Chapter Two: Try Again 

Her mother watches as her little girl continue to mourn her lost friend. Bette was gone forever in Tina’s mine because she doesn’t live here (same city, on the same street, beside her) anymore. She refused to take Bette’s calls but it was clear to anyone who sees Tina, that the little girl misses Bette to the depth of the ocean.

Mrs. Kennard picks up her phone and dialed Bette’s number.

“Hello Mrs. Kennard.”

“Hello Bette. How are things in Boston? Do you like the school?”

“School here is great. Boston is wicked.”

“I’m glad to hear that.”

“How is Tina, Mrs Kennard?”

“She misses you but she won’t admit.”

“Is she really seven? Gosh, she is so stubborn.”

Mrs Kennard laughed.

“Yes.”

“Tell her I miss her too.”

“I will but I don’t think she wants to hear that especially from you. She thinks you’ve abandoned her, Bette, and you’re never coming back.”

“That’s not true.”

“I know my little girl Bette; she felt like you betrayed her. She won’t forgive you that easily. Remember when Dan left us?”

“Yes, she still won’t mention his name and that was two years ago.”

“Yes, so you know this might take awhile. That’s why I called to ask you a favor, Bette.”

“Anything for you and Tina, Mrs. Kennard. Just name it.”

“She needs a friend. She won’t talk to anyone though not even me, and you’re the only one to get through to her since my husband left us. So I thought maybe you can do it again.”

“But she won’t talk to me.”

“Not on the phone, but in letters she might.”

“But she’ll just discard it if she sees my name.”

“Use a different moniker and I’ll tell her that you’re her cousin in Washington. I think you’re the only one who can get through to my little girl, Bette. She trusts you like I do. I need you to do this for me. I can’t stand seeing her like this.”

“Okay, if that’s what you want. I’ll do it.”

Tina was broken when Bette left her, but now she is completely shattered since Bette doesn’t call anymore. Tina thought maybe it’s her fault that people around her keeps leaving; first it was her dad, and now Bette.

She leaned on her mother afraid that she might leave too. “The summer is almost over, baby, is there something that you would like to do before school starts?” Tina shakes her head. “No, I just want to hold you, mom.”

Mrs Kennard lets out a soft sigh before pulling Bette’s letter out from her purse. “Oh, and this letter came for you today.” Tina shakes her head again. “Nope, I don’t want it.”

“Please read it, baby. It’s from your cousin. I told her that you were unhappy about your friend leaving you. So, she wants to say hi.” Mrs Kennard pats her angel on the head to encourage her before getting up from the couch to start dinner.

It took Tina several seconds before tearing the envelope opened. Mainly, her curiosity about this cousin of hers intrigued her because in the seven year span that Tina had known her mother; mom has never mentioned that she had a cousin or any other relatives for that matter. Tina thought it was just her, mom, and dad for the longest time.

“Eli Kennard.” Tina recites the name on the envelope before she unravels the note. The letter was simple, sweet, and it served its purpose. Tina was rocking her first smile since the departure of one unmentionable brunette. There was a sense of delicateness, and tenderness, but most importantly familiarity in the letter that Tina immediately connected with.

Time was flying. Days turned into weeks and more and more letters were exchanged. Mrs Kennard sees the changes in Tina’s behavior. She could tell that her little girl still misses Bette but she’s not so alone anymore with Eli in her life now.