Well howdy! I thought I heard that you were back in town on leave. Let me get a good look at you. My, you've turned into one tall drink of water! Why don't you walk down to Tremaine's with me? We can catch up on old times.

So have you heard? The wife and I just moved into our new home. Five rooms with a bath, and a chicken house to boot! I even got a cow and a pig in the deal! 'Course, the furnace needs some work, but you can't very well expect a castle for $7500.

My sister told me that you're stationed with her husband. Small world, eh? I tell ya, she's been workin' her hands to the bone down at the shipyards. Things have been going great guns there. The demand for women has been so great that they cut training down from a week to 3 days.

'Course, even though this tin ear of mine stopped me from going overseas to help fight the Huns, that doesn't mean that I'm not doin' my part. I've got one fine Victory Garden started. Potatoes, tomatoes, green beans ... the whole shebang! Helpin' out with the bond drive, too. Kirkland's raised $315,000 so far. Now there's a pretty penny!

Ah, here we are at the store. What'd you say? Oh, the kids are doin just fine. Took 'em across the lake last weekend to that new 'Playland'. "Seattle's Coney Island" and they ain't kiddin'! They got to ride on the Water Scooter, the Merry Mix-Up, and the Giant Dipper. Heck, the Missus and I even rode the Sky-High Chute. Felt like a kid myself.

Speakin' of kids, I hear that your little brother's getting his diploma from Kirkland High next month. Do you know that they're graduating almost a hundred kids this year? This town's just growin' in leaps and bounds.

Hey, have you had a chance to roll a few at the new bowling alley? I was there the night after it opened. I heard that Mayor Everett bowled the first ball. Your father even came down with me, and we had a game together. I won't make any excuses, he thrashed me soundly. But don't tell him I've been practicing. I'm lookin' for a rematch.

Now let's see what I've got here. Quart of milk, that's 13 cents... a pound of oranges, 9 cents... a pound of popcorn (the kids love this stuff), 13 cents ... 2 pounds of bacon. Oh, wouldn't you know it! I only have 15 red coupons left in the ration book! Looks like I'll have to settle for a pound. Fortunately, I don't need any coupons for salmon, but 59 cents a pound! That's a king's ransom!

No, no, you don't have to help me carry this stuff, I can manage. No, no ... well, if you're gonna insist, let me at least repay the favor. Let's see ... 2 quarters, a dime and a nickel. Good! Just enough for two bottles of Old Style, and a pack of Lucky's. We'll be mighty thirsty when we get back, and I'm sure you've got a lot of stories to share with me.

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