10 Jul July 10, 1945

Letter
from: A. Shonkwiler
to: PFC George W. Shonkwiler
July 10th, 1945
Tuesday, 8:30 p.m.

Dearest Wes,

Well, here I am still at Schafer Lake, Ind., playing nursemaid to four wild
Indians.  Claude and Jo went to another cottage down the road a way to play
cards with a couple from Evansville.  I was invited to come along but got out
of it by saying I know very little about cards.  It’s no fun being the odd one
in a party, especially when I don’t know these people.  Besides, I hated to
leave Ronnie with the kids, as even Norma Jean, the eldest, is only 10.  Jo
says they leave them home

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alone when they go into Indianapolis, but to me I think they’re too young.

It’s rather cool tonight, so Claude built a fire in the fireplace before he
left, but it’s dying out right now.  I guess I’ll stay warm for a while anyway.

After breakfast Claude left to play golf again and he wasn’t back at dinner
time (5:00 P.M.) so we ate without him and went into Monticello for groceries
and to inquire for mail at the post office.  We had no luck, but guess I should
be content with the 5 I got yesterday for a while, at least. I’ll go in again

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tomorrow and guess that will be my last trip in for letters until I get home,
because Mrs. Page was to save all letters (after today) until I get home.

Ronnie is getting as brown as a berry up here and is running around barefoot all
day long.  I’ve been afraid to let him, since Deedie got a nasty cut on her
foot, but as long as Billy goes barefoot he insists he should too.  He just
follows Billy and Claude around like a shadow.  He’s taking quite a shine to
"Uncle Claude" and won’t let anyone do a thing for him when he’s around. (Maybe
it’s cause he looks like his daddy - could be!.)

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We did (Joe and I) take the kids for a boat ride today, but it was cool and I
got very little suntan out of it.  The food we’re having, consisting of a lot
of fried things isn’t doing my complexion much good.  And in a way, I’ll be
glad when I can get home and eat what I should. I do get an appetite up here
and the food is good, so I’ve been eating whether it’s good for me or not.

We got 3 chickens (on the hoof) tonight at the farmhouse close by.  A bit over
8 pounds for $3.30. Not bad,

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but we have to kill, pluck and dress them ourselves, which is the job I dislike
but have learned to do, if I want to eat chicken.

We haven’t been able to get any meat up here but a dozen wieners in the eleven
days we’ve been here.  We did have 2 fryers last Sunday for dinner and with
the 10 lb cooked ham, 2 lbs. of bacon, and 4 lbs of steak Claude and Joe
brought with them, we’ve done very well.  In fact a lot better than I have had
at home and that’s certain.

I haven’t heard a peep out of the bedrooms, so

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guess the kitties are all asleep by now. (Just a minute, I guess I’ll go in and
cover them up.)  I feel like a mother chick with her brood tonight.

Well, the fire’s out, so guess I’ll get to bed.  Brrr! It’s cold!  Could you do
something about it if you were here?  (Well, at least you could keep the fire
going.)  As it is I just heated a glass of milk and I’m drinking it and eating
some cookies.  It’s just a shame you can’t share it with me.

Well, good night, darling and lots of love, always,
Mom and Ronnie.

P.S.
Will you be able to tell me if and when you are being sent home?