Dear Cove,

Sorry I haven’t written in forever. School just started in NYC. I thought it was going to be terrible because when I went for a tour, the principal said I’m the only new kid in the entire grade. My favorite part of the tour was the swimming pool in the basement. I figured if things were terrible and everyone automatically hated me, I could hide underwater and pretend to be a mermaid all day long. Just like we used to in Eel Pond.

But it’s actually not terrible. I got assigned this student mentor named Minnie (like the mouse). But no one calls her Minnie Mouse because she’s super pretty and not the kind of girl you call Minnie Mouse. So forget I even said that!

Minnie’s job was to show me around and introduce me to all her friends. So I didn’t have to hide underwater. Minnie even saved a seat for me at her lunch table. And I got a phone!!! My dads said they only let me get one because NYC is so big that it’s for safety. That’s why they won’t let me buy a cool case. Not yet.

Please beg your mom for a phone so we can text. Emojis are so much faster than writing.

Love,

Nina

P.S. Here’s a smiling emoji face because I’m so happy that people at school don’t hate me. Hooray!