Beginning the Correspondence Forever...Very Casual

1304^th AAF. B. U.

APO 492

c/o Postmaster New York

August 8, 1944

Dear Dorothy, (or “ Cookie ”)

That sure is quite the name for you. I like it.

Your letter of July 17 came yesterday after being waylaid everyplace imaginable. There were only 13 letters along with it. It took me one solid hour to read them all. The most I got from one person was five and from everyone else I got only one it was really quite good to get a few letters for once. Please forget about A. P. O. 13135 now because it has nothing to do with me anymore. It’s APO 492 now that you’ll have to use.

I understand you are or were enjoying your dramatics class quite a lot. It’s too bad that your teacher has to be so old.

I don’t see anything in this new name of yours ( Bernhardt). There must be a catch somewhere that my English sense of humor doesn’t allow to register.

Tut-tut. I’m very much afraid that you have over judged yourself or it is me you. You say that you know me and that I’m not very likely to be unattached at any time. I’m so sorry that I’m falling short of my reputation. You see there is no quote great love” connected with me. “I am free white and… Lonely” Oh yes, there is a girl over in Omaha who has planned my future for me to suit herself. All well and good as long as she doesn’t try to carry them out. She is the one whom I got five letters from yesterday. I’m doing my best to get her to stop writing me that I don’t like to receive letters but she is building herself up into quite a state of expectancy that won’t be safe when she learns that her plans can’t be carried out.

Am glad to know that you are having a good time up there at the lake.

I have been hearing from home pretty often and mother and dad are coming here to see me in a few weeks. Mother has to buy cheese and vanilla for the Woodstock sale nearby here.  So.  I’ll be pretty grand.

Every Sunday, which happens to be my day off, I go into town and have that big dish of curry (chicken) and rice. – Is it ever good.  It is really too bad that you can’t get any.   By the way, if you got so that you want some curry pretty awfully bad you can go up to Minnesota and get some from my grandparents. When John went to the states he took 6 quarts of curry powder with him. (John was inducted July 28) after that meal I go to church at the Lee Memorial, that’s right next door to where Bells used to be. Then I go over to the Griffith’s home and spend the rest of the evening. I met must get off to work now or I’ll be late. I love hearing from you so you know what to do.

Always,

Bill

Jewett House

Chautauqua

August 9, 1944

Dear Bill,

I fell definitely spoiled.  Two letters from you in the last couple of weeks!  For a change one arrived before I answered the other.  Fooled the mail or something, I guess.

This work of yours sounds like it could be fun.  Or have I got the wrong impression about it?  I hope the “darn Lieu.” – to quote – isn’t working you too hard.  That’s interesting about the guy from Ewing.  I don’t suppose I know him but anyway -.  It’s a small world and all that!

Seems to be a pretty perfect set up about where you are and all.  If and when you get passes you can at least keep yourself amused.  I’ll bet it’s horribly hot down there now.  And you slaving away all day long – uggy muggy!

Egad, listen to you talking about getting air sick.  I’d almost not mind being air-sick just so long as I could fly.  (Notice I say almost.)  You must be practically a veteran by now – lucky so-and-so.  All this talk about India makes me so jealous, too.  What with being in (or over?) a large city north of my home and hoping to see the Bills.  The army is a great institution.  Army Air Corps – pardon me.

That’s swell about finally hearing from your folks.  What was the trouble – telegram delayed?  All that suspense must been pretty embittering, especially when it’s your family.

By the way, how are things?  The newspapers definitely don’t carry it and you get out of touch terrible easily.  Are the prices still way up?  How’s travel and things like that? And what goes on politically – or does anyone know the answer to that?  You gather, no doubt, that I want to know what goes on.

Flash on class news – Stan was here as reported, and looked to be having a good time.  He isn’t changed a single bit, at least not in appearance or good manners.  You may have my autograph if you like – I’ve tracked down Johnny.  Someone who knows him found out I was from India.  It is a small world!! Last gem of all, we got the long awaited letter from Richard Thompson.  He’s on a sub crew out on the west coast and positively nautical about it.  He had seen some of the kids and was in a lather of class spirit.  All very heartening.

No doubt you can repeat this with me but – one, two, three, all together now – I’m having a wonderful time.  Mostly in the theatre course.  We are allowed to go to rehearsals and it give one a pleasantly Hollywoodish feeling to rub elbows with all the actors.  They sure are very, well, colorful is a nice safe way to get it across.  The thought of exams – next weekend – is beginning to pray on me, though.  Horrid things!

Hey, a couple more things to answer in your letter.  Item – Stan turned an attractive shade of mauve when I read out that quotation from his letter that you put into yours.  It was tres funny.  Incidentally the quote was good stuff, no?

Second item.  I had homicidal impulses when you mentioned that ghastly Tanks incident.  Must I be reminded of the follies of my youth?

‘Bye now.  Don’t work too hard.

As ever,

Dorothy