For Karin and Rob Leuthy
and all our Creeches
Dear Mr. Birkway,
Here it is: my summer journal. As you can see, I got a little carried away.
The problem is this, though. I don’t want you to read it.
I really mean it. I just wanted you to know I did it. I didn’t want you to think I was one of those kids who says, “Oh yeah, I did it, but I lost it/my dog ate it/my little brother dropped it in the toilet.”
But please PLEEEASSSE DON’T READ IT! How was I to know all this stuff was going to happen this summer? How was I to know Carl Ray would come to town and turn everything into an odyssey? And how was I to know about Alex…? Sigh.
PLEASE DON’T READ IT. I mean it.