Accident at the Alpha, A Burning Bush and A Downtown Dinner

Tuesday, February 12, 1952

Dear Andrew and John,

We received John's letter dated February 2 or was it the 3rd; anyway, it came on Saturday and the photo of Gen Pope arrived yesterday. I hope Andrew is back in shape once more; they tell me the woosy feeling leaves the moment you step off the boat but I wouldn't know. I'll clear up a couple of questions in John's letter first and then deal with the news. About the cash for the play, I have now asked Virginia three times to let me know how I should draw a check but she keeps saying wait till the bond is cashed. I am now going to make it payable to her and will get it off not later than tomorrow. And on the refrigerator, I have a statement from Sears which shows the initial cost was $215.75 and on January 20th I made the 21st payment totaling $189 which leaves only $9 for February, $9 for March and $8.75 for April. So there was more than enough in the bond, John.

Last Thursday was a school night but Ann needed groceries so she locked Arlene in with the kids and went to the Food Fair. Coming back the bottom fell out of her bag right in front of the Alpha and $8 worth of groceries spilled on the sidewalk. A bottle of liquid starch broke along with a quart of milk, a jar of grape preserves and several jars of baby food. The army came to her immediate rescue, she said, and two sargents helped her to stack the salvage against the building. (Catonsville is filthy with the boys these days. I don't believe we've told you that a Headquarters company has taken over St. Timothy's, working out of Meade on something classified and they've spread gravel on that nice hockey field on Ingleside for parking facilities and loused up other things as well) Back to, Ann, there she stood while an Alpha usher mopped up the goo. For a happy ending, Patsy Riordan came along with her wagon and wheeled the loot home. Good old Ann Scannell had been looking out her apartment window wherever or wherever that is and 'phoned for the help,

Sunday, Mommie felt like a taste of the country again and we drove out as far as Doctor's farms. On the way out we visited the Clapsaddles--Ann and Vickie, that is. To catch you up on them, you may remember that Earl left Detroit last fall and found the perfect job in New York and Ann took over her brother Walt's apartment at her Mom's house. So Earl came down to see her once in awhile, even Christmas, but finally quit (the job) the middle of January and came to Baltimore where he planned to lay around just resting for a few weeks and then definitely settle here. One fellow here in town offered him $200 a week to start, in full charge of the plant, but he must consider it as a permanent arrangement, which was not for Earl. When we got out there on Sunday, we were told Earl decided last week that Detroit is still the place where he is once again and where he plans to stay for a few months to build up enough capital to return to Baltimore to seek THE JOB. Several weeks ago Earl turned his Ann loose on furnishing their apartment--told her to do it up brown and hang the cost because they didn't know when they would be able to pay for it anyway. It is really attractive, as would be yours, if you had played with $2,000 worth of stuff.

We had our first taste of the February winds that are supposed to come in March. Yesterday, gusts of 50 and 55 miles per hour, so the papers said, tore the trellis nearest the front door completely off. I looked it over this morning when I took the trash out and it can be put back in shape without too much trouble. You know Ann; never thinking, she tried to burn a few tons of paper down in the corner of the yard. One puff of wind and she had fifty feet of burning hedge on her hands. Two dozen school kids, Dick Bellis and plenty of water took care of this one but I'm sure the hedge won't need cutting till late summer. Ann's in a bit of a stew anyway; here it is ten days till Sam and Pud's wedding and she hasn't heard from them nor received an invitation.

Stephen, old slob, has added a third -word to his vocabulary which now totals Mom, Dad and burp. Kathy spent another two nights last week coughing for an hour at a time without much let-up and Mike came down with an ear infection Sunday night. Ann kept him on a heating pad all day yesterday and it broke at supper time and the fever left him. Arlene was also home from school yesterday with something. On the good side, next time I'll have a couple of pictures for you.

I think Sunday was Uncle Andy's birthday but we haven't heard anything more from them.

I brought the car this morning as Abe has a holiday for Abe Lincoln. Virginia is also off Dee told me when I picked her up at Holmhurst and brought her in to Maryland General. She and Virginia have volunteered to baby sit if I ever get my income tax refund which we figure is enough for a show and dinner at the Marling House or Pierre's. Ann still doesn't believe it but I just have to do it because May will make three years since we were really downtown alone together.

As you can see from the typing, I'm trying to finish this before time gives out. Everybody sends hello and Ann says she will follow up when conditions permit. Mr. Beesemyer has brought his wife on from California. Where this ties in is that we used to alternate on the New York Times which is why I haven't been getting it so frequently any more. The days I ride with Abe I pick it up.


END OF LETTER

Editor's notes:

John is an amateur playwright and must supply cash for a script review

The Alpha is a movie theater in Catonsville

Abe: lifelong friend of Charles
Mr. Beesmeyer: worked for Charles' employer
Dick Bellis: next door neighbor
Ann Clapsaddle: Ann's High school friend
Pud - Puddy: Ann's cousin who is to be married
Patsy Riordan, Ann Scannell: friends of the family
Uncle Andy: Charles' Uncle
Virginia and Dee: friends of John

Next posting: February 20, 1952

Copyright 2012 Stephen A Conner