Dear Son
Well happy birthday boy. Yes today is your
twenty-first birthday and now you be comin a man n’all its gonna be time for you to know your birthright.
See where you was born in town
of Copper Creek out West This is no
place to bring up little uns, this town bein lawless lord a mercy, and thin’s goin on that would
not be right for no young boy to see. N that’s fer
sure
So I dun let you go back East
with your Aunt Martha and Uncle Joe.
They swore to heaven they be takin good care you down Masschoosets
way and I sorely hope they did n teach
you to read n write . See Son, folks is gonna
need to learn their schoolin and I hope that sister
of mine made sure you did your learnin well.
Yes, Martha is your Aunt, see now I dunno if
you call her ma and if’n you call Uncle Joe as Pa, I been awondertin
all these years and kept me wake at nights thinkig
bout it, but I guess I would mind so much if you did.
See your real Pa
was a fine man. Big and strong and arms that would make a gal feel kinda purdy when
he snuggled her n’all. But afore I knew it he was gone, he dun got
himself shot, the darn fool.
You becoming of 21 years it gonna be time to claim your birthright and I’m thinking
that I’ll be a rich woman by the time you hit 21.
See where I got myself in
business at Dovetail Parlour is doing good and now I’m back on my
feet again I’ll be making a lot of money
in my business.
So son, whenever you ready you
come an look up your old ma in Copper Creek
Affectionately yours
Your loving ma,
Margaret Dovetail Copper Creek.
Xx