Here’s a short letter from a tired Dart. He was picked for galley duty today, requiring him to stand from 8:00 AM until 6:30 PM, except for his own lunch and dinner times. He also was on duty for all four mail calls of the day so he doesn’t know if he received any letters. His assignment in the galley was to guard the coats of the men serving in the chow line. The only good thing about that task was that he’s not required to wear his whites, so they’ll stay cleaner.
He got a letter from Pop yesterday saying that he and Mom missed having Dart and Dot around. The place doesn’t feel the same without Dot. They seem to be quite fond of her.
He had great fun at the model railroad club the night before, after his two-hour bus ride into Oakland – even got to operate some of the trains in their giant layout. Sometime he’d like to build an engine that works better than the one he showed Dot while in Cleveland.
The leave was so short that he hasn’t yet awaken from the daze he was in being with Dot. In fact, he says, he hasn’t been out of his daze since he fell in love with her. But now, he’s too tired for inspiration, so he must get to bed.
Dot spent the evening making an apron and some potholders for Dart’s mother, so there’s not much time to write. Besides, there isn’t much to respond to from his note that arrived today.
Was it gentle chiding when she commented that if Shoemaker is as bad as he claims, the South Pacific should seem like Utopia? She doubts the guys who are there would think so.
She hopes her letters have arrived by now. She’s sent one every day since she last saw him. He may not think she knows how much a letter can mean, and her surroundings are, no doubt, better than his, but his letters mean as much to her as hers do to him. She’s babysitting at the Miller’s tomorrow night, so if she can think of more news, he may get a long one from there.
It seems like she’s been so much more dedicated to writing since she moved back home and cut down to only one job. She’s making a valiant effort to keep a certain sailor’s morale up.
