Borderlands by James Carlos Blake

Author:James Carlos Blake [Blake, James Carlos]
Language: eng
Format: epub
Tags: Crime
ISBN: 9780380794850
Publisher: Avon Books
Published: 1999-01-02T05:00:00+00:00

TEXAS WOMAN BLUES

“Doom is the House without the Door.”

—EMILY DICKINSON

I

SUGARGIRL’S DADDY

1

Dolores has been living with her aunt and uncle for six months when the letter comes from her father. Everybody can see it’s from him because of the Texas Department of Corrections envelope. Aunt Rhonda hands it to her like it’s some run-over thing off the road, her face all squinched up. Dolores takes it to her room and closes the door.

The letter is written on institutional stationery. The information in the spaces at the top of the page has been provided in a large ball-point scrawl. Further down, the words of the letter stagger in the same unpracticed hand between the hard straight lines of the page.

TEXAS DEPARTMENT OF CORRECTIONS

Date 10/22/66 Inmate No. 1099 Name Buckman stock Unit Ellis To Dolores stock Relation daughter RFD, St or Box No. 380 Bowie ave City Raymondville State Texas

TO THE PERSON RECEIVING THIS LETTER

All inmates’ mail is opened, censored and recorded by OFFICIALS. Inmates may receive not more than three letters a week from any one person on their correspondence and visiting lists. These letters must be limited to two pages. You may use one sheet and write on the front and back if you wish. Please address the inmate by name and number. If these rules are not observed the letter will be returned to the sender …

Dear sugargirl

I’m sorry I have not writen to you untill now. They told me awhile back Hannah past away. I been meaning to write you and tell you how sorry I am but, I have been at a lost for words. I am so sorry sugargirl. I guess you dont believe me but, I loved your moma very much tho I guess I din’t show it too good sometimes. I can’t think of anything to say, to make up for the pain and the heart-ache I caused her, and you too. All I can say is I’m awful sorry. Please try not to think to hard of me sugargirl I know I was’nt much of a daddy or a husband either one. Sometimes I feel like cutting my own throat for the no-count I am. I figgure god’s making me pay back for that more than for what I did to that fella in Houston. I wish I could be with you now, sugargirl taking care of you like a good daddy ought but as you know I got what they call a prior oblagation. (ha ha). I hope your happy and doing good in school. They told me your living with frank and Ronda I’m glad to hear it. I never got to know frank real good for a half-brother but he’s always seemed a good old boy and I guess ronda’s alright too. Be sure and mine them and be a good girl. By the way do you think you could send me a litle money. I’d sure be greatful. I’m always running out of cigs and stuff. Even in this place you got to have some money ain’t that a hoot.

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