Dart is heading into finals week feeling ill-prepared. His best intentions to study all day Sunday were derailed by a series of unexpected visitors.

First came his cousin Jessie, her husband Bill and their four young children. Dart has a sweet spot in his heart for all of these kids – from the baby Billy, to shy Sue, the pixie Lynn, and the young lady Jean.

Later, Edie and Mrs. Barlow stopped by and stayed for a long visit. Although it had its disadvantages, it must have been nice to live in an era when folks would stop by, unannounced, for a friendly chat. I remember that happening a few times when I was a very young child and it always added a sense of surprise and adventure to an otherwise predictable day.

This morning, things at the Peterson apartment got complicated. It seems that Dart had mentioned to Dr. Singer yesterday that his father had mentioned that he might be willing to be admitted to Crile VA hospital. Well, Dr. Singer came by the house early this morning to check on Dart, Sr. and announced that he had made arrangements for the patient to go to Crile. “Boy, what a scene! It gave Dr. Singer a good chance to see Pop’s mental attitude, though – far better than we could have described it to him. The doc gave us until noon to decide.”

About 11:30, Pop decided that he would go to the hospital, but his attitude was still very hostile. Dart and his mother felt that they had to take a chance of getting him the help he needs, and today he seemed strong enough to take the blow, so they packed him up and set off across town.

“By the time we left him in his ward at the hospital, he was more cheerful and better disposed toward life than he’s been for quite a while. … Now, in addition to treatment for his present condition, he’ll probably get treatment for what else ails him, plus a chance to change the mental outlook which helped to bring on all this trouble.”  Dart’s big hope now is that his father will be well enough to leave the hospital for the wedding in June! My, I should certainly hope he won’t be in there anywhere nearly that long!

He enjoyed Dot’s letter describing all her new clothes. He tells her that he’s always liked her taste in clothing and these recent acquisitions serve to further his admiration.

He’s looking forward to hearing her plans for the large double wedding of theirs. He’d love to answer several of her letters tonight, but Spanish and journalism have a bigger command of his time.  That can’t stop him from thinking, however, that one week ago tonight he was just getting home from putting her on the train headed east. He misses her more than he can bear.

On the back page of this letter, Dart draws a large cartoon. It shows a tiny man cowering in the shadows of four huge, hovering vultures. The vultures are named “Spanish,” “Journalism,” “Industry,” and “English.”  Squeezed in behind them is a big smiling angel named “Prose Workshop.” Above the whole scene is a dark rain cloud labeled “Sleep.” The poor man is haunted by his studies.