DISCLAIMER: Bridge to Terabithia belongs to Katherine paterson and so do all the characters in it. I own nothing.

What follows is just me in my childhood years, writing a distressed letter to Leslie on behalf of distressed and grieving Jesse. I just dug it out of a dusty bookshelf!


Hello readers!

When I was in school, this was my favourite story. I liked Jess and Leslie and May Belle so much that would read the story and watch the movie again and again.

Yesterday, I was cleaning my small library and I came across my childhood book collection. When I flipped through this book nostalically, a letter fell out of it. It was the letter I had written when I was a kid, pretending to be Jess, who is angry over the death of Leslie. The letter was written years ago, in childlike innocence by me and I thought to share it with you. No doubt, my emotions and vocabulary have grown with me; but the heartfelt emotions regarding the story still remain the same...

Dear readers, please note that Jess was a 10 year old boy so his letter should reflect that child psychology and language ineptitude. One thing is true, the letter is adorable! read, and please review. They keep me motivated and are the basic appreciation for the time spent composing it. Enjoy!


Dear Leslie,

Everything is too boring without you. I went to Terabithia once or maybe, twice after you went -to test me, perhaps, but it lacks any magic without you. So here I am, not going to let you, your spirit, the true self of Leslie down by getting scared and wasting my previous life fearing death and the whole world. So finally, I have decided that I do not intend to have a "gut transplant" but "LESLIE INJECTIONS" into my brain. You have come into my life to be such a special friend that I couldn't actually do without you.

You must know that it's cheating, sheer cheating. Leslie, how can you be brave enough to die laughing? Grandmum says that it is not easy to die, not just because you die but because you leave people behind who cry for you and everything becomes so wierd. What should I do now? I was angry at you so I threw all my paints and paper down the stream, now I want some some to paint your picture; to paint pictures of scenes of all the stories you narrated to me! I wanted to make a book of drawings, and now see what you have done. Just gone alone and gotten yourself killed! Couldn't you have waited for me?

I know you went alone because you didn't want to share Terabithia with me because I did not ask Miss Edmunds to take you along with us for the ride to the museum. I am sorry for that, seriously. I even thought of asking her but then did not. Please forgive me, I became selfish. I will not become selfish in future, I promise. Please come back if you can. I know it is my fault but please come back and I will take you whenever Miss Edmunds go anywhere. Just don't go anywhere alone and hurt yourself, please!

Do you know that Bill and Judy, your mum and dad are going to cremate you like silly Indians do and not bury you! How come, they can make decisions about you without asking me? I had thought that they would rest you in a grave and then I will come to meet you everyday, even paint some picture on your gravestone. I think I could convince May Belle to give me some of her flowers to place on your grave. But no! your parents have to go ahead and take everything away of yours. However, your parents would have gotten lonely without you, after all, they do not have five children like my parents! So I let them have PT. I did that to please you. I hope you are not angry with me.

Umm.. I wanted to ask, Did Jesus say anything to you? Did He punish you for not believing him? or was it a punishment only that you died? Sorry, I didn't mean to hurt you. I just hope that God didn't put you in Hell. I'm worried for you. But If you ask me you are good girl, my best friend, smart and favourite of teachers also. I don't think you should have gone to H. People like you should only go to Heaven. I will pray to Jesus for you, P.T. and rest of the Terebethians will also request Jesus that you be put in Heaven. Mom says God listens to the prayers of children. So, I will also ask Maybelle to pray for you. Don't worry.

I have decided something; something that might shock you! Guess what?! I have decided to study in school seriously, because you taught me that whatever you do should satisfy yourself. So I want to study and pass from school in flying colours so that I find a job enough for me to end my dad's daily troubles and my mother's problems too. I will try to find a job that gives me a lot of money so that I don't have to tolerate my silly sisters who always whine and trouble my parents and run from work and fight over TV and lipsticks and boyfriends.

May Belle is fine. She does not trouble much but just wants to join in the fun. She is a darling little doll sister who has the problem of creating problems unintentionally. Do you know when you died she was very sad. She even debated with herself whether to break the arm of the doll you gave her or to throw it from the first floor. I saw her being very angry with the doll, I suppose. But in the end, she did not do anything to the doll. When I asked her, she swore solemnly that she would not let anything happen to Leslie's doll. See, she loves you. When you went away to heaven, May Belle cried because you did not come down from the bus that afternoon after us. Ok, but remember that she just loves you; but only me and P.T. are still your only friends, isn't it?

You know a funny thing happened: Mrs. Myers can cry! She cried over you. Did you know she had a husband? I'll bet no one knows. She cried in the corridor, thinking that even I'm crying with her.. monster mouth. If you would have seen her, you would have laughed so hard. You know everyone came and paid their condolences (I learnt that word after your death, see Leslie, I never stopped learning, you can be proud of me!) to me, that means I am the most important person in your life. Even your dad and mum and grandmother came to me rather than me going to them to pay my best wishes. Does this mean I'm still your bestest best friend? I hope so.

Leslie you don't worry about Terabithia, I'll take care of it. All the people in Terabithia are mourning for you. I led a procession and gave you a memorial in Terabithia. Sorry, nothing fancy , just the bed of golden pine needles you liked. I placed a wreath of white flowers on it. I hope you like it. Oh, sorry, I forgot to inform you. I am thinking of crowning May Belle as the Princess of Terabithia. After all, How will I rule the kingdom without help? You have gone away, so I thought she can act as my second-in-command... you approve, don't you? May Belle is capable of keeping secrets and can be a very good princess, I assure you.

You know P.T. is very courageous; he paddled across the creek even though the water level was very high just to be present at your service in Terabithia. And.. I have got an idea, thanks to stupidity( or should I call it innocence?) of poor May Belle and I have even taken the help of your dad. You will see it tomorrow. It is a surprise. Do spare some time to watch from heaven, will you? I, Jess, the King of Terabithia will try to make you proud. For that I'll try to earn more money so that I can build a stronger castlehold for the Queen of Terabithia 'LESLIE BURKE'. But you will have to wait a few years for that.

Thanks for everything.

see ya'

Your one out of one-and-a-half friends,

Jess Oliver Aarons, Junior

KING OF TERABITHIA


How was it? I hope you like it. Initially, I intended it as a one- shot. But this storyline holds much promise so I may extend it to one or two another chapters.

One of my fellow fanfiction writers, Mad Tom pointed out very accurately that the grieving process of Jess post- Leslie's death was a quite rushed. Thoughtful and inspired by his observations, I decided to elongate the story and try to give it more closure! Reviews requested please.

You will notice that in some paragraphs Jess comes across as a more mature child than he was before-leslie. This shows how much Leslie's friendship has helped him break his insecurities and broaden his horizon. Yet, He still looks up to her for approval, encouragement, guidance and advice. He is still broken and guilt-ridden, yet wants to correct his mistakes. Thanks for reading.:)