Description
372 August 20 - Monday - 8:15 P.M. My Darling Sweety: Tonight I'm all stingy after three hours in a hot sun - one on the patio, and later two more down on the beach. It was so warm that I let Wendy parade around sans clothes for awhile, so that she could tan her little fanny, but I'm afraid mostly all she got was sand in her creases. Dreamt of you last night - we were in a hotel room, I was lying down, you were sitting beside me, after a moment or two you got up and locked the door, then dammit, dammit, dammit, I woke up- At the Post Office this morning, I lost my temper for the [pg 2] first time since I was about twelve. Remember the clerk I told you about who wouldn't insure my packages to you? Well, he was at the window when I came up to mail your two packages of grays. I told him that I wanted to insure them (the Navy has specifically stated both in the newspapers, and on the radio that all packages should be insured) and he got nasty, and wouldn't do it. So I told him to get me one of the other clerks, and he kept me waiting for about 20 minutes. Finally, when my anger had reached a peak, I laced into him. It was very embarrassing because there were a number of people nearby, and I hate to get angry anyway, because I always look as if I'm [pg 3] going to cry. There wasn't any question after the other clerk came up, and the packages were stamped in nothing flat, but I felt limp. I suspect Clerk #1 had an unpleasant experience connected with insurance while he worked in the FPO several years ago, and he just won't give in to anyone. From the attitude of his co-workers, I gather that he's hard to get along with on all counts, as for me I think he's a bull headed fool, and if I was a man I’d take great pleasure in giving him at least one good sock. About noon George Clark phoned, and I had a very pleasant chat with him. Of all the men who have called, he and Bill Bull were the easiest to talk to. He told me about you, the CATS etc. [pg 4] etc. - added that he thought you would get home to stay after you had finished out 16 months. Is that his own happy little idea, or is there some basis to it? The men were given unexpected leave, and George was leaving today, so I won't get to see him til he gets back. However, he mailed the watch this afternoon so it should reach me tomorrow. He said he would like to take me to lunch or dinner, but if he does have time when he gets back, before leaving again, and does call I think I'll suggest a drink here instead. Evidently the CATS are all going right into Japan. If you hadn't told me, I should have guessed on my own that he was a Harvard grad, because [pg 5] he sounded very much like Will. The JH Quarterly arrived this afternoon, and you have five pages of your letter to Dr. Cottrell in it together with a short introduction mentioning us both. It looks real purty. When we got back from the beach, your Special of the 12th was tucked in our front door - can't imagine why it took so long to get here. I'm sorry the fudge wasn't any good - it was all I could get, and I wasn't too concerned, because tho I knew you had a hankering for some, I didn't think it would arrive in edible condition. Someday I should like to meet Jim Boyle, I don't think I’d get [pg 6] along a bit well with him - not any better than I did with Gil Nettleton, tho not for the same reason. A clash of personalities I think. I'm still waiting anxiously for further word about Chuck, and your expected meeting. You didn't guess too badly on the surrender. The radio has been very unexciting since last Tuesday. To make excitement yesterday Bob played a good trick on Helen. She was taking a bath, and Bob was in the living room listening to the radio. All of a sudden there was silence, and a strange voice broke in, “We interrupt this program for a Special Bulletin, and take you now to Washington” Helen picked up and the next thing she heard in still another voice was “Flash - Bobby Benson has been [pg 7] promoted to the 4th grade, skipping two classes!” Pretty good joke for a seven year old, and I roared when Helen told me about it. I'm not going to say anything about the rest of your letter, because I don't think it needs saying. All today I've been especially conscious of the fact that I'm glad we have a little girl sprout - even if she did wake me up twice last night. Not that I don't like little boys, because I do, and am very anxious to have a son, but there is something completely irresistible to me about little girls. Wendy is so completely what I've always dreamed of, and shows such promise of the individual she is growing into. I love her as [pg 8] much as I could any child, but it doesn't overwhelm me, and I'm glad of that. Must dash off a note to M and F now, and then to bed. I love you darling - very, very much- Bobby
