Today Dart is responding to Dot’s letter in which she expressed concern that Fred would judge her harshly from her letter to him. She was self-conscience about her grammar and spelling when he is such a master of the craft of writing.
Dart says, “Fred realizes many things, among which is the fact that not all people have the elusive aptitudes which provide good spelling and grammar. As for me, I’ve never found a bit of fault with your grammar, and when you do misspell a word, you do it exactly as I would if I were doing the spelling of the word for the first time. You spell the words the way they’re pronounced by most people, which appears to me to be a most sensible way of spelling.”
How I love that smooth and gracious way he has of reassuring her! He’s right, of course, that an aptitude for the mechanics of language is elusive, and, I would suggest, even random. And he’s giving a nod to one of her most appealing traits – her sensibility. While some men may use their silver tongues and glib manner to seduce or persuade, Dart uses his gifts in a kind and supportive effort.
He’s sorry she doesn’t feel free to join her family in the occasional ice cream eating spree. “You know, I never have to be afraid I’ll gain weight. I guess the only place I’ll ever be fat is in the head. At least I know they call me ‘fathead’ already.” Once again, he gently brushes her insecurities away, making her perceived overweight just the flip side of his skinniness, and poking fun at himself in the process.
He assures her that he’s thought several times about fulfulling her request to write to Nancy, but he hasn’t taken the time. He will not forget, though, and he’ll write to her eventually. He also says his mind is perfectly at ease about the WAVES, except for what may happen to him as a result of what he wrote to Dot. (That offense of “discouraging enlistment in a time of war” thing may still be hanging over his head.
Recalling Dot’s story of Nancy dreaming about him, her says “Boy! When you even have your girl friends dreaming about me, things have really come to a great finale. Let ’em dream, though. I still dream only of you, and the time when Nancy’s and your dreams can come true.”
He tells her that he believes their few precious days together were only a prelude for things to come, “much as the overture to a beautiful opera contains the strains which give hints to the music in the main story. …The war cannot last forever. When it’s over, we can finish our plans and live out that melody which was suggested by our few visits.”
“Goodnight, Dear Dot. I love you always. I wish I could say more, but that’s the simplest, most direct way I could tell you of the feelings I have for you every wakeful hour, every fitful turn I make at night, every time I dream. The words I hope and trust will never die: I love you, Dot.”
And that’s how you write a love letter.
