Summary

The third story is titled “Secret Identity” and is in epistolary form. It is a letter to Paul Zell from a 15-year-old girl who pretended to be older. It opens with the girl explaining that she has made false starts of the letter, but is now choosing to pretend she is not writing it to Paul. She apologizes and asks that they pretend they do not know each other, imagining them in New York City in a hotel restaurant. She admits that most of what she has told him is a lie, and that they may be in love. Paul is 34. They met online through FarAway. She apologizes again and writes about the hotel lobby and Aliss, the hotel clerk. She mentions girls she has had problems with in school. She reveals that Melinda Bowles, the 32-year-old woman she pretended to be, does...