The following “letter” is part of the continuing series from the unpublished novel by James Garrett, “Benicia Letters Once More”.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.

Dear Mr. Garrett,
The song “Will You Still Love Me Tomorrow?” often runs through my mind, and it has for years.
What questioning and heartache that song must have brought many people. I know it brought questioning and heartache to me. Then that time passed.
Mike and I met at a Little League game at Maria Field. It was the alternating weekend each of us had with our sons. Until that time I didn’t know Mike. His son, Thad, and my Jeremy were classmates and good friends. It happened that they also played on the same team. They had each visited at the home of the other.
Jeremy and I arrived at the field earlier than Mike and Thad. When they arrived, Jeremy walked over to their car and walked back with them to where I sat. Mike introduced himself and sat next to me. There was space for another person between us. As the game progressed we turned towards each other until finally we were facing each other but always aware of what was happening on the field.
The game ended and the team got their snow cones. When our boys came over to where Mike and I sat, it seemed as if we had all known each other for a long time. It was a very relaxed time.
It seemed natural when Mike invited Jeremy and me to join him and Thad for pizza at the Pizza Pirate.
The boys became involved in the current events in the lives of boys as we all sat eating. Mike and I got to know each other better. Before we left the restaurant he asked if he could phone me later that evening, and I agreed. It had been many, many months since I talked with a man as I talked with Mike.
At home that evening while waiting for Mike to call the song “Will You Still Love Me Tomorrow?” kept playing in my head. I couldn’t make it go away. I had been very hurt by my former husband. I was afraid that if I gave in to my initial feelings for Mike I would be hurt again.
Mike telephoned at about 8:00 and we talked for over an hour. During our talk I mentioned I needed to mow our lawn the next day, but my lawn mower was broken. He said his mower wasn’t and volunteered to come over and mow my lawn.
He mowed the lawn and then we sat and drank lemonade. Then he asked me if I would like to go to the movies the next Saturday night and that his sister would watch the boys.
Our sons have graduated from Benicia High School. Mike and I are married. I had no reason to fear if “Will You Still Love Me Tomorrow?” would be a negative in our lives. Mike has said he started loving me when we met at the bleachers at Maria Field. I know I felt the same, though I didn’t realize it at the time.
_ When I told Mike how the song affected me, he said I had no need to ever worry about him not loving me for all the tomorrows.
-Ada_

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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