watch the 5 pm news and u might see someone you recognize on king 5
from a 425 phone number, Wednesday, October 7, 7:6 PM

Oh my God, did I receive this text from a FAMOUS TELEVISION PERSONALITY?

R U at the dr. How are u feeling? L. A.
from a 478 phone number, Wednesday, October 7, 11:40 AM

I think 478 is still pretty new at the whole texting abbrevs thing, which is why she bothered to capitalize "R" and "U" and why she forgot to abbrev her second "are" entirely.

Heyy. Did you ask?
from a 508 phone number, Wednesday, October 7, 7:04 AM

So what are you doing this weekend?
from a 508 phone number, Wednesday, October 7, 4:58 PM

Heyy did you ask your mom about saturday?
from a 508 phone number, Thursday, October 8, 7:38 AM

Heyy! would you want to get ready at My house tomorrow?
from a 508 phone number, Friday, October 9, 3:27 PM

Leila! Can jess bring me home after the dance?
from a 508 phone number, Saturday, October 10, 2:53 PM

I'm relieved to see that Leila did, ultimately, ask her mother if she could go to the dance on Saturday, and that her mother did, ultimately, say yes.

Also, this is one of the most coherent series of texts I've ever received. It tells a story. When this sort of thing happens, is that best part about my job. (And by "job," I mean, "receiving text messages," which is actually not my job.)

what r u doing
from a 423 phone number, Tuesday, October 6, 2:46 PM

i love
from a 423 phone number, Tuesday, October 6, 2:51 PM

u
rom a 423 phone number, Tuesday, October 6, 2:52 PM

That really diminishes the power of a love-text, when it gets sent one word too early. Awk.

i love you Leila!..we found her!..im sorry..i didnt mean to yell..@u...
Chelsie
from a 618 phone number, Monday, October 5, 9:05 AM

i love you....im sooo sorryy...i was just really tired...i wasnt upset with you...
:0
Chelsie
from a 618 phone number, Tuesday, October 6, 8:34 AM

I texted Chelsie back because I was concerned that she wouldn't hear back from Leila and would believe that Leila was refusing to forgive her. That could be a relationship-destroying move on my part, and I try, when possible, not to destroy relationships. Meanwhile, whenever Heddle reads this blog post, she will be concerned about the excess of ellipses. She really hates excess ellipses.

I applied 4 a job in a mental house... They said i need 24 hrs of experience with a retard... U wanna chill 2moro? I got crayons n stuff
from a 770 phone number, Sunday, October 4, 9:37 PM

Sometimes people are incredibly insensitive and I don't really understand why my namesakes are friends with them.

i found ur phone
from a 310 phone number, Saturday, October 3, 12:02 PM

But if 310 has Leila's phone, then how will Leila get this text message?

hey leila it is me erin i am on haleys phone
from an 859 phone number, Friday, October 2, 8:16 PM

Okay, great, Erin. Now, why are you telling Leila this? Does she need this information for something?

i just wanted to let you know that i love you so very much! thanks for loving me back
from an 815 phone number, Friday, October 2, 1:54 PM

Aww! This may be kind of boring, but still, it is my favorite genre of text.

Send this message to ppl at jcs to help me!!!!!
from a 561 phone number, Friday, October 2, 11:38 AM

Journal of Cell Science? Joint Chiefs of Staff? Good luck getting help from those layabouts!

Call me. ps bday today. xox m
from an 847 phone number, Friday, October 2, 9:55 AM

Happy birthday! To someone!

Hey girl-dont know where ur purse is but um good. Gonna be home tmrw.
from a 650 phone number, Friday, October 2, 1:02 AM

"I guess it doesn't help you any to know that I'm good, considering that your purse is missing... but, you know, I'm glad to let you live vicariously through me!"

HELLO?!
from a 631 phone number, Thursday, Octover 1, 5:01 PM

You can use as many interrobangs as you want, 631; Leila is still not going to respond to you.

sorry, we have a baby getting sick, i will meet you at church
from a 601 phone number, Wednesday, September 30, 6:13 PM

Oh, no! Feel better, baby!

polo
cruzer30
from a 203 phone number, Tuesday, September 29, 3:34 PM

No idea. All I can tell you is that 203 is Connecticut. Now you take it away.

r u home?
Prema to most, mom to 3
from a 740 phone number, Monday, September 28, 3:26 PM

Is that really 740's sig line? "Prema to most, mom to 3"? Way to use like ALL your allotted characters on a sig line. No wonder you have to abbreviate the words "are" and "you" just to fit them in.

a.k.a all time bff hey whatz up lei
~Cali Girl~
from a 609 phone number, Monday, September 28, 3:00 PM

I wonder how this Intended Leila feels about being called Lei. Speaking as a Leila, I'm not so into it. Unless it's being said by my mom, or my godmother, or my old roommate Jo. From most other people's lips, it sounds awkward to me.

if you leave today definetly wear a sweatshirt or even a jacket...its soooo cold
from a 952 phone number, Monday, September 28, 12:54 PM

Actually, Monday in Boston was quite mild. But 952 is Minnesota, which is probably colder. And tonight it went down to like 50 degrees! My jacket wasn't even warm enough! So 952 makes a good point about the changing of the seasons etc.

Dines What happened with you and ari?
from a 716 phone number, Saturday, September 26, 8:44 PM

Yeah, Intended Leila, what did happen with you and Ari?

CALL ME
from a 425 phone number, Saturday, September 26, 7:16 PM

Come out-side
from a 425 phone number, Monday, September 28, 6:16 PM

Come out-side PLEASE I FEEL LIKE A LONER!!!!
from a 425 phone number, Monday, September 28, 6:19 PM

Bye
from a 425 phone number, Monday, September 28, 6:22 PM

FWD: FWD: FWD: FW: From: FWD: FWD: FWD: FWD: In 22 minutes someone will say "WANNA GO OUT?" "I LOVE YOU" or " I MISS U BABE" but you have to forward to 9 ppl
from a 425 phone number, Tuesday, September 29, 7:06 PM

I do not find 425's use of caps endearing, and it does not particularly make me want to call her or come outside. A request gets you so much farther than a demand ever will, my dear.