Dear Lex,

I really miss you. It sucks doing chores all by myself. Do you think you'll be able to come back this summer? I want you to teach me how to fence. Don't tell my parents, though, they don't like me fighting and they'd probably get upset with you.

Congratulations on graduating from high school! I wish I could have come to your graduation. I heard you got into Princeton! That's amazing! I hope you like it.

I'm going to be starting middle school in August. I'm really nervous. The campus is really big, and I don't know how to open a locker.

I wanted to ask for your advice about something. There's a girl I like at my school. She's really pretty, really smart, and she's so nice to everyone. The problem is, I don't really know her very well, even though we live pretty close to each other and we've been in the same class every year. She always has other friends around, so I can't catch her alone. I sometimes see her at the farmer's market by herself, and I try to go talk to her, but every time I do, my hands start sweating and my heart beats really fast, and my tongue trips over itself. She also seems to have a lot going on at home with helping her aunt Nell run the flower shop, so I keep thinking maybe I should leave her alone. What should I do?

My mom and dad say hi. My mom wants to know if it's warm enough in Princeton or if she needs to send you some extra blankets. My dad says to make sure you study hard and don't go to too many parties.

Write back soon! (If you're not too busy)

Love,

Clark Kent

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Dear Clark,

I miss you, too. I wish I could come back for the summer, but I'm in an engineering prep program this summer at Princeton. I've got biochemical research lined up for winter break, too, but we won't be working between Christmas and New Year's. Let me know if your parent are okay with me coming by during the holidays.

Thanks for the well wishes! University is great, a lot better than I expected. It's nice to be away from my father for a change. I guess I have to be sort of thankful, because he bought my way into this place.

Middle school won't be that bad for you. You're not stuck at a private boarding school with rich snobs. Yeah, you'll probably get lost and forget your locker combo on the first day, but everyone else will be doing the same thing.

You propose an interesting dilemma. For the sake of argument, let's call her Lana Lang.

I've had my fair share of girls I've liked. The important thing is not to be a coward about it. If you want her, go ask her out. If she says no, you'll have to back off, but until then, you won't know until you try. Don't allow yourself to make excuses about it. If you keep waiting for the perfect time, someone else is going to snatch her up, and it'll be no one's fault but yours.

Tell your mom I'm okay, and let your dad know I'm working hard. Don't worry, though, I'm never too busy to write my little brother.

Sincerely,

Lex