Wednesday February 10.1943
Dear Folks; Well finally a letter from you; sure seemed well. You ask about James. Well he is in the Army and his name is Solomon. Sure has a popular name at present with battles going on in the Solomon”™s. You ask who that was with me walking along the street; well I”™m surprised at you, don”™t you recognize Jr (Gerald Robertson), ”˜cause that”™s who it be. I received a swell letter card and picture from a boy from Cheshire, England. He was here to see me in 6. when I was in the hospital, in fact the day of my operation. I know I must have not looked any too well or acted very well ”˜cause I was sick, oh boy just like I had been on the sea for 24 hrs. Anyhow he left and went to Australia and then went to New York and now he is in England. I will send you his card, letter and picture soon. I received a card and hanky from Polly, a really a pretty hanky and a card and a box of stationery from Jonnie.
No, James isn”™t moody, but oh my he is so jealous. I never saw the likes of it and it”™s bad over here ”˜cause I know so many people and since I”™m in the Army and it consists of just me, well that only makes matters worse. But I usually get around him some way. You know me. I haven”™t heard from Jr or Slip and I haven”™t seen them around. Don”™t worry about sending me stockings at present as I am pretty well stocked. I need a trunk, but that”™s out, so will use a box when the occasion demands. James came up a while ago and said to tell all of you hello, but he won”™t write, not even to me. Funny kid. But maybe he”™ll snap out of it (he will or I”™ll break his neck.) Anyhow I said, here is what my mother thinks about you and you know he got all nervous, red in the face, then white, then I told him you said you could eat him up, well he just heaved a big sigh and said gosh “you had me worried” and tell her I think she is swell. You know it tickles me that he from the South and here in the Army they tease him about being a rebel, so he tries not to say southern words and the result he talks so dang fast one has a time understanding him and I”™m afraid he isn”™t an Englishmen, he is Irish (temper and all) and some French. Is that ok Dad?
The quartermaster does our laundry now, at 90 cents a uniform. How much the sheets, towels and pillow cases are I don”™t know yet. We haven”™t got the money as yet for our raise, sure hope we get it soon ”˜cause we are having to pay out all this expense now and it sure counts up, enough to break us each month. We drill every Wednesday guess they are trying to make WAAC out of us. I can”™t figure what good all this 3.ing does a nurse and anyhow with shoe rationing boy does this drilling cuts our shoes up. You know men”™s heavy shoes (G.I. specials) are ok, but not our thin shoes, but they say we drill for the duration, so we drill.
Oh say mom, I just called up Leahi Home, you know where I used to work and ask her about nurses coming over here to work and here is the deal. At Leahi they get $98 with full maintenance and then every three months they get a $5 raise until they have reached $126.50. This is in a tuberculosis sanatorium. Now if you know anyone who wants to know tell me, or else give them this address. They must have enough money to come over, but when they get here the O.C.P. will pay them back. And sometimes they have to wait in San Francisco for six weeks or longer for a boat, but they can easily gain a position there while waiting. You see they have to come over and take a job where the O.C.P. puts them and some of the places pay rather low, but if they are hired personally by someone over here they have the chance of getting that position, well it”™s rather complicated, but maybe if someone would like a chance to come over, it is sure a good chance to see the Isle and a free trip ”“ wish I had that chance when I came over. Oh well so goes life.
Will try and send some candy. Am sending you a small package it contains Chinese shoes (you wear them for house slippers) sure are handy and they wash well too. You”™ll like them once you get used to them, we wear them here for the beach with slacks and even with evening gowns. Yes, I received the cake, sure good. You should have the letter by now telling you I got it ”˜cause I sent one. Anyhow thank you so very much. I made some spaghetti for the boys the other day like you make it only I used hamburger and boy it really turned out swell, boy they liked it. You know I may make a cook yet. Billie sent me your biscuit recipe. I made biscuits ”˜cause James said I must be able to make good food, ha. Well must close. Love to all and God bless our income tax, boy they are high this year. Mine will be around $150. Bye now -AraBelle