Dear random NSA agent,

It might have been my web search for notorious murderers that led you to my electronic abode but I promise, I don’t share their homicidal interests.

It’s okay if you search through my stuff, though.  Personally, I don’t mind. I have nothing to hide, at least not from you.

I know, I spend a little too much time looking at different nail art tutorials, but I have to make sure my nails are on point. My nail game is undefeated. Who do you think comes up with all of my amazing do-it-yourself projects? Well, not me. And I probably shouldn’t have watched every episode of Avatar: the Last Airbender in one week, but hey, at least I don’t go searching through other people’s stuff all day.

I’m sure you probably think your job is important, and you could be the heroes who stop a terrorist attack. But is it really necessary to look through a 15-year-old’s Internet history? I mean, what’s the worst you could find? Too many hours on Tumblr, or the fact that I still check on my Neopets now and then? I don’t even Facebook stalk people regularly.

By the way, if you get a chance, you should really look at my YouTube history. Oh, but about that video of that little boy almost breaking his neck, I couldn’t help laughing at it. I know I might be a bad person for that, but I wasn’t the one who put oil on the floor and asked him to do a cartwheel. You have to admit it’s pretty hilarious. And I’m sure you already know I find Jenna Marbles quite amusing. You should watch one of her videos after you’re done looking through my text messages.

Just to help you out, most of those are just silly conversations with friends, or questions about physics homework. I don’t send any illegal photos, and I don’t send any “Where should I hide the body?” messages. You might find out about the latest gossip that fills my monotonous high school life, but that’s pretty much it. No need to waste your time.

My phone calls, on the other hand, are a different story. From what I know about the NSA, you spies don’t actually listen to the conversations, you just look at the times the calls were made and how long they lasted. So you’re probably wondering what my conversations at 3 a.m. are about. Sorry, but you can’t know all of my secrets. You’ve probably already seen enough of them through my Internet history.

Although I’m not afraid of you spying in on me, and I don’t think I’ll ever be flagged because of my adolescent curiosity, why can’t you just ask? There was once a time when privacy was an important part of our American freedom, and I think that many Americans probably wouldn’t want your federal nose up in their business.

If you led a normal life, with a nice family living happily in some suburban neighborhood, would you want someone watching all the time from a bush across the street? Probably not. It’s just like having a friend pick up your phone without asking, and you get defensive even though there’s nothing remotely scandalous on it. All you have to do is ask. If you did, I’d be more than happy to let you into my little suburban home that sits on my lap every afternoon.

Your friend, and loyal citizen,

Madeline