve had in a long time to step out of my roles as pastor’s wife or preschoolers’ mom, and simply be ME. Jonathan was teasing me last night about how I was sitting in front of the computer and suddenly bursting out laughing. But even he remarked that laughter was something he’d missed hearing from me. He thanks you, too. You’ve been quite a blessing to our little family, even though we’ve never actually met. I just wanted to say how grateful I am.

Love,

Phyllis

* * *

From:

Dulcie Huckleberry

To:

“Green Eggs and Ham”

Subject:

Re: Thank You

* * *

Phyllis, that’s the sweetest letter I’ve ever gotten! Hey, girls, why haven’t WE ever been so nice to each other? :) I think we need to keep Phyllis around, just to teach us some manners. In all seriousness, Phyllis, we enjoyed chatting with you, too. We’d be glad to be your friends.

Love,

Dulcie

* * *

From:

Jordan and Becky

To:

Thomas Huckleberry

Subject:

I JUST GOT A BOX IN THE MAIL!

* * *

A WHOLE BOXFUL OF ROMANCE NOVELS! There’s like sixty of them—and all with titles like Sweet Surrender and Fires of Love. And the covers—yikes! AND IT CAME FROM YOU, THOMAS ALEXANDER HUCKLEBERRY! FROM YOUR OFFICE IN KANSAS CITY! I want an explanation!

And I want it…now.

Becky

P.S. Heard from mom that Dulcie gave you a black eye—what happened, she find out that you copied that note?

* * *

From:

Thomas Huckleberry

To:

Jordan and Becky

Subject:

The Box

* * *

Just calm down. I can explain. Okay, you know the secretary I borrowed that book from? Well, she was so excited about the idea of a male reading romance novels that she brought an entire box of her old ones from home and gave it to me at work! Didn’t even seal the box, so all the guys I’m working with saw what was inside. I got a razzing like I’ll never forget. They were grabbing the books and reading passages to me in high breathy voices, acting like a bunch of junior-highers. It was pathetic.

So what was I supposed to do? I didn’t dare try to explain what had really happened, because I’d never be able to show my face there again. And I couldn’t tell them that Dulcie wanted those books—talk about emasculating. So I told them that my sister reads those sort of novels, and that’s why Kelly gave me the box. But they wouldn’t stop giving me a hard time until I actually sealed up the box, addressed it and mailed it to you. Then, with the holiday and all, I must have forgotten to tell you about it. I’m really sorry! Send them to the library or thrift store or something.

Do you know how much I love you?