Free Ella Minnow Pea by Mark Dunn Page B

Nollop-the-mortal-marvel has become so very tiresome.
    One Supreme Being is enough for me. I much prefer the former to the latter.
    Love
,
    Your Tassie
     
    [Upon the Minnow Pea porch]
    NOLLOPTON
    Monty, October 2
    My Tassie,
    I am watching you through the pane. You sit at the table scribbling—scribbling, then erasing, biting, chewing the unfortunate pencil’s extremity as you contemplate. I share your chore. I might be your portico twin, in perch upon this fresco-chaise, performing same, were it not for glimpsing you through the glass. Such a beguiling sight—your long auburn tresses falling as cataract in shimmering filamentous pool upon the tabletop, gathering in swirl upon your notepaper—obscuring? framing? your toil. I must return to my own mental labors. But you have given me pleasant momentary respite.
    My beautiful Tassie, I so love you.
    Nate
     
    NOLLOPVILLE
    Monty, October 2
    Mittie, my gentlenurse,
    I appreciate so much the thermos of pullet soup you sent over. You will be happy to hear that I am feeling much better this morning. When I am stronger I am most eager to see you in some other capacity than nurse. (Not that you haven’t been an excellent caregiver.)
    I trust that you are still well, that you haven’t caught this nasty flu circulating through the Village. These are not opportune times for any of us to be ill. There is much that we must accomplish.
    I myself, in spite of the flu, have spent the better part of two nights coming up with a sentence containing all twenty-six letters of the alphabet of a length of less than fifty letters—forty-nine to be exact. I was hoping to surprise you with one of far more impressive brevity, but shall be happy with my initial effort. Still, though, it will not fit the ultimate bill; therefore, in concert with so many other villagers whose lamps burn late into the night, I will push on, whittling my count away.
    Accompanying this letter is a note brought to you by Eugenia, a little neighbor girl whom you may have seen playing on the lawn next to mine. She is all of seven, but the perfect age to write my sentences for me for purpose of conveying them to you, so that you may monitor my progress. I expect you will employ a youngster yourself in similar fashion so that I may learn of your progress, as well. (What a convenient loophole the not-always-farseeing Council has given us by the exemption from these laws of little ones such as sweet, cooperative Eugenia. The only problem exists in getting across to her through a series of elaborate gestures or comic pointings my intent. For there really is no other legal avenue butpantomime to communicate my full meaning to her. Then through her, to you. Bright youngsters are a precious asset in Nollopville in these troublesome times.)
    Sincerely
,
    Rory
     
    A quick move by the enemy will jeopardize six fine gun boats.
     
    NOLLOPVILLE
    Toes, October 3
    Rory,
    Your sentence is so much better (also shorter) than mine! I am almost reluctant to show my efforts to you. But a promise is a promise. I am in collusion with a boy by the name of Wesley, son of the Noonans who own Noonan’s Florist. Wesley is very popular; I must share his services with four of my neighbors!
    I am expecting a letter from Tassie. She will report how things are going in town. Rumor has it that someone—a professor with the university, I believe—has himself come in below 48. If this is true, it is very encouraging, is it not?
    Sincerely
,
    Your Mittie
     
    Back in my quaint garden, jaunty zinnias vie with flaunting phlox.
     
    NOLLOPTON
    Wetty, October 4
    Mother,
    Two letters fell last night. “F.” Then another “O.” The Council plans to excise “F” as of twelve o’timepiece on the Thurby/Fribs cusp. I assume they will also instruct us now to shave consumption of the letter “O” by fifty percent.
    There is at present fantastic support for what we in town have come to call, “Enterprise Thirty-two.” Still, the Council laughs at us. They