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[ Letter to Mollie Wilson from Chiyeko Akahoshi, December 26, 1942 ]
Maker
Akahoshi, Chiyeko
Date1942
Mediumink, paper
DimensionsH: 8.5 x 6.5 in, W: 7 x 5.5 in
ClassificationsArchives
Credit LineGift of Mollie Wilson Murphy
Object number2000.378.18E
DescriptionOne letter addressed to Mollie from Chiyeko and dated December 26, 1942. The letter has been written on lined paper that was torn out of a notebook.;12-11-4
Manzanar, Calif.
December 26, 1942
Dearest Molly,
Howdy! How ya be & the rest of the Wilson household these days? I hope all's okay, & for us, we couldn't be better! Before I go any further I'd like to thank you for the delicious chocolates & the bars! Boy, when I opened your package yesterday, I "shore" was happy about receiv-ing chocolates & you'd never know how it was appreciated by all of us! Boy, Hide attacks it---& has it practically gone now! Chocolates are so rare here so anything just so it's chocolate is plenty received with joy! The canteen here doesn't sell any chocolate bars, so-----I guess you can imagine how it is huhn? Thanks again ( I'm sorry that I can't send you anything in return! Am I sorry!)
How's everything with you? Have you enjoyed your job at the post-office? What have you been doing there? Did you file or what? My, don't I ask a lot of ques-tions? You bet! But excuse me, okay? Tell me everythin' about your job! I "shore" would like to know so----okay? Changing a little but on the subject, but how was Christmas for you this year? Did the war affect your receiving less presents or just the opposite? I hope you received everything you wished for, no lyin'! Oh, we had a Christman dinner, but not "toikey". We had baked ham, yam, peas, rice, cupcake, banana, apple pie apple, orange & o-su-shi. (You know what that is, don't you? Japanese ni-gi-ri-You've tasted it! Well, it was good! And "kids" under 15 years olds received presents. Lucky, eh? That included Ray, Hide, & Yoke-"excluding" "me"! Sad, no? Boy, did Yoke & Ray get a lot of presents! Christmas night I went to a dance held in our block. It was fun, but I felt rather awkward because I don't dance very well! (Boy, is my face red!!!) Oh, well, I had fun, that's the main thing right?
I guess you heard about the riot we had here, ne? Well, anyway, another regiment of soldiers were sent in here, & guess what, some of the solders were from Boyle Heights-Russian Flats. Golly, it "shore" is a small world, right? The soldier saw some of the "kids" from Boyle Heights so they started to talk together & boy, it gave some of us a lift, not only mentally, but physically as well!! Of course, I didn't know any of them, but I can just imagine how it feel to see someone you know from the outside world again! I "shore" would like to see you, even for just a few sec-onds no lyin'! Shucks!
How's the ole' neighbor-hood these days? Has it changed much since last saw it? How's everyone in theb lock? Tell Lei-chan "hello" for me okay? And are the Luong twins still around? Do they still get into mischief as before? OR hasn't this side of the block changed as yet? Well, anyway, tell them "hello" for us too.
Oh, Molly, I heard that soldiers & Marines have moved into Riyoritsu Gakuen in Evergreen & Folsen. Kind'a livens up the neighborhood, keered? I could just hear the gals hearts go,--thump, thump, thump! I bet I'm right, bet'cha! I bet in Messia' a lot huhn? Don't use I "I bet" a lot? Of course I don't gamble-but you know that's one of my pet phrases so-don't mind me!!!!! How does the crowd of the uniform run in look? Any good-lookin' ones you've seen so far? Um-Um!!! Tell me all about it some come, now Molly! Don't hold out on me now! I like to keep up with the news you know! So!!!
How's Kenny? Do you hear from him recently? Bet the house is quiet since he lft, huhn? (Not that you don't make enough noise!) Aren't I mean?----????? How does he like "Noo Yawk"? It's such a big place as I guess he's quite homesick for you all keerect? Poor Guy Gloom!!! Well, I'll take a rest & continue this Monday, so that I can write & tell you all about the little party our club is gonna' hold tomorrow. So, adios!
December 28
Well, here I be again! Well the party yesterday was marvelous! Firstly because we had keen refreshments & secondly because it was just the club members present. We made it strictly a "gals" affair! No males! We danced, played cards & games! Boy, it was fun! It ended at 9:30, which is quite late for Manzanar, because it gets dark at around 6 o'clock so you can imagine what a night life we lead here. Well mothin' more to report on about the party, as I had suspected so I'll close now with my sincerest thanks again for the chocolate & best regards to you & the rest of the Wilson household, (Don't mind the sloppy writin!! My hen scratch is hard to read, huhn?) I am,
Always,
Chiyeko
Manzanar, Calif.
December 26, 1942
Dearest Molly,
Howdy! How ya be & the rest of the Wilson household these days? I hope all's okay, & for us, we couldn't be better! Before I go any further I'd like to thank you for the delicious chocolates & the bars! Boy, when I opened your package yesterday, I "shore" was happy about receiv-ing chocolates & you'd never know how it was appreciated by all of us! Boy, Hide attacks it---& has it practically gone now! Chocolates are so rare here so anything just so it's chocolate is plenty received with joy! The canteen here doesn't sell any chocolate bars, so-----I guess you can imagine how it is huhn? Thanks again ( I'm sorry that I can't send you anything in return! Am I sorry!)
How's everything with you? Have you enjoyed your job at the post-office? What have you been doing there? Did you file or what? My, don't I ask a lot of ques-tions? You bet! But excuse me, okay? Tell me everythin' about your job! I "shore" would like to know so----okay? Changing a little but on the subject, but how was Christmas for you this year? Did the war affect your receiving less presents or just the opposite? I hope you received everything you wished for, no lyin'! Oh, we had a Christman dinner, but not "toikey". We had baked ham, yam, peas, rice, cupcake, banana, apple pie apple, orange & o-su-shi. (You know what that is, don't you? Japanese ni-gi-ri-You've tasted it! Well, it was good! And "kids" under 15 years olds received presents. Lucky, eh? That included Ray, Hide, & Yoke-"excluding" "me"! Sad, no? Boy, did Yoke & Ray get a lot of presents! Christmas night I went to a dance held in our block. It was fun, but I felt rather awkward because I don't dance very well! (Boy, is my face red!!!) Oh, well, I had fun, that's the main thing right?
I guess you heard about the riot we had here, ne? Well, anyway, another regiment of soldiers were sent in here, & guess what, some of the solders were from Boyle Heights-Russian Flats. Golly, it "shore" is a small world, right? The soldier saw some of the "kids" from Boyle Heights so they started to talk together & boy, it gave some of us a lift, not only mentally, but physically as well!! Of course, I didn't know any of them, but I can just imagine how it feel to see someone you know from the outside world again! I "shore" would like to see you, even for just a few sec-onds no lyin'! Shucks!
How's the ole' neighbor-hood these days? Has it changed much since last saw it? How's everyone in theb lock? Tell Lei-chan "hello" for me okay? And are the Luong twins still around? Do they still get into mischief as before? OR hasn't this side of the block changed as yet? Well, anyway, tell them "hello" for us too.
Oh, Molly, I heard that soldiers & Marines have moved into Riyoritsu Gakuen in Evergreen & Folsen. Kind'a livens up the neighborhood, keered? I could just hear the gals hearts go,--thump, thump, thump! I bet I'm right, bet'cha! I bet in Messia' a lot huhn? Don't use I "I bet" a lot? Of course I don't gamble-but you know that's one of my pet phrases so-don't mind me!!!!! How does the crowd of the uniform run in look? Any good-lookin' ones you've seen so far? Um-Um!!! Tell me all about it some come, now Molly! Don't hold out on me now! I like to keep up with the news you know! So!!!
How's Kenny? Do you hear from him recently? Bet the house is quiet since he lft, huhn? (Not that you don't make enough noise!) Aren't I mean?----????? How does he like "Noo Yawk"? It's such a big place as I guess he's quite homesick for you all keerect? Poor Guy Gloom!!! Well, I'll take a rest & continue this Monday, so that I can write & tell you all about the little party our club is gonna' hold tomorrow. So, adios!
December 28
Well, here I be again! Well the party yesterday was marvelous! Firstly because we had keen refreshments & secondly because it was just the club members present. We made it strictly a "gals" affair! No males! We danced, played cards & games! Boy, it was fun! It ended at 9:30, which is quite late for Manzanar, because it gets dark at around 6 o'clock so you can imagine what a night life we lead here. Well mothin' more to report on about the party, as I had suspected so I'll close now with my sincerest thanks again for the chocolate & best regards to you & the rest of the Wilson household, (Don't mind the sloppy writin!! My hen scratch is hard to read, huhn?) I am,
Always,
Chiyeko