Dearest Evie,<br/><br/>I dreamt about you last night. It was a fresh spring day at our willow tree. I turned around and you were there picking those small flowers and putting them in your hair like you did when we were kids. As I rushed towards you, you looked up at me and I could see your face so clearly. When I reached for your hand, I heard a loud, piercing screech and I was jolted awake by the motion of the train pulling into the station. I was so disappointed, Evie. Just like a deflated balloon.<br/><br/>I am still in Texas, unfortunately. It is so hot here, sometimes i can't even sleep and it isn't uncommon for us to shower two or even three times a day. I itch constantly from the mosquito bites. They are huge! One fella even bet one could carry off a baby lamb if so inclined. They wait outside our barracks in swarms that I swear are as thick as fog. We line up four or five at a time to go inside all at once to minimize the chances of them getting in. They still do, but not as many.<br/><br/>Even with all of this, deep down there is part of me that revels in all the adversity and I am sure its the same with the other fellas too. It's like we're being initiated into a very secret club that few are privy to. I feel myself changing, Evie, growing. When we first got to basic we could barely do the calisthenics, now we run five miles before breakfast everyday and don't think a thing of it. We even bond over how nervous we are. Shaving before we go out onpass creates great grist for the rumor mill. A buddy of mine said he heard one of the upperclassmen say a guy was in class one day and he quit. He just stood up silently and walked out. Another says a buddy told him he heard if you dropped your pencil in class by the time you picked it up you would be so far behind you'd never catch up! I don't know if any of that's true but I am always going to have extra pencils ready.<br/><br/>I am glad you and mother enjoy your time together. I admit I thought it would be quite an inconvience for you, I still worry it is.  Are you still working on your quilt? I hope so, please promise me you will. Tell you what, we'll use it on the first picnic we go on under the willow tree when all of this is just a memory. Promise me.<br/><br/>Speaking of which, what do you think you will do when this is all over? I guess I ask because I hadn't thought about it for myself. If you're not going to get married would you be a teacher? A nurse? Maybe work at Lowe's department store. I honestly never thought about it before. Right now I feel like my real life is on hold so all my energies are focused on winning the war.<br/><br/>I don't know what kind of plane I will be on yet or where I will be going. They keep us in the dark for the most part, but I will keep you as informed as they will let me. I must go though, our classes begin in the morning and from now on it is going to be one mass of studying. Please continue to write, your letters remind me there is something more to all of this.<br/><br/>Always yours,<br/><br/>Jack<br/><br/><br/>