Inasmuch as I’ve been getting lots of mail lately, I wasn’t too optimistic when I strolled over to the mail room yesterday evening. The mail clerk wasn’t any too optimistic either. Before I could even open my mouth, he told me that there were only about a dozen “M’s” for the entire squadron, so I could figure out what my share amounted to. My share turned out to be 5 letters and 2 packages—what a haul!
A few words about the packages first. One of them contained my new dress shoes. They are perfect—fit swell and are exactly the style I had in mind. Everyone admired them. When I asked for those shoes, I didn’t give the matter another thought until they got here because I knew Mom and Dad would take care of everything and that I would like them. The other parcel was jam-packed with various delicacies, making it every bit as good as the last one, which is saying a lot. Thanks go to Mom and Dad for all their trouble, bus tokens, pints, etc. Their efforts in my behalf are appreciated, I mean really. I can’t say that I appreciated that little joke of theirs about the “cottage cheese” though. They certainly slipped one over on me there. They actually had me thinking that’s what had been sent, and why they should put such a thing in a package of mine I didn’t know. That particular part of the letter seemed very serious in tone, and frankly I was worried. What if the cottage cheese should “get loose” and make a mess of everything?
I remember telling Mom and Dad that I had learned to like cheese, but cottage cheese! That was taking things too far. Or should I say “sending” things too far. It seems that my suspicions on that point were unfounded.
Despite the letter Mom and Dad wrote “explaining” how they spent and otherwise disposed of my last check and money order, I think I have it all straight in my mind. But until that news came, I was going around in circles trying to make it add up. Their letters do not come in the same order that they are written, and for a time I decided that one of the money orders had been lost in the mails. Considering the distance and hazards involved, such a thing is not impossible. But none were lost, as it turned out, and I don’t worry about them after they once reach home. Mom and Dad needn’t have even asked me whether I minded if they used the last one for their taxes. I will be sending $40 more in my next letter home. I hope Mom and Dad will deposit it as soon as they conveniently can. That should bring my balance at the Fidelity to exactly $605.01. I’ll ask Mom and Dad to let me know if that is correct.
Mom and Dad are making me feel like a ba-a-ad boy, writing so much. Still, I’d rather not write any more often than I have been. On those days when my folks are specially busy, or tired, or have company (and “Eleanor”-ish people have many such days), I hope they don’t feel that they have “simply got to write to Vernald”. Ease up! That’s the way I want it. There’s been more than one time that I’ve postponed writing a letter for a similar reason. Several times Mom and Dad have said that I’m their “best customer” for letters. Remember this: The customer is always right. So take heed of my sage advice.
[letterstohome copyright 2008]