Tessie D

I’ve been thinking a lot about Momma, Daddy, and Annie lately. I miss them so much sometimes that I think about getting in the car and driving home. But, I know that what I miss isn’t just them but a certain time with them. I want a time machine more than anything, to go back to when I was younger, before everything that had happened.

I like to think about when I was younger. When Daddy would ask us if we wanted to run into town and go to Handy Stop, where we could get a $.39 fountain Dr. Pepper, pick out any candy we wanted, and rent a VHS tape. When Momma would come in from work during the summers with donuts from the Chiggar Ranch gas station on Highway 6. It was the only place in town that sold yeast donuts, not just the cake kind that’s everywhere. The donuts were a bribe to keep us quiet while Momma slept, and if we didn’t wake her up before 2:00, she’d give us each $2 and drop us off at the city pool until 6:00.

Momma and Annie have sent me a few letters, and Momma called a couple of times when I first got here. She didn’t say much about how they were doing except that she and Daddy missed us. Both me and Annie being gone means that the house is real lonely.

I tried to call Momma the other night after the rates had gone down, but the call never went through. The phone must be disconnected again. I felt guilty that I hadn’t sent home any money, so I’m going to remember to do that at least once a month from every other paycheck. Maybe it’ll help Momma keep the phone on, at least.