CHAPTER 1
"Hi, Carolyn,"
Carolyn recognized Patty's voice as soon as shepicked up the phone.
"Hi, Patty, I'm really looking forward to seeingyou next week at Callie's wedding!"
"Me too, but that's not why I'm calling you."
"I hope nothing's wrong. The wedding isn't off,is it?"
"No, you worrywart! It's just that I was up in theattic in the old place in Omaha and guess what Ifound! In an old cedar chest that I used to call my"hope" chest, I found all of my letters from you backin the 40s. I had saved all of them and had them tiedup with a blue ribbon. I started to read the first oneand then I thought that if you still had your lettersfrom me it would be fun to read them together."
"I know exactly where those letters are. I waswatching a World War II movie the other day and Ithought about those letters."
"Bring them with you when you come for thewedding. It'll be fun to remember those days! I'll betwe'll have a million laughs! Don't peek! We'll readthem together."
"Boy, that's going to be hard for me! I'm such asnoop."
"I can't wait to see you. In only a week we'll betogether. I'm renting a room at the best motel herein town so we can visit (and read!) without botheringthe wedding preparations."
"Sounds great! See you then."
Patty hung up and picked up the letters. Shestuffed them into her suitcase so she wouldn't forgetthem.
* * *
Patty glanced at the arrivals and departures."Great! Carolyn's plane is on time!
I wish I could go down to the concourse like weused to. 9-11 really changed things!"
Patty was beginning to think Carolyn had missedthe plane as the disembarking passengers hurriedby her. But at last she saw her coming, pulling alarge black suitcase.
"She must be planning to stay a month," shethought as she ran to Carolyn and hugged her.
"I'm starving!" said Carolyn. "I had to get to theairport in Portland at 4 this morning!"
"Well, it's only ten o'clock here, but we can stopon the way to the motel and have some tea, and youcan find something good to eat."
"Anything is better than airline cuisine."
"If you can call it that!
Later, when the bags were all unpacked they tooktheir iced tea out on to the balcony that overlookedthe pool.
"I'm glad you got a motel that had a nice pool. Ipacked my swimsuit, did you?: Carolyn asked.
"You know what a lousy swimmer I am," saidPatty, "But I did pack it. I'll sit on the side and watchyou."
"It's a good thing you've got your suit. I'd havemade you go in your underwear otherwise."
"You and how many others?"
"Well, let's get started," said Patty. "Your cardfrom Idaho started the whole thing. I was so sadthat you were going out west."
"You read first" said Carolyn.
"Here goes!"
July 16, 1941
I'm writing this postcard from Twin Falls, Idaho,as you can see by the picture. We stayed here lastnight. We should be in Oregon by tomorrow. I didn'tget a chance to tell you that we have our new address.It is P.O. Box 45, Mansfield, Oregon. I miss you andNebraska. Love, Your cousin, Carolyn
Carolyn smiled. "I enjoyed that trip but I was sadtoo. I didn't want to leave you and my friends. Oregonseemed like the end of the world. I was really happywhen your letter got there."
Wabash, NebraskaJuly 25, 1941
Dear Carolyn,
I got your postcard from Twin Falls, Idaho. Iwish I could have gone with you! I'd love to see allthe states you're passing through. The farthest I'vebeen is Omaha to see our Grandma. And once Iwent to Lincoln to see the Nebraska football teamplay. Well, I did go on the train to Chicago once withmy Nana, but I was only four years old so it was along time ago.
I miss you so much already. Did you know thatMama and Daddy are getting a divorce? When theytold us, it was the saddest day of my life. Callie's too!She and I cried and cried. Daddy said that he andMama loved both of us but, they couldn't be marriedany longer even though they were still friends. Weare going to live with Daddy and Nana in Wabash.Daddy will teach seventh grade there. Mama is goingto work in Omaha. Remember a month ago when wewere all together at Aunt Abby's house? I think yourmom tried to talk our mom out of leaving. Since theyare twins they usually think alike but your momhad no luck this time.
(Patty paused for a moment and Carolyninterjected, "I know. We both hoped and prayed theywould get back together, but some good things cameof it too. I really envied you the two years you got tospend in Japan that never would have happenedwithout the divorce.
Patty nodded. "Well, I envied you having bothparents together and being able to stay in one schoolthrough high school."
Patty continued reading,")
I haven't met any kids here yet. We only movedhere last week. We have a big yard and a housewith an upstairs and a basement. Callie and I haveto share a room but we have another room we canuse for our toys and books. Daddy has a room andNana has a room and we have a living room, diningroom, kitchen and bathroom. I saw a girl in thehouse behind us. I hope she's in my grade. Withoutyou here, I will need a girl friend.
Be sure to write and tell us all about Oregon. Inever thought you would move so far away! Why didyour dad have to go and buy a farm in Oregon? Wehave lots of farms in Nebraska! Write soon!
Love,Your cousin, Patty
(Carolyn said, "Most of our farm has been soldfor a housing development but we still have a smallpasture so we can get down to Orebraska Creek. Doyou remember that you helped name that creek?"
"All I remember about Orebraska Creek are thoseugly crawdads that we caught there the summer Icame to see you," said Patty with a grin. "Now youread the next letter.")
Mansfield, OregonAugust 1, 1941
Dear Patty,
I can't believe Aunt Opal and Uncle Don aregetting a divorce. Mama says we just have to prayfor them every day. Mama is going to call your momwhen we get a telephone.
Our house is on the edge of town. The barns andfields stretch to a creek that has no name. Daddysays that Jessie and I can name it. Jessie wants tocall it Little Platte. I think she is homesick too. SinceI've never named anything before, I want it to bespecial so I haven't decided on anything yet.
Daddy likes his job. He is a millwright. He fixesmachines that break down in the lumber mill. All ofMansfield smells like fresh Christmas trees becausethere are dozens of mills around here.
Daddy couldn't wait to show us the ocean so weunpacked the trailer and then drove to the beach.You won't believe your eyes when you see it! Thewaves crash into the shore. We wanted to go wadingbut the water was like ice. Daddy said we'd getused to it, but I don't think so! Daddy built a fire ofdriftwood and we slept on the sand near it. All nightlong I heard the ocean roar.
When we got home Jessie and I helped Mamaunpack the dishes. Jessie did okay for a six year old.She had her 6th birthday at the beach.
Our neighbor, Mr. Yakimoto came over with hisdaughter, Suki. They brought us a box of peachesfrom their orchard. So Mama is canning peachestoday.
Suki asked Jessie and me to go with her to theswimming pool in Mansfield. We're riding our bikes.It is only a mile. Daddy says he'll teach us how toswim next weekend at the river. We'll have to stayin the shallow end until then.
Miss you. Love, Your cousin Carolyn
(Patty interrupted, "Yes, back then there werehardly any swimming pools. It's hard to learn howto swim in a creek. I didn't take swimming lessonsuntil I was in college and that's too late. I never wasany good. Now there are pools in most of the townsand cities. How things change!"
Carolyn nodded, "Yes, Jessie and I both had totake swimming lessons that summer It turned outthat Daddy's idea of teaching swimming was tothrow us into the river."
Wabash, NebraskaSeptember 1, 1941
Dear Carolyn,
God hasn't answered my prayers yet becauseMama is still in Omaha. I think she is coming tovisit at Christmas and maybe she'll stay here then.
I'd love to see the ocean sometime. You are reallyseeing the world! Well, at least the United States!And Mansfield has a swimming pool! How luckyyou are! Remember the little creek we used to getto wade in? That's all there is around here. I'm gladyou have a friend! Suki is a pretty name. I neverheard that name before.
School starts tomorrow. I can't believe we'll befifth graders. I've got my hair up in those awfulmetal curlers so I'll look nice for the first day. Iliked it better when Mama put my hair up in ragsbecause they are easier to sleep on. Nana doesn'tknow how to do it because she says she only hadDaddy so she didn't learn how to do girls' hair. Iwish I had curly hair. Mama said I did when I waslittle but when I was five, Nana took me to Chicagoon the train. She didn't know how to take care oflittle girl's hair so she had it cut short. My hair wasnever curly again. Mama says she'll never forgethow I looked when I got off the train. My hair wasas straight as can be! Can you remember me withcurly hair? I can't.
If I can't have curly hair, I wish I could havelooked like Callie. She has blond hair like minebut she has big brown eyes and gets a pretty tanevery summer. People always say how cute she isand "What big brown eyes!" I have hazel eyes and Iget sunburned if I'm in the sun. And you rememberhow I get freckles too. Daddy says he likes frecklesbut I don't.
Callie and I have been to the library here. I'vebeen reading all of the Anne of Green Gables books.I just love them, don't you? I read LITTLE WOMEN,and LITTLE MEN but my favorite book by LouisaMay Alcott is JACK AND JILL.
I did meet the girl in the house behind us. Hername is Janie and she is in the fifth grade too. Shesaid she'd walk to school with Callie and me. Herhouse is really big. It has a big front porch and hasa lot of room. I'm glad I have somebody to walk with.We'll take Callie to her room and then she'll showme where the fifth grade room is.
In your next letter tell me what you namedthe creek behind your house. You could name itthe Oregon Platte. Remember the time we roastedmarshmallows and hot dogs at the Platte River?They said it was an inch deep and a mile wide. Thatwas fun.
Love, your cousin, Patty
Mansfield, OregonSeptember 7, 1941
Dear Patty,
Every year I worry that I will fail my new gradeat school. I always do well but I still worry. I alsoworry about you and your mama and daddy. I hopeyour next letter will bring good news.
School starts tomorrow. We didn't start as earlyas you do in Nebraska because the kids pick pruneshere and the farmers need them. Next year I'mgoing to pick too. It will be fun to earn my ownmoney. I'll get to pick strawberries in June, cherriesin July, and beans in August. Maybe you can comeout next summer and stay with us and earn somemoney too.
I'm glad you found a friend. Suki and I arebecoming good friends too. We rode our bikes tothe school last Friday and Mr. Branson, the janitor,let us come in so Suki could show me around. Theschool is brick and it is tall. It has three stories. Thehigh school is on the third floor. It has a slide thatgoes from the third floor to the ground. Kids wouldslide down it if there ever was a fire. While we werethere some kids climbed up the slide and rode downon bread wrappers. They came down so fast thatthey flew off the end. I'd like to try it even if it doeslook scary. Suki said one boy broke his leg in threeplaces so Mr. Branson yells at them when he catchesthem on the slide.
(Patty interrupted, "I haven't seen one of thosefire escapes in ages. D o you suppose there are stillsome around?"
Carolyn shook her head. "I know we still haveschools with more than one story but I can't rememberseeing any of those slides anymore. However they dofire drills now, it can't be as much fun as those oldfire escapes were! But I better get on with this letteror we'll never finish reading them all!")
The lower grades are on the middle floor andthe toilets, sinks, and showers are in the basement.There is a big furnace that burns sawdust to heatthe building. There is a big room full of sawdust thatsmells so good that even the bathrooms don't stink.
("I haven't thought of those old sawdust burnersin years. We used to see piles of sawdust all overand we even played on the sawdust mountains allthe time."
Patty said, "We got to play on hay stacks whenwe'd go visit a friend on a farm. You don't seehaystacks anymore either. Now the hay is harvestedall baled up. Baled hay may be neater but it's not asmuch fun! Well, go ahead and finish the letter.")
Oh, yes, we haven't named the creek yet. We'retrying to decide among The Oregon Platte, The Mini-muddy,and the Orebraska. Tell me which you likebest.
I better close for now and get ready for tomorrow.I hope I have all my supplies.
With love, Carolyn
Wabash, NebraskaSeptember 20, 1941
Dear Carolyn,
I got your letter. Picking prunes and the otherthings sounds like fun and I'd love to earn somemoney. I hope that I can come out and visit you nextsummer. How strange that they burn sawdust in theschool furnace. You remember that our furnacesburn coal. It doesn't smell good like sawdust butit keeps the furnace hot. Not that we need a hotfurnace yet because it is still hot. The nights aregetting cooler though and the leaves are startingto turn red. Our sugar maple is beautiful and thebig cottonwood's leaves are getting yellow. We rakedleaves yesterday and Daddy made a bonfire andburned them last night.
Oh, before I forget, I think I like the OreBraskabest as a name for that creek.
School is turning out to be pretty good. I have apretty teacher named Miss Cook. I like most of thekids in the class. There are about thirty in my class.The girls have different names that I've never heardbefore such as Coralee, Roseanne, and Jeannice.
Janie is going to be a good friend. I know theymust have a lot more money than we have but Idon't care. Yesterday after school two boys from ourclass, George and Richard, followed us home. Theyteased us by pulling our hair and trying to trip us.We called them pests but they kept it up anyway.When we got to Janie's house, we sat on their porchswing and talked. The boys got tired of that andstarted showing off by walking on the railing. Wethought about doing it but before we got up to try,the boys sat on the railing and tried to see how farthey could spit! We said, "Yuck" and told them togo home.
When I got home the house smelled so good!Nana had baked some chocolate chip cookies. Theynow have chocolate already in chips so you don'thave to chop the chocolate up yourself. You can buya bag at the store. Have you had any yet? They makethe BEST cookies. Callie and I probably ate a halfa dozen each.
Janie, George, Richard, and Fred came overtonight and we played Andy, Andy, Over. We useour little garage to throw the ball over. Callie playedtoo so we could have even sides. Janie and I got topick the teams and she chose Richard first. I wantedto pick him but I took Fred and he's a good playertoo.
Janie and I think we're too old for dolls now, butlast Saturday we couldn't think of anything to do sowe took all the dolls out in the backyard and playedhouse. Callie has a little washing machine so wewashed all the doll clothes. When we saw Georgeand Richard coming down the street, we threw allthe doll things in the garage. We didn't want them tosee us playing dolls. I think we are too old for that!(I wish I had those toys now. Children's toys of ourera are worth money now days.)
I hope you like your new school. Tell me all aboutit in your next letter.
Love, Patty
Mansfield, OregonOctober 2, 1941
Dear Patty,
I don't think we're too old to play with dolls.Jessie, Suki, and I used to pay house almost everyday but now we usually play school instead.
Mama says that it is a good idea for you to comeout and pick strawberries with me next summer.She said she'd try to work it out with your parents.Won't that be fun? We could pick you up at the trainstation in Portland.
We haven't had any chocolate chip cookies at ourhouse, but Mama asked the grocer if he would ordersome for his store. I hope he does. The grocer saidthey were available since 1939 so it's time they gotsome. The cookies really sound good.
