Dart  opens his letter with the only thought on his mind. What’s Dot doing? Why hasn’t he heard from her yet? “As I sit here thinking of you and our various (and all too few) dates, I can’t think of anything to say.”

He tells her of long walk around the island with the fellow on the upper level of his bunk. That guy’s name is also Peterson and he happens to be married to a woman named Dorothy. Dart says he’s always liked the names Dorothy, Dottie and Dot.  And now he finds himself with the girl he’s always wanted; a pretty girl with a pretty name who returns the love and affection he has for her.

In his final paragraph he talks about how their romance has gone according to all the best storybooks. He admits to spending countless hours daydreaming about various happily-ever-after endings for them. “But last night I awoke in a cold sweat, gripping the steel sides of my cot in steely terror.  Don’t, oh don’t ever let that terrible dream come true. Dearest Dot, we must live happily ever after. I love you always.”