For Billy Joel
Hey Marty,
How’s your first month of college on the west coast? I always knew you were meant for bigger things than this town could provide. We just couldn’t keep ya down huh? I’m just teasing, brother, Joanna and I miss the heck out of you. I know how Pa felt about you leaving, especially so far away, but if he were still here I just know he’d see the brilliant person I do. My job at the steel factory is going ok, though I’m a little shaken up. It wasn’t long after you left that two others not too far from here had a big wave of layoffs, not mine though, we’re being assured we’re safe, and they’re even thinking about expanding, so maybe the others who lost their job could get new ones, so there’s a little bright side. Hey, don’t forget our birthday is in a couple weeks and I’m expecting a gift with all that computer science grant money you got, HA! Well, I’ll keep it short, I know a big shot like you don’t have a lot of time for your small minded brother in his small minded town.
Love ya,
Willie
Will,
School is going well, thank you for asking. I’m really enjoying myself here. I know you’ve been against it ever since I brought it up at graduation, but we could all come and live here. It’s great! I know you’ve never really wanted a higher education but you can get plenty of certifications, find an nice job you like, and move out here with Joanna. You’re her legal guardian now, you can make that choice for her.
I’m being serious Will, the things I’m learning here, they’re making me scared for you and Jo. The layoffs, what do you think happened to those jobs? It’s only a matter of time before you’re affected by it too. How else do you think they could afford to expand? Technology is growing. The world is changing. You need to as well. I know Pa wanted you to stay. He wanted us to save the town from crumbling to the ground, but he never understood what was real, the underlying problem our town faces. I do. The greedy factory owners that he worked for, and that you’re working for, are killing our town.
I hate that by the time you see this it will be our birthday, I don’t want to bring you down I just want you to be realistic and make a good choice for yourself and Jo. Enclosed are two plane tickets to San Francisco and a key to my apartment. The tickets are always redeemable so you can take your time. But, please, trust me.
Happy birthday,
Martin.
Hey Marty,
Thanks for the birthday wishes, it seems hard to believe this is the first time we’ve ever spent apart. Do you remember when dad would take us to the factory on our birthday, and he and the other workers would bring out the cake and stick frosting up our nose. Good times. I appreciate your concern Mar but I really don’t think we have anything to worry about. Mom and Pa always said things would get better, and I have to believe that until I see it isn’t true. Now I respected your choice to leave, just like I respected all the people who left because of the layoffs, but you have to respect my choice in wanting to stay. I belong here, it’s my home, and I have to believe it will get better. I just don’t think a robot can do my job. I’ll tell you what, the second I’m replaced by some fancy futuristic C-3PO lookin thing I’ll be the first on a plane to San Francisco.
I took Joanna to the homecoming game a couple days ago. We lost of course, what else is new? But I was walking in the hallways of our high school and I saw those pictures they hung up of every graduating class since the 40’s. It inspired me. I thought back to all of our teachers growing up, telling us to work hard, and to stay on the path of good, and that’s all we needed. And that attitude is going to save the town.
It’s our birthday when I’m writing this, so hope you had a good one. I appreciate your concern, but me and Joanna are doing just fine here in Allentown. Oh, and, enjoy our gifts.
Happy (late) birthday,
Willie
Will,
Your restlessness is an inherited trait. I can’t in good conscience stop urging you to move out here. It’s beautiful, really. Jo would definitely love it. You know how she always hated how cold it got. Actually, I think she always hated the big coats Mom and Pa always forced her to wear more than the weather.
Thanks to you and her for the gifts by the way, I put the picture frame you got me on my bed stand. I always loved that photo of the three of us. Joanna has really come a long way with her artwork. The picture she sent me is way better than the ones Mom would always pin to the fridge. 13, huh? Wow, I’d hate to be you when she starts dating.
I’m thinking about visiting for Christmas. Don’t get your hopes too high, but, I think I can work out my work and academic schedule to where I can fit in a week long trip, that is if you aren’t here by then. And don’t tell Jo, I wanna surprise her.
Miss you,
Martin.
Marty,
That’s good news about Christmas, and don’t worry, I’ll keep my mouth shut.
Wish I could match it with some good news myself, but you were (kind of) right. The expansion I talked about didn’t involve hiring more people after all. They’re just adding more machinery to make the processes more efficient or whatever it is. But, still none of us are at risk of being fired. Though they were talking about a retraining program, whatever that is. Something about making us operate the machines. I saw them in action for the first time today, pretty astonishing what it can do if you ask me.
Strangest thing happened to me today. You know how the pizza parlor is always jammed with people? Well Jo had a sleepover with her friend from school, (Alexa, I think it is), and they asked me to get them a pizza. I walked in and the only person there was George, the owner. I mean, I guess I just didn’t realize how many people were taking the train out of here. We got to talking and turns out a lot of people in our class decided to move after we graduated, even his son Anthony (the one who always used to drive his Chevy around the town).
We’re gonna miss ya at Thanksgiving in a couple days, just won’t be the same without you blabbering in our ears about the politicians and you bickering with dad about gun control and universal whatchamacallit. The house might actually be quiet long enough for us to say grace.
See you soon,
Willie
Will,
I got the days off! My flight takes off on December 24th, in the morning. Try to be there in the afternoon to pick me up.
I’m sorry to hear about the expansion. And maybe everyone in town except you decided to listen to their twin brother who studies artificial intelligence and get the hell out of there.
Oh well, I’ll stop trying to give you the hard sell on San Fran. I’m just glad I can visit you and Jo again.
See you sooner,
Martin.
Dear Martin Edward Miller Jr.,
We regret to inform you of the unfortunate, untimely passing of Wilson Robert Miller. We understand that you are his only living relative, other than your sister Joanna Brenda Miller. We’re very sorry to inform you that Wilson was killed in a machine related factory incident. We at the factory of course believe you are entitled to some compensation, which we would be more than willing to discuss with you. Wilson was a good, honest, hard working employee and we too are moved by his passing and it is with regret that we must inform you this way at this time. Joanna is being taken good care of in a shelter, temporarily, until you are able to assume responsibility for her.
Our condolences,
Allentown Steel Manufacturing
Decided to do a little experimentation with this story. I think the use of letters to show how they progress gives it a more middle America feel. This story is a little derivative of "Where Are You Going, Where Have You Been?", which I read recently, but I have always been enraptured by the story of Billy Joel's "Allentown", the song this story is based on. I tried to take the message of the song and apply it to artificial intelligence and the way it has effected many popular jobs in middle America. Let me know what you think? Thanks for reading!
Comments
Post a Comment