Calumet City, Ill. - A little boy, 9, writes a letter to his favorite actor Will Smith; he gets a letter back from the superstar two years later. The boy was obviously very excited that he got a reply from the Men in Black celebrity.
"This is really cool" was the boy's father's simple reaction when he realized the letter was from Smith.
Smith's letter was a single page, hand-signed but typed letter that apologized for the lateness in replying. He wrote some inspirational words, including to keep "chasing those dreams" - perhaps a reference to the boy's own ambitions from his original letter.
The boy, Monte Jones, is now 11 years old. Smith included a bookmark emblazoned with a picture of himself as a keepsake for Jones, reports the NWI Times.
What kept Smith from replying earlier? Well, during the interim, the actor has appeared in Men in Black 3 and has been producing After Earth and filming Winter's Tale, both slated to be released this year. He is the hottest summer blockbuster star, and is highly sought after for his box office drawing prowess.
The actor is himself a father to two children with his wife Jada Pinkett Smith. They have a son Jaden, 14, and a daughter Willow, 12. As you can tell, his children are around the same age as Jones. Maybe that's why, even though late and probably inundated with fan mail, Smith decided to write back. Thinking about how his own kids would feel probably made him write the long-overdue letter.
The Smith kids reportedly do their part in keeping their famous dad's hands full, drawing his ire recently for perhaps being too strong-minded. Jaden used some foul language in a public forum while Willow wrote some disconcerting words in a blog post. The Smith parents were not pleased, and apparently are planning a "boot camp" to bring more discipline to their kids' celebrity lives. Both of the Smith kids followed their famous parents into the entertainment industry, and are famous in their own right.
Smith's letter is a reminder to all fans that, despite appearances to the contrary, stars do care. A well-written letter can bring a sincere and personal response from even a superstar like Will Smith.
But good things come to those who wait, and Jones has been exceedingly patient. We're excited for this young boy and his letter, and hope that it really makes his week a little bit more special.
