I Will Always Write Back

In the summer of 1999, Caitlin experiences a major growth spurt. Since the growth spurt happens so suddenly, her parents take her to get an MRI, to figure out if there is something seriously wrong. They discover that the corners of her growth plates have broken off and that she will have to go through physical therapy to heal from the broken bones.

While Caitlin is recovering from these injuries, she receives a letter from Martin imploring her family for help. He has enclosed a separate letter for Caitlin’s parents. Caitlin decides to tell her parents the truth about Martin’s situation and that she has been sending money to him. At dinner, she asks her parents how much she has in her college savings as she wants to send all of it to Martin. She confesses that she has been sending her babysitting money to Martin. Concerned, her parents ask to see her letters from Martin and wonder, “What if it is a scam?” (142). When Caitlin expresses disbelief that they can mistrust Martin like that, they promise to investigate the matter and see what they can do.

Over the next few days, Caitlin’s mother makes a series of calls to her friend Solange, who works in the Zimbabwean embassy in Washington. Solange suggests getting in contact with the American embassy in Harare, which proves difficult. Solange also suggests disguising the money that Caitlin is sending to ensure that no one tries to steal the mail.

When November arrives and there is still no word from Martin, Caitlin gets the idea to send a Christmas package to Martin and his family. She goes shopping with her mother for presents for Martin’s entire family, which includes clothing, shoes, and school supplies. Instead of packing peanuts, they use bags of candy. Caitlin encloses a letter explaining the box’s contents. To ensure that the box gets to Martin’s family safely, they are told by Solange to send the package through the American or Canadian embassy. Solange promises to look out for the package.

Since mail takes about two weeks to arrive to Zimbabwe from the US, Martin is behind on completing his school payment. Mr. Samupindi offers Martin an extension. When Caitlin’s next letter arrives, her note says that she has enclosed money. However, the letter is stamped with “INSPECTED FOR CONTRABAND” (153), which means that the mail has been opened and the money that Caitlin has enclosed is gone. As conditions grow direr and violence escalates in Zimbabwe, Martin is about to lose hope until he receives another letter from Caitlin in November. In the letter, Caitlin includes a mysterious message that states, “Behind every great dog is a way to stay in school!” (154). Martin realizes that it is a clue and peels apart a photograph of Caitlin’s dog to find money enclosed. The next day, Martin pays Mr. Samupindi the remaining balance for his school fees with Caitlin’s money and resumes classes.

When Thanksgiving arrives, Caitlin finds it difficult to enjoy the holiday since she still has not heard from Martin. Caitlin experiences strain with her friends as their interpersonal conflicts with one another seem so insignificant compared to Martin’s experience. She learns that she can only offer so much emotional support to her friends when she knows that Martin’s problems are far larger and require more of her help.

One day, Caitlin’s mother receives a letter from Solange’s friend in the Canadian embassy, who says that it is risky to send US money through postal mail to Zimbabwe. The friend recommends getting Martin’s school’s address and wiring the money directly to the school to avoid trouble. During the Christmas break, Caitlin recovers from wisdom tooth surgery and writes a letter to Martin asking him for the school’s address and the name of the headmaster. She shows the letter to her mother to make sure that she has relayed the information accurately. Caitlin’s mother adds a note and includes a $20 bill to help Martin pay for tuition.