Final Monday Muse Prompt

Oscar Mendez
Monday Muses
11/11/13

No Mail for Mitchell

By Catherine Siracusa

     When I was younger, my parents read to me very often, I held a great collection of picture books that my parents read to me. I loved every one of them. All the picture books I had reflected my life in some way. I had books such as Oswald, Knuffle Bunny, a lot of Ezra Jack Keats books, but my favorite out of all of them was one of the first books I read to myself. The book was called No Mail for Mitchell by Catherine Siracusa.

     The book told of a mail-dog named Mitchell, who was really good at delivering and receiving mail. Mitchell delivered all types of mail such as parcels, letters, magazines and cards. He delivered to everyone in his neighbor hood, everyone except one - himself. Everyday when he returned home form work, he checked his own mailbox, hoping to one day find something but he never did, he was the only one in the neighborhood who never received mail. Mitchell had an idea, he wrote himself a letter where he complemented himself about how good he was at delivering mail. He went out to send it, but it was a terrible day - It was very windy, raining and there was lighting. He sent the letter out and returned home feeling uneasy. The next day, he caught a cold and his boss, Mr. Beaver delivered the mail out for him. Mitchell was very sick and down and stayed in his house the whole day. Finally, at the end of the day, Mr. Beaver came to Mitchell with a great sack for him. Confused, Mitchell opened it and revealed letters and cards, all addressed to Mitchell. All of the cards were from his neighbors wishing him to feel better. Mitchell was ecstatic, he read every one! Immediately, he felt better and the next day, thanked all of his neighbors for their regards.

     I'm probably the most sincere person anyone has ever met, I nice to everyone, not just a particular group or person. I have conversations with many of my current and former classmates very often because its natural. I may not like a certain group or a particular person, but I don't show it, I give everyone the benefit of the doubt and treat everyone the same. Unfortunately, there are a decline of people like me in the world. This is how I consider me and Mitchell to be very alike, we give everyone a chance and treat them as if they were family, but many people didn't return the gesture.

     Many people weren't very nice to me as a kid, it didn't help that I was silent and kept to myself most of the time. It was hard for me to make friends. At school, the only people I would talk to were the people I already knew, being big didn't help much either. I found myself mostly alone (keep in mind this was way before my athleticism level was off the scale) just like Mitchell. I had the same partner in all partnership activities, unlike now where everyone wants to work with me. I played basketball by myself during recess, I was the one chosen last in PE (Unlike now, I'm always first). It was tough, I felt very alone, unwanted, just like Mitchell.
      
     This would all go away however, as my family was always there waiting for me with open arms when I got home. My mom and dad asking me how my day went, what new things I learned, stuff like that. They made all the pain of the day go away. I would go to the park and play water slide with my real friends. The close people around me were the ones that helped me get by.

     I remember one day in PE, we were playing a game, and my team was the worst. I remember not wanting to lose, and tried my hardest to win. My team won that game, really all thanks to me, and we went up the so-called "good team" and won. After this I was getting a lot of compliments from people who never even said hi to me before. I felt like Mitchell, alone, but than full of life, because I knew people did know me - these new people I had just met, and those around me at home. Of course I made a few enemies who didn't like the idea that the person who no one knew was receiving their compliments, let alone was beaten by, still hate me to this day, but that's another story. Mitchell taught me to have faith, that I'm truly never ever alone.

Afterword:

     Although this lesson that let me get by, I still don't believe I have any friends however, which is strange, because I always seem to have a little group around me. The people that I used to call friends disbanded from me, and my family has let me be more independent. This is all fine however, as I learned what it really means to have a friend - a real friend, and I'm really happy to say that a I have a few good contenders ready to fill in that spot. This is how I feel No Mail for Mitchell really ends, and I hope many people already know this, especially in this age.

- Oscar Mendez