Dart feels guilty about all the unanswered letters on his desk from people other than Dot. The only one he is inspired to write to is her.
Hi-Y was uneventful tonight. He came straight home and worked on his yellow railroad car in the basement for awhile. He thinks it runs a little more smoothly and quietly now.
While he was at the bank today he picked up a stack of penny rollers. Maybe if they ever get to $100 in pennies, they should open a joint account with it. He suggests this in spite of his superstitions about open joint accounts, buying joint war bonds, or monogramming linens prior to marriage.
He tells a long and bitter story about his trip to the unclaimed freight store to buy paint for the kitchen. “As luck would have it, there was no more of the inexpensive crap, so I rashly bought a gallon of some stuff that must be mixed with platinum. I also got for Mom and Pop’s anniversary a big set of earthenware dishes; large and small roasters, mixing bowls and a pitcher. They were looking at it the other day and the price they were quoted was $5 higher than the price I paid for it today. So my enthusiasm over bringing home the gift was considerably dampened by Pop’s over-done rebuke at paying so much for the paint.. ” His father severely lambasted Dart for spending so much money on the only paint in the store, in the process saying some things that hurt Dart deeply. The crockery is stashed in the basement where it will remain until their anniversary next month.
The father’s rampage must have made quite an impression on his son, for Dart can’t seem to let it drop. He tells Dot she would have seen what it looks like when he loses his temper, if she’d been there today, because he was extremely angry at his father’s histrionics. He was criticized for the way he spends his folks’ money (even though it was his own money that paid for the paint today.) Dart refrained from telling his father that, even at $4.95 a gallon, his paint was less expensive than the stuff they used on the ceiling, which Pop had bought by the quart. This nasty scrap has spoiled his excitement about the gift he bought.
Earlier in the day, Dart explored the Flats today. (An industrial area of Cleveland next to Lake Erie.) He remarks how quiet it was with no coal available to run the factories and railroads. He launches into a lecture about the state of the nation when one man – John L. – the leader of some powerful labor union, can bring a mighty nation to her knees. He rants for a few pages about civilization breaking down, people starving in Europe, the ineffective Congress which seems unable to pass effective legislation that will keep greedy union leaders from bankrupting the country, etc. After finally venting all his steam, returns his focus to Dot.
How glad he is that her boss was so gracious about her taking the weekend off, and that she still has a job. He may take her up on the invitation to eat at Robin Hood when he comes to Kent this weekend. He doubts Homer will join him, but that’s fine. All he’s concerned about is spending as much time with his beloved as he can.
“My mouth waters, my chest feels tight, and I throb all over when I think of our kisses and our embraces Saturday and Sunday nights. I liked that walk with you Saturday. I wish Mom hadn’t beaten you into waking me Sunday night. Let’s make it a point to kiss again occasionally. Gee-golly, I love you.”
# # #
Dot observes that today marks one year since VE Day. Then she comments that more of her midterms are over, and when they are graded, her college career will be over, too. As hard as she studied, she’s sure she’ll get no better than a C in biology and a D in history. The only bright spot is that her typing teacher told her that if she keeps up, she’ll get an A in that class. Today, she typed 44 wpm with no errors. “I’m really surprised at myself, ‘cuz I don’t strike me as one who would ever learn to type.”
She doesn’t know a thing about houses or investments, but she likes the sound of the idea put forth by Dart’s parents about buying a rental property. “As one who has earned A’s in English just by knowing when things sounded right, I’d say that an idea that sounds good must have some merit. She’s so proud when Dart uses terms like “we” and “our” when talking about future plans. It makes their relationship feel more like a partnership than some she’s seen, and she likes that a lot!
It sounds to her as if the kitchen at his place will look mighty spiffy when he and his dad are finished with it. That gave her a swell idea – why doesn’t he return with her to Greenwich this summer and work for her father? He always says that good painters are hard to find.
Toni Gale has the mumps, but is not too bothered by them. Many of her little friends are also afflicted, so they get to play together in their confinement. Dot sent her a card telling her she’s smart to get them out of the way before she’s 20.
Her mother has landed her a seasonal job with the town recreation board, starting in June. If only she planned to stay at home this summer instead of going to summer school, she’d be in the money. As it is, she’s the only girl in her house with plans to attend classes this summer, even though all of them had initially said they would. Dot says she needs to meet new people who can make up their minds.
For now, she just needs sleep.