Dart’s short letter begins with a kind of math problem: If April 1 is the 91st day of the year and this is the 8th day of the year, that leaves 83 more days until Dart is eligible for discharge! However, there’s a slight hitch in this little equation. He could be released from the Navy as soon as that, assuming there are enough men available to take the places of everyone who’s about to be discharged. If there are not enough replacements, the Navy can hold him an additional 90 days. Consequently, he says “I’m doing my best to be of little value to the Navy.”

It’s another beautiful, balmy day in his part of the world, but not as nice as it could be because there was no letter from Dot. He may go into town tonight on liberty. He’s just read a condensed version of “High Barbaree,” by Nordhoff and Hall, the South Seas experts. “It’s a beautiful story, the bringing into words of every man’s dreams of an island paradise with his beloved. The ending of the story shocks the dreamer back into reality and makes the story a tale long-to-be-remembered.”

I love you, my Darling. Like you, I find it hard to describe my longing. It’s a desire to be with you always, to meet your friends and have you meet mine, to enjoy our interests, to share our sorrows, to be a good husband to you forever.”

#     #     #

Dot’s letter is even shorter than Dart’s. She and her roommates have a new pact to be in bed by 11:00, giving her just 5  minutes to send her love. She spent her writing time composing a letter to his folks in order to ease into the conversation about wedding dates.

Judging from Dart’s letter yesterday, his mother must think she had a worse train trip than she actually did. She was only without a seat from Buffalo to Erie, so it wasn’t too bad.

She loves him, but her roommates insist she shut off that light!