Dearest Miss Blue,
I hope you and Fanny are doing well, Miss Blue. It is such a responsibility - the care of the child with such an unfortunate mother. Yes, it is chilling to know the effect it might have on a dear child, waiting for her mother to Dry Up. Do you feed her dark chocolate with raspberry creme filling just before bedtime? I always thought that I would like the treat at bedtime along with stories of the Flower Fairies. Sweet dreams for Fanny. . . .

I do not like the thieving monkey either, Miss Blue. His career has been abolished I know. The Organ Grinder and his Monkey that were once the summer delight of little children were outlawed many years ago and all have suffered because of it. Children loved the monkey with the organ grinder and his music. We ran to our mothers for pennies to toss into the little pillbox type red hat. The monkey held it out to us and then The Organ Grinder would start up the music for the monkey to dance to as we all stood around, clapping our hands in delight. Sometimes we ran home for more money, Indian Pennies we gave up to show our undying love hoping they would be back again to entertain us. With no career the little ring-tailed monkey has taken to thievery. How can we replace such joy, Miss Blue?  And too, the Cracker Jack Box with its metal - not plastic, not paper, but tiny silver and gold metal - replicas of cars and planes and boats, dollies and animals, and all sorts of toys, made our Hearts pound with anticipation whenever We opened the box. . . But the Monkey and the Organ Grinder were Our Theater.  We got to be an audience. That really was the best.

Love,

Pearl, Activist