Dear Billy:

Hiya, Honey Chile!

Well, was I disappointed when I went up to Macy’s to get your gloves the other night! Honestly, Billy, they were so terrible that I wouldn’t buy them. After I left Macy’s, I walked up Broadway to 42^nd street and went into every store to try to get the gloves, but no luck. I then went into every haberdashery store on both sides of 42^nd street, from Sixth Avenue to Eighth Avenue and I found only one store that had a pair, but they were size 8, so I didn’t take them. They were slip- on pigskin, with a wool lining. They were really very nice but I was afraid they would be too big. And the man said they hadn’t made any wool lined gloves at all this year but that they might have a pair left from last year, up in the factory in Gloversville, and he would write the factory to find out and I am to phone him next week and he will let me know. If he doesn’t have any, I’m going back to the place on 42^nd Street and ask the man if he will let me take the gloves home and then return them if they’re too big. You see, Mr. Rudolph wears 7 ½ cadet the same as you do, and I wouldn’t like him to try on the size 8, and see if maybe, with the lining, etc., this particular pair would be all right. I’ll let you know how I make out.

Heltie, mother and I went for a ride up to Poughkeepsie yesterday and had lunch at Smith Brothers. We had a very nice day only it was as hot as the Dickens. You’d be surprised at all the cars on the road since they did away with gas rationing. We could even notice the difference in the number of people having lunch at the Smith Brothers as compared with other times we have gone up there during the week. We left the restaurant at 2:40 and there was still a big line waiting to get into the dining room.

Heltie went back on the 6 o’clock train last night. Dad came over to New York to meet us and drive the car back home.

According to the radio, all but the actual army of occupation of 400,000 men will be home by Christmas. It just seems almost too good to be true, Billy, that you may by home by Christmas. I just can’t wait for my telephone to ring and to hear, in response to my “Hello”, “Hello, Miss Meehan”.

Also, according to the radio yesterday, they think the age for discharge will be reduced further within the next ten days, so it looks as though Heltie will be out soon.

P.S. Bye for now, Honey Lamb. Let me know if you want anything special.

Squeels