Dearest Jack,<br/><br/>I am so happy to hear your news! I just knew you would make it! I'm sorry you won't be the actual pilot, but bombardier sounds really important. You'll still be on a plane, and that's what you've always wanted! What kind of plane will you be on? Will you be in Europe or the Pacific? Do you get to come home for a little bit after your training? You have to tell me all about it if you do.<br/><br/>Your mother got her letter a couple of days ago, so I knew before I got your letter. Mama made a chocolate cake, and Saturday night your parents came over to our house for dinner to celebrate. It was so nice to have them over. Mama made her delicious baked chicken, and your mother brought that yummy vegetable casserole she makes. I wish I could send you a piece of the chocolate cake! Mama is getting really good at baking using less sugar and butter and making it taste the same. After dinner we listened to the radio and played some cards, and then your father got a bug in him and wanted to dance. So we had a little impromptu dance right there in the living room with my parents, your parents, Bitsy, and me. It was so much fun!<br/><br/>Oh will you stop talking about me being married and being a mother? I blushed when I read what you wrote and Bitsy asked me what was wrong. I'm only eighteen, for pete's sake! I'm still just a girl. Besides, with everyone gone off to war, it's not like there is anyone here left for me to date anyway.<br/><br/>Even with the setback, the construction crews are almost done turning Monarch into a bomb factory. Papa doesn't talk about it, but he comes home every day looking more and more weary. I don't want him to work there, but I guess there isn't another choice. He hides the newspaper from Mama so he doesn't cause her even more stress. She knows he does it, but just keeps smiling for him. Some days I think she prefers to be blissfully ignorant. I know there are days I would rather not know what's going on in the world.<br/><br/>I'm sorry this letter is a bit of a Debbie Downer. I'm just sad thinking about everything that's going on. I will write to you again soon, and it will be much happier!<br/><br/>Always,<br/><span class="bbc_font" style="font-family: lucida handwriting;">Evie</span><br/><br/>P.S. I miss you too, Jack. Every time I'm at your house it seems empty without your voice ringing in the halls. I haven't even gone to the lake since the last time we went before you left. It just wouldn't feel right to be there without you.<br/><br/>