Dear Diary,

I have horrible news; I had a miscarriage with my first child. I took it for granted because all I did was ride horses, I feel so stupid I should have took good care of myself. Then I had my first beautiful baby girl name Velma. After a couple of months I had another girl named Elma, but poor Elma died because she was sick. Now I finally had the baby boy I wanted named James. After a couple of months later things had gotten worse. My husband’s cousin Joe Lee (known as a thief) supposedly stole from Addie B. and took her turkeys. Mr. Edd had gotten mad and came to my house asking if I knew where Joe Lee was and I told him that I didn't know, supposedly he sneaked into my house and I didn't know so they barged in my house waking up the kids and chased Joe Lee out to the back. I was scared for him. When George came home I told him about what happened with his cousin. He was shocked that Joe Lee would do such a thing. Later that day Mr. Edd found out that Addie B.’s turkeys just roamed out to the forest, so he didn’t need to beat Joe Lee. That’s when George told me he wants to move to Chicago.

                                                                                                                -         Sincerely

Ida Mae

Dear Diary,

                All of this is too much for me; taking care of the kids, cleaning, cooking, planting out back, picking cotton, & being a wife.  I just need a break from all of this, I’m too young. Making money out here is ridiculous, 100 pounds of cotton is just 50 cents & only 70 cotton dolls equals a pound, so me & George have to wake up at dawn and try our best to pick 7,000 cotton dolls. But through the mist of it at least the family and I are staying strong.