A quick note from Dart brings s couple of perks, including a clipping from the East Cleveland Leader that Dart suggests might be good material for Dot’s scrapbook. The clipping must have made it into the book because it’s not included among the letters. I wonder what it covered? Maybe a blurb about Dart being home for leave? A morsel about Miss Dot Chamberlain of Greenwich, Connecticut attending a Shaw High School football game? Maybe Mom will remember and give us a clue.

Dart says he was called out of work detail by the battalion commander because he “does the work of eight men” and needs a rest. Dart thinks it’s ironic that the only thing he’s worked hard at is avoiding hard work. The many messenger watches he’s volunteered for have gotten him out of physical labor and K.P. “Anyway, to be praised by an officer who is despised by his men bears little honor, no prestige and certainly no love from the buddies.” You can’t say Dart isn’t honest!

He may skip liberty tomorrow because he thinks he’s coming down with another cold. He fills the rest of the page with a pencil sketch of a pea coat-clad sailor standing shin-deep in mud. Also several post scripts about his mother receiving a nice note and some photos from Dot, and a letter from Ruth Chamberlain, the suit Dot is wearing in the photos and a reminder that he loves her.

We’re on a run of short letters from these two busy kids. Dot had a visit from a cousin she’d not seen since before going to Andrews School, so he and Dot and El stayed up until 1:00 am getting caught up on family news.

She hasn’t been getting many letters from Dart but hopes for one tomorrow. She doesn’t know how she’ll survive when he’s at sea and his mail comes less frequently.

“It was only about three weeks ago that I saw you and already it seems like three years. Why in heck doesn’t this war end?” Good question, Dot.