Mail From West Virginia

[Karl/Pa.]

Dear Son,

I am writing this real slow, 'cause I know you can't read very fast.

We don't live where we did when you left. You read in the paper that most accidents happen within twenty miles of home so we moved. I won't be able to send you the address 'cause we don't have one. The last family that lived here took the numbers off the house 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, pulled the chain and I ain't seem 'em since.

It only rained twice this week. Three days the first time and four days the second time.

You know the coat you wanted me to send to you? Well ... Aunt Sue said it would be too heavy to send in the mail with them heavy buttons on it, so we cut them off and put them in the pockets.

We got a letter from the funeral home. They said if we don't make the last payment on Granny's funeral bill ... UP SHE COMES!

Your sister had a baby this morning, I ain't heard whether it is a boy or a girl, so I don't know if you're an uncle or an aunt.

Your Uncle John fell in a whiskey vat, some men tried to pull him out, but he fought them off, so he drowned. We cremated him and he burned for three days.

Three of your friends went off the bridge in a pick-up truck. One was driving, the other two were in the back. The driver got out. He rolled the window down and swam to safety. The other two drowned. They couldn't get the tailgate down.

There's not much news this time, nothin' much has happened.

Love, Mama