Dart rushes to get a short note mailed before he meets Jack Blevins for liberty. The schedule has changed again and everyone gets three liberties per week. His and Jack’s schedule overlap two of those.

He’s eager to line his pockets with the “cabbage” he’ll collect from his paycheck this week. He thinks his pay is $14 and he could use it for his train tickets home. How nice that sounds!

Checking with the post office before leaving for town, Dart is thrilled to get two letters from Dot. He’ll answer them tomorrow. For now, he wishes he could tell her how much he loves her from across a dinner table set with Lyric sterling.

What joy! Dot just had a phone call from Dart’s dad, telling her the spectacular news that Dart’s coming home for Christmas! “I’m black and blue from pinching myself to make sure I’m awake. Can it be that in just five days I’ll see you? That I’ll be able to say to you personally what I’ve been trying to write ever since you went back?” Do you think she’s excited?

It will be impossible to think or sleep or study now that she knows Dart is on his way, but she doesn’t care about any of that. Of course she won’t leave on Friday! She’ll stay in Cleveland until Sunday night, so they’ll have more time together. They must resolve not to sleep any more than is absolutely necessary during their time together. She’s torn between wanting to stay with him the whole time and going home to be with family. She wants to see Gordon in his civvies. Oh, why does she have to live in Connecticut?

There’s so much excitement in her house today. Just as she and Joyce returned from ushering, Joyce had an appendicitis attack. The hospital isn’t sure if she’ll be able to travel home if they need to operate! She already had her plane ticket to Nashville and was so eager to see her family. Poor kid.

When Dot got back from taking Joyce to the hospital, she was met by Erla who asked what to do for a fainting spell. Before Dot could answer, Erla collapsed into her arms. Dot got her to her room, where Erla proceeded to lose everything she’s eaten in the last six months! Dot suspects the gas heaters they all use,and turned them all off.

She tells Dart she loves him, and if he doesn’t believe her, she’ll tell him to his face on Friday night!