Letter 28, November 17, 1941

Dear Mother and Dad,

I want to tell you what this room looks like before anybody moves, so I will tell you now. There are five fellows including myself. We have been reading funny books and funny papers since nine-thirty this morning. Nelson is sitting in his shorts with a cigarette in one hand and a Superman comic book in the other. The twins are sitting on my bed and Buddy--Buddy is the fellow who is living with Nelson and I now--is laying in his bed reading the Phantom comic book. Nelson's radio is going and now the boys are starting to move Nelson is getting ready for the shower, one of the twins just threw a comic book down and said: "it's hard to believe", the other twin is changing the radio, and buddy is getting dressed.

I wrote all that to try to get into a writing mood. I hope it worked.

That new suit of yours sounds like a honey Louis. What do you get mama? You can't go with a dude unless your as well dressed.

The twins sent for their ski clothes about a month ago and they arrived last Thursday. They both proudly brought them in and showed them to Nelson and I. I thought I was going to break out into uproarious laughter when I first saw them but I restrained myself. Their pants are dark blue, heavy woolen fabric, with heavy rubber bands around the bottom. They are built for cut on the order of a two year old's snow suit. Their jackets are of the same material with rubber bands around the waist to keep the snow from getting under the jacket. All total, their ski suits are the most cumbersome suits I have ever seen. And to top it all off, they told me they had some band new strand skis. Stramd skis are flat tops, made of white pine--about as durable as snow itself. When they left the room Nelson and I almost ruptured our vocal cords laughing. They came back and suspiciously ask us what was so funny--I told them Nelson just told me a joke.

Well, everyone in the house wants to go eat and I am not going to argue with them. I will complete my letter on a full stomach.

Back again. Now the boys are all back in the room. We are listening to Jack Benny. When the program ends we are going to a picture show. Then I will mail this letter. There re4ally isn't any news. You probably read about the earthquake and the P-38 that crashed--as I did--am having a lot of fun and still trying to get a lot done. Hmm a poet.
Love, Tom

P.S. Sorry I can't make it home for this Thanksgiving. Have a good time and don't eat to much . As usual, am late mailing my mail.