Fan letters and Christmas Traditions

[tennis_no_ko]

I've been doing some bulk fanletter answering now since this winter break proves to be busy, as expected. And as per usual, I think the best letters come from the children. They're always so fun to read and not nearly as creepy at the middle-aged women and men who want me to marry them. I also like when they take pictures of them with tennis rackets and say they were inspired, because that's always heartwarming to read. Also, that means a new tennis generation is being made! :D

But one stood out to me, from a french child. In France and most of Europe, like Liliadent mentioned, there's a counterpart to Father Christmas. In France, he's called Father Whipping or Père Fouetteard. Not quite as creepy looking as Germany's Krampus and definitely not as scary. but instead of bad children getting bad presents, bad children in France are kidnapped by Père Foeuttard for one night and whipped. And because I am a bad, bad person, my mind went to the gutter the first time I heard about that.

Anyway, the actual letter said that since her parents said she was bad, she was scared of Pere Fouettard coming to get her. But she wondered whether I could come to France this Christmas and help her launch a tennis ball attack on Père Foeuttard and free all the other children who got caught by him. I couldn't help but laugh and think that this is exactly what I would have done as a child. Heck, I'd do it now. It makes me so proud to see a new generation of cute young children growing up!

-Seiichi
[ooc: Strikes NOT deleted]

Comments

[proinpink.livejournal.com]

You have my sympathies with the creepy letters. I get my own share of those, especially from men three times my age.

[tennis-no-ko.livejournal.com]

I think it is the curse of any celebrity, alas. But the good letters make up for the bad ones. Have you gotten underwear too, or is that just rabid female fans?

[proinpink.livejournal.com]

No, never those!

[tennis-no-ko.livejournal.com]

Lucky child! *sigh* I try and get them screened, but there's only so much you can do >>;

[wildtechnique.livejournal.com]

That's why I'm glad I got into manga! My fan letters are really cool all the time like that little girl's~

Are you gonna do it?

[tennis-no-ko.livejournal.com]

All the time? Someone out there hates me

I wish I could, but this Christmas I can barely breathe, let alone travel to France. I think the best I can do is send her a tube of tennis balls all signed and tell her where to aim, because strong, young girls like her don't need a hero to help them when they can help themselves.

[haratetsu.livejournal.com]

Aww~ Kids are cute! I'm sure the Kami-no-Ko in you will save her from him. And from her parents. Seriously, who tells that to a kid?

And tell me about creepy fan- and not-fan-mail. Never venture into the field of performing arts while being out and gay, if you find that weird. There's everything, from death treat to suggestions for...no. You don't want to know that.

[tennis-no-ko.livejournal.com]

I sure hope so. And many parents can and will tell that to children, in order to get them to behave. These legends arise and stay for a reason, right?

...that sounds dreadful, Hara-san. Fans in general can go to both spectrums, extremely heartwarming and 'get away from me, you creep'. I've been fairly lucky about being openly gay. But death threats are the norm, yes.