Letter From A West Virginia Mother To Her Son
Dear Son,
I am writing this slow because I know you can't read fast. We don't live where we did when you left. Your dad read in the paper most accidents happened within twenty miles of home, so we moved. I won't be able to send you the address because the last family that lived here took the numbers with them for their next house so they wouldn't have to change their address.
This place has a washing machine. The first day I put four shirts in it, pulled the chain and haven't seen them since. It only rained twice last week, three days the first time and four days the second time.
I sent the coat you wanted, but before I did your Aunt Sue said that those heavy buttons on the front would be too heavy for the mail so we cut them off and put them in the pocket.
We got a bill from the funeral home, it said if we didn't mail the last payment on Grandma's funeral bill, up she comes. And your father, he has a lovely job. He has five hundred men under him. He is cutting grass at the cemetary.
Your sister had a baby this morning. I haven't found out whether it's a boy or girl, so I don't know if you are an aunt or uncle.
Three of you friends went off the bridge in a pick-up. One was driving and the other twon were in the back. The driver got out by rolling down the window and swam to safety. The other two drowned. They couldn't get the tailgate down.
Yor uncle John fell in the whiskey vat. Some men tried to pull him out, but he fought them off and then drowned. We cremated him- he burned for three days.
Not much more news this time, not much happened.
Write more often.
Love,
Mom
PS. Iwas going to send you money but the envelope was already sealed.