Dart lets Dot know that his first Readers’ Digest arrived today – the March issue. He’s happy to have it. He’ll also try answering the letters he received from her yesterday and today.
The first order of business is to apologize once again for his over- reaction to the WAVEs idea. “Maybe someday I’ll learn, but this stuff of learning by experience isn’t always too enjoyable. …I’m ashamed of myself. As for writing about life because we can’t talk about it, all I have to say is that I must have lived a very sheltered one, for the world continually astounds me.” He agrees with her comment that thousands of men must have been grateful for the care of service nurses, and says he, too, has had occasion to be grateful for them.
A letter from his beloved high school English teacher, Miss Palmer, brought the news that excerpts of his recent letter to her were published in the Shaw Observer recently. He’s very proud of that letter and hopes Dot will have a chance to read it sometime. He’d also like to introduce her to Miss Palmer.
He sends his congratulations on her success in the war bond sale and urges her to keep earninig her stripes. He believes that every war bond shortens the war by the time it takes to sell it. That should provide excellent motivation for the young Miss Chamberlain.
He assures Dot that he’s trying to remember ease of cleaning as he thinks about the house. He’s eager to thrash out all the details with her when they start planning instead of dreaming. He told his parents about the house plans and his mother reminded him how quickly his savings account is growing; $300 a year in the bank and an equal sum in war bonds. “It shouldn’t be long before we can start the house or complete my education.”
Speaking of education, houses and marriage, Dart intends to take full advantage of the GI Bill of Rights to assist with all three. “Maybe more, if I can find some more to take advantage of. Awful parasite, this boy!”
In a recent letter Dot wrote about how much she hates to wear glasses. Dart agrees that it’s disagreeable, but he’d rather see well and avoid headaches than worry about vanity. He understands it’s different for a girl, however. The mention of glasses brought back sweet memories of her trying to hide them the night they went to see “Phantom of the Opera.” “Remember, always, that I love you, glasses or not, or anything else that you can use against yourself.”
By the way, he had his back examined and the doctor declared it perfectly fine. He’s happy to report it bothers him less and less these days. Maybe all those months in the hospital were worth it, after all.
As he wishes his sweetheart goodnight, he yearns for her response to the long letter he wrote earlier this week. He hopes she’ll let him know if the very important letter does not arrive because there’s so much riding on it. “Talk it over, think it over, and let me know – soon.”
