Title: Letter to Mollie Wilson from Chiyeko Akahoshi, 1/19/1945 (ddr-janm-1-116)

Densho ID: ddr-janm-1-116

January 19, 1945

Dearest Mollie!

Hi. Boy, gal you certainly do have my heartiest-best wishes. Honestly, it certainly was a pleasant and happy surprise to find that of my finest gal friends got herself engaged! Gee! Mollie—Mich says to tell you you’re beatin’ her time. Seriously though, she also wanted me to extend her best wishes to you too! She’ll probably drop you a line or two soon, so I’ll prepare you for the great shock beforehand! Say—anyone I know? If I don’t—tell me all about him ‘cuz I’m all ears! Only hopin’ though, I’m not getting; too personal. If I am, you kin tell me where to get off—or kick me, if you can!

I’m so glad that you liked the flower. It’s really not half what I wanted to send you, but Manzanar is a place where you just can’t go shopping on Broadway…

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…and buy anythin’ your heart desires. I was quite worried about the color ‘cuz frankly—everyone has her own sweet color and as I didn’t know yours, I took a chance on “that” color!

So, Miyeko was in L.A. huh? Did she change any or is she still the same? Probably changed, right? I know I’ve changed—not for the better —just a little more grown-up that’s all! Anyway, getting back to Miyeko, how swell it was for her to have gone clean out to L.A. for a visit. I certainly do want to come for a visit but I don’t know yet! Mrs. Sasaki said she had a swell time! When she told us all the news around good ole Boulder and Sloat—you don’t know how much I envied her! Said she ran into you and you spoke to her in Japanese, much to her amazement! Anyway, we…

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…had a great laff over that one!

So, you saw “Frenchman’s Luck” at the Paramount huh? Well, I saw “Government Girl” at the Manzanar “Grauman’s Chinese,” last night. Seriously—I gott’n a drag a blanked every time I go to show here ‘cuz I gott’n be kind to ‘me seatin you know. Nothin’ like lounge seats here—in fact—haven’t heard of such things in three long years! and —no snack shop to fill out my figure (??) and that’s a fact! They’re supposed to open a “Youth Center” soon, but due to rationing, they can’t get half of the food they’ve slammed on. So —Manzanar’s still the dry, full of hot air, camp.

Heard from Sadie lately? I heard from her a few weeks ago—answered and am now waitin’ to hear a pin drop from her side of the Country. Man, she’s havin’ a solid time out there—going to all…

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…the dances! Quite the social butterfly. Sharp!

Where are Kenny and Atoy? Have they gone overseas or what? Hope things all in A—1 Condition! How about Harold? Did he get to come back from overseas duty? Albert writes to my brother, so we’re well informed about him. Hope this darn war will end soon!

Oh, say, I forgot to tell you —you know what? My brother “Tish” was given an honorable—medical discharge from the army a few weeks ago. He was called a week before Christmas and repented for duty at Ft. Douglas, Utah. After his final check-up they found that he had a perforated ear drum and luckily was discharged. Man, that guy leads a charmed life, I swear! So—he’s back with us again here in Manzanar.

Did you know that “Sonny Takuyama’s in the Army too?

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…He left a few weeks before my bud and I don’t know where he is right now. Probably sweatin’ it out in Florida like the rest of ‘em.

Maybe by the time I see you—your man will be able to speak a lot more Japanese and I’m sure under your careful tutoring, he’ll learn to say things at the right time. Say, is he a serviceman? Don’t forget—tell me all!

Well, I guess I’ve taken a lot of your time already so so I’ll be signing off!

My best regards to your parents and to your man. Here’s hoping I’ll be able to see you soon!

Love,

Chiyeko