May 13, 1944

Dear Joe,

Received your letter today and enjoyed it very much. Don't worry about not finishing school because I'm positive you will be graduating this June. Gosh I can hardly wait to see you.

I always get ideas of doing something but they never come out. I got the idea of going to Chicago alone before you come & visit you for a short time & live in the coop with you & then when you come back to Manzanar I would come with you. I thought about this but mom said "no." Now the only thing to do is wait till you come. Life is sure dull out this way.

The weather has been very good and the days are spent more with ease. The sun comes up around 6:30 and I have started from last Sunday to get up and go eat. I have put on a lot of weight cause I

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have been sleeping too much, but now that I get up I can feel a little bit going away. The sun goes down around 8:00 in the evening so every time the show starts late.

We have seen so many shows which are corny but lately they have been showing goods ones such as "China Girls" "Beau Geste," "Biscuit Eater," and "Iron Major." Next feature is going to be "Turnabout."

Last night they had a shibai for the elders at Kitchen 14 for the Buddhist people. It started from 7:00 or 7:30 and lasted till 11:00 and while I was at the show Aiko-san was over (Momo's mother).

Gee, I sure was surprised when I heard that Aiji got a scholarship at school for character, scholar, leadership and something else.

Next week we are having the Roman Banquet and it will be swell. I can hardly wait to taste real fried rabbit. This will be the first time in 2 years.

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I was quite surprised to hear that the Smeltzers were going to have a child.

Gosh, you go to a lot of operas. I didn't think you liked them that much.

Gosh, I am getting quite curious to know what you do when you have girls come over. Do you dance? Girls are sure coming to your place a lot. Whats going on? Courtship?

I have been practicing on the piano pretty much. I finished that song "Smoke Gets in Your Eyes" and now I can play it perfect. I wish I had more music to play.

My arms are feeling better today but the veins still are green and stick out a bit.

Boy, I wish I knew what the surprise was before you sent the package and before I went after it. Boy tell me if its 30 lbs.

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Tell Towru "hello."

This letter doesn't say much but it supposedly is to be a hello letter.

Write soon.

Just

Masako

P.S. George Odahara went to Chicago. A lot of our old men in this block went on furloughs to Idaho.

Tomorrow is Mothers Day. Did you get the flowers?

Please excuse the writing.