Debbie

Debbie has just turned eighteen. She is a very sweet girl. She is completely innocent and rather naïve. She attends a girl's college and before this she went to an exclusive girls' school. She always had few friends. They did discuss things other than academics once in a while. Say, skin-care and make-up and the weather. But they never spoke of anything else. All these years Debbie was not allowed to read books outside her syllabus. The teachers at the school were very serious about this. Of course there were no glossy magazines within reach. Most of all Debbie and her friends were not allowed to see any films. The girls are enjoying their summer vacation now. Debbie saw her first film two days back. It was called 'Gone With The Wind'. The leading man whom everyone called Clark Gable was really handsome, Debbie thought. But there were so many things that Debbie did not understand. Why did the hero and heroine behave as if they could not do without each other. There was no man in Debbie's life. And she was doing absolutely fine, thank you. All the other girls watched the film many more times. But Debbie found the film boring. Instead, she decided to raid her elder sister's room and read her magazines. This sister is happily married and the magazines are quite old. Debbie was shocked to find that the magazines contained nothing but photographs of couples hugging and sometimes even kissing. What has the world come to, Debbie thought, men and women kissing for the camera.
The next morning Debbie decided to take a walk in the local park. She sat down on a bench. Even as she looked on a young man appeared from somewhere. So did a young woman. The man handed the girl a letter. The girl began to tremble and went completely red all over. Debbie was shocked. Before anything else could happen she ran home. After this Debbie was a different person. She understood that the boy and girl in the park were probably in love. She too wanted to be in love. Though she knew no man at all she began to expect that a secret lover would seek her. That he would write at least one smouldering letter to her. Such an expectation defied all logic. Nevertheless Debbie became more and more anxious by the day. Every day, she would ask the postman whether there was any letter for her. Naturally there wasn't any. Two days remained for college to begin. Next morning the doorbell rang at around ten am. Debbie was sure that the postman had brought a letter of love for her. And she was right! The envelope had Debbie's name written in beautiful handwriting. The envelope was pink in colour and fragrant. No one was at home. Debbie knew that this was the best time to read the message her secret lover had sent her. She tore open the envelope very carefully. The letter was on pink paper too. But Debbie was disappointed. It was not a love letter at all. In fact it was a chain letter exhorting Debbie to make a thousand copies and send to that many people. What a waste of enthusiasm for poor Debbie!