Postcards from Pluto

by Karl El-Koura

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<sender="Maxwell Boch"; source="ES Amelia"><recipient="Julie Alvera"; destination="Mercury Space Station I"><timestamp="Monday, May 22, 2034, 19:13:12 ET"><type="plain text">

Hi honey. Almost at Pluto, and I just had a thought: when I get there, you and I will be just about as far away from each other as possible. That should make you happy. Just kidding; guess I'm still bitter you insisted we take separate vacations this year. It's only been a week, but I miss you like crazy, though I'm trying not to. They had some activities planned for the trip—shows and dances, mostly. I stayed in my cabin the whole time, I don't know why. I guess you're right about me—I don't know how to have fun. Just kidding. I love you. Max.

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<sender="Maxwell Boch"; source="ES Amelia"><recipient="Julie Alvera"; destination="Mercury Space Station I"><timestamp="Thursday, May 25, 2034, 15:56:29 ET"><type="plain text">
Thanks for your letter—if you can call what you wrote me a letter. Four words and two punctuation marks! I think you can do better than "I love you, etc." You didn't even sign your name—what, you think you're the only one who loves me, etc?

We've been at Pluto for the last seven hours, but they still won't let us off this damned ship. What a vacation this has been so far. I've already seen the inside of a spaceship, thank you. I didn't need ten days to get better acquainted with one. I hope Merstat is treating you better than Pluto's treated me so far. I love you. Max.
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<begin transmission>
<sender="Maxwell Boch"; source="Newcol, Pluto"><recipient="Julie Alvera"; destination="Mercury Space Station I"><timestamp="Tuesday, May 30, 2034, 7:03:10 ET"><type="plain text">
I hate it here, I hate it here, I hate it here, I hate it here.

Do you understand what I'm saying?

I went on all the tours, I visited all the zoos and petted the animals they brought in from Centauri, I went on a shuttle ride to Charon and back. But I'm having zero fun; I'm just going through the motions, counting down the days until June 31, when I'll start heading back to Earth. And back to you. (Did I mention I hate it here?)

Anyway, I'm glad you're having such a blast. And thanks for the pictures (does everyone on Merstat walk around nude, or just you?)

Love you. Max.
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<sender="Maxwell Boch"; source="Newcol, Pluto"><recipient="Julie Alvera"; destination="Mercury Space Station I"><timestamp="Thursday, June 15, 2034, 4:44:59 ET"><type="plain text"&&"images=4">
Jules, I did get your letters (all of them!) and I'm sorry I didn't have a chance to answer earlier. But I've been dead busy. Remember everything I said about hating this place? Forget it!

Pluto rocks! You have to know the right people, and I met one of the right people two Fridays ago. Her name's Lee and she's a receptionist at the Belfast. She saw me moping around one day and we started talking and hit it off and she's been showing me Pluto ever since. She took me out of the domes—none of the guides ever did that!

Listen, you have to come to Pluto one day and ride a snow buggy; it's like nothing you've ever experienced. And the sky above us—the domes don't do justice to Pluto's skies! It's dangerous like hell, too—Pluto's a cold, cold world (we're degrees away from absolute zero) with an atmosphere like tissue paper. God, it's so exciting! (But don't worry, Lee's meticulous about checking all our equipment before we head out).

She showed me a lot of other cool things on Pluto, I'll tell you all about that later, 'cause right now I'm exhausted & I really need to get some sleep & my legs and arms are sore like crazy. I'm scanning in some pictures of me & Lee on our snow buggies (so the quality's not so good and half my body is cropped off—blame the robot who took them!)
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<sender="Maxwell Boch"; source="Newcol, Pluto"><recipient="Julie Alvera"; destination="Mercury Space Station I"><timestamp="Monday, June 26, 2034, 18:59:11 ET"><type="plain text">
Sorry I couldn't write earlier—Lee and I were on Charon for the weekend. (Lee's looking over my shoulder as I write this, she won't go away).

I've delayed my flight, by the way. Lee says I haven't lived till I've seen Neptune, so we're going there next weekend. Don't worry about the money—Lee got me a job in the hotel with the maintenance staff.

Lee says hi.
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<sender="Maxwell Boch"; source="Newcol, Pluto"><recipient="Julie Alvera"; destination="Mercury Space Station I"><timestamp="Monday, June 26, 2034, 22:03:56 ET"><type="plain text">
Lee just left my room, and I wanted to say that that was a rotten thing you wrote about her in your letter. No, she's not as pretty as you are—but who is? And on Pluto, the gravity's much lower and it's common for people here to have a little extra padding. Anyway, rotten thing but I forgive you.
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<sender="Maxwell Boch"; source="Newcol, Pluto"><recipient="Julie Alvera"; destination="T.O.:ONT, Earth"><timestamp="Tuesday, July 18, 2034, 6:59:23 ET"><type="plain text">
I'm sorry!!!! I keep meaning to write to you, but other things get in the way. Now I can't say I'm surprised to hear that you want to break up with me—I think I saw that coming when you said that you were going to Merstat on vacation and that I wasn't. But I am surprised to hear that you never want to see me again. The anger in your letter is unmistakable but confounding. What'd I do? (I really meant to write back earlier, but you know how things get sometimes, right?) Lee and I are coming to Earth, to visit. We'll be there near the end of August. Let me know if you've changed your mind by then. Lee would love to meet you & I'd hate the thought of us never speaking again after all we've been through.

Yours, Max.
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<sender="Maxwell Boch"; source="Newcol, Pluto"><recipient="Julie Alvera"; destination="T.O.:ONT, Earth"><timestamp="Thursday, July 20, 2034, 12:23:46 ET"><type="plain text">
I read your letter. All of it (even though it practically made my terminal run out of memory—just kidding). And though I still can't claim to understand why you feel this way, I do respect your decision. Please know that if you ever change your mind (you say you never will in your letter, but you can't be sure of that), I will always be here for you.

Goodbye, Max.
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<begin transmission>
<sender="Maxwell Boch"; source="Newcol, Pluto"><recipient="{interpolate: all entries in address book}"><timestamp="Friday, October 27, 2034, 2:12:11 ET"><type="plain text"&&"form">
You are cordially invited to attend the wedding of Maxwell Boch and Lee Strong on Friday, June 22, 2035 at the Belfast Hotel in Newcol, Pluto. Celebrations will commence 8am on Friday and continue until Sunday 8pm.

Please RSVP using the accompanying response card.
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