Dear Sam, we’ve been thinking about you a lot lately.    Been a rough week back home and we’ve all been praying a lot.   Unfortunately, despite our earnest efforts we got ripped off again.   Pop says we were screwed, and Mom knocked him in the shins for cussin’.   I know what you are thinking, and you’re right, you were right the last time, it seems we never learn.   I can remember well the lessons you taught us when Social Studies were still permitted in school.   Seems like a long time ago now.

Sam, things are so different now.   I just don’t know how or why it all changed.  I know there are good grown up people somewhere, but for some reason we just can’t seem to get them polishing the brass rails in the beautiful home you built for us.   It just seems like too much work for them, and I’d be fibbing if I said anyone had figured out a way to get them motivated.   Most of the time we hear them grumble about it not being their job.
Today the grownup boys and some girls got together and decided to spend another $2 Trillion.    We found out not too long ago that a Trillion is the number that comes after a billion.   The new President told us all about it.   I Guess to some people it’s just a word without much meaning, but not Mom and Dad.  It makes their faces red.  That two-bits you used to give us is not even worth a nickel anymore.   I think the worst part of the grownups decision was their refusal to take out the garbage or do any chores before they went and spent an allowance they didn’t earn.   That ain’t right.  But, for some reason people just can’t seem to get them to work before they get their allowance.  It’s really weird, and I can’t really explain it too good.
Mom is really worried, and Dad just cannot even look at us without tears showing up in his eyes.   It’s sad around here and I wish your knee was available to cuddle up to again like in the olden days.    Things are real fast now, real fast.   Remember that story you told us of the Scorpion and The Frog?   I heard Dad telling it to Mr Wilson yesterday only he used the President as the Scorpion and us as the frog.  They both looked really mad that we were going to get stung, and even if they worked real hard they wouldn’t be able to stop it.   I tried to tell Dad over dinner that it was going to be OK, but I could tell his smile was only just trying to make us feel better, his heart was not smiling.
I’m gonna work extra hard to keep up with chores and try to get the laundry done before Mom wakes up.  But, I gotta be careful because sometimes she gets to crying when we do stuff like that.    Mom and Dad want us to play more and be kids I guess, but it’s tough when we worry about them.  I know it aint supposed to be that way, but they ain’t real good at hiding the worry.  They try, but we can still see it.
There is a lady named Sarah that makes them smile though.  She must be really important or something cause they sure do pray for her a lot.    It seems that she might come and visit or something because I heard them talking about her looking out for us.   She must be really busy doing stuff for people cause I even heard the Sunday School teacher talking about her.
Well, we miss you and I gotta go say my prayers now.   Write back soon.