October 1, 1944
Oct 1, 1944
Hi Darling,
Just finished a swell breakfast downstairs in the coffee shop. I feel quite human again. I had a hectic night last night and was beginning to hate the world. It started out peacefully. I got into San Berdee at eight oclock and picked up a room. I had dinner and went to a show. All was well! After the show I got to thinkin about those whiskey sours. I stopped in the "Grizzly Bear" and ordered one. It tasted swell so I ordered another. That's when the trouble started. I don't know what caused the whole thing, but out of a clear sky I saw a Marine Sergeant slug the waitress. She groaned and fell over. I got so damned mad I began to shake. I started after the Marine, so did a couple of other fellows. The closest one to the Marine was a P.F.C. from our field. He couldn't have been over 5'4" and he wore glasses and he looked like the mildest little person there ever was. He took off his glasses and he said to the Marine, "you son of a - you hit a woman." He was actually crying. He wailed into the Marine and slugged the daylights out of him. The Marine was yellow and turned and ran. A Marine running from a sawed off G. I. ! The little guy picked up his hat, swore again and walked out. He was still crying.
I was so damned mad and disgusted that I started back to the hotel. I just got back to the door in time to see an old man get hit by a car. I ran out to him. He hit his head when he fell and was bleeding pretty much. A C.P.O. and I carried him and took him into the store and took care of him till an ambulance arrived. He had a pretty bad knock on the head, but would be O.K. I was pretty well shot by then and started once again for the hotel. I got about a block away and was stopped by fire engines. They stopped right in front of me. A cheap hotel was on fire. There wasn't anything I could do there so I got into a cab and rode the last two blocks to my hotel. I double locked my door and went to bed. I think I'll stay on the field from now on.
Getting back to the show I saw. I went to the theater in the Mexican section of town. It was the "Teatro Ayteco" and played Mexican and South American films. The picture was "La Mujer sin Cabeya". It was a mystery picture and there were a lot of people without heads and a lot of heads without people in it. I understood some of it and got the general drift of the plot. It was all about a famous Chinese jewel. The hero was a good looking "joe" and could act. His partner was the comedian and was funny. The villian was none other than our old friend " Dr. Fu Manchu". I enjoyed the whole show including "mickey Mouse" in spanish.
I got quite a kick out of watching the people around the show. The dashing young caballero's were dressed in the zootiest zoot suits I've ever seen. No kidding, they'd put Harlem to shame. The senioritas aren't quite like the cowboy pictures would have you believe. I got a chance to try out my Spanish. When I got my ticket for the show the girl asked me "Cuentos?" Without a moment's hesitation I answered "Uno", and when I was looking for a seat the usher asked me "Cuentos?" and I again boldly answered "Uno!" Pretty good, huh, Honey?
The dollar is for two weeks allowance for Eddie. Tell him that I expect him to buy at least two banana splits with it.
The course is still pretty much the same. Two more were washed out last week. It's rugged and I'm always tired, but I like it and I'm going to stick till I get kicked out or make it.
I don't suppose I should have expected you to believe that story about the polar bear. To tell you the truth it wasn't exactly a polar bear it was a kangaroo. Is that better?
The "affair". between me and the mess sgt. has come to a definite end. As for your boss Grrrrrrr. If you get any more wild life at the bank you can change it to a zoo and charge admission. The Continental Illinois National Bank and Trust Col and Zoo of Chicago. Pretty classy title! Brookfield would turn green with envy. I'm peaceful and calm again and I reckon I'll hitchhike back to "V" ville. Gee I hope I get back without any unusual incidents occurring. Ya know Darling, it's dangerous traveling on the ground.
Bye now you all. I all miss you all a lot all.
Love Ray