August 24, 694

Vanyu Darshahan, [blot] Myremexia

My dear Gaja,

I still feel so funny writing "Myrmexia" after writing "Atanaxus" all these years. I always end up having the "A" written before having to stop.

I was so pleased when your last letter arrived. Your father & I sat down to read it that very night. We were glad your band had that "gig" in the new city of New Anlir. We've heard about it even down here! The town, not your "gig," I am sorry to say. We also really liked your drawing of that famous bridge!

We are doing quite well. The store is doing better business now than it ever did, especially now that the Khashitriyas have a place in the hexocracy. Your father and I gave their campaign some money. He was very proud of their achievements, and we both felt this change was for the better.

Have you seen one of these new "phonographs"? You put a disc of some sort on them (not like one of those discs the people in Afet use, the gold ones, but big crackly black ones) & wind a crank. When the crank is wound, it rolls back & sounds come out of the big cone on it. Some gnome invented it in Akazad a few years ago, & your father's friend Gazu (you know old Gazu, he bounced you on his knee when you were a baby), he bought one off the railroad company. He only has one disc, though, which plays railroad directions. Still, Ushy [GM's Note: Her pet name for your brother.] was amazed by it & immediately began saving up to buy one for himself. He asked Mister Gazu to ask the railroad if they had any others they were getting rid of.

Speaking of Ushy, he begun toying with your father's old sitar. Maybe one day he'll join you in your band! Wouldn't that be neat?

There's not much more going on down here. Your father got a good deal on summer [GM's note: they're in the southern hemisphere, so summer is about to start for them.] hams, so the store is well stocked for this season. We think the Atanaxans (it's weird, we're no longer Atanaxus, but the "arthropodals" are still called that) will like our meat stores, since it's no longer legal to eat people. Your father says he's going to up the price by 20%!

I hope you're doing well. I've included a new cloak I knitted since it's winter time up there.

Love & kisses,

Banu Gamini (Mom)

P.S. We think the delivery service you had send us your last letter must have dropped it. The envelope looked like it had been torn & resealed.