"Carolina Mom to Carolina Son"

Dear Son,

I'm writing this slow cause I know you can't read fast.  We don't live where
we did before you left. Your dad read in the newspaper where most accidents
happened within twenty miles of home, so we moved. I won't be able to send you
the address as the last Carolina 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 this week, three days
the first time and four days the second time.

The coat you wanted me to send you, your Aunt Sue said it was too heavy to send in
the mail with them buttons, so we cut them off and put them in the pockets.

We got a bill from the funeral home. It said if we don't make the last payment on Grandma's
funeral bill...up she comes.

About your father... He has a lovely new job.  He has over 500 men working under him. He is 
cutting grass at the cemetary.

Your sister had a baby this morning. I haven't found out if it's a boy or a girl so I don't
know if you're an aunt or an uncle.

Your Uncle John fell in the whiskey vat.  Some men tried to pull him out, but he fought them,
so he drowned.  We cremated him. He burned for three days.

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

Not much more news this time, nothing much happened.  Write more often.

Love,

Mom

p.s.  I was going to send some money, but the envelope was already sealed. 
 

(re-written by Donna Hardy, original author unknown)