Dart writes this short letter before going out on liberty. It may be his last chance to visit the East Bay Model Engineer’s layout, and who could pass up an opportunity like that?
He spent the day doing lots of laundry and general cleaning of his gear. He’s been enjoying the wrist watch he picked up while in Cleveland and is already regretting that he’ll have to send it back home before he ships out. Apparently, salt air has a way with steel.
He’s tickled that both of them were wishing, possibly at the same time, that they were on the same train, moving together rather than farther apart. He confirms that he appreciated the fact she and his mother didn’t cry at the station. The best thing for him was when he looked back over his shoulder and saw Dot and his parents smiling at something together. He dared not look again, for fear he wouldn’t see her smile.
He muses that his parents must be a little sad, knowing that when he gets back from the war he won’t be spending that many more nights under their roof. Still, they’re grateful that he’s fallen in love with a girl who is so much their ideal for him.
He certainly noticed her weight loss and thinks she looks even prettier than before, which he didn’t think was possible. He wasn’t sure if it was polite to mention it, but realizes now he guessed wrong. “It’s a very pleasing appearance you put up, Dot.”
Dot begins her letter while at work in the store. There are no customers to be found, and she says that’s Roosevelt’s fault – the Republicans are staying home and holding onto their money before he takes it all away. She then goes into a stupid FDR joke not worth repeating. She can be pretty touchy if someone teases her about her political views, but she’s not so sensitive of others, I’d say. I doubt Dart will mind much, though. In his eyes, she can do no wrong.
Hours later, she resumes her letter, still in the deserted store. To pass the time sales clerks have been doing sketches of plaster scenes in the store windows. She includes her drawing of two angels holding lambs. As she says, “Guess I hadn’t better take art as a means of support. I’d starve within a week.” I’ll let you be the judge when you see her sketch below.
