“Lettersfromhomealways__1__alot,”Isaid.“AtleasttheydowithmebecauseI’m__2__somuch.”Then,__3__thathewas60or70yearsold,Iguessed:“Fromachildormaybeagrandchild?”“Thisisn’t__4__,”hereplied.“Although,”hewenton,“cometothinkofit,it__5__havebeenfamily.OldEdwasmyoldestfriend.Infact,weusedtocalleachother‘OldFriend’—whenwe’dmeet,thatis.I’m__6__ahandatwriting.”“Idon’tthinkanyofuskeepupour__7__toowell,”Isaid.“IknowIdon’t.ButItakeithe’ssomeoneyou’veknownquiteawhile?”“Allmylife,__8__.Wewerekidstogether,sowegowayback.”“Wenttoschooltogether?”“Allthewaythroughhighschool.Wewereinthesameclass,infact,throughboth__9__andhighschool.”“Therearenottoomanypeoplewho’vehadsuchalong__10__,”Isaid.