Dear Son,

I am writing this letter slow cause 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 happen within twenty miles of home, so we moved. I won't be able to send you the address 'cause the last family that lived here took the numbers 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 I 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 would be a little too heavy to send in the mail with them heavy buttons, so we cut them off and put them in the pockets.

About your father...he has a lovely new job. He has five hundred men under him. He is cutting grass at the cemetery. About your sister...she had a baby this morning. I haven't found out whether it is a boy or a girl, so I don't know if you are an aunt or an uncle.

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.

I went to the doctor on Thursday and your father went with me. The doctor put a small tube in my mouth and told me not to talk for ten minutes. Your father offered to buy it from him.

Not much more news this time, nothing happened.

Write more often.

Love, Mom

P. S. I was going to send you some money, but the envelope was already sealed.