Sat. February 24, 40

Hello sis-

After that phone conversation I am at a loss at what to say or where to begin. Damn, [I’m] a slow starter so I need a little time. Say about 15 years? The reason I asked you to postpone the trip is because the roads are really bad and weather conditions make driving conditions dangerous, and another reason is I would like to have a little time to get straightened up a bit before I see the family. I have been steady the past few months and I’ve just got out of debt. I gave up my apartment and moved downtown, where I have a $4.00 room in a rooming house. I have a 7 tube Zenith radio to keep me company. I don’t have many friends due to past experiences. You see, I’ve found out when you’re in the money your okay, and when you’re fresh out they drop you like a hot potato, so lately I’ve been paling around single C.O. I’ve had a few good breaks while traveling around, and as I said before, bad company. Race horses and gambling has kept me behind the eight ball. When I was up in Alaska I really had a chance to save some money, but my pal from Nova Scotia, big Mac McDonald, got shaky and wanted to go to the states. My boss coaxed me to stay; he told me I had a chance to work into a good job, and like a sap, Mac and I took the S.S. Alameda back to Seattle. We got into town with about 600 bucks between us and at the end of the week we were broke and we wound up fighting forest fires in Oregon. While out on the west coast I run into a fever working around the swamps. I got stabbed by a mosquito or a wood tick, [and] that’s when my system went haywire. My weight dropped from 175 down to 140lbs, and my hair went south of the border. Well like Confucius would say: “no hair, more face to wash”. At present I go about 160 lbs. 5’10” and [could] use some dental work.

Now that you folks got over the first shock, another disappointment shouldn’t affect you very much in regards to my personal appearance. In regards to working conditions here in Detroit, it has been very good the last few months with spring coming. The car sales usually drop off slightly and most car plants start changing dies for next year’s models. Many plants here are receiving huge war order contracts and any person employed in government work must be a citizen, have naturalization papers, or produce some proper form of identification within 30 days. Due to the nature of the work, they are taking all precautions to check all aliens and prevent any sabotage that may occur. Well sis, I’m going to call it off. In another letter accompanying this one, you will receive my company insurance certificate made out to mother, [as well as] a record from my last pay showing the wages I received. If everything hits on all six cylinders, I should be on my feet by spring, [which is] one reason I ask you to postpone the trip. Well sis, its all yours and when you write, write plenty. With love and best regards to all.

Your bro,

Pete

P.S. You got a phone in the house? You must be in the money. Say, that guy you married must be double O O O.K.