rejoicingpeasant

i found my mom's old free to be you and me book! she used to read me the poems and sing me the songs when i was little. and i love the old early 70's art!

Dear Richard,

Don't invite me to your birthday party because I'm not coming. And give me back the Disneyland sweatshirt I said you could wear. If I'm not good enough to play on your team, I'm not good enough to be friends with.

Your former friend,
Janet

p.s. I hope when you go to the dentist he finds 20 cavities.



Dear Janet,

Here is your stupid Disneyland sweatshirt, if that's how you're going to be. I want my comic books now - finished or not. No girl has ever played on the Mapes street baseball team, and as long as I'm captain, no girl ever will.

Your former friend,
Richard

p.s. I hope when you go for your checkup you need a tetanus shot.



Dear Richard,

I'm changing my goldfish's name from Richard to Stanley. Don't count on my vote for class president next year. Just because I'm a member of the ballet club doesn't mean Im not a terrific baseball player.

Your former friend,
Janet



Dear Janet,

I'm not saving any seats for you on the bus. For all I care, you can stand the whole way to school. Why don't you just forget about baseball and learn something nice like knitting?

Your former friend,
Richard

p.s. Wait until Wednesday.



Dear Richard,

My father said I could call someone to go with us for a ride and hot-fudge sundaes. In case you didn't notice, I didn't call you.

Your former friend,
Janet

p.s. I see you lost your second game, 34 - 0



Dear Janet,

Remember when I took the laces out of my blue-and-white sneakers and gave them to you? I want them back.

Your former friend,
Richard

p.s. Wait until Friday



Dear Richard,

Congratulatons on your unbroken record. Eight straight losses. Wow: I understand you're the laughingstock of New Jersey.

Your former friend,
Janet



Dear Janet,

Here's the silver horseback riding trophy that you gave me. I don't think I want to keep it anymore.

Your former friend,
Richard

p.s. I didn't think you'd be the kind to kick a man when he's down.



Dear Richard,

I wasn't kicking, exactly. I was kicking back.

Your former friend,
Janet

p.s. In case you were wondering, my batting average is .345.



Dear Janet,

Alphie is having his tonsils out tomorrow. We might be able to let you catch next week.

Richard



Dear Richard,

I pitch.

Janet



Dear Janet,

Joel is moving to Kansas and Danny sprained his wrist. How about a permanent place in the outfield?

Richard



Dear Richard,

I pitch.

Janet



Dear Janet,

Ronnie caught the chicken pox and Leo broke his toe and Elwood has these stupid violin lessons. I'll give you first base, and that's my final offer.

Richard



Dear Richard,

Susan Reilly plays first base, Marilyn Jackson plays center field, I pitch. It's a package deal.

Janet

p.s. sorry about your 12-game losing streak.



Dear Janet,

Please! Not Marilyn Jackson.

Richard



Dear Richard,

Nobody ever said that I was unreasonable. How about Lizzie Martindale instead?

Janet



Dear Janet,

At least could you call your goldfish Richard again?

Your friend
Richard





There was an old woman
who lived in a shoe,
And all her grandchildren
played there too.

She laughed at their jokes
(when they were funny)
And kept a green jar
of bubblegum money.
She rode with them
on the carousel
And played Monopoly
very well.

She taught them to paint
and how to bake bread.
She read them riddles
and tucked them in bed.
She taught them to sing
and how to climb trees.
She patched their jeans
and bandaged their knees.

She remembered the way
she'd felt as a child,
The dreams she'd had
of lands that were wild.
Of mountains to climb
of villains to fight,
Of plays and poems
she'd wanted to write.

She remembered all
she'd wanted to do
Before she grew up
and lived in the shoe.

There was an old woman
who lived in a shoe
And lived in the dreams
she'd had once too.
She told those who loved,
"Children be bold.
Then you'll grow up
But never grow old."