KatarinaBook

FictionWorkshop
ENG304.001
Fall2015
ProfessorReid
PresentationWritingPrompt
11/25/15

TINYENVELOPES

Ihadbeenlivinginthecity,inmynewlife,onlyaweekbeforethefirstoftheletters
arrived.Letter,LoverbyJoyceCarolOates

WhenLisasbestfriendlandedthejobofherdreamsstraightoutofcollege,Lisaknew
shehadtomove,eitheroutofthestateorblindlytotheothersideoftheworldtolivenearher
friend.ShetriedtolocateajobinIndia,evensearchedforanEnglishteacherspositiontostay
ascloseaspossibletoDianna,butshedidnthavethecredentialstoteach.Really,shewas
horribleatEnglish,atwordsingeneral.
ButLisafeltdesperate.Shecouldntimagefacinglifewithoutherbestfriend;theyd
beenthroughalottogether.Diannawastherewhenthefirstletterarrived,wheneachgift
appearedoutsidetheirdooronholidays.ShestheonewhoconvincedLisatotalktoatherapist
andeventuallytothepolice,thoughshepracticallyhadtodragLisatothestation.Diannakept
thecopsinvestedinLisascaseevenwhenmonthspassedandnoevidencepointedtowardsthe
stalkersidentity.Sheevenconvincedacoptohelpthemmoveintoanewapartmentonthe
oppositesideofStillwater,buteventhentheletterscontinuedtofindLisa.

Book/TinyEnvelopes/2
Diannadidntaccepttheteachingpositionatfirst,atleastnotuntilLisapromisedtofind
ajobfarfromOklahoma.LisahadntbeenabletofindajobinIndiaoranywherebecauseofher
inabilitytofunctionfullyduringinterviews,soDiannahadherparentstalktotheCEOofthe
BetterBusinessBureau.Thewomanhadbeenafamilyfriendforyears,soitdidnttakemuch
convincingfortheCEOtoofferLisaaninternship.Thepaywascrap,$8.50anhour,butitwasa
job,farfromStillwater.AndLisawasgladtohaveit.
DiannafoundanapartmentforLisaindowntownCincinnationlyfifteenminutesfrom
Lisasnewworkplace,andassoonastheygottheokaytomovethingsin,thegirlspacked
everythingandleft.Theytookoffinthemiddleofthenightanddrovetheentiretwelvehoursto
getthere.Lisahopedthatbyleavinglate,herstalkerwouldntnoticeshedmoved,atleastnot
immediately.ShedidntwanttobefollowedtoCincinnati.
Iwishyoucouldcomewithme,Diannasaid.
Theyjustfinishedmovingtheremainingboxesintothelivingroom.Lisaturnedtoher
friendandwatchedasDiannaglancedateverythingbuther.Afteramoment,Diannafinallymet
Lisaseyes.Theywereclearandvoidofanyemotions.Tearsimmediatelybegantoweavedown
Diannasface.
Dontcry,Lisasaid.
Diannashookherheadandquicklywipedhernosewithhersleeve.Dontyoucry
either.
Imnot.Imsickofcrying.
Diannaknewwhatshemeant.Lisawasnttalkingabouthowsadshewasbecauseofthe
currentsituationandhavingtogrowintocompletelydifferentliveswithouttheotheraround.No,

Book/TinyEnvelopes/3
Lisawasreferringtothepastfewyears.Shecriedalotbackthen,especiallywhenthefirst
lettersarrived.Buteventually,Lisawasabletoskimherstalkersnoteswithoutasingletearin
hereye,whichalwaysfrightenedDianna.Thatwasntsomethingyoucouldjustgetusedto.Lisa
hadntevencriedwhenDiannatoldheraboutthejobinIndia.ItwasasifLisanolonger
possessedtheabilitytocry.
Callme,Diannasaid.Orwrite.Orboth.Justkeepmeuptodate.Ifthatbastardsends
youanymoremail,youtellme.
Lisanodded.
#
Lisafelttheabsenceofherstalkersstares,andshecouldfeeltendrilsoffreedom
creepingintoherlife,butitallcrashedonlyoneweekaftermovingintothenewplace.Thefirst
letterhadalreadyarrived.Itwastuckedneatlyintoatiny,pinkenvelopeandscreamedatLisa
fromitsletterboxcage,tellinghershecouldnever,everescape,thatshewouldneverbefree
fromtheharassment.
Thefamiliarhandwriting,thelettersskinnyandtall,wasscrawledatthecenterofthe
envelope,spellingoutLisasentirename:LisaMarieDaxter.Thesignatureheartswereetched
aroundthedotofeachi.Therewasnoaddressontheenvelopeorevenastamp,andLisa
realizedwithastartthatherstalkerhadphysicallydroppedtheletterintohermailbox.Hadbeen
there.InCincinnati.Atherdoor.
Lisadartedforhercar,droppingtheenvelopeintoatrashcanassheran.Shefumbled
withherkeys,jumpedintothesmallFordFocus,andimmediatelylockedthedoors.Herhair
whippedaroundherfaceassheglancedatthebackseatandjabbedthekeyintotheignition.

Book/TinyEnvelopes/4
Severalmilesofcrackedasphaltpassedbelowhertiresbeforesherememberedshewas
expectedtocallDiannaifherstalkersentheranymoremail.Shedugintoherpocket,pulledout
herphone,andfoundDiannasnameinherICEcontacts.Shethenjerkedthecartotheedgeof
theroadandlistenedasthelinerang.Again.Again.Andagain.
Diannawassurroundedbycoworkers.Herbosshadntarrivedyet,buthewasdueto
walkinatanymoment.Shenearlyignoredthephonebutfigureditcouldbeimportant.Lisa
almostnevercalled.Hey,mymeetingsabouttostart.Everythingokay
No.No,itsnot.Notatall,Lisasaid.Mymailbox.Another,theresanotheritwasin
mymailbox
Wait,wait.Calmdown,Diannasaid.Shespunaround,soherbackwastoeveryone
else.Icantunderstandawordyouresaying.Startover.
Lisatookadeepbreath.Shewasntcrying,butherthroatwasknottedasifshewas.I
gotanotherone.Aletter,Dianna.Heshere.
Diannafroze.Howdoyouknow?Youseewhoitwas?
No,butithadnoaddress.Nostamp.
Diannafurrowedhereyebrowsandglancedoverhershoulderathercoworkers.He
neverleaveshisaddress.
No,itdidnthavemineonit.Itonlyhadmyname.
Youhavetocallthecops,Diannasaid.Yougotta
Herbosssvoiceinterruptedher,andsheimmediatelypressedthephoneagainsther
shoulder.Lisatriedtolistenthroughthefranticheartbeatinherears,butshecouldnttellwhat
wasbeingsaidontheotherend.

Book/TinyEnvelopes/5
Ihavetogo,Diannawhispered.Herbossglaredather.Illcallassoonaspossible.
Thelinewentsilent,andLisastareddownatthephone.
#
Lisareturnedtoherapartmentcomplexandfoundthetrashcanshehaddepositedthe
letterintowasempty.Shecheckedherletterbox,butitwasntthereeither.Shesighedand
thoughtthatmaybe,justmaybe,shehadbeendreamingorimaginingitsexistence.Butwhenshe
enteredherapartment,asmalltriangleofpinkcrawledbetweenthebottomofthedoorandthe
plush,creamcarpet.Shenoticedthecorneroftheenvelopeandfroze.Shestaredatitforawhile,
longenoughthatoneofherneighborsayoungwomanwithkinked,blondehairwearingagray
pantsuitwalkedintoanapartmenttwodoorsdownandthenreemergedwearingashort,red
dresswithalargetrianglecutfromthechest.Lisastaredather,atanythingbuttheenvelope.
Theneighborpausedafewyardsawayandstaredback.Um,youokay?
Lisaslowlyshookherheadbutdidntknowwhattosay.
Theblondeglancedinsidetheapartment,hereyebrowsfurrowed.Issomeoneinthere?
shewhispered.
No,uhLisastopped.Shecouldntpossiblytellastrangerabouttheletter.
IhavetoTheblondeglanceddownatthescreenofherphone.Hermouthpuckered,
andhereyesflickeredbacktoLisasface.Whatswrong?
Lisaopenedhermouthtospeak,butnowordsescaped.Shehadneverbeengoodat
talkingtopeople.Diannawasonlyherfriendbecausetheywererandomlyplacedinthesame
dormroomtheirfreshmanyearatOSU.IfLisadecidedtoroomalonelikeshewanted,she
wouldhavemadezerofriendsincollege.

Book/TinyEnvelopes/6
Nothing.Imokay,Lisamanagedtosay.
Lisasteppedintoherapartmentandwatchedtheblondesfacepinchasthedoorwas
edgedshutbetweenthem.Lisapushedherbackagainstthedoorandwaitedaminutebefore
glancingthroughthepeephole.Theblondewasgone.
#
Lisadidntopenthetinyenvelopeorcallthecopseither,butshesavedtheletter.She
decidedthatifmoreweretoshowup,shewouldtakethemtothepolicestation.Orthatwasthe
plan.
Twomonthspassed,andLisahadreceivedatotalofeightletters.ShecalledDianna
wheneachappearedinherletterbox,butwhentheeightharrived,shedecidednottobotherher
friend.TherewasnothingDiannacoulddoaboutit,exceptbeghertocallthecopsorhirea
bodyguard,whichLisaseriouslyconsidereduntilshedidtheresearchandrealizedjusthow
muchitwouldcosther.
Lisacameupwithathirdalternative:shewouldbefriendoneoftheneighborsandhave
whoeveritwasprotectandsupportherasDiannadidthroughoutcollege.Lisawantedthis
persontobetheblondesinceshewastheonlypersonLisahadreallyencounteredinthe
building.Lisawouldfrequentlyseethewoman,eitherthroughthepeepholeinherdooror
somewherebetweenLisascarandapartmentafterarrivinghomefromwork.Theblondewas
alwayscomingandgoing,nevertostayatherapartmentforlong,andshealwaysleftwitha
dresson,typicallyonetooshortorrisqu.Theblondewaspretty,woreheavymakeup,andLisa
thoughtshemayhavebeenaprostituteorstripper.Basedonthis,Lisaassumedtheblondewould

Book/TinyEnvelopes/7
bethemostsympathetictowardsthestalkersituation,assheprobablyhadplentyofexperience
dealingwithcreepers.
Theblondealwaysworeanametagpinnedtothefrontofherblousewhenshedarrive
fromherdayjob,butLisacouldneverreadit,atleastnotuntilthetwohappenedtoarrivefrom
workatthesametime.ThewomansnamewasBridget.
Oh,hey,Bridgetsaid.
LisanoticedthesmileonBridgetsfaceandhowitpinchedtheskinatthecornersofher
mouth.ShedneverseenBridgetsmile,sotheactionwasweirdandforeign.
Ivebeenwantingtotalktoyou,Bridgetsaid,butIthoughtmaybeyoumovedout.
Haventseenyou.
Lisashookherhead.
So,howiseverything?YouseemedprettyspookedthelasttimeIsawyou.
Lisashruggedandglancedatthedoor,thenhercar.Shedidntwanttotalkaboutitjust
yet.Bridgetdidntevenknowhername.
ImLisabytheway.
ImBridget.Sheblushed.Gosh,Imanidiot.Imaskingyoustuff,andIhaventeven
introducedmyself.
Lisashrugged.
Theybothstoodthereinsilenceforamoment.Lisaobviouslydidntknowwhattosay,
andBridgetprobablyexpectedasortofexplanation.
Okay,wellIshouldgetgoing.MychoreographergetsrealpissedwhenIdontshowup
ontime,Bridgetsaid.Weshould,like

Book/TinyEnvelopes/8
Choreographer?Lisablurted.
Oh,yeah,Imsorry.Mychoreographer.Idance,Bridgetsaid.ThatswhyImnever
aroundintheevenings.
Lisastareddownattheground,ashamedshehadassumedBridgetwasaprostituteor
stripperorwhatever.
Anyway,weshoulddosomethingsometime,Bridgetsaid.Dinnerorcoffeeor
whatever.Since,youknow,wereneighborsandstuff.
Lisasmiledandsaidthefirstthingthatcametohermind.Yeah,dinnersnice.
Bridgetsmiledback,butLisagrimacedwhensherealizedwhatshehadsaid.
#
ItwasLisasbirthday.Mostpeoplewouldwakeupbelatedbecauseofwhattheday
shouldentail:parties,friends,cards,presents.ButLisadreadedholidays,herbirthdayin
particular.Itwasntbecauseshedidnthavefriendswhothrewherpartiesorsentherelaborate
gifts.Itwasbecauseofthegiftshedidreceive.Forfouryears,aboxhadappearedoutsideher
andDiannasdoor.Thefirstpresentexcitedher.Shethoughtthatmaybeshehadasecret
admirer.And,well,shedid.Onlyhersecretadmirerwasalsoherstalker.Thefirstletterarrived
daysafterthethatpresent.
WhenLisaopenedthefrontdoorwithherkeysandpeppersprayathand,shewas
expectingtheworst.Sheplannedonkickingtheboxdownthehallanddartingforhercar.But
whenshesteppedoutside,theboxwasntthere.
Lisasphonebegantochime,startlingher.Shescrabbledwithherpurse,threwher
peppersprayin,andfinallyfoundherphone.Sheglancedatthescreen;itwasDianna.

Book/TinyEnvelopes/9
Hey,Lisasaid.Shepulledherapartmentdoorshut.
Happybirthday!Diannasaid.Hershrillvoicespilledthroughthephoneandstung
Lisasear.
Ha,right.
Lisalockedthedoorandwalkedtowardstheparkinglot.Sheswitchedthephonetoher
otherear.
So,haveyoucheckedoutsideyet?Diannaasked.
Mhm.Nothing.
Thatsgreat!Diannasaid.Right?
Lisaunlockedhercarsdoor.Yeah,Ithinkso.
TherewasamomentofsilenceoverthelineasoneofDiannasstudentsshowedup
earlierthanexpected.Diannatoldhimtowaitonemoment,andshellbewithhim.
Icanttalkforlong,butIhopeeverythingsbeenbetter,Diannasaid.Youhavent
calledinawhile.
Lisaflungherpurseintothepassengerseatanddidherroutinecheckofthebackseat.
Yeah,better.
Anymoreletters?
Lisapaused,thekeyjustbarelyintheignition.Shereadjustedthephone.Um,no.No
moreletters,shelied.
Severaldozenlettershadarrivedbythatpoint,butDiannawasntaround.Shewasgone.
Therewasnoreasoninkeepingherworriedaboutsomethingshehadnocontrolover.
Thatsfantastic!Diannasaid.Iknewhedbackoffeventually.

Book/TinyEnvelopes/10
Yeah,Lisasaid.Shestartedthecar.Imgoingtoworknow,soIlltalktoyoulater.
Alright.Haveanawesomebirthday!
Yeah,Lisasaid.
#
WhenLisareturnedthatevening,shefoundabrightredboxperchedinfrontofherdoor.
Shedidnthavetolookforatagoropenthelidtoknowwholeftitthere.Whensheshouldhave
beenangryatherstalkerforleavinganotherunwantedpresentatherdoor,shewasactually
angryatherselfforbelievinghewouldntleaveapresentthisyear.Sheactuallybelievedhe
forgotorwasperhapstoningthingsdownalittlebit.
Lisapickeduptheboxandstaredatitsredsheen.Itwassmallerthanusualwitha
perfect,whitebowontop.Inthepastfewyears,shehadreceivedflat,clothingboxesfilledwith
blacklingerie,adulttoys,lacethongs,andaNookfilledwithromanticnovelsandvideos.That
presentactuallywasntsobad.Sheerasedeverythingonthedeviceandsolditforaniceprofit.
Butherstalkerhadalwayssavedthemostinappropriategiftsforherbirthday.Lisadidntwant
toopenthisgift.
HeyLisa.
Lisaturnedtothevoice,hereyeswide.Bridgetsmiledapologeticallywhenshenoticed
thesurpriseonLisasface.
Sorry.Didntmeantoscareyou,Bridgetsaid.
LisaheldthepresentbehindherbackasBridgetapproachedher.Itsokay,Lisasaid.
Howwaswork?Bridgetasked.

Book/TinyEnvelopes/11
Shecontinuedwalking,slower,afterpassingLisa.Shebeganwalkingbackwardstohear
Lisasresponse.
Theusual,Lisasaid.
Bridgetsmiledandturnedintherightdirection.Sheapproachedherdoorandglanced
backatLisa.Anotherdayinparadise,right?
Lisanodded,andBridgetdisappearedintoherapartment.Lisapulledtheboxbackin
frontofher,andstaredatit.ShewantedtotellBridgetaboutherstalker,butshedidntwantto
doitsosoon.
ShebrieflyconsideredcallingDiannaandaskingherwhatshewoulddo,butLisa
rememberedwhatshehadjusttoldDiannathatmorning.Shesuddenlyrealizedjusthowutterly
aloneshewas.
Lisacarriedtheboxintoherbedroomandcarefullypulledthebowfromthecenterofthe
lid.Shethenliftedthelidbyfirstrippingeachpieceoftapefromthesides.Apuffofwhitetissue
paperpoppedoutather,andsheflungitfromthebox.Shestareddownatthedarkobjectinside
forawhilebeforebuildingupenoughcouragetoreachforit.Shepulledasquareitemfromthe
encampment.Theobjectwaswrappedwithblackwrappingpaper,andathinstringencircledthe
present.Therewasatinynotecardattachedtothestring,andLisareadit:HappybirthdayLisa.
Iveworkedawhileonthisproject.Ihopeyouenjoy.
Sheslippedthestringfromthesquareitemandrippedtheblackpaperaway.Shestared
atwhatwasinherhandsuntilshefinallyrealizedwhatshewaslookingat.Herpulseintensified
andpoundedinhereyes.
Thesquareturnedouttobeabunchofflattersquares.Photographs.Ofher.

Book/TinyEnvelopes/12
ThetoppicturewasoneofLisaatwork,forcingasmileasshepassedastackofpapers
intoherbossshands.Lisasetthatpictureasideonthebedandstareddownatthesecond:an
imageofherinthekitchen,cookingsomethinginasmallpot.TearsburnedLisaseyeswhen
sherealizedthesignificanceofthatimage.Thatherstalkerhadsomehowbeeninherhouse.
Therewasonlyonewindowinherentireapartment,anditwasinthespareroom,farfromthe
kitchen.Hehadeitherbeenintheretotakethispicture,orhesetupcamerassomewhereinthe
apartment.
Lisabeganflippingthroughthephotoswithincreasedvigor,andeachsquarephotograph
addedtoheranxiety.Moreimagesofheratwork,inhercar,inthehalltalkingtoBridget,inher
apartment.Therewasanimageofherinnearlyeveryroom.Eventhebathroom.Lisastaredat
thefinalpictureinhorrorwhensherecognizedherdistorted,barebodybehindthefrostedglass
ofhershowerdoor.
ThephotofellfromLisashands.Anoise,muffledandhighpitched,rosefromherthroat
andspewedfromherlips.Lisadroppedtothefloorandheldhermouthwhilelargetearspoured
downherface.
Aftersometime,Lisapulledherselffromthefloorandthrewtheimagesfacedowninto
theredbox.Sheknewshecouldntletthisgoanyfurther,thatshehadtogotothepolice,soshe
foundalarge,plasticbagandcollectedthelettersfromherdresser.Sheaddedtheredboxand
grippedthebagtightlyassherushedforherkeys.
TherewasaknockonLisasfrontdoorasshewasreachingforthehandle.Shecrouched
bythedoorandcrushedthecontentsoftheplasticbagagainstherchest.Herheartfluttered,and
shecouldfeelherbodyliterallygoingnumb.

Book/TinyEnvelopes/13
Hey,areyoualright?Bridgetsaidfromtheothersideofthedoor.
Lisastayedinhercrouchedposition.Shewipedthetearsfromhercheeks,tryingtoerase
theevidenceofhercrying,butthewarmthwouldntstopspillingfromhereyes.
IthoughtIheardscreaming.Lisa?Bridgetsaid.Sheknockedoncemore.Areyou
okayinthere?
Lisatriedtopretendshewasnthome,butBridgetkeptknockingandaskingifshewas
alright.LisarealizedshehadnochoicebuttoletBridgetinandshowherwhatwasgoingon.
Lisareachedforthedoorknobandtwisted,justenoughtounlockthedoorandletit
slightlyswinginward.Bridgetstoodoutsideforamomentlonger,staringatthecrackinthe
door,beforepressingherhandagainstthestainedwood.ShenoticedLisainaballbesidethe
door.Thenshenoticedthetears.ThebaginLisashands.
Whoa,whatswrong?Bridgetasked.Shecroucheddowninfrontofher.
Lisacouldnttalkthroughthelumpinherthroat.Shejuststareddownatthefloorand
rockedbackandforth,clutchingtheplasticbageventighter.
Lisa.Talktome,Bridgetsaid.
BridgetreachedoutandplacedahandononeofLisas.Shepriedthefingerslooseand
continuedtodosountilbothofLisashandswererelaxed.
Itsmybirthday,Lisamanagedtosay.
Bridgetstaredather,butLisakeptlookingattheground.
And,andIgetpresents,Lisamuttered.
Thatsnice,Bridgetsaid.
No,Lisasaid.Theyrenotnice.

Book/TinyEnvelopes/14
Insteadoftryingtoexplainherself,Lisayankedopenthebagandspilleditscontentsonto
thefloor.BridgetleanedbackasLisadisheveledthelettersandturnedthesmall,redboxright
sideup.
Whatarethese?Bridgetasked.
Lisadidntanswer.Instead,shepulledtheboxslidoffanddumpedthepicturesontothe
flooraswell.Moststayedstackedontopofoneanother,butthreepicturesslidfreefromthe
stack:oneofheratwork,anotherofherinthehallwaywithBridget,andathirdofLisamaking
herbed.Bridgetreachedfortheonethathadherinit.
Wheredyougetthese?Bridgetasked.
Bridgeteyedtheotherpicturesandslowlyspreadtheonesthathadremainedinastack.
WhenherfingerstouchedthephotographofLisaintheshower,shejarredbackwardsasifshed
beenelectrocuted.ShelookedupatLisa,hereyeswide.
Whothehelltookthese?
Lisashrugged.Tearswerestillwellinginhereyes.Shehadgonesolongwithoutcrying
thatnowthatsheactuallywas,shecouldntstopthetears.
ThesituationseemedtosuddenlydawnonBridget.Shestaredatthephotos,the
envelopes,andopenedonewithoutaskingLisaifitwasalright.Bridgetsfaceknotted,then
soured.ShetosseditbackontothepilewiththeotherlettersandfinallylookedbackupatLisa.
ThereweretearsinBridgetseyes.
Haveyougonetothepolice?Bridgetasked.Hervoiceshook,andherlipstrembled.
Lisanodded.ThatswhereIwasgoingnext.

Book/TinyEnvelopes/15
Bridgetbegangrabbinghandfulsoflettersandtossingthemintotheplasticbag.Lisa
watchedastheblondecarefullyplacedthephotosbackintotheboxandaddedittothebagas
well.Bridgetstoodupandgrippedthebagwithherlefthand.SheofferedtheothertoLisa.
Letsgo.Imtakingyou.