Blk. 14 Bldg. 12 Apt. 4
Manzanar Relocation Ctr.
Manzanar, California

February 28, 1944

Dear Joe and Towru,

We received your letters and enjoyed them very much. Towru, the first air mail letter you wrote came on the same day as the second and it had been sent to Muroe, California by some mistake. When I first saw both of them I was sure that they got you and was worried for the first time.

About the draft. We aren't worrying too much. Jimmy and Mac told me what you said & I passed it on to mom and pop. So we knew all about what was in your letter.

Gee, did I forget to tell you thanks for the candy, gum & bobby pins? Gee, I'm sure thoughtless. We are enjoying the eats, and the bobby pins are really good and strong. Thanks a million. Thanks again.

We are in good shape just as you are and we hope your feeling better by not working too hard and not studying too hard. Bedbug bites won't kill you but it will keep reminding you to keep your house good and clean.

Joe, we were glad to hear from you after that long absence of not writing. We thought it was the finals so we weren't too worried. We hope you turn out with good grades. Glad you liked your birthday present.

Okay, I'll wait for the pictures instead of yapping to you in every single letter.

Nope, Towru, I ain't angry at you anymore than your angry. What do you think about that?

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Towru, I think your quite off the beam saying this kind of stuff at the beginning of a letter. Honto-ni Masako-san? What the heck is that, you jerk! Towru, mom was quite happy that you like the sweater and wear it a lot. Joe, I'm sorry about the sweater but right now the company hasn't that kind of yarn.

Yap! Yap! Yap! I sure would like you to bring something to camp for me. I asked mom for the permission and she said I could ask you to bring it. Towru, if you can go down to the music store and get a sheet music piece of "Rustle of Spring" or I think it's "Rustling of Spring" any way some thing like that, with the composers last name starting with D or M. If you remember, its the piano piece I used to play, the one Miss Smith was teaching me. If you can get a couple of popular songs like, "My Heart Tells Me" or "Martzi Dots" or something like that. Towru, if this is too much, you don't have to do it. This is, if you have enough time before coming to camp. If you can bring the camera, it would be pretty good (hint).

Towru, I was shore surprised when you said you enjoyed my letter, because this was the first time you actually told me. After all, I put in a lot of time to write letters to you and I also have to use my noodles (brains).

Well, we are glad to know you probably will come to camp but wish you, Joe, could also come too.

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The people that were leaving for Tulelake on our block couldn't leave because we had a big blizzard here in camp and the snow was thick as heck. Some places it was 2 ft, 1 ft, 1/2 ft. I played outside after the blizzard stopped and had fun playing snow ball fights against Mac and some other guys. There was no school on Tuesday or Wednesday and boy were we lucky. Los Angeles had snow too. This was for the first time in 14 years, or something like that.

Also in Los Angeles, they had a power strike and many of the people had no electricity. The workers wouldn't fix the wires when they broke but after the 8 days, the strike was stopped.

In camp the blizzard was so bad that we didn't have electricity either. Then we were supposed to get up at 5:00 & eat at that time and there was no electricity so we ate in a blacked out mess hall. We had no hot water and felt icky after not taking a shower.

But now everything is okay. All during the time that the people were leaving for Tulelake, the weather was bad. During the time of the thick snow, most all of the cars had chains on the tires. This was the first time that I ever saw chains on tires. You should have seen the camp. Boy, the mountains were pretty white. The Alabama hills are pretty white yet.

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Now that all of the Tule Lakers are gone, the kitchen sure is empty. Man oh man.

Much of the snow is melted off of the ground but some snowmen are still standing.

How was the weather in Chicago. Was it bad like ours?

I got a letter from the Varins and they only had 8 inches of snow. Manzanar had a lots of snow.

They have shows outside now and it really is cold. Last time I went there was snow under the benches & it was cold like heck. I saw the "Spoilers," a short picture with Marlene Dietrich, & Randolph Scott. Gee, and they charge too. Dirty guys, charging small kids just to make money to pay off for the baseball debts.

Well, I guess thats about all.

Just,

Masako

P.S. Jimmy sure has a 75% crush on Hiro.

P.S. Matsu Iiyama went to Reno.

Are you going to bring any of the recordings that you made?

Well, so long & Joe, we'll be awaiting for that long letter you are promising.

Good-by till next time!

Towru, I can't get over it but Jimmy has really fallen for Hiro.