you write her fucking name on your folder! It hurt so much when I seen it! I didn’t think you would put her ugly name on your folder and you wrote it!! You must have liked her enough to write her name! Why? Well, I’m gone!
Melinda
P.S. Just tell me you liked her once cause I know!
But there was no mention of Shanda in a letter written the following day. Melinda’s thoughts were on Amanda and Amanda alone:
Amanda,
Thanks for my sweet and very neat letter. I liked how you joked and said cute things. I’m doing my best in trying to write this but the teacher is eyeing me down and trying to catch me in the act but I’m too damn slick. And I hate dick. Na! (I really do though.) You look so damn cute in the morning honey. In class I always day dream about you. I can’t help thinkingabout you all the time. Yes, I would love to go to your game and see you play in your little shorts. And see you sweat. Hmmm! Makes me hot just thinking about it. And I’m always a good girl. You better keep being a good girl. And I’ll be good with Carrie East and I’ll do her good too! Na! You did like how I let you go last night? Well, I’ll do it more often then. Na! I don’t have any lunch money honey! My mom didn’t bother to give me any cause I forgot to ask her. (I guess that’s why she didn’t give me any.) Ha! Ha! Ha! Aren’t I so damn cute! Well I’ll write more later after you write me.
I love you, Melinda
Amanda -n- Melinda
Do you wanna fuck? yes. no.
In the border of that letter, Melinda had written: “Melinda loves Amanda always and forever.” And written upside down on the bottom of the page were the words “Horny people with an attitude read upside down. That’s why I read it first.”
With her rival out of her life, Melinda was in ecstasy. Her unbridled joy shows through in the following two love letters, all written in late November:
Poo,
I was in the hall and I went past this class and there was the most beautiful girl in there and she was holding her hair back in a sexy way and doing some work. Do you know her? I think her name is Amanda. Well anyway, I don’t feel too good today but I’m real hyper and in a playful way like chasing someone and jumping on them. Did you know we get off Thursday for Thanksgiving? I love turkey and all that good food! Do you want to come over to my house and eat? (Me) Na! I’m gone.
Love always,
Melinda
Amanda,
I changed the heading on my note a little cause I gotsick of the same damn thing. I enjoyed eating lunch with you and I’m real sorry about jumping down your throat and being a sour puss but I get that way once in a while. I love you no matter what I do or say. And I don’t mean to take it out on you. We just need to agree and give each other’s opinions more often and then take turns. Well, I still have cramps and I’m still in a bitchy mood. So don’t mess with me! Na! I’m back. I’m in art class now and we’re listening to country and “I’m Shameless” came on the radio! I love that damn song!. Will you get the tape for me? Please!! Please!! Please!! I’ll get down on my knees and beg and then I’ll eat your puss! Na! I’m in a real excited mood! I’m acting real stupid and making everyone laugh! Well almost everyone. I’m going to leave you with one more thing to say: I love you!!
Love,
Melinda
XOXOXOX
But Melinda’s high spirits would soon come crashing down. At the same time that she was expressing her love in these letters, Amanda was carrying on a secret correspondence with Shanda, who was having a hard time adjusting to her new school. Through a series of phone calls, Shanda and Amanda had arranged to get together. Shanda was going to spend one night with her cousin, Amanda Edrington. Without Jacque’s knowledge, Shanda and her cousin would go to a Hazelwood dance, where Amanda would be waiting.
But Melinda caught wind of the plan and