Dot begins her first of two letters today while on the train into NYC. Janie came with her so they could have some fun in the city after Dot’s tests.
These two cousins went to Choral Club last night and sang themselves hoarse. The December concert will include Brahams’ “Requiem,” so there’s a lot for them to learn. By the time they got home, with so much to do before coming to New York today, there was no time for Dot to write her letter to Dart. She spent the night at Jane’s house again, prompting her Uncle Ralph to threaten that she’ll have to start paying room and board pretty soon.
She was so happy to get Dart’s letter yesterday, although she eagerly awaits the time when there won’t be any need for letters. She had almost no sleep as she lay in bed, imagining all the details of their wedding. She hopes that doesn’t keep up until next June, or she’ll be so exhausted she’ll sleep right through the ceremony!
She’s sorry he had to drop photography, but he’ll have another crack at it later on. She’s made the same kind of scheduling errors several times and knows how frustrating that can be.
Her trunk of belongings arrived from Kent yesterday. There was no one home when the man from the shipping company delivered it. How’s this for a sign of the old times in a small town: The delivery guy found that the house was unlocked, so he deposited the trunk in the front hall. While there, he noticed her father’s photo on the piano and recognized him as the man who runs the “Fix-it Shop,” so he stopped by the shop to collect his fee from Arthur.
With the train about to pull into Grand Central Station, Dot must stop this. She sincerely hopes she does well enough to get a telephone operator job. She doesn’t like being a “lady of leisure.”
Later that night, she wrote again to bring Dart up to date on her day. What a day it was. Jane waited for Dot during the testing process which ended up going from 9:45 until 2:45. Tests included personality, psychological, vocabulary, math and practical. “I was a nervous wreck when I finished them. Everything was timed and had to be done very rapidly. They graded my tests and when they found I had passed, they sent me upstairs for my medical. That took ages, and I’m still not through with it. I have to return to New York on Friday to get the results of my TB and X-rays. If they’re OK, I must sign payroll papers, etc. So it looks pretty much as though I’ll be a telephone operator soon.”
By the time she was done, there was no time for a movie or anything else because she and Jane had to get back to Greenwich for their shorthand class. They’re both crazy about the class and think it’ll do them a lot of good – if it continues. There are supposed to be at least 10 in the class, but only 6 signed up, so they’re awaiting a decision on whether or not it will continue. Meanwhile, she practiced what she’s learned so far by writing the opening lines of a business letter in this letter to Dart.
She’s awfully glad he decided to join the Congregational Church. She’s especially fond of Mr. Kershner and thinks he’s one of the best ministers she’s ever met. She’s going to try and find time to write to him.
She hopes Dart will get some kind of job soon because she knows how much it will mean to him to be able to contribute something to the household.
While she writes this, she’s listening to the Fred Waring Show, wishing Dart were listening beside her. They’re playing the very beautiful 1st Symphony in C Minor by Brahams.
As she mentioned before, she’s hoping to find a second-hand typewriter so she can at least get good enough to be a helpful secretary for Dart.
“I’m going to have to quit now before my fingers freeze. It’s colder than Lake Sunapee before breakfast in my room. I’m wearing my flannel pj’s, have my coat on and I’m under the covers, but my fingers are like chunks of ice. ”
She’s enclosing El’s vacation photos so he can pick the ones he wants. Also, she’ll send her roll to him after she picks it up tomorrow from the camera store.
“Good night, my Dearest Dart. I love you for everything you are, for all you’ve made me be, and for keeping me from being a kind of person you’d soon grow to despise.”