My name is Jake Hamilton. But the people around our Amarillo, Texas, neighborhood call me Thelma's Boy. The only reason I can think of for this nickname is me and my mama have always been close. She is my best friend, and I've never doubted her love, even though she can be mighty strict with me sometimes. To give you a better idea about my mama, let me tell you something that happened a while ago that clearly shows what kind of woman my mama is.