22 October 1918 Kae

Tues. the 22nd

Dear Don,

I'm ashamed of the way you always have to write a couple of letters before you can coax one out of me. I don't think it s a bit smart of me, but I can't help it. I'm always just up to my neck in unanswered letters. I always owe so many I hate to start. You see I'm so far away from all my friends this year that I have to write to everybody I know so I can keep posted and not get behind the times. And then my family spreads out more every year. There's Ruth, John, F., Bid, Si, and P.D. all to furnish with home news, and I seem to be official sec't'y around here; since Louise never attends to anything you tell her to do. Of course I was never that way when I was growing up.

If you come across a big blot any place along here you'll know that I have fallen dead and my head has struck the page with a dull thud. I don't really think I'll last till morning. I'm frail feeling. You probably take it that I have influenza, but please don't because it isn't so. The secret of my ailments is house cleaning, and you don't need you tell me that you don't know what that means. Simon Legree Leone hasn't raised you for nothing, I know. This is the regular old fashioned siege - for for about ten days. From sunrise to sunset I shake Dutch cleanser and tip the gasoline can. My hands don't feel as if they belonged to me, and after taking a good look at them, I'd just as soon they didn't. On account of the schools being closed, Bid, Do, Louise, Mother and I are able to work neck to neck, and believe me the feather sure fly when we all get started on one room. The room gets so full of steam you can't see out the windows - and that's no lie. But that doesn't give me any satisfaction. I'm tired and sick and I don't care who knows it, but of course this is very confidential. I wouldn't have my family think I didn't love to do it for anything in the world, you know me and Lincoln and Garfield and McKinley.

I about died from lawfter when I read your dream about how I charged you for your meal. Not a bad idea, at that. I'll remember it when I'm pressed for a little pin money.

About the other one, I wonder if mental telepathy on account of my Cedar Rapids trip made you dream that. I didn't think it I don't mean to say, but there's something wierd about it. You see I've been away on a long, long journey (almost 150 miles) and all to see a man! Its the first time I've ever been guilty of that in all my 21 years. But I had to do it, that's all. You'll understand when I tell you that the man was Rollin. You know I've told you time and again that I've felt differently toward him, I always have and it looks mighty like I always will. He was my very first, and unless I fall desperately between now and the wedding bell season after the war, I'm afraid he's going to have to be my last too. This is nothing official at all, kindly understand. I'm just confiding to you my side of it. Remember I used to tell you all about Rollin, and you always listened so politely, thats why I'm picking on you now. He's a lieut. now, and he looked better than I had ever seen him. Maybe it's the uniform, I don't know. Thats what I'm waiting to see after the war. This day and age we sometimes think we're in love when it's really just admiration and patriotism. But there will be plenty of time to find out. I'll watch my step, don't worry.

I got a crazy letter from crazy Leone the other day, the same day yours came. I thot it was so sweet of brother and sister to write to me at the same time. I thot that Leone had forgotten I ever graced the map. I felt quite flattered hearing from her again and she writes such foolish letters, I eat 'em alive.

Everything is deader here than I ever thot that I'd live to see - outside of old Evergreen Cemetery. Business is heavy out there these days. Did you ever see the beat of this old world? I swear the whole universe is upside down and me right with it. Please don't say anything to anybody about Rollin and me. He'd think I was jumping at conclusions, and that would never do. I'm just patiently waiting to see if its all a dream. Take good care of yourself, Donald, my boy - sleep lots, eat lots, and don't think of working. I don't want you to get sick.

As ever,
Kae [Lamson]

P.S. Viva is at Iowa City this year. I never hear from her anymore. The Pi Phi's there looked her up but I don't think they took her. They make me sick, the whole bunch.