In 1990．when I （50）　　 （be） nine years old．I wanted very much to find （51）　_　 pen friend．I found Ashley's address in a magazine，and decided （52）　　 （write） to her．

I sent off my letter with a little hope．Very quickly．I received her letter．（53）　　my surprise．Ashley was only one month （54）　　 （old） than me．I learned some new expressions from her.1 （55）　　 （real） liked this new friend．

Letter after letter，year after year，Ashley and I continued to write to one another．A letter would be received and I'd write back right away．We would send each other birthday and Christmas （56）　　 （gift）．

Eight years later，my parents decided it was time （57）　　 me to meet this friend．They drove me down to Mississippi for a few days．We （58）　　 （have） a fun time together．We did the things that teenage girls love to do．

Twenty﹣five years after the （59）　　 （one） letter．Ashley and I still have an amazing friendship．Although we don't write letters now．we communicate through mobile phones and the Internet．