y　time　with　her　in　the　past　year；　it　had　been　forting　to　see　her　camera　on　the　counter；　her　army　green　messenger　bag　by　the　door；　her　boxes　of　Sleepytime　tea　in　the　cabinets。

“I　won’t　know　until　I’m　gone；”　Vanessa　replied。　“How　’bout　you？”

Dan　shrugged　his　reply。　A　fortable　silence　fell　between　them　as　they　ate。　They　were　always　able　to　talk；　or　not　talk。　Sometimes　Serena　would　assume　that　he　was　angry　if　he　didn’t　say　something　all　the　time。

It　was　nice；　just　sitting　at　a　hole…in…the…wall　restaurant　on　Broadway；　splitting　a　late…night　snack。　It　reminded　him　of　a　time　when　everything　was　easy　and　safe。　He　randomly　thought　of　a　Proust　quote　he’d　read　in　one　of　his　lit　classes：　The　true　paradises　are　ones　we　have　lost。

Does　that　mean　there’s　trouble　in　his　current　paradise？

time　to　party…

From：　Tyler@DJTyRo。

To：　jenniferthumphrey@risd。edu

Subject：　party

Hey　Jenny；

It　was　cool　to　meet　you　at　my　mom’s　place　last　night。　Wanted　to　let　you　know　that　I’m　spinning　at　the　Plastic　Party　People　Party　on　Saturday。　It’s　at　Filter；　on　Fourteenth　and　Tenth；　starting　at　midnight。　Bring　friends；　you’re　on　the　list。

—Ty

From：　jenniferthumphrey@risd。edu

To：　Tyler@DJTyRo。

Subject：　Re：　party

Dear　Tyler；

It　was　great　meeting　you　too！　Your　party　sounds　like　a　ton　of　fun；　but　my　boyfriend　already　got　us　tickets　to　see　The　Nutcracker　that　night。　Break　a　leg　or　a　disc　or　whatever　the　DJ　term　for　good　luck　is！

—Jenny

the　best　presents　are　surprises

“Thanks；　Mom；”　Serena　said　as　she　pulled　a　pair　of　strappy　silver　and　blue　Jimmy　Choos　from　out　of　a　brightly　wrapped　box。　It　was　ten　o’clock　on　Christmas　morning；　and　the　family　had　already　had　a　formal　Christmas　breakfas