Dart’s letter is a long six pages because he has so much to write about, plus he must answer five letters that arrived today from his favorite girl. “There’s much in your letters to which an immediate reply is necessary, for letters are quite perishable items.” (To that, I would add, the window for meaningful replies may be small, but their value as family artifacts is quite enduring.)
First, Frank Steinbruegge, who was reported killed in action is very much alive! Newspapers failed to print a correction when the War department sent out the announcement of its error. He wasn’t even wounded! Now, that the war in Europe is over, he’s on his way to the South Pacific, without even any leave. “Truly a miracle. He didn’t play his aces after all!”
More good news! A call came to the Haggard today for enlistees into the V-12 unit. Dart inquired about his eligibility if he applied as a deck officer instead of an engineer. The man in charge said his chances were very good. There’s one small hitch, however – he’s 15 shy of the required number of sea duty days and must wait until fall to apply.
He just received word that Burke is in the Navy, awaiting a call. If he gets through boot camp and then completes his specialty school, there’s a very good chance he’ll still be in the USA when the war against Japan is over. Dart’s relieved he wasn’t drafted by the Army.
There’s also word from home that John Angel and Sally Brown are to be married this month.
In spite of his tall tale in a recent letter about gambling with the boys, Dart affirms that he has not, nor will he ever, take up gambling in any form. Neither will he ever join the US Navy regulars, as he had joked about. “It won’t happen as long as I’m sober, and I don’t drink.”
He’s glad Dot liked the snapshot he sent of himself and he’s thrilled with the graduation photo of her. “I’m looking forward to when we can have some more taken together.”
“I wish I hadn’t said what I did, or hadn’t believed the stuff I did about the Cadet Nurse Corps. I know enough now, I hope, to keep my big pen still on things I don’t have the straight dope on.”
He reveals that a big wish of his is to replay the scene at the top of the stairs at Dot’s house, over and over again. How she surprised him that night with her ardor, but what a pleasant surprise it was. The other staircase scene at his house is another favorite he’d like another chance to play. He wonders how many times he kissed her after she told him then that he needn’t ask for permission to do so again because she had no intention of ever kissing anyone else. “Incidents like that occur only once – the first time. After that, there are other memorable firsts, too. Dot Darling, I’m so lonesome for you!”
He writes a beautiful paragraph about the same car ride Dot recalled in a recent letter.”That was a Heavenly ride, Angel. The streets were paved with gold and pearls, and there were ethereal choruses singing beautiful music in our ears. After we’re a few years older, the endless-seeming period until we can do that again, and always, will seem very short. But while we’re living through our months of waiting, it will seem an eternity. I was so very much in love with you that night (and was before, and still am) that I was afraid to stop the car and tell you. Boy, was I a silly-feeling sailor when the car stopped by itself, and gave me a chance.”
He reports that his job in the mess is getting better. He’s learned how to get along with the boys who work there, so it’s all okay.
He enjoyed the article about her father printed in Readers Digest. He wonders if the June issue will ever make it to him.
He wishes Dot could take up his mother’s offer to visit them in Cleveland. He knows they’ll be very lonely once Burke leaves home. Before signing off, he tells her that he still is getting new ideas for their house plan. Also, he does understand what she means about loving someone so very much. “I’m learning that by experience, and it’s wonderful, even though it’s marred by time and distance.”
Since Dot arrived in Pittsfield, Massachusetts at 2:00 this afternoon, she has washed an entire set of dishes, mowed her aunt’s lawn, walked a mile and a half to do some shopping, visited some old friends she knew when she lived here 17 years ago, and seen a Sonja Henie movie called “It’s a Pleasure.” Phew! She’s squeezing an entire vacation into one day.
“Tomorrow we’re going to Hinsdale, 10 miles away, to spend the rest of our time with Aunt Num (Uncle Carl’s widow) and her ‘brood.’ That’s when I’ll see Waddy, and believe me, I’ll be thinking of you the whole time. Everyone’s who’s seen your picture today, before I mentioned anything about it, asked me if it was Waddy. See, I’m not the only one who thinks you look like him.”
The movie today had no plot but it was filmed in Technicolor, and Dot could watch Sonja skate for hours. Sonja and her husband are “neighbors” of Dot’s in Greenwich.
She’d like to write more, but she’s sharing a bedroom with an elderly woman who drove her and Ruth up here, and that nice lady would like to get some sleep.
