Read an Excerpt

Dry Creek Middle School
Dry Creek Missouri
"We Thirst for Knowledge"

Mr. Walter Russ
Principal

September 14

Flowing Waters Fountains, Etc.
Watertown, CA

Ms. Waters:

Perhaps you misunderstood the letter written earlier this month by the secretary of our school.

As per my request, Ms. Fisch wrote to you in the hopes of receiving information regarding a fountain. I am afraid, however, that she may not have made clear the nature of the fountain we are seeking.

While I'm sure the fountains you create for palaces and hotels are indeed lovely, we have no need for such extravagance in our school. Instead, what we are looking for is this:

Product: drinking fountain
Style: plain
Price:modest

Would you please send the product description and price list of any fountains in your inventory that fit the above description?

Thank you for your time and cooperation.

Efficiently,

Mr. Walter Russ
Principal

Flowing Waters Fountains, Etc.

September 27

Dry Creek Middle School
Dry Creek, MO

Dear Mr. Wally Russ,

I received your letter last week and, my goodness, you sound just like the author of the little book of directions that came with my blender.

I'm still not quite sure what your letter means (just as I'm not entirely certain how the blender works), but I'mguessing you'd like to see a catalog of my fountains. Am I right? If so, I must repeat myself: I don't have a catalog of my fountains. I never build the same fountain twice.

But here's my idea: Why don't I come to your school sometime in the next week or two? I'll make a few drawings in my sketchbook. I'll return to my workshop, begin construction, and bingo! Before you know it, you'll have yourself a new fountain.

What do you say, Wally?

Florence Waters

P.S. By the by, in the future, try not to blame your confusion on other people. Goldie Fisch made the request for a catalog very clear the first time around.