Dear Daddy: So how have you been? I've been fine. Life is good for me right now; you would be proud of me. I'm still in school and making REALLY good grades now. I'll be graduating in May. After I graduate I'm enlisting in the Air Force so I can be there for my country and not have to worry about working at Burger King for the rest of my life, like you said I was doomed to do because I was worthless. I'm making something of myself. I've gotten pretty good at the bass guitar. I'm starting to get the acting bug. I'm going to be in a play. I'm also in JROTC at my school. I'm a second lieutenant platoon leader now because I worked hard to get there. I feel older and more mature now. I look a lot like you, Daddy. We all learn to forgive and forget, and I have forgiven you, but it seems like you haven't forgiven me. What you did at the courthouse really hurt and humiliated me, and I cried as I drove home and I called my friend David and asked him to come over and comfort me. But still, I forgave you. By now, you probably think I'm a dropout-pothead-burger flipper with no future, but just you wait, Daddy. I'm going to be somebody. I'm going to be something you never were--happy. The biggest lessons I have learned were from my mistakes, and I'm glad I made them. I had a dream not too long ago and you were in it, hugging me and telling me you love me. I wish that dream was reality, Daddy.
Love, your Punkin