01 Apr April 1, 1945

From: Alice Shonkwiler
To: George Shonkwiler,
April 1st, 1945, Easter Sunday, 9.25 p.m.

My darling,

Today is Easter and I had hoped (and so had millions of others, I suppose)
that hostilities in Europe would cease today.  It was rumored that it was
to be our Easter gift. I was skeptical and yet I’m so disappointed that
it wasn’t true.

This morning Ronnie and I attended Sunday School, which today was for
children and their parents.  Mrs. Nirke and Mrs. Montine were there, so
that helped to keep me from being too lonely during services.
This is Ronnie’s second Sunday and he seems to enjoy it very much and
shook hands with Reverend Hanson as we left. Just in case you didn’t get
last Sunday’s letter, I started Ronnie to Sunday School at the Nazareth
Lutheran Church on 113th and Union.  I hope that is okay with you.

After Sunday School, we came home and Mr. and Mrs. Page gave Ronnie an
Easter book about Easter bunnies, real cute.  Later, Bobby brought him
an Easter basket, although I didn’t give Bobby one. (I had sent him an
Easter card, however.) Then I gave him an Easter basket too, so in all,
he got four Easter baskets and one book, quite a haul, don’t you think?
One each from <? Edamae>, Joan, Bobby and me and a book from the Page’s.

After lunch, Ronnie and I took the IC down to the loop and after a
pretty long wait, finally got into the Chicago Theater.  We saw, "Here
comes the Waves" with Bing Crosby, Betty Hutton, Sonny Tufts.  It was
pretty good and from Lou Brees and his band, plus a stage show. I paid
95 cents admission for myself and when I got to the ticket taker, he
said I had to buy a ticket for Ronnie.  Imagine? that was 30 cents. I
always hold Ronnie in my lap but decided he should occupy a seat today
as long as it was paid for.  He likes to sit on his own seat anyway but
didn’t feel he should when I didn’t pay for him.  They really rob you
in the theater now.  It was only one o’clock, so suppose it’s still
ighter in the evening.  After the show, I had quite a time finding a
place to eat. Finally, we, as a last resort, stopped at the Pixley
and Ellen’s Restaurant on Randall near Michigan.  We had spaghetti,
apple pie and coffee and milk for 51 cents, which wasn’t bad, but they
didn’t serve butter. and eating hard rolls without butter or jelly isn’t
too pleasant at least on Easter.  Ronnie wasn’t pleased either and when
I told him there was no butter, he just ignored his roll.

All in all, I didn’t have too unpleasant a day, although I was doggone
lonesome.  This is the first Easter of my life. I’d been so completely
alone.  It was a good thing I had Ronnie or it would have been unbearable.
He missed his nap today, but was a pretty good boy in spite of that.

As for our Easter outfits, they were the same as last year (and the year
before), except for Ronnie’s new white shoes and sox and hat, which I
made for myself at the cost of $1.30.  I wore my brown gabardine suit,
my lime green blouse, and my hat was also lime green, white gloves and
brown shoes.  Ronnie wore a white blouse, red corduroy trousers, navy
blue sox, white shoes and the tan coat and hat I made for him last year.
He looked cute and was flirting with several pretty girls while waiting
in the theater lobby just like his pop!

I just heard over the air just now that the turnout in the churches
today was bigger than ever before.  I guess at a time like this, a little
spiritual help is good for everyone and of course people had lots of
money and new clothes this year, too, which always helps the Easter
church turnout.  I certainly saw some beautiful clothes, but think I got
by just as well in my old clothes.  There was no one to care how I
looked anyway.

This noon I received a special delivery air mail letter from your
brother’s wife, Catherine.  She said she’d be at the Dearborn Station
at 9.45 a.m. Thursday April 5th, and I’m to meet her there and she and
the kiddies will come home with me to spend the day until 11.30 p.m. when
her train comes in for Los Angeles.  I’m enclosing her letter. How I envy
her!  Just think if all I had to do was take a train to see you. Here I
may have to wait months or years.  (Let’s settle for months.)

I called Gladys so she and Joyce will come in too. Where on earth I’ll
find anything to feed them I don’t know as I’m out of red points.  There
will be nine of us counting all the kiddies -- Poor me!  It will be very
plain fare, I can tell you, as I am pretty broke too.  I’ll manage somehow,
at least I have so far.

I tried to call Mrs. Donald Sweeney tonight at 8 o’clock, but her mother
(or whoever it was) said she stays in Fort Wayne during the week and
only comes to Bernie on Sundays, but had left for Fort Wayne at 4 o’clock
this afternoon.  I’ll call again next Sunday.  I’d have called her this
morning but you specified Sunday evening in your letter.

Today was a pretty nice day altho not too sunny.  It was quite warm, but
pretty windy, and on our way home we were caught in the rain.  We only
had to run from the IC to the car so that wasn’t bad. It didn’t start to
rain until 7 o’clock so everyone had a chance to display all their new
clothes.

Before Ronnie went to sleep tonight, he asked me where Daddy is now. I
told him France and he said, "Oh".

I’m sleeping now and I wrote to Catherine before I wrote this so I’ll
say bye now.

All my love always, Mom and Ronnie.