Dart begins this otherwise hand-written letter by typing a rebellious paragraph at the top of the page. Although he’s not supposed to know where all the letters are on the keys, he’s sick and tired of typing jug rug jar hug rug jig that he’s going mad. He decided to break out and try his skills at some of the other letters. Let’s just say he needs to keep practicing.
He continues his rant against typing in longhand. Not only is the 90 minutes of practice each day perfect for creating writer’s cramp, but they must turn in the results of their cramping in class the next day, signed, dated and time-stamped! He resents the real typists in the class who go so fast that the neophytes have no chance of looking good. The teacher burns him up, too. She keeps shouting “Faster, faster,” but when he gets to typing l-o-l very fast, she starts calling out a different set of letters, at a different cadence. It’s enough to drive a poor boy around the bend.
“There are radicals in our political science class. Always trying to twist the teacher’s words and meanings. Dirty, I say. He’s a lecturer, philosophizer, an explainer, an impartial reporter of facts and beliefs in government, So far, so good.”
“Psychology’s a little different. It’s supposed to be elementary. The course is, but some in it are not. They keep trying to lead the boss-man on, getting him to discuss subjects they’ve already (it seems) had in advanced psychology. ”
Today he managed to stick to his schedule. His bedtime was supposed to be 11:30 and it’s now 11:26. His homework is done, including two hours of typing, and he has this good start on a letter. His psych work tonight was a hum-dinger! The chapter was on the development of the nervous system, including everything from protoplasm to occipital lobes. He’s impressed with the text book, however, and the instructor seems alright, too. “My opinions of the teachers will change. They always do.”
Last week, he was lonely because Dot was at Aunt Marj’s. Now he’s even worse, because she’s farther away and gone for a long time. He’s begun to train himself not to look at or think about things that will make him lonelier: an amorous couple walking, things he and Dot have done, things they wanted to do, but didn’t get to. “Not a romantic way of looking at life, to be sure, but it seems I must devote plenty of energy to keeping my mind on the adjustment from a lazy, happy lover, to a perspiring, rushing, down-on-the-world student.”
“Good night, Dot. I really do love you, even though this letter gives little evidence of my deep and insatiable affection for you.”
# # #
Dot’s day was eventful in several ways. First, there was the family birthday dinner, marking the end of her teenage years. Since nearly everyone thought she was going to be in Cleveland, much of the extended family had made other plans, so it was a hurry-up-and-eat kind of night. Still, she and El had lots of fun talking about Sunapee while they did the dishes. Arthur has said the kids could use his car for their September visit to the lake, if it’s still running by then.
She got her first job offer this morning when Mrs. Miller asked her to live at the house and care for her three young boys for $22.50 a week. Her family would prefer she live at home and take a job more suited to her experience and education. She agrees, but it’s nice to have a fall back position if nothing else turns up. She was also offered her old job back at Franklin-Simons, but that doesn’t thrill her at all. She really wants to start work by Monday, so she can’t be too choosy.
She and her mother had a long talk about Kent this evening. Ruth doesn’t think Dot should return there in the fall, attending a smaller local college instead. Everyone’s very enthusiastic about the kids getting married a year from this month, but somehow think that would be more likely if Dot stayed in Connecticut until then.
She visited her cousin Janie who has been home for two weeks. She’ll either tutor this summer, or loaf. “Nobody around here seems a bit eager to get to work, but then, they haven’t found a wonderful man like you that they want to marry in less than a year.”
For her birthday, her father gave her an Eversharp repeater pencil like the one Dart gave her. She likes them so much that she’s decided to keep them both. She also got an alarm clock, a dress, a necklace, and an invitation to dinner and a movie.
Tonight she and El drove over the the Humpty Dumpty – the hamburger joint she’s told him about. What burgers! That’s another thing on the list of place to show Dart when he comes to Greenwich.
Because she intends to get an early start on job-hunting tomorrow, she wants to get an early start on sleep tonight. “I always thought it would be impossible to depend on anyone as much as I depend on you. Gee, but I miss you!” The she adds, “Don’t forget the 3. you promised me.” Could she be referring to a grade point average?