Author’s note: Although the letter of May 24 doesn’t reveal much about the meeting on Sunday, May 22, this next letter indicates that the day left a lasting, romantic impression on Buddy and suggests a life changing plan was formed between him and Marty.
5/27/38
W. Lafayette, In.
Marty Dear:
We amuse me. I sat around all day Monday and Tuesday just thinking. My suggestions for our future probably were a little unexpected, and I was afraid that after you got to thinking them over that you would change your mind. I wouldn’t have blamed you if you had, but I certainly hoped that you wouldn’t. And then I finally realized that you were waiting to hear from me in the same way, so I wrote. And since I wrote, I have been on pins and needles. So you can see how glad I am to hear from you.
Nuts. I changed the stops on this mill for an outline and it doesn’t seem right now.
Your information from Jane Siechen is interesting. Let me know what the score turns out to be.
As regards the poetry and morals in general, to put it moderately, I have gone to hell in the last two years. And my self-respect has hit the bottom also. That is one of the things that usually happens in college. Things that used to shock me are everyday mixed conversation now. But even the few hours I spent with you improved the situation some. Having something worthwhile to work forward to, instead of this aimless drifting of the past two years, is already helping. I think you will find the early chapters of my book much more digestible. But if you don’t, honey, please just say so. You’re about the only friend I have who really criticizes without bias. I like you that way.
This Army business is apparently all for this training period. All of the men have received notice but yours truly. With this in view, and in view of the fact that the other jobs cannot be held open indefinitely, I wrote to them and asked them if I am definitely excluded from the March class. I should hear from them Sunday. If I don’t hear by Tuesday noon, I shall write to Wells-Gardner and to Radio and see what they can do for me.
I appreciate your views on the Chicago job, but I think we had best wait until I hear about wages etc. before making a decision. There are several points in favor of the writing job if the pay is right. One of these is reputation. There are probably 1000 radio engineers who read it and would see my name consistently for the time I was there. This may mean a good deal in future job hunting. If I go into writing as a profession, as it looks like I may, this experience would be of inestimable value. I shall keep you posted on developments, and shall try to talk it over with you before doing anything definite.
I’m just going around in circles on this letter. I have only a few minutes to write it if I want it to get to you by tomorrow, so I can’t stop to organize it properly.
As concerns M.G., there will be no repetition of the MJH affair in the future (starting last weekend), if you get what I mean. And I honestly cannot see how anything could have happened in the past as everything went off according to schedule a couple of weeks back. So lets just drop the subject. I suppose I am a rat, but I thought it would be much easier for her if I didn’t present the true facts of the case. The argument I put up is that the financial end of things is hopeless. I stressed the family (mine) and the fact they will be needing help one of these days. By the time she gets to college, she will get over it very nicely. For the time being, I am seeing her only spasmodically, as I don’t want to aggravate the situation.
You certainly have Nena doped out. I didn’t write because I knew that you could do it better. I don’t know her as well as I should, but I’ll bet she has some rather definite ideas on the subject of what’s what between us.
The enclosure is some improvement over the spectre that was plastered on the New Year’s card. It shows up my double chin tendency, but I’m not vain about my appearance, so what. I’ve practically worn out my album looking at your picture. The fellows haven’t figured out why my album should be out, as it usually isn’t except when having additions made to it.
Well, Honey, I must stop. Honest to goodness and cross my heart—I wouldn’t take back anything I said Sunday for the world. If I could write down that day as beautifully as it remains in my memory, I would go down in history as one of the world’s greatest authors.
88,s Cy