14-12-4
Manzanar, Calif.

Sept. 11, 1943

Dear Joe,

Thank you for the swell letter. Thank you, thank you, thank you, thank you & 1 million times thank you for the swell surprise. It just came this morning & it was adressed to Towru but I just couldnt wait so I just signed his name for him. I've opened it but not the gum box as as yet. I bet Towru will be as happy as I am. I waited all week & I just was impatient as ever. I bet it will be a surprise to pop & mom, too. Although pop & mom probably won't chew it as much as Towru & I will.

Joe, we are glad too that you went to Chicago because of the different experiences from home. Although we missed you for weeks & weeks we all got used to it. Gee I wish that you were with us or we were with you.

Yah, we sure do see a lot of movies. Last nite I saw "Pardon My Sarong" with Abott & Costello. Boy; I'm telling you, movies are really a waist of time out here. This is the first time in my life that I actually can see movies every week. The week before was another corney one too. It was "Rythm on the Island" with Allan Jones & Jane Frazee.

About school, I wanted to take what you told me too but they said that the 10th graders will not be able to take any business courses until the 11th & 12th grade. I've planned to take Latin again, Although I really didn't understand that subject when I took it in the #8. So my 2 electives will be Algebra & Latin. I guess I'll have to take a college prep all right. I'll take your hint though. I am learning typing but right now I have to finish my sweater so I'm kinda lost on it but I can try to speed up again.

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Thats a pretty easy thing, Especially you can catch on very fast. I'm going to try & learn the shorthand by myself so if your not using try & send it as soon as possible. School is starting day after tomorrow so I want to be all straightened out. Well, I'm going to finally take your advice of a college preparatory. Thank you for the advices & telling me whats good & not good. Thank you again.

It sure must be a bunch of guys that are jamful in your place. (Kinda miss your harmonica playing.) Its good to have something that makes a bunch of guys happy.

Gee, you play tennis? Thats a new one on us. I thought that by now you had forgotten how to play & was all shot by now. Gosh, you poor guy. a stiff neck is a terrible thing because last night I kinda snapped my neck & it really was sore.

Glad you got the schedules okay. Sure, Ill send you the results of the foot ball games from the Times. I'll be glad to.

Yesterday I sent the pictorial edition & I really think you'll like it. I for got to tell you but theres a picture of Takemura San in front of his junky house in blk. 23, also you'll see papa playing Goh. He's baldy & has a small head & has glasses & a pointed nose. I think you'll reconize him. Gosh, we didn't know that was him until we asked him & he said so la shi. Boy, its kinda of filled with pictures but you'll be tickled to see what its like. Please keep it because we don't have any more for a souveneer.

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I started at 10:00 am writing this letter & now its 10:30. Gosh how time flys.

You ought to see my sweater. Its all most finished. I'm going to be able to finish the front today & probably the sleeves too. I'll just have 2 more days to finish it in. Its a maroon sweater. Its a more redder maroon color than the class sweater that towru has. Gosh, I'm proud. This will be the first sweater I will have made in 2 weeks with Sport yarn. I'm just working on it day in & day out. Nights & days. Every morning I wake up tired because my back aches from knitting so much, but I'll finish fast.

I'm hoping that I'll be smarter in school than last time. I'm going to try & study hard.

About my letters. Glad that you don't think there boring cause theres really nothing good to write about that I may tell you. What did you think about the letters that I told you about. I mean the stamps & post cards & how much they amounted to. Gosh it was pretty cheap, dont you think? I do.

Mama working on flowers every day. Its her job & she gets paid by the hours. Last pay day she got $17.75 Gosh she's rich. Maybe its her clothing allowance together.

Papa goes daily to the 10-15 rec hall & is getting along swell. Hes not having any trouble like he used to.

Towru goes to work daily & comes home at 11:00 in the morning & 4:30 in the evening.

I just knit all day & sometimes go to the Odaharas' place.

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Yes, yes, yes, is fooey, fooey, gooey. Space is hard to fill when theres not a thing to fill it with.

Joe, if you want to write about girls & their criticism just write to me & tell me it because mama does read your letters & understands them. She kinda got sore when you mentioned it in your last letter so be sure to try not mention girls. This is what mama said when she read it. [Japanese characters.] So just forget that I told you but you know what I mean so just don't mention them in your next letter. I hope you won't feel bad when I tell you not to mention it.

I have to get back to my knitting so I'll close this short letter.

Just,

Masako

P.S. Thank you very much & I think Towru will be writing pretty soon. If you dont hear from me very much from the next few weeks I will be studying hard in school. It will be Towrus responsibility to write to you from now on, since school is out for him. He can write when hes finished with his work.

I'll open the surprise tonite. I mean the boxes with the surprise in it.

Until I write again,

Masako

Gosh its 11:00 Towru will be coming home now.

Excuse the writing.