May 6^th, 2000

Dear Kate,

You will not believe what happened to me and it’s all because of the great, funky hat you sent me! When I opened the package from you, I started laughing at the sight of the hat! My brother begged me not to put it on because he didn’t want me to embarrass him.

But you know me, it was so funky I just had to wear it, so I put it on. I wore it for a good three and a half hours, until the neatest thing happened. I went to the mall, looking for a new poodle skirt, I asked if they had anything from 1957 when all of a sudden, I saw all of these weird colors in front of me. The colors were swirling around and around and I became so dizzy that I just had to close my eyes. But when I opened them, well let’s just say I wasn’t in Kansas anymore! I think the hat is some sort of time machine because I was in the year 1957.

Kate, you know how cool the 1950’s look in the movies and in pictures? Well, it is so much neater then that in real life! There were so many posters of Elvis and everywhere too! Most of the guys had their hair slicked back and the cars they drove were so cute! And you know what else? There were more poodle skirts then I could count. The kids were playing different games, and everyone was so friendly I wondered if I was dreaming. Everyone said hi to me, and smiled politely and they all stopped to talk to each other, it was so cool!

Then, there was some sort of Elvis shop, so I went in. I starting reading some information about him aloud, "…and Phillips urged Presley in that direction and in late 1954 the singer…" But as soon as I said 1954 the colors came back again and made me dizzy, of course I ended up in 1954 before Elvis was famous.

I really wanted to meet Elvis, I mean who wouldn’t, right? I searched around, asked some questions and found out where he would be. Guess where he was Kate? Take a really wild guess because it’s almost unbelievable! Elvis Presley was driving a big truck around, because he was a trucker! Can you believe it? The future King, was a truck driver before he became famous. Anyway, he was really nice and even let me drive around with him. We talked a lot, but mostly we sang together. Elvis was really into black music and sartorial style. I told him that he had a lot of talent and that he should try to record a song. He laughed and asked me if I was physic, apparently he had dreamt of stardom for a very long time, but he said it would never happen. I convinced him to go for it and he did!

We saw a Sun Records walk-in studio, and in he went. Very soon, he scored a regional hit with "That’s All Right" and it was so weird because within days he became famous. And for some reason, he felt he owed me thanks so he let me come to all of his shows and sometimes I was even able to be on stage with him for short periods of time. And you know what Kate? I’ve even been on a few magazines and people call me "The King’s special friend." It’s so much fun except for one thing.

His fans worry me though, especially the adolescent girls. They are seriously crazy about him. The things they do are almost scary and I feel very bad for Elvis because he always needs at least a few bodyguards or fans will mob him. Sometimes even his bodyguard’s need bodyguards because these people are so obsessed that they will cherish anything that Elvis has touched. I guess being King has its down sides too. I would never allow myself to get that famous!

Well, Elvis went on tour for a week and I told him I’d meet up with him when he gets back. So, I put the hat on, said 2000 and here I am, writing you this letter! Next time I go back, I’ll be sure to bring some cool stuff for Elvis!

Your friend,