DEAR REDNECK SON,

I'm writing this letter slow because I know you can't read fast.
We don't live where we did when you left home. Your dad read in
the newspaper that most accidents happen within¹ 20 miles from home,
so we moved. I won't be able to send you the address because the
last Arkansas family that lived here took the house numbers when they
moved so they wouldn't have to change their address.

This place is really nice. It even has a washing² machine. I'm not sure
it works³ so well though. Last week I put a load⁴ in and pulled the chain⁵
and haven't seen them since.

The weather isn't bad here. It only rained twice last week, the first
time for three days and the second time for four days.

About that coat you wanted me to send you, your Uncle Stanley said it
would be to heavy to send in the mail with the buttons on, so we cut
them off and put them in the pockets.

John locked his keys in the car yesterday. We were really worried because
it took him two hours to get me and your father out.

Your sister had a baby this morning, but I haven't found out what it is yet
so I don't know if your an aunt or an uncle. The baby looks just like your
brother.

Uncle Ted⁶ fell in a whiskey vat⁷ last week. Some men tried to pull him out,
but he fought them off playfully and drowned⁸. We had him cremated⁹ and he
burned for three days.

Three of your friends ran off a bridge in a pick-up truck. Ralph was driving.
He rolled down the window and swam to safety. Your other two friends were in
back. They drowned because they couldn't get the tailgate down.

There isn't much more news at this time. Nothing much has happened.

Love, Mom

P. S. I was going to send you some money, but the envelope was already sealed¹⁰.