Aunt Flora died this afternoon, having been unconscious for a week and beyond hope of recovery since December.
“I wonder at times of the strangeness of human nature which keeps us hoping…that such a person may recover. I wonder what basic emotions makes us cling to loved ones, try to keep them alive, even when they are in such agony that death is the only sure way of easement. We, in our humanities of keeping the tiny spark of life in those close to us, are, I fear, often being cruel to them at the same time. I wonder sometimes at the morality of keeping alive some poor wretched person who is in such pain and irreparable condition that death is inevitable soon.Is it more right to inflict suffering by continuing life through artificial means when life has come to mean nothing but suffering, or would it be right to permit that suffering remnant of life to come to a quiet end. No question mark there, for I’m not asking a question. Merely thinking, stating doubts and wonder. There must be an answer but I don’t know it.”
Flora’s death has ended Dart’s and Homer’s plan to go to Kent, meet Jane, and explain why Homer must break their date for Friday night. Homer feels like a heel to be breaking a date before even meeting the girl, but he feels even worse that he must do so by phone or letter. The situation does not meet his idea of how a young gentleman should act.
Aunt Flora’s funeral is Tuesday morning and the family will be going to Ashtabula on Monday night. Although Dot may get this letter in time to send flowers, the family has requested that none be sent.
“Gosh, Monday’s a first anniversary. It’s the anniversary which may live in my mind for years, above all other dates. A year ago, the Haggard was hit.”
All that’s left to say is how much he loves and misses Dot, but the words are jammed up inside him and he cannot get them out. He does, however, add a PS to this letter, indicating that he will not try to hook up Dixon or Mather with Jane because he has vowed not to set those “sotted, sex-hungry bums” upon any decent girls.