Cadet Emil E. Narick
Army Air Corps
Squadron D, Group I
Barracks 813, Room 2
Maxwell Field
Montgomery, Alabama
April 2, 1942
Thursday
Darling Emil,
Guess what, I'm having an unexpected holiday to-morrow! I came down for my interview this afternoon, and was planning on taking the 10 p.m. bus back to Pittsburgh. Kay called me at nine saying Dottie Weber had left a note on the door saying we didn't have to work to-morrow. So I called Dottie and sure nuff, twas true. So here I am Butch down home and a whole day ahead of me. I can hardly wait to get to bed for I'm dead for sleep - didn't sleep well the past 3 nights. Queer how I relax and sleep at home. It must be the crowded conditions up at the apartment.
Now I have news. I dashed down on the 12:15 buss - arriving at Wheeling bus terminal at 2:35. Mother had the car there and I dashed to the office, changed into my tan suit, black hat and shoes and trotted down to the McClure Hotel. To make a long story short Emil, I have an excellent chance of teaching next year. Possibly at Moundsville. Had choice of Bluefield, Martinsburg and Moundsville. I will have to go to summer school to get the educational requirements (6 wk) and 3 weeks of training under George Deen Act. Total 9 weeks. I can get this at Pitt or New York Univ, depending which one we can work out the courses I need the best. 6 weeks of education plus the 3 weeks mentioned above. He suggested I go down and see the County Superintendent, Potts - if i sell him o.k. then I qualify myself by taking this summer work - 10 months from the middle of August to the middle of June. $150 a month $1500 a year. He told me to make myself look as old as possible when I go to see hi. sounds good doesn't it. I'm so encourage about it for it sounds heavenly, not having someone over you continually. Not being allowed to have any freedom during the day in a store kills me. This work will be extremely difficult but interesting and how grand it would be to be located at Moundsville.
Of course, there is the question of the expense of this summer course. It will cost me about $300 and of course it takes all of my vacation for I would start in the middle of August teaching. It also means that I couldn't marry you and go with you Emil when you get your commission, blunt aren't I. For I wouldn't have any vacation and I would have a contract to fulfill and I won't be married and be away from you, emphatic aren't I. That isn't the way marriage should be started. What do you think? I wish we could wait until all of this were over and could be married. Start to housekeeping, but that was the way ti was done in the old days, peace days. Its something you have to help me with darling. Tell me how you feel about it. Darn, if I were only with you I could tell in a minute by the way your eyes look. Think this out with me from all sides. The whole war situation is so much more serious than we thought when you left, isn't it?
Mother and dad are tickled pink about this opportunity, and daddy thinks its so worth while. He will give me the money for summer school, then I'll pay him back next year out of my salary.
Emil-do you know what $150 a month means? Means I can get the things I should have - linens, and perhaps our sterling, and you could save yours after December, and then we would be pretty well set by summer. We would know more about the work you will be doing. Now it would also give me a better chance for personnel work in dept. stores if I should choose to go back to them again.
Now those all seem like selfish reasons. I don't mean them to be such for I never think entirely of myself but of us. I think I know how you are going to feel. I'm afraid you will be very disappointed and yet i can't help feel that you feel as I do, that all of this war business is much more complicated and involved than you and I foresaw when you left. Emil I sincerely feel that you and I are going to have to put aside our plans and do our job completely and get this business over with. I can help by teaching this vocational work, training people for jobs which must be filled in stores and in some cases industry. Jobs which have been left open by men being called to the forces. Incidentally, that is what is happening to the teacher whose place I would take.
Emil, I think I'd like this teaching. I'm excited about it. I'd even be happy to go to summer school. Incidentally I could apply those education courses toward my Doctor's degree. My heavens, I don't think Id ever want a doctor's degree. Of course no one would ever take me for an intellect though. Boo, tell me, do you agree or disagree sweet? You see I mustn't go to summer school and spend that money if I don't go completely through with it.
Rebecca writes more later on Easter Sunday, April 5, 1942.
----Dearest Emil,
Hello darling, did you have a nice Easter? Was it warm, and was the sun shining brightly? And tell Me, how was church this morning? (GOSH HOW I LOVE YOU!) I know it must have been quite the grandest experience you have every had. I remember the day I went into the church. I was only six years old, but it was the most wonderful and full experience I've had and it adds something that never can be taken away from you. I thought about you continually today, for I knew that you were very close to me.
My Easter was quite different from last year. It was warm here but very windy up on the hill and dearest. you fiancee is upsetting Easter tradition. She hasn't been dressed up all day. No Easter hat but instead a shirt and skirt and dirt on my nose. For you know what I did? Planted trees, yes dear, you read correctly. My Easter present from the folks were 5 Lombardy poplar trees. Young ones and I planted them out by the garage and am I sure sore and stiff. Little did I know it was so much work. First daddy dug holes, and I planted them, fertilizer mixed with the soil. Then set just so - the crook in the tree set opposite to the way the wind blows, then packed tightly. Two buckets of water carried for each tree and ooh, am I sore and tired. (INCIDENTALLY I LOVE YOU!)
I helped with dinner then. You know I didn't take any pictures today. Rather had the feeling that you were going to call this afternoon and I was reluctant to leave to get film, for fear you would call, but then I can have some pictures taken next week.
Darling, I'm so proud of my trees. By the time you get home, they will be taller than even you, for they grow so very fast.
Friday night when I go in Pitts at 12:30, I was so very hungry for news from you and your 2 letters were wonderful. I'm so happy about the ring dearest - you will love it also. I do hope they haven't sold it. Next Friday when I come down to see Potts at Moundsville, I will make the arrangements. I'm about to run out of ink.
Your Special Delivery here Sat was grand too. I read parts of your letters to mother in front of the living room fire Sat. night when I got in. And ooh was I tired then!
(BOO - LOVE YOU) My new selling job at Gimbels is quite different from Hornes. The department is on the fourth floor, and is rather a barren sort of place - not very cheerful. Selling is difficult, for not only do you have to please the mother, but the child too. And I had forgotten that children 7 -10 could be such little brats! Several times I would have liked even enjoyed turning (Becky does now run out of ink and begins using black ink in her fountain pen)some of them over my knee and wielding a hand in a well known place. I believe that is the only language some of them could understand.
Time out---had to go out and give Duchess her dinner. She is so sweet.
Incidentally we saw Helen Louise's "Cinder" Friday afternoon and he is a beauty, Emil. They are so tickled with him. He really looks like a cocker. Duchess doesn't, but she is a dear. Darling have you ever heard about Duchess' parents. We must have that information before I can apply for her papers with the American Kennel Club.
So the classes are interesting, good! Work hard sweetheart, for you are going to be an excellent officer and trainer - watch, and mark my words!
Incidentally Emil, as soon as you can have a radio, let us know, and we will try to get you one, for I know how you must miss a radio. Perhaps you will be allowed one when you are a upper classman. Let's hope so! Darling, when you go into primary training, does that mean that you move from Maxwell field? Darling, if I go to summer school, I will have to come down between May 23 and June 7. I will have to start then. I'll check on definite dates tomorrow.
(LOVE YOU) In another hour I'll be on my way back to Pittsburgh. I'm getting so that I hate that bus trip. I guess making it twice a week for the past two weeks is causing that feeling.
Darling, your idea of writing a long letter on week-ends is grand. This past week the dashing back and forth cut off my letters too. Let's write a least one page, not more than two during the week. You just have too much to do dear. Please don't take time to write, you simply can't take the time. And I will understand, and I will not expect more. Do you understand my sweetheart?
Dearest, (LOVE YOU)do you sometimes feel that My will never come? I can hardly believe though that we have only this month, and next until we see each other. Will we both see a change in each other? No doubt we will, for after all, we are living separate lives under different conditions. That will make a change but it cannot change that one thing which is supreme, our love! I'll bet you will be quite discipline by this new life of yours. It's a good live though, isn't it?
Mother and daddy just come in from watering some new hedge that they put out.
Guess what - had a little visitor last night. A tiny mouse came in and nibble a piece of candy that was on my dressing table. Poor thing, it doesn't know that there will be a lovely big piece of cheese for it tonight (attached to a trap)
Listening (LOVE YOU) to Walter Winchell now. Dearest, to night I feel that you and I have more in common than ever before. We have so much, you and I, and I know that a wonderful happiness is to be ours. The faith in our God cannot be destroyed, that is one thing that no Hitler can destroy. You and I must fight with everything that is in us for this faith and freedom, for true happiness will come when all of this mess is over.
Dearest, I must dress now and get ready to travel back to school. But I can't go without telling you dear that my love hasn't any bounds. It is yours Emil and now goodnight my fiancee. I love you and I believe you are understanding , sweet, and boo, I just plain love you. Goodnight my dear.
XXXXX
Your "Becky"
Your Sweet!
Yep love you.
