(28) Bournemouth,
7-5-42.
Dear Mum,
Hazel’s cable arrived at mid-day yesterday and knocked me all in a heap; I’ve just got the pieces sorted out now. I can’t understand what can possibly have happened, as the last couple of letters have said that Dad seemed improved. The cable was a real bolt from the blue.
It’s hard being so far away, and I suppose it will be another couple of months before I hear any more details. In the meantime there’s nothing much I can say or do, except wait for news. He was a grand father, my dad, and it’s hard to try and realize he won’t be there to talk things out with when I get home, as I’ve been planning ever since I left.
Of course, I have no way yet of knowing the whole story, but it does seem hard that Dad should have had all that beastly operation business to no apparent good purpose, but at least I suppose he got some sort of holiday and rest out of it afterwards; something he deserved if anyone did. He worked hard enough all his life, we all know.
I am wondering how you will get along – Tom says not to worry, because his family has an empty house and would be pleased to look after you, and I guess there are lots of other friends who will do all they can. To judge by the cable, Hazel is in Hastings and that will help greatly, too. I have no idea how you will be off for money after Dad’s being off work for so long, but if you started getting short I could find some way for arranging for an allotment out of my pay to go to you, so you have only to say the word and we’ll see what can be done.
Over here, I know Dad would tell me to “carry on”, so that’s what I’ll do, because as usual he would be right.
Love from
Arnold G.