09 Apr April 9, 1944

Letter
from: A. Shonkwiler
to: Pvt George W. Shonkwiler
April 9th, 1944,
Sunday night (Easter Sunday)

Hello Honey,

Here I am again and still in Rockford. It’s 10:30 p.m. and I’m in bed already,
so you can see how much I misbehave!

Had quite a big day today in spite of the fact it rained all day and is still
raining.  What weather for Easter?  Of course, it rains every Easter, so I’m
not surprised.  Remember last year how it poured down when we went to church.
We got up at 10:30 this morning.  Ronnie slept until then, too.  Imagine?

We had breakfast about 11:30 and then I took Ronnie along and we mailed you
a letter, also stopped to see Lois Blade and her husband.  They have a girl,
11 months old, dark hair, dimples, and big brown eyes.  Chatted a while and
Ronnie wet their rug.  I was so embarrassed.  He hasn’t done that for months,
it seems.  He was playing and got excited, I guess.

Then at 4 o’clock, we, Chuck and Betty,

page 2.
Pat, Ronnie, and I went out for dinner downtown.  We had fried chicken,
mashed potatoes and gravy, lettuce and tomato salad, hot rolls, cranberry
sauce, angel food cake, and three cups of coffee.  It was the most delicious
meal I’ve eaten in a restaurant in years.  If you ever get to Rkfd, I want
you to eat there.  I think the meal averaged qnly about a $1.05 per person.
Chuck paid the bill, so I’m not sure, but think it was about that.  A soldier
talked to Ronnie (a Southerner) and played with him and told me he had one
at home just like him.  Sure made me think of you doing the same down there
if you saw a little boy Ronnie’s age.

I’m leaving in the morning if it stops raining, otherwise I won’t dare.

My windshield wiper broke, but Chuck fixed it for me, thank goodness.

It was nice to be here, but will be glad when I get home again.

Tonight at 7:00 o’clock Ronnie and I went to see Marie and Don Albright
who have a boy about 11 months old, and they gave us

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coffee, cake, cookies, and so on.  We got home about 9:30 p.m. and Ronnie
went right to sleep.

Also this afternoon I visited next door, and their three sons were there
with their wives, and one of the couples had a girl about 22 months old,
about 3 inches taller than Ronnie, with curly blonde hair and blue eyes.  She
and Ronnie had a big time, only she was kind of shy.  Two of the wives were
expecting.  Now these boys are 25, 27, and 30, and not one in the Army --
Imagine!  One’s a punch press setup man and the other a shipping clerk.
Figure that out!  And the other’s a punch press operator.  They do have a
21-year-old brother that’s missing overseas, tho.  Been missing since Dec.
when his boat was torpedoed.  Seems they’re sure getting deferments in this
town.  In fact, all my friends here still have their husbands.  One is a
mailman, and he’s deferred, too.  All depends on where you live, I guess!

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Got the blues tonite, I guess.  This gloomy weather doesn’t help either.

Judy insists on sleeping in my bedroom, here, and keeps me awake with her
snoring -- darn it!  Also Ronnie snuggled so close, I’m forced to sleep on
the very edge, and don’t dare move all night long, for fear he’ll wake up.
He even puts his hand, in mine while he’s sleeping, and keeps it there.
Guess it makes him feel secure, or something.  He sure has made a hit with
all my friends.  They all think he’s a pretty nice boy.

Hope you got the cakes by now, and hope they were okay, and not too stale or
broken, or anything.  Did you find the knife with the layer cake?  Thought
you could cut it with that.

Bye, darling, and be good daddy, and we’ll see you soon.

As always,
Ronnie and Mom