September 26, 1997

Dear Diary,

CALVIN AND I ARE GOING TO PROM!

Look at me, sounding like such the girly girl. But it's so exciting! He said that he had to borrow my history book, which should have been my first clue. He hates to study as much as ever. When he returned it, I found a note that asked me to prom. I know it seems so early but I am just thrilled. The prom takes place on our three-year anniversary and it's the perfect way to celebrate. Candace, of course, is going with Jessica and their group. I should be even more lucky that Calvin asked me, so I didn't have to go alone. I'm sure we'll have a wonderful time, but I only care about the company. I'm not fussed over makeup or dresses, but maybe I'll style my hair into a pretty bun.

Honors classes, meanwhile, are getting more demanding. Candace somehow found space in her gossip-clogged brain to study honors English, and we're in a class together. We have a group project. Figures. During our first meeting, she apologized for not talking to me as much lately. Then she wanted to hear all about Calvin. I talked about those blue eyes, and his knack for getting into trouble.

Speaking of trouble. I am almost ashamed to write this, but I feel like I should. Calvin taught me how to pull pranks on the first week of school. Together we snuck into the kitchen and poured noodles into pots of boiling water, just like Calvin did in first grade. We got away with it, too. I guess nobody would suspect me of doing such a thing. They didn't flood the kitchen or anything, but they did set the smoke alarms off and I got out of math class. We snuck a high five when we got outside, and there was something so...fun about it. Don't tell anyone!

Anyway...I tried to steer Candace back to the project, but all she wanted to hear about was Calvin. Finally, I guess I just sort of snapped and yelled at her to focus; that I wasn't going to do the whole project myself. She yelled at me back, saying that I was nothing but a bookish bore, and left my house. I guess I'm doing the project alone after all. How typical. But instead of working, I went to Calvin's. He knows all about...people. Hobbes was there too, listening in. He mentioned something about how glad he was to be a tiger. I can't say that I blame him. I wonder if Mr. Bun feels the same way about being a bunny. I wish Calvin's old transmogrifier of his still worked so we could transform.

Sue

September 8, 1998

Dear Diary,

I'm moving. For all of next summer, anyway. Dad might be getting transferred soon and we're going to Washington state for a few months to see if he likes the job offer. Can you believe it? One of us finally gets transferred after Calvin and I grow to like each other. It's just the way life works. But really, it will be an exciting change of pace if we move. The girls at my school are so shallow and self-centered, as are a lot of the guys. Calvin is my only reprieve from all of that, but I think football is getting to his head a little bit. He's actually starting to enjoy the game, but is determined not to let his dad know. He spends lunch talking to me about punts and kicks and lots of terms that I don't understand.

We did have an exciting moment when his old babysitter appeared in the football stands. Some woman-Rosalyn, I think her name was-appeared with her young son and Calvin recognized her immediately. He punted the ball right into the audience towards her face. I can't even imagine what sorts of trouble they got into when we were kids, and I don't think I want to know! It seemed ridiculous for a high-school guy to get revenge on his old babysitter, but that's Calvin for you. After the game, his mom was clearly on his path for kicking Rosalyn in the face, so we hurried off to the diner afterward. This diner was on the wrong end of town. Mom would kill me if she knew I went there. There were all sorts of tough guys hanging around, but I managed to ignore it and have a good time anyway. After all, I was dating the football player.

We have such good times together. I really, really don't want to move away. It's all I can do to hope and pray that we won't.

Sue

September 17, 1999

Dear Diary,

Well, summer is finally over. As much as I liked being away, I finally get to see Calvin again. We don't have a lot of classes together this year. After the prom, things sort of slowed down to a halt. He started growing out of his cardboard box adventures, and I don't think he's seen Hobbes for a while either. But what do I know? We've barely spoken all summer except for a few telephone calls. Mom discouraged them because she thinks that having a boyfriend will distract from my studies.

Washington is wet and suburban. There's not always a lot to do, but it has some nice beaches with fog hanging over the ocean. It's such a great place to think. I know that Calvin gets really philosophical sometimes; he'd love it there. When I finally get the chance to talk to him, I'll be sure to mention it.

-Sue

September 18, 2000

Dear Diary,

I graduate this year. Finally. I thought the day would never come. I think that I'll find school a lot more compelling once I begin college courses.

But diary, how I miss Calvin. We have been broken up for almost a month now. I started to see it coming, I guess. He pulled me aside after class one day and apologized, but said he wasn't feeling us anymore. I see him a lot surrounded by cheerleaders. He's already going out with one of them. Her name is Lauren and she's this tiny thing who probably doesn't have enough space in her head for a brain. It's so cliche its disgusting. He doesn't even look my way anymore. Calvin, a player! Who would have thought? I guess I'm over it...sort of. If he's willing to dump me for a dummy that quickly, maybe it wasn't meant to be.

Boy, if my first grade self was told that she'd be in love with the "noodle incident" guy, she would have cried tears of laughter. Now I cry tears of sadness. (Sorry for the sappiness, I suppose my English class is rubbing off on me.) I even miss Candace. Even though she became kind of a brat, at least she was a friend. Now she's so caught up in popularity that she can't see behind her rose-colored glasses. School is lonely without people. Maybe I should say hi to Calvin again...but what is there to say?

I took Mr. Bun out again today. He's pretty much one of the few friends I have at this point. Smart girls can't compete with the gossips when you're a high school senior.

Calvin's right. Maybe imagination is important. I think it's time for a long talk with Mr. Bun.

I also cut my hair back to its normal length. The long look isn't for me.

Sue

BONUS ENTRY

August 17, 2001

Dear Diary,

Calvin's father has passed away. It was pretty sudden, and they believe it was painless. But that's the excuse he gave me for not speaking to me for a long time. Some excuse!

We tried talking after the funeral, but no sparks flew. We haven't spoken in months. I hated the notion of being "just friends," as they call it. I wouldn't be able to stand the idea that he loved Lauren and not me. I was hoping to be a lot more excited, and I was...but there was nothing to talk about. He likes football, I like lacrosse. He's writing a comic book series, I study. We're just as different as we were in the first grade. So I just kind of got up and left his room, saying goodbye. We're going off to college soon and I don't know when we'll see each other again. If life has taught me anything, it's that you can't force things.

Maybe this will open some new doors for me. College is coming, and there will be lots of new people to meet. I don't even know where Calvin's going, but at least that should help to temptation to get in touch with him again. But you know what? I'm really glad I got to know him. I learned to have fun and embrace the wacky side of things. In this day and age, it's doubtful that people like me will ever get noticed.

Maybe I'll get the chance to start over soon.

Susie

September 3, 2001

Dear Diary,

I began college today.

I'm going to be a psychology major. I knew from the moment I stepped into my intro course. The study of how people think is just so fascinating. Once I graduate, I can continue to study it or go into another field. Then maybe I can help children like Calvin. The ones that actually want to be noticed. I can be like the discipline's Nancy Drew, figuring out unsolved mysteries of human behavior. Like maybe the mystery of how a bookish girl can get together with a goofy prankster and somehow make it work. The girl I sit next to has a lot of friend potential, and has even dated a guy just as wacky as Calvin. Oh, the stories we could tell! And the guy who sits next to her is hot stuff, let me tell you. In fact, we're going to a concert tonight and it's going to be a lot of fun!

Things are looking up. And maybe, just maybe, we'll run into each other again. Our hometown isn't that big, so it's definitely possible. I'd like that!

Love,

Susie

Hey guys. Thanks so much for taking the time to read. I apologize if anything seems rushed; I probably could have elaborated a bit more in places but there's a little thing called "college" that gets in the way. I just wanted to go ahead and get this up; nothing irks me more than an unfinished story. Read, review and enjoy!

PurpleRose24