June 18th, 1941, Frances, the new girl, eats lunch with Ernie and me now. She’s only 17 and very young. Gets tired soon and tell us too. Not like I used to keep it to myself. Ed. came up and told me, after all Chet. M.’s studying he didn’t pass his recent physical. I drove…
Tag: nonfiction
Your Xs Are Too Small
June 14, 1941, Last night I didn’t fall asleep until almost 3:00. Guess my mind wandered about Alabama too much. Ernie and I shopped in the afternoon, then she went home to VT. I came home and was busy intending to stay home. Edmund came up about 7:30 while I was washing dishes. He took…
Rendezvous of Dreams
June 12, 1941, After work I had a bite to eat at The Moonlight and went to Henrettea’s for my permanent wave. She talked a steady stream and told me about her wedding and a lot of things a single girl doesn’t know. Marriage is certainly no hay ride but every girl thinks her’s will…
Garrulous Tonge
Babu writes (prepare to chuckle, if you are anything like me): June 11, 1941, Had a letter and some pictures from Jakey. I told myself to keep quiet about any plans to go South because they may not formulate, but I still talk. Why do I have such a garrulous tongue? Went to choir rehearsal…
A few in between the letters
June 8, 1941, Saw Ernie off to Vt on the train and checked up on how much and long it would take to go to Alabama. Spent all afternoon looking for a white dress and finally bought one. Came home all tired out and got dressed for tennis. Nat’s brother, John, came at 5:30 but…
“Flaming Blonde”
In the last post the passage Babu wrote in her journal on June 4th mentioned that she got a letter from Jakey asking her to come down. Here is the passage: June 4, 1941, Jakey had a perfect announcement of his solo flight in the paper tonight. John Bartula came up tonight and asked me…
Maybe she’s throwing things and his world stopped spinning.
There are quite a few days that go by without a letter. But nothing is going to stop the fact that summer is approaching and Babu just can’t seem to keep the boys at bay. June 2, 1941, Hoped to get a letter from Jake, but there was none. Got a few cards from Drobe…
Dodo No More
May 29, 1941, Had another letter from Jakey. This one was a happy one. He wrote that he had soloed Tuesday. His mother and I went to Matilda Showyra’s shower. I had a grand time. Edmund came and after I had a few numbers and a few drinks and he had more, we got pretty…
He’ll be dizzy and she won’t throw things.
May 28, 1941, When I get home and don’t have a letter from Peach, I feel like throwing things. I had one, however, today. Helped Mom a little in putting up the hem on my new dress and then went to rehearsal. Chet and Ed called me at the office today. At rehearsal Spike asked…
Before the News Breaks: Part I
While Babu is in Chicopee wrestling with loss, Jake is in Alabama having no idea that he, too, has lost a friend. The letters Babu gets from him are a jarring juxtaposition to what she is facing at home. Was it a welcome distraction? May 21, 1941, Jakey wrote me another letter today and he…
In Honor and Memory of Stretch Part II
May 19, 1941, Even though I realized Stretch was dangerously ill, I didn’t think of him leaving us. He died this afternoon. Zosh and I stayed with Nat all evening trying to console her. She is being brave. I haven’t got much use for the army since this happened. They can’t be getting the right…
In Honor and Memory of “Stretch” Part I
Unfortunately, this was the start of the end. I am simply to sad to create suspense or to worry about spoilers. May 11, 1941, Nat was angry because Stretch didn’t come home. However, he’s sick in the hospital and can’t help that. Ed K. came up and gave me a driving lesson and we picked…
transcribingmemory 