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January 13, 1946
Dear Mother and Daddy,
I do hope that you got my post card about the laundry box before you went to a lot of trouble to locate it. Shortly after I mailed your letter I checked at the post office again and located it. I sent the post card as soon as I could. I do hope that you didn't start on any great search for it.
I started off the first week-end of the quarter with a very exciting, but not too busy week-end. On Friday night I went with Hugh Sutherland to a dance here on campus. I was really surprised to find out how entertaining he really is. The Junior class gave a dance called the Scotch Highball to which every one was supposed to wear some kind of a Scotch costume. Almost everyone appeared in just plain plaid skirts and sweaters, but I wish you could have seen Sally and Willie, especially Willie - He was complete with a plaid skirt of Sallie's and some knee length socks with garters. They got some kind of a prise for being the best dressed couple. I stayed home all day Saturday and did studying and things around here that I had to do. On Saturday night I went to the movies with Jack. I took along a little exploding box and told him that George Grimes had given it to me to give to him. He was slightly suspicious though, and opened it at some distance from himself. I was slightly disappointed that he wasn't taked completely by surprise, but at least he didn't know what it was. It belonged to Illie and was an awfully cute little trick. When you open the box, the sides fall down and lots of little red and white balls fall out; they come out rather suddendly, and if one is in the correct position, they will hit you in the face. Jack seemed to think it was awfully funny, and after the show we went to this place to get something to eat and it seemed that everyone we knew was there; so
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naturally the joke was presented about four more time. First we told Anne Cater and Dick Huntsburger that it was an engagement present for them, and they were slightly surprised to have little balls pop out at them. Then we played it on about four more people including George Westfall and Fargo Wells, both of whom thought it was a present for them because it was their birthday in a couple of days. After that we put it away because it involved quite a process to get the whole thing back together again. On Sunday morning I went to church with Jack, and then in the afternoon we went to the library and studied for about four hours.
It seems that I was slightly wrong about Art. He called on Thursday night, and then came over to see me. The next night he called again and asked me to go out for a little while on Sunday and also a date the next Saturday night. He also said he was sorry that he hadn't asked me out for this Saturday but there was sort of a funny situation involved about which I later heard several versions.
We have been leading a gay life around the house thanks to Illie. Over the vacation she found a joke shop and went wild buying jokes to play on everyone. Everyonce in a while she plants somthing around, until now everyone suspects something is going to happen when they see her coming. The little exploding box was one that she lent to me for the evening, but she also has one where a little play spider pops out when you open the box, and a can of almonds which two green snakes pop out of. We are all just waiting for the next ones - she has millions left.
As yet I haven't been able to get ahold of Dr. Popper, but I have made arrangements to talk to him this afternoon; so you don't need to worry about my taking music lessons again.
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I started to read my first French novel today, and I was surprised to find how much I could understand. I really don't know very many French words, but I simply can't stop to look very many up because if I did, I'd never get through because the books are about three hundred pages long. But for some reason I understood quite well what was going on, enough so that I got terribly interested in the story.
Thank you ver much for getting the blue file for me. It is just what I wanted for this Spring to go with my blue hat, and I'd love to have it made just exactly like the pattern with the crossed pieces in front long sleeves just like the pattern shows and everything just like the picture on the front.
I would appreciate it if you wouldn't forget to send the little blue book I asked for, and I do hope my worry about the laundry box didn't cause any trouble.
Love to all,
Mary
P. S. These are the addresses you said you would like to have.
Mrs. Robert Lipman 180 Stonewall Road Berkeley
Mrs. Henry D. Costigan 1669 Thousand Oaks Berkeley
