53 Union Parkx
Boston (18), Mass.
March 27 & 28, 1944

Hello gang,

To be sophisticate, do you miss me great deal? I certainly miss your daily complaint of my inefficiency work. Also, I miss your nibbling mouth of peanuts, Cheez-Ti-Bit, cookies - not much in person thou - of course your smile and wise crack, too. Have you a same personals as day I left Minidoka? Whose taking my place? Didn't I leave Hell-of-a-Mess thou? Did anybody straighten out my work yet? If he do, I'll give him a Congressional Medal of Honor. How are the personals of other departments coming along? Tell all my friends hello for me? Have you made treaty with Fiscal Department yet? Whose side is winning now/ I hope you fellow have better score.

By now, you folks should know my character well, so I don't need to apoligize for delaying my mail to you. Just plain lazy. Anyway this will make everything even.

I assume that your first question will be - how was your trip? I'll say, swell, though it was plenty dirty and rough ride to Chicago. I had friendly atmosphere around me, they were all sailors, marines, and soldiers. Naturally, if any bunch of that kind get together, you know what kind of conversations and topics will be. Mr. Merrill, for sure, will feel at home. I know, i did, it came to my favorite subject. No harm done, we all had fun and good laughs.

Rest of time we sit and ate, chickens-pies-sandwiches, and barter our lunches and pops. When we weren't eating or talking, we slept or watched the sagebrushes and rolling hill -- not much of scenery.

I stayed Chicago just long enought to take my bath at public bath at station, and change my shirt. For it sure was dirty and you should see my beard. I couldn't shave for two days, for our coach, or in-fact our whole train was such antique it really was sad. The train we came from Puyallup to Minidoka was much better than one I rode this time.

I arrived New York City too early in the morning and beside it was Monday so city were quiet and there were not very many things to see. I have left my baggages at Grand Central Station and went to see Empire State building. I just touched the wall and said, "So this is New York" that was all. I don't recall where else I went, but I walked for two or three hours window shopping, wishing I could buy everything I saw.

I have to stand from New York City to Bridgeport, Conn. because this train was most crowded of them all. But luck

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were with me and I got seat an next stop station, so I didn't have to stand too long.

I finally arrived South Boston Station three o'clock noon. Was I tired then. I started to walk for the WRA Office here, but after lugging my hand-bag for block it got so heavy I hailled for taxi. I got in the taxi and gave driver a address which was only block and half away. Driver didn't show good face, but he took me there.

Mr. Clapp had my rooming house reserved for me so I didn't have any difficult in locating my room. It is very conveniently located. I had to wash my neck and face at WRA Office, and had nice long chat with Mr. Clapp before I left his office for my home to be. Although Mr. Clapp and his assistant explained for hour or better how I could reach my rooming house without getting lost in Poston, I tooked taxi to get to my final destination. The Boston streets are so narrow and crook, it is very hard to get accustom to it direction. I don't believe there is two streets parallel to each other in Boston.

Our rooming house is runned by old Japanese residence here in Boston, and non-profit bases. Also, it is more or less gathering place for Isseis and Nesseis once a week so we see all kind of peoples here. There is approximate ten to twelve Nesseis staying here from all other camps. We have many days of mid-night bull session until early in the morning and we don't get up until day is more than three-quarter over. Most of them came from California, but they are different from the one you hear in camp. Definitely culture and educated type so it is very interest to listen to them.

I never dreamed that I could eat Japanese foods wayout in east like we are now eating here. We have everythings including tofu, miso, funu-wu, kon-nia-ku, etc. We also eat European style dish for many of Esseis in Boston are very good cooks, for practically all of them were cook before war to the wealthy family. They sure know their stuff.

I have gained my weight considerably since I left Minidoka. The proof is, I have to loosen one notch of my wrist-watch belt, and other day my pant top button pop out because it was too tight.

I am working for the Pilgrim Press, this store is almost old as city of Boston itself. It is situated in middle of Boston business section and only block away from the state capitol itself. From our windows, we could see cemeteries of our famous people such as Samuel Adam, Otis, so forth, and also the church inwhich Paul Revere hanged his lantern to warm colony of British Army. There is other historical monuments around our store, but I haven't had time to go over than for weather is rather too cold for my asthuma.

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Although type of work is not my liking, the employer and employees are very friendly and hospitable that I really enjoy working for them. Since our store publishes, sell wholesell and retail all over the continent of religious subject books, the employees are naturally very religious people, too. We specialize only in Christian books. You could just imagine how much I am suffering right now. It is altogether different type of the people I have been associating, and I have to put forty hours a week in the room where whole four wall is shelfed with bibles and Sunday School books that I just can help from reforming. Not only that I meet many noted minester and honarable reverend, it isn't funny anymore. I certainly have to play my act well during daytime, double faces me. Have pity an me.

Anyway, whether I like or not, I am planning to stick around here long enough to save some money so later I could find the kind of job I am looking for it, and later attend to school and finish my education.

I got to leave you now. It is getting late now and I am getting sleepy. You know me, sleepy Tom

Good-night

Your friend,

Tatsuo Tom Tajima

P.S. I hope you folks enjoyed Nestle Bar. That is the only kind I could get in Boston. It is very hard to purchase good candy in Boston.

P.S.S. I like to hear from you all. Keep me informed about camp, won't you?

Thanks!!!

Another P.S. I am definitely quit [illegible] so don't be scared of me.

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