"A Polish mother writing to
her son"
Dear Son,
Just a few lines to let you know that I'm still alive. I am
writing this slowly because I know you cannot read fast. You
won't know the house when you come home--we've moved. I can't
send you the new address as the last polish family who lived here
took the numbers with them so they would not have to change their
address. About your father, he has a lovely job. He has 500 men
under him. He's cutting grass at the cementary. There was a
washing machine in the new house where we moved. It isn't working
too good. Last week I put 14 shirts in it, pulled the chain and
haven't seen them since. Your sister Mary had a baby this
morning. I haven't found out if it's a boy or a girl, so I can't
tell you if you are an aunt or an uncle. And your Aunt Christine
gave up the birth control pills when your Uncle John bought a
condominium. Your Uncle Dick drowned last week in a pot of
whiskey at the
brewery. Some of his fellow workers dived in to save him but he
fought them off bravely. We had the body cremated and it took 3
days to put the fire out. Your father did not have much to drink
on Christmas. I put a bottle of caster oil in his beer and it
kept him going til New Year's Day. I went to the doctors on
Thursday and your father went with me. The doctor put a small
tube in my mouth and said not to open it for 10 minutes. Your
father offered to buy it. It rained only twice last week. First
for 3 days, then for 4 days. Monday the wind was so bad; one of
the chickens laid the same egg 4 times. We had a letter from the
undertaker. He said if the last installment wasn't paid on your
grandmother in 7 days, up she comes. Remember your friend Tom?
Well, he's no longer in this world. His father died, and he
wanted to be buried at sea, Tom drowned digging his grave.
Your loving mother P.S. I was going to send you money, but I
already sealed the envelope.