In1990.whenI (50)___ (be) nineyearsold.Iwantedverymuchtofind (51)___penfriend.IfoundAshley'saddressinamagazine,anddecided (52)___ (write) toher.
Isentoffmyletterwithalittlehope.Veryquickly.Ireceivedherletter.(53)___mysurprise.Ashleywasonlyonemonth (54)___ (old) thanme.Ilearnedsomenewexpressionsfromher.1 (55)___ (real) likedthisnewfriend.
Letterafterletter,yearafteryear,AshleyandIcontinuedtowritetooneanother.AletterwouldbereceivedandI'dwritebackrightaway.WewouldsendeachotherbirthdayandChristmas (56)___ (gift).
Eightyearslater,myparentsdecideditwastime (57)___metomeetthisfriend.TheydrovemedowntoMississippiforafewdays.We (58)___ (have) afuntimetogether.Wedidthethingsthatteenagegirlslovetodo.
Twenty-fiveyearsafterthe (59)___ (one) letter.AshleyandIstillhaveanamazingfriendship.Althoughwedon'twritelettersnow.wecommunicatethroughmobilephonesandtheInternet.