I Will Always Write Back

With Caitlin’s family’s financial support, Martin and his family can eat chicken for the first time in a while on Christmas. They share the food with the neighbors, once again telling them that the chicken is a gift from their uncle in Harare.

Martin finally writes Caitlin a long letter detailing his family’s experiences with poverty in Zimbabwe. In the letter, he asks once again for a large sum of money to register for O-level exams in preparation for advanced-level education. He also asks her about her plans for after high school.

Caitlin receives a letter from Martin after having not heard from him in a while. She is relieved to know he is doing well. At school, Caitlin distances herself from her friends who have not offered any support to her while she has been worried about Martin.

Caitlin wakes up one morning to the sound of her mother on the phone. Her mother has been talking to the American embassy in Harare to figure out how to get in contact with Martin’s school. Together, Caitlin and her mother draft a letter to the address that Martin has sent them for his school. In their letter to Mr.