How to Write a Letter

A "Captured by Aliens" story

By Thelma Mary Caroline

The lady behind the counter looked up.  "May I ... help you?"

"Need some stamps."  My voice suprised me.  I hadn't spoken in so long that it was raspy and quieter than I'd intended.

The lady narrowed her eyes.  "You can't write a letter."

It was against the rules.

"Don't want to write a letter."  I placed a ten dollar bill on the counter to cover the cost, both for the envelopes and for her time to get them on her next trip to Earth.

The lady took it and added envelopes to her list.

"Anything else?"

"Need some stamps."

"I told you, you can't write a letter."

Well, duh.  "Told you, not gonna write a letter."

I laid another ten dollar bill on the counter.  The lady added stamps to her list.

"Anything else?  Some paper for this letter you're not going to write?"

I laid three shiny quarters on the counter.  "Need a paper."

The lady sighed.  "Come back Saturday."