Dart is mildly miffed at his poli sci professor. More than two weeks after their last test, and the day before the final exam, Dr. Heckman will finally reveal the scores from the previous test. Today, he also told the class that he was moving the final exam from Friday to Thursday! That blows Dart’s study schedule to smithereens, but he must grudgingly muddle through.
He got his terminal leave check for $45 dollars today. Twenty of it went into the bank. Then a dental appointment (two fillings and a teeth-cleaning) set him back $6.00. His insurance premium of $6.50 is due, and he must pay his fare to Greenwich out of the rest. “Golly – what’ll I have left to live on?”
Finally, a letter from Dot came today. He wonders what folks have been saying about the perils of being a telephone operator. “It’s a common shortcoming of us earthly mortals that we can offer bushels and bushels of negative advice, but fall far short of our quota in the positive stuff.” He tells her that people in Cleveland are screaming, pleading for typists, “but they pay so little, expect so much, and are so prosaic, that I can’t see much future in that.”
He’s certainly looking forward to a preview of those ways she’ll show him how much she loves him! With that thought, he wishes her good night.
But wait! There’s another letter, written just after he sealed this one. He suggests that when Dot comes to meet him at Grand Central Station, she bring enough money to pay for her fare to Ohio. That way, they can be assured of seats on the Empire State Express for September 19th. He also reminds her that his inbound train will reach NYC at 8:50 a.m. “Railroad” time, which is 9:50 a.m. New York time. Hmmmmm – I’d never heard of “railroad” time before.
# # #
Dot thinks this may be the last time she writes to him before he leaves to come east. If she has time tomorrow, she’ll dash off a quick one and send it air mail so he’ll have something to console him after his exams. She knows him well enough to understand that he’s always a little glum after big tests – that is, until his score is revealed.
Her family came back from Sunapee late last night, bringing with them big plans for how she, Dart and El will spend their vacation. They also brought big news: the owner of the neighboring cottage has decided to sell – and the Chamberlains have decided they’ll try to buy it. That means that among the 33 adult family members having an interest in Bonnie Neuk, they must, by October 1, raise $18,000 in cash! That’s a princely sum for a bit of rocky land with a tiny, one-room cabin sitting on it. But, in order to preserve some control over who their neighbors are, and in an effort to accommodate a growing family, it is a wise decision for the Chamberlains. Dot’s only hope is that the rest of the family is not as strapped for cash as she is!
“Now, here’s where you come in. There’s a crude cottage on the property that we hope, someday, to make into a livable dwelling at a comparatively low cost. Dad thought you would be a good one to give some ideas about possible additions that could be made. He’s looked over the sketches you made of our ‘dream house’ and likes your ideas a great deal. He doesn’t expect anything elaborate, but if you’d like to look it over, he’d like to have your opinion.”
He must tell Burke that it’s nearly imperative that he come, too. While Dart is designing the new cottage, Burke can chop a cord or two of wood, varnish the canoe, build a stone dock… why, there are so many projects he could choose from!
Now comes the bad news – She will be unable to meet his train at Grand Central Station Saturday morning. Her mother made an appointment for her with Dr. Howgate at 9:00 a.m. It’s the only time he could fit her in before she goes to Ohio, and she really needs to see him. If Dart calls collect when he arrives in NYC to let the family know what train he’s taking to Greenwich, she hopes she’ll be able to meet him there. If not her, then some other Chamberlain will serve as the welcoming party. “I’m so mad about the situation I could spit.”
She loves him and can’t wait to see him soon!