Dear Violet,
It sure was good to get your letter yesterday. I was so happy to hear from you that I made up my mind to get up extra early this morning while the house is quiet and write you back.
Vi, you just don’t know what your encouraging words meant to me. You always know exactly what to say to make me think I might not be losing my marbles after all.
You won’t believe who stopped by yesterday—Vern Ingram. Him and Si’s always been like brothers. I know they miss one another now that they live so far apart. Remember Vern and Ouida’s boy, Reed? He had those beautiful eyes? Well, Vi, he’s all grown up and been through a terrible ordeal in the war. Near about lost his leg and can’t hardly walk. Has awful nightmares and keeps to himself all the time. Can’t get his mind settled after all he’s been through. Vern said Reed wants to come back to the loop. Says he’s just not adjusting with his family all around him, and he never did take to north Alabama—remember they moved up there when Ouida inherited that farm? So he’s coming to stay with us. He was such a sweet little thing when he was a child. And such a comfort to me after we lost our precious Samuel. Pray for me, Vi—pray that I’ll know how to help this lost boy.
On to happier news. I’m tickled to death that y’all have found you a church and made some nice friends. And Vi, friends are everything when you’re away from family. I’m more convinced of that every day. You know that young couple from Illinois I wrote you about? Well, they turned out to be good people. She’s just a dear little thing named Anna. Her husband, Jesse, came here with a chip the size of all creation on his shoulder. But Si’s working on him, and Jesse’s coming around. He’s a good boy. Just had his pride shot to pieces by the same hard times that forced us to turn Little Mama’s house into a hotel.
Anna has got to be friends with Daisy Dupree. I told you about Daisy—the one that’s done lost her husband to the war, bless her heart. I see a real special friendship between those girls. They remind me of us way back when. They’ve both got all excited about that ol’ pirate tale you and me used to love so much—Anna especially. I can’t figure out why it’s so important to her to find out about our Catherine and Andre, but it passes the time and gives us something to talk about. You know me, I’m always happy for something to talk about.
We’ve all gone to really liking that college professor from Chicago—Evelyn. Now, Vi, would you ever in a million years have thought your sister would be friends with a college professor? I sure appreciate the way she reins in her education so the rest of us don’t feel so stupid. That must take a lot out of her.
Oh! Si got rid of that awful couple from Reno. I can’t begin to tell you that story on paper, so you’ll just have to come home on the Fourth and hear all about it.
One last thing. I know I cried like a teething toddler when you left for Georgia. And no matter how many friends I make, there’s nobody can ever fill your shoes. But you’ve got to live your own life, honey. I see that now, watching Daisy and Anna try to find their way without their families. And I just want you to know that as long as you’re happy, I’m happy. Be happy over there in Georgia, precious Violet.
Kiss the young’uns for me and give Wiley a hug.
Your loving sister,
Dolly