13 Aug August 13, 1945

Letter
from: A. Shonkwiler
to: PFC George W. Shonkwiler
Aug. 13, 1945
Mon. 11:00 P.M.
Noteworthy: Mom gets seriouly angry at Eda Sweeney.  Dad orders Mom around.

Dear Wes,

Well, alone at last!  Eda Sweeney left on the 8:15 train from Englewood Station
and Ronnie and I got home about 9:00.  Since then I put Ronnie to bed and sat
on the front step with Mr. and Mrs. Page.

We’ve done very little all day today except sit around and discuss children,
war, husbands, etc.

While eating dinner

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tonight Eda sort of burned me up!  I s’pose I shouldn’t have taken it to heart,
but I did.  Sat. nite when she showed Don’s picture to me, I thought he looked
pretty nice, but I said nothing more than that he was nice looking.  Tonite at
the table out of a clear blue sky she remarked, "When you see my husband, you
won’t even want yours."  It stunned me so that I couldn’t think of a thing to
say other

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than, you’re bragging now, aren’t you?  It was such an ignorant thing for her
to say that I just can’t get over it.  After a while I said something to the
effect that "Ronnie looks like his Daddy, and I think Ronnie is rather cute."

When she said what she did I almost replied by saying, "Evidently in a town
the size of Berne (pop 2,000) Don didn’t have much choice," but I didn’t, as I
didn’t want

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to sound as ill bred as she.

I had 2 letters from you today dated Aug. 7th and 8th.  In one you mentioned
Edith Hayes’ domination over Ernest, etc.  You also mentioned my saying I
sympathize with his position and mentioned that diligence in the right
direction could overcome the few special advantages another person has had.
I hadn’t meant that by my "sympathy" remark at all, except kiddingly

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because you so often "order me around" when you’re at home, and not because I
felt that either you or Edith had any few special advantages.  In fact I
consider my education and business experience sufficient to compete with both
you and Edith.  In fact there are times when I consider Edith prying into other
folks’ affairs downright ignorant.  I believe that Ernest is far superior in
his trade than she

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was in her profession.

I better stop right now before I say something I may be sorry for later.  After
all I guess I’m rather "touchy" after Eda’s remark, plus your letter, altho I
don’t believe you meant it as it sounded to me.  That’s the trouble with
writing, as one has no chance of explaining chance remarks as is possible in a
conversation.

I’ll have to meet Don now for sure, as he

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must must be an <? Adoris>.  Of course I guess I do a lot of talking about what
a nice husband I have, so perhaps you sound perfect, too.  Although I’d never
tell a girl outright that my husband was better than hers.

Ida wants Ronnie and me to visit her soon, but unless you come home soon and we
can go together, I doubt if I will.  I’ll be going to Paw Paw Lake this weekend,
then Elsie will be coming in on

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her vacation.  Gladys and Dick will probably come in soon, too.  I’ve certainly
had enough guests to keep me going like a merry-go-round the past few weeks.

I’m enclosing a clipping from our tribune concerning polio (infantile
paralysis).  I told you last week they there were 18 cases in Rkfd and 36 in
Winnebago county, but over the weekend it’s mounted to 100 cases in Rkfd alone.
I wish Betty would move the kids

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away from Rkfd for the rest of the epidemic period.  Even soldiers from Camp
Grant (a redeployment center now) are banned from coming to Rkfd at present.

If I thought it would save Patsy and June from being crippled for life I’d ask
them to stay here for the duration of the epidemic, but of course it would
probably be better for her to go to Freeport to her folks, altho I doubt if
she’ll do either.

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It seems this surrender news on the air the past 3 days is giving everyone the
jitters including me.  I keep that radio on continually, but as yet there’s
nothing official and the war goes on.

Well, goodnight, Darling and sweet dreams and to me you’re still tops in my
heart and meeting anyone else’s husband couldn’t change that, I’m sure.

Bye now goodnight,
Mom and Ronnie