August 5, 1943.Dear Marion,
Really - it was so wonderful to hear from you, after so long a silence. I got your postcard and so I was waiting for your letter, 'cause I wanted so to learn all about your weekend at school. I'd love to have gone - I'll bet it was wonderful to get back. Our time is getting short - only a month, y'know. I wanted so to come up with you, but it is such an expensive trip from here - it would have cost me over $12 for a round trip on the train - and then I'd have other expenses to think about! And it is such a long tiresome trip from here - and the way time is going, it won't be long!
Oh, honestly, Marion, I feel so good just thinking about going back and being with you kids again! Even if we have to live in "Mountain View" - which reminds me, that this is the month we learn about it. I'm going to just about have a fit when I see that letter coming from the office of the Dean of Residence. I guess I'll be so anxious to get back to our bull sessions, spreads, fortune-telling, hollaring, and general good fun, that I won't care where I live. It doesn't sound so bad, the way you sa it's fixed up. Can you remember - were the floors done over? Mother - and I - would like to know! And, no doubt, some kind person will see that the bath tub is cleaned - I hope!
I'd love to have been in on that Westover business - it must have been a panic! Our experience with Westover certainly has been odd - remember, Carol and Dottie the night of the Victory dance? I should think that Carol would be fed up on drunks from Westover. Did you like "Stage Door Canteen" - I thought it was real good - ditto "Five Graves to Cairo". Junie said you saw "The Constant Nymph" when she was down. Wasn't it good - and sad? If you're in the mood for a cute musical, see "Dubarry was a Lady" - it's wacky, but very entertaining! Speaking of movies, and the ones they have at college, I hope that they have "Casablanca" there this fall, for us - don't you?
I was going to go over to Philly today and get a new raincoat for this next year at college. But it was so hot, that Mom and I decided to go some time next week instead. I've got so much to do before I go back, it seems; I've got to go to my eye doctor and see if my glasses need to be changed - and I've already got one appointment to see my dentist before I go back. And I've got a little shopping to do - not much - the rain coat is most important - the biggest item. I got a letter this morning from my girl friend at Swarthmore and she wants me to come out and see her before I leave. It seems like everything is coming at once now!
Look - are you coming down to New York - as you once planned to? I hope so - and I want to see you, if possible, when you are down. I want very much to get up to New York myself, I only hope I can. I mention it to my Mom and Dad every once in a while - I don't know what affect my mentioning it has. Well, let me know what your plans, if any, are!
Something you mentioned in your letter made me glad! It was mention of the fact that you took the 10:30 P.M. bus back to South Hadley. Remember, just before we left school there was that rumor going around about no buses to or from Holyoke after 8 P.M. And to since the deal, the News, the post-graduation no. that was mailed to us at home, had an item to the same effect. I thought that settled it and I was groaning in despair. But I guess everything is O.K. - do you know the story? Maybe the buses are running after eight, but less frequently than they used to.
Guess I can dig up something to tell you about life in Haddonfield - at home and elsewhere. Friday night, a week ago, Mother and I went to a play in Philadelphia, at the Bucks County Playhouse. We saw Elissa Laudi in "Theatre" - she is lovely and the play was so good - and well done! Saturday night I spent at Ashley's taking care of the children - what a night! They got back around 1 A.M. and then I went around to my Grandmother's to spend the night with her. Sunday she adn I went to church in Philly and went out to Bryn Mawr for dinner together. Sunday night was taps - Peg came up from the shore to be up bright and early for work the next morning - her family was still at the shore. So both Mary Belle and I went over to spend the night with her - so she wouldn't be alone in the house all night. We dragged the mattress - sheets, covers and all - off of her brother's bed and put it on the floor, by her bed and there our hostess slept! Mary Belle and I reclined on her bed - but we never got there until about 12:30 and the alarm went off before 7 A.M. So out we crawled, Peg & Mary Belle went off to work around 8 A.M. and I drooped home - you should have seen me sleeping that afternoon, I was so exhausted!
I've really got writer's cramp - I've got to stop - that's all the news anyway. Write soon please - don't keep me waiting too long.
So long
Love,
Betty.P.S. Here is a letter from Eddie to Dad with censor's stamp. His letters are inspected before being sealed, therefore no place where opened.