Love letter to Ree Dolly

Dear Ree,

You’re broke, so you find someone to feed your horse. 

While walking your little brother and sister to school, you give them their words.  

You try to shield your Mama from the Sheriff.  Your mom went crazy trying to get away from this shit.

Your dad, he had to.  If you can’t find your dad, you can’t keep your home. 

Bad-Ass lies to you. You spit at his feet.

Please help me this one time. You plead for help, but no one provides. Instead, they beat the crap out of you — yet you don’t cry.

You are only seventeen — they won’t let you join the army — and you can’t find the body. Off you go in the flat-bottom skiff. They chainsaw your daddy’s hands — you couldn’t do it. Someone flung them up on the porch last night! 

Bread and buttered, you’re a Dolly.

Sweet Pea is right — it’s the perfect name for you!