Richard, the paperboy from The Red Scarf, Sept. 1944

Y’all just hold still for a minute ‘cause I’ve got some stuff to tell you that’ll just knock your socks off. You see, I’ve been asked to talk about some of the things that happened to me when I was just a little 11 year old kid. I guess, since I was just 11 and kinda dumb, you could understand how I got in trouble with all the stuff me and my best friend, John Clayton Reed did. Well, I’m 12 now so that’s old hat…your know, being 12 means I’m a way bunch smarter, and I can dodge them messes…uh, maybe. But heck, I ain’t even told you who I am, have I? Naw, I guess I was so excited about just blabbing off that I forgot. I’m Richard Mason and I’ve just been promoted to the 6th grade at Norphlet Elementary. Uh, well, wait a minute. Shoot, y’all don’t have no idea in the world where Norphlet is do you. Didn’t think so. Well, it’s way, way, down in south Arkansas near the big town of El Dorado. Ain’t but 650 folks left, but being the paperboy, I know every one of ‘em.
First off, let me tell you just a little about what’s been going on in our little old town. Well, course, mostly it’s the danged war…you know…we’re doing everything we can to help whip them sorry Germans and Japs. Heck, me and my friends done won a big scrap iron drive, and I got a kiss from Connie…uh, wait a minute. Y’all don’t get no ideas, me and Connie is just friends…good friends. Uh, just a dad gum minute. I done run outta time. I’ll tell you some more stuff about me tomorrow.