Correspondence
By
Dear Mr. Spock,
My name is Ayna. I
am seven years old. Teacher said to write a letter to a famous person. Daddy
talks about you. That’s why I chose you. So I hope it’s okay.
PS: Bobby says
you never laugh. Should I tell you a joke?
From,
Ayna
(age 7)
Dear Mr. Spock,
It’s me again. I
heard that you had died! But then I heard you saved Earth from something called
a probe. So now I’m confused. Can you explain it to me?
Sincerely,
Ayna
(age 10)
Dear Mr. Spock,
It’s been strange
here. My friends are suddenly obsessed with the
I start high
school next month. When my advisor asked me what I wanted to do with my life, I
told her I wanted to become a science officer on a starship. She said I could
do whatever I wanted. I don’t think she was impressed. I pointed out that my
grades are good enough, but she just pursed her lips. It took a while to
convince her to give me information about getting into
Sincerely,
Ayna
(age 14)
Dear Mr. Spock,
I’m so depressed.
My dad was killed in an accident. I haven’t been able to talk to anyone about
it. Finals are coming up, but I don’t care. Nothing seems to make sense. Why do
people have to die like that? There was so much we wanted to do…he was going to
take us to Alpha Centauri for a vacation.
I’ve never felt
so alone.
Ayna
(age 16)
Dear Mr. Spock,
I’m so worried!
People are saying we might become friends with the Klingons! I did research on
them and their culture—they seem like monsters! When I heard you were involved
with the peace accords, I had to write to hear your side of it.
Please tell me
that everything will be okay.
Frightened,
Ayna
(age 17)
Dear Mr. Spock,
My deepest
sympathies. Captain Kirk was a great man. I will mourn with you.
Respectfully,
Ayna
(age 18)
Dear Mr. Spock,
Your letter came
just in time. Thank you so much!! The Academy Admissions Office seemed
extremely impressed to get your recommendation. I tried to reign in my
emotions, and remain calm, but I will admit I was bursting with pride!
And you were
right. Even when people we care about are gone, we have to keep going and
remember them. Daddy would be glad.
Love,
Ayna
(age 18)
Dear Mr. Spock,
I can hardly believe
my first year at the Academy is over! So much has happened, and I have you to
thank for it all! I know, it’s not logical to give you all the credit, but
without your help, I never would have gotten here.
I met a guy; I
think you would like him. His name is Salir, son of Stok. He’s tutoring me in
Quantum Mechanics. He really helped too—I went from a B to an A average!
Tomorrow, I’m
going home for the holiday vacation. I had to send this out now, because I will
be busy with a summer job. I will write as soon as I can!
Love,
Ayna
(age 19)
Dear Mr. Spock,
I am shipping out
tomorrow morning, bright and early. But I can’t sleep! I’m too excited! But
I’ve gotten ahead of myself here.
First, I want to
apologize for not sending a letter in so long! My only excuse I can offer is
that I graduated with Honors.
Second, I will be
serving on the U.S.S. Excelsior. I
feel as if I know Captain Sulu. You’ve told me so much, I can hardly wait to
meet him in person.
And third…Salir
and I are going to be married! He asked me when he came home on leave. I can’t
believe it—I’ve loved him for so long, but he never seemed to reciprocate.
Then, out of the blue, he proposes! I know you probably are too busy, but the
ceremony will be Stardate 8640. Maybe then we can finally meet!
Happily,
Ayna
(age 23)
Dear Mr. Spock,
I have a son. He
is beautiful! The Vulcan genes are dominant, of course, but he has bright green
eyes, just like his mommy. We named him Stephen, after my father. But his
middle name is Spock, in your honor. You have done so much for me over the
years, Spock. I want you to know that.
I don’t think I
mentioned before that I left Starfleet. It was too difficult being away from
Salir. And when his time came, I needed to be here anyway. I’m sure you
understand.
I will try to
keep writing you letters, but my new life is so hectic. I hope to hear from you
soon—your letters are so insightful!
Love,
Ayna
(age 31)
Dear Mr. Spock,
Stephen passed
his kahs-wan. I thought my heart
would burst with pride when I saw him come over that last sand dune. He was
filthy and exhausted, but alive and healthy.
I am expecting a
little girl soon. We haven’t decided on a name yet, but Salir is leaning
towards T’Pau. He says it was the name of a great matriarch. It sounds lovely
to me, and I’m more than happy to give her a Vulcan name.
You know I’ll
write when I can!
Love,
Ayna
(age 39)
Dear Mr. Spock,
Life continues to
be a surprise for me. Stephen has decided to attend
T’Pau reminds me
so much of myself. I can almost tell you what she will say or do, long before
she does it. Of course, she hates it when I point that out. But what’s a mother
for?
You asked before
whether we were raising the children under Vulcan principles, or Terran. The
truth is, long ago, Salir and I decided to teach them both of our cultures’ way
of life. We assumed they would choose one or the other for themselves. But
instead, they have created their own melding of the cultures. It’s hard to
describe how logically emotional they can be sometimes. And frustrating in an
argument.
I will write when
life slows down.
Love,
Ayna
(age 55)
Dear Spock,
After all these
years, I think I should be able to call you Spock. No more formal titles. I
deserve that.
Forgive me,
Spock, if I sound bitter. The last few years have taken a toll on me. Salir is
my only strength these days. Stephen was killed on a training mission. He was
so proud of the cadets under his care. When the building started to collapse,
he ran back inside to save the last child…
T’Pau got married
and is expecting her first child. I will be a grandmother. But her husband!
He’s a boorish pig and I can’t stand him. But somehow, he managed to make her happy.
I say that in the past tense because he is no longer her husband. They had
barely begun their life together, when he began to abuse her. Even after she
became pregnant, he hit her. He was taken away for rehabilitation and the
divorce went smoothly.
Poor T’Pau is distraught. She still loves
him. She is living with us now, and I worry about her mental health. What I
wouldn’t give to have Stephen back! He was such an accomplished counselor…
Love,
Ayna
(age 66)
Dear Spock,
I have cancer. A
brain tumor. They’re afraid I won’t survive the treatment at my age. I told
them to just give me the cure and let me worry about it. But you know doctors.
Stubborn lot.
I know I will be
sick from it, maybe even die. I can live with that.
I just re-read
the last two sentences. They’re actually very amusing, in a gallows humor kind
of way.
Salir is scared.
He won’t admit it, but I can tell. I’m his wife—sometimes I know him better
than he knows himself.
I had to catch
you up on things here. And so I have.
Ayna
(age 74)
Dear Spock,
Well, I’m alive,
obviously. The cure was almost worse than the cancer itself. I have been sick
and in bed for longer than I care to think about. But now, I am able to get up
and move about. They almost wouldn’t let me go home. I had to fight them. Salir
finally convinced them that I would heal better in familiar surroundings. I
knew I married him for a reason.
Ayna
(age 80)
Dear Spock,
“You crazy Vulcan!!
Where are you?” That is a message from Leonard McCoy. Thank you so much for
sending him to check up on me. He gripes about you all the time, and the
stories he tells! I can tell, though, that he loves you as a brother.
But I worry so much for your safety. The
last I heard, they were calling you a traitor to the Federation…they said you
had defected to the Romulans. But the Romulans are after you; like a criminal!
Whatever could have made you go there?
Come back to us
soon, Spock. Please.
Ayna
(age 88)
Dear Spock,
In my last
letter, I forgot to tell you how sorry I was sorry to hear about your father,
Spock. He lived a long and wonderful life. Did you know I met him several years
ago? We were in the hospital together. He, with his Bendii Syndrome, and me
with my cancer. Even while he was fighting himself internally, he was a noble
and wise man.
Your stepmother
was kind enough to introduce me to Captain Picard. When I told him how long
I’ve known you, he reluctantly told me you were alive and relatively safe. And
that what you were doing was for the good of Vulcan, and
Such a nice young
man Jean-Luc is…he reminded me of Stephen…
Ayna
(age 93)
Dear Spock,
I’ve been
thinking a lot about my own mortality. So many things have happened over the
years. And I know I owe so much to you. Did you know that, Spock?
If I had never written to you, I would
never have become so fascinated (to use your favorite word) with the Vulcan
culture.
If you hadn’t written that recommendation
letter, I never would have gotten into
Without you, I wouldn’t be the woman I am
today.
And as I look
back on my life, I know that it was worth it all.
I’m glad you were
a part of it.
Ayna
(age 94)
~~~
Salir
Vulcan
City of
I grieve
with thee. I knew your wife for 87 Standard years. She began to write to me as
a child, and I was honored to guide her as she matured.
She
spoke often of her love for you, and your children. May her katra comfort you and give you peace.
Spock
The End
