Elizabeth James Linder
Just call me Aunt Kenz.
Dear Elle Belle,
I don’t know quite how to say this, but since you’ve been born, I’ve started thinking about writing a book. Not that I haven’t thought of doing it before, but you being in this world makes me want to create something just for you. You deserve a world with stories that give your heart a little squeeze, stories that make you laugh and make you cry. You deserve heroes and plot twists, themes and metaphors. I want you to have stories that engage your imagination, stories that make you believe anything is possible. You deserve all of that and more, Elle.
Good stories, the best of them, teach you what you could not have learned otherwise. They teach to pay attention to the themes of this world. They teach you that stories are all around you, if you just look and listen for them. (I bet you’ve already experienced one today!) And reading stories — both good and bleh ones — teaches you to think on your own two feet, to separate what the author is saying from what you believe to be true.
Until I write you a book of your very own, I give you stories others have written. Case in point — this book. Chances are, by the time we start reading this book together, you’ll have started hearing about this guy named Jesus. You may never give it a second thought, or maybe, when you hear His name you’ll feel like the Pevensies did — each of them felt something jump inside of them. “Edmund felt a sensation of mysterious horror. Peter felt suddenly brave and adventurous. Susan felt as if some delicious smell or some delightful strain of music had just floated by her. And Lucy got the feeling you have when you wake up in the morning and realize that it is the beginning of the holidays or the beginning of Summer.”
At some point in your life you will be like our fantastic four, the OG Narnia crew. You will meet Aslan (or Jesus, as He is called in or world). He will take you on the most wonderful journey, fantastical adventure, if you let him. You were made for this story. And you do not have to travel to Narnia to live it.
Love you, dear girl.
Aunt Kenz
