The following “letter” is part of the continuing series from the unpublished novel by James Garrett, “Benicia Letters Once More”. He does not plan to publish the book but instead is choosing to share the letters with the readers of the Benicia Herald. The letters continue the storyline of Garrett’s first novel “Benicia and Letters of Love”. Each “letter” tells of love in one of its many forms from a separate point of view. Benicia is represented prominently in the letters because of Garrett’s deep fondness for the city of Benicia. He hopes readers see themselves or others they know in the letters because the concept of “Love” is universal.

Mr. Garrett,
She was such a nice girl and then about three months before school ended she met a guy everybody but her understood was a complete “anal orifice.” She changed within a couple weeks of meeting him. All I could think of towards him was punching his lights out. She went from me taking her to and from school and us spending as much time together as we could to her cutting everything loose in her life except for him. Then she missed school three out of five days and finally she wasn’t going to Benicia High School anymore.
The guy was out of high school and a lot further advanced in some aspects of life than she and I together I guess. Something about him fascinated her. Maybe it was because he was older and showed an interest in her she didn’t think she got from any guys her age. I don’t know what that something was but it clamped onto her like she was held in a vice.
It got to the point where some guys at school were talking about what she was doing. Her parents and I got along pretty good. I wanted to talk with them about what was going on with the guy, but I couldn’t do it.
He eventually started pimping for her down at the end of First Street. That was hard to get over. The last I knew she was into drugs and nowhere around and neither was he. Her parents moved away. It’s almost as if she was never in Benicia.
I looked at my copy of our junior year Benicia High yearbook the other day to read what she wrote in it. She was full of happiness and plans. It looked at the time that she had a bright future. Again, then she met the guy.
I think I loved her, but she chose him. I sometimes, as now, think of her and say a prayer for her.
Keith

James Garrett is a lifelong resident of Benicia and a former teacher at Benicia High School. He is the author of the following novels: “Benicia and Letters of Love,” “The Mansion Stories,” “Chief Salt,” and “One Great Season, 9-0!” He also compiled a three-volume work titled “The Golden Era: Benicia High School Football, The 1948 through 1960 Seasons, “A” History with Comments.”
He can be contacted at jgstoriesnpoetry@aol.com.

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