Dart says he should have made notes during the day because he thought of so many things to write to her, but now he can’t remember any of them. I guess that’s  a casualty of trying to write in the wee hours of the morning.

His biggest concern in this letter is the question of whether he should accept an invitation to teach a Sunday school class of 12-year-old boys next fall. He’d like to try that challenge, but there are a couple of negatives; first, it would take time away from Dot in the early months of their marriage, and second, the class meets at the same time as church service, so he would miss listening to Mr. Kershner’s sermons with Dot. He asks Dot for her opinion of what his response should be to this request.

His frantic feeling is returning. “The work ahead, and the work I’ve neglected, looks like a big, black wall. I don’t like pressure, and the way I react to it sure leaves a lot lacking.”

His pockets contain just 65 cents to sustain him until Wednesday. Well, he’s done it before, so he knows he can do it again. Nothing like a little temporary poverty to add to the pressure he’s already feeling. He’s happy for Dot that the federal government managed to return $50.60 to her. He’s heard rumors that it’s nice to have money.

Dot shouldn’t worry about writing downhearted letters. He was reading recently that a lot of engaged couples experience rocky times during the last few months before the wedding, but things usually work out.

It was nice of Nancy to write him a letter to enclose with one of Dot’s, but it made him feel even more strongly that he has the best girl in the world.  “Your letters seem so much more adult and natural and unaffected.”

Regarding the blanket she left here in January: Should it be returned to her mother or shall they keep it in Cleveland for Dot to use?

And finally, it’s time for sleep.

#          #          #

Hours ago, Dot came upstairs to tidy up her room, but she hasn’t made much progress. Her mother had asked her to go through the storage closet and root out things she didn’t want to keep any longer. Dot got distracted trying on all her old formal gowns and wondering if she’ll ever have any need of one in the future. She regrets that she and Dart missed all their chances to attend a formal affair.

When trying on her new dress to show her mother this morning, she decided that she didn’t shorten it enough last night, despite what the fashion pages would dictate. Today, she ripped out the hem she did last night and turned the dress up another inch. She’s far more satisfied with the results.

While canvassing yesterday, she came to the tiny street where Betty and Gordon live. She spoke to their neighbor, Mr. Cox, about his train layout. He told her it was really his son Bill’s train. Just as Dot was trying to recall how she knew that name, Bill Cox himself arrived at home. “Suddenly, it struck me. Bill was in grammar school with me and I despised him with a purple passion. …If it’s all the same to you, I think I won’t even try to find out more about his trains.”

Nancy went to church with Dot today. She’d never been inside it before, and when she saw the length of the aisle she’ll be walking as a bridesmaid, she made an audible gulp. That got Dot to thinking that maybe Dart had better meet her (Dot) halfway or she’ll never make it to the altar.

She’s sure her Uncle Ralph will be making cracks during the whole long walk down the aisle. When he visited the Chamberlain house today, Dot, El, and Nancy were cleaning up the kitchen. Before leaving, Ralph poked his head into the kitchen and said “Good-night, ladies. Oh, and good-night to you, too, Dot.” She feels so loved.

She asks Dart if he often gets the bug to do his prose assignments at 4:00 in the morning, like he did earlier this week. She’s not sure she likes that idea so much, especially if she’s the one who must supply him with sandwiches and coffee!

Will they start sleeping on the third floor as soon as they return from their honeymoon? Has Kathleen been told that she’ll have to move out? Dot thinks the poor girl needs to have plenty of time to find some other place to live.

A long time ago, Dot made out a draft budget for them. She left Dart’s PD earnings off, just so he could have a little money to call his own. Now as she looks at that budget again, she thinks she might have missed some things. Will Dart show the enclosed copy to his mother to see what she thinks. He should feel free to let her know that she’s more interested in subtracting expenses than adding them.

Her ring is sparkling like mad tonight. It always seems to sparkle more when she’s missing him the most. She’s living now for the day when that ring will have a plain gold one snuggled up next to it. Just think, on May 1st, they’ll be able to say they’re getting married next month!

Now that it’s almost over, she’s glad they had such a long engagement. They’ve had the gift of time to build their dreams and anticipate the joy of being Mr. and Mrs. “We’re a lucky pair, Dart. I hope we can remind each other of that if there’s ever a time when we begin to doubt it.”