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310 Friday 24 August 1945 My dearest darling, Thank you for the pajamas which I received today and which I'll be wearing tonight. They were mailed first class on July 20 - pretty good time. Tonight, after a fairly hectic day at school, I went to a movie - “the Chetniks,” a rather belated (our seeing it, that is) tribute to Mihailovitch. It had the merits of being both exciting (if improbable) and brief, and I wish we could get it to show at school. Unfortunately, the military theater now uses 35 mm film while we at school continue with our 16 mm equipment. The latter is plenty good enough, but the repertoire of films is not the same or quite as good. Two good letters from you today. #367 of Aug. 15 and #369 of Aug. 17 - I wouldn't worry, darling, about the Navy discharge system, or rotation (officially declared to be non-existent now) or what have you - I still think my homecoming will have little to do with any of these. A few months will tell the story; nothing, certainly, [pg 2] like a year from this October. Nevermind what Mrs. Price says - I don't think I'll be going to Japan (altho I’d like very much to, if it wouldn't mean a longer time out); you may tell her that the reason I think that is that I know I'm still needed here, and have reasons for saying so. I'm awfully glad you enjoyed the wooden box, sweetie; I didn't think that much of it, particularly - just trinkets, and especially the bracelets. They’re just aluminum (from wrecked planes) and I shouldn't advise wearing them long at a time (i.e., continuously for a month or more) unless you wear them over a sleeve, because the metal in corroding sometimes causes a rash. I'm glad the beads didn't mold. The cart and boat were made by youngsters there under the auspices of the Welfare Dept. but now under Educ. and Religion: children who have graduated from the 8th grade but who are still too young to be registered as regular labor may enter our Handicraft shop to make such things as these for profit. I think your idea of using the cart as a centerpiece delightful. “Our first son” - gee, sweetie, that sounds exciting. As much as I love Wendy and like girls in general, [pg 3] I have a hunger for a boy-child now and have found myself thinking about him and his education (the foundation we give him being the most important part of that) and such things in idle moments for some time now - but I remember my promise not to rush you. E.M. Forster is a favorite author of mine - “A Passage to India” - and do you remember that essay I particularly liked in “I Believe”? It was good of Helen to send you the presents for you and Wendy. I like graciousness and it is one of the prime traits I hope we shall instill in our children. Still no more word from Chuck - I guess I should have gone out and scoured the island for him, but I don't have too much time and it seemed reasonable to suppose from his letter that he’d get my reply and be able to get in touch with me personally. #368 - this was another precious letter, darling - the due acknowledging my flowers, which were really overdone - but I wanted them to come as a surprise. [pg 4] It's so good to hear of their reception. Saturday 7:40 am Have just read a letter from Evan Davis to Johnny Reif in which Evan speaks of the likelihood of his and Charlie's being out by Spring, despite uncertainty in present plans occasioned by the sudden end of the war. He also says that the latest from [Bu Pers?] is that M.G. officers will not be exempted from the point system, as was previously stated in an Al Nav. But as I've said, I expect to be out long before the point system would make me eligible (14 months from now) Had a wonderful sleep last night in our pajamas, Sweetie - most refreshing one in a long time, and guess what I dreamt of this time - Wendy! She came waddling up to me, just as you describe her, with a kewpie doll in one hand and something else in the other, saying with a mischievous look on her face, “Hi Daddy”! I love you, my darling Warren
