“At the risk of establishing a precedent,
I take my pen in hand! About detasseling,
we are letting out most of the boys but
keeping on 7 or 8. They are older this year,
high school seniors. The corn has come out
all at once and we are getting it detasseled
cheaper and better than usual. There is
nothing new of course, things happen
every day. You heard about the skunks
getting descented and then having them
get out the same night they got home?
The standing order is to have the men
chase any skunk they see, but it is
difficult when they are fast as lightning
and nippy with their teeth. It will be nice
to have you home again. We must move
a corn crib. Shall we wait until you can
participate in the great rat hunt? Or
doesn’t that type of mayhem appeal?
Love,
Daddy.”
2026 Jacqueline Jackson
This article appears in August 13-19, 2026.
