Near Sevierville, Tennessee, August 29, 2009, 5:12 p.m.~

Dear Journal~

Figgered an update was high on my list, so here goes.  It's me, Copper Penny Morgan.  I'm now 12 years old; I am the second oldest of eight kids (one older, and five young'uns; they're younger'n me).  The littlest one is only a year old; he's just a li'l squirt.  I live here with my mama and papa.

I am still singin', wishin' I could sing on the stage of the Grand Ole Opry, which is world famous.  My favorite singers are Loretta Lynn and Dolly Parton; Loretta, though, remains my top choice, the one I'd much rather listen to.

I am goin' to be startin' sixth grade in a fwe weeks; am not lookin' forward to school because I shot up; I'm just about as tall as my mama now.  I also have breasts; I don't want no yucky, buggy boy lookin' at me there or tryin' to feel me up; that's nasty!  That's somethin' only grownups should do, not kids!!

I might try out for basketball; if the boys say stuff about my body, I just might hide in the woods or hide in the outhouse.  My body's ugly:  skinny as a post, and no meat whatsoever on my bones.  And freckle city; I have freckles just about everywhere on my body.  It's embarrassin'!!

I also have this flame-red hair that's wooly-frizzy, out of control; no matter what I put on it or how many times I wash it or try to fix it, it never stays the away I want:  it has its own path to take, and it's very aggravatin'!!

It's no wonder my parents named me Copper Penny.  That's a right perfect description of me.

The weather here in Eastern Tennessee has been rainy a lot lately; we even had floods, but thank God they receded; we did have a big mess to clean up, though.  I was not amused; I wanted to play with my friends, not spend my time cleaning!!

Well, I know this isn't much, but mama, she made turnip greens and ham for supper; that's one of my very favorites.  I will write in here again another day; until then, this is Copper Morgan saying bye!  God bless!

~Love, your friend, Copper Penny Morgan.  :)