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Title: Blythe’s Story, Chapter Seven (Letters 1965)
Author: Namaste
Summary: “My sisters don't know what it's like to be married to a Marine, and what it's like for their husband to have so many responsibilities. He seems so distracted sometimes that I'm worried he'll just drift away. I know you'll understand what I mean, and I feel like you're the only person who would.”
PG, about 1,000 words.
Author’s Note: Two for the money today, with this chapter followed immediately by Chapter Eight (Letters 1966) as we follow a couple of years in House’s family life via letters. Chapter Eight is linked at the end. I fully admit to stealing the structure for these chapters from Carol Shields’ “The Stone Diaries.”
To start at the beginning: Chapter One, Chapter Two, Chapter Three, Chapter Four, Chapter Five, Chapter Six



April 2, 1965
Athens, Greece,

Dear Jenny,

By the time you get this, we'll be back in the States. John received his new assignment three days ago, and I've been packing for the flight home next week. We're headed to San Diego this time. I wish it were San Francisco, so we could see all of you. I imagine Susie's walking now, getting into everything. I remember what Greg was like at that age. Maybe we can still get together. Phil and John can coordinate their leave and we can meet somewhere in the middle.

Greg's excited to start school. The International School here doesn't have kindergarten, so I've been teaching him his letters and numbers. He's already reading everything he can get his hands on, even if it's just old comic books that John gets from the men on the ship. I know Greg will only have a few weeks before summer, but I think a regular schedule will be good for him, and he should make friends faster in class. I worry about him spending so much time alone, but I'm sure that'll change quickly.

I think John will be happy to have us all back home too. He worries about everything here, but I've loved it. There's been so much to see and do. I never thought I'd see the Acropolis with my own eyes, and I think Greg has learned a lot about other parts of the world just in these past few months. I know you said Phil has the same concerns as John, but convince him, if you can. It's worth it.

I'll drop you a note once we get settled with our new address, and can't wait to hear how everyone is doing. I miss you all.

Love,
Blythe

___________


June 4, 1965,
San Francisco, CA

Dear Blythe,
I hope Greg doesn't mind me sneaking a note for you in the same envelope as his birthday card. I'm sorry to say I almost forgot his birthday. Everything seems to be moving so fast here. Susie has me running from the moment she wakes up until she goes down at night. I don't know what I'll do when there are two of them.

Yes, that's right. I'm due in September. I would have told you earlier, but just never got around to it. I've been thinking of you, though, and miss all the help you were last time. To be honest, I also spent a solid month craving those ginger cookies of yours. I sent Phil all over town trying to find me ones as good as yours, but of course he couldn't find anything that hit the spot.

I wish we could have waited until Susie was older. It would be easier if she was at least out of diapers by the time the new one comes along, but I guess the Good Lord knows better than we do. Phil's certain the baby will be a boy this time, but then he thought Susie would be a boy too. I hope he won't be too disappointed if it's another girl. He always says that little girls are harder to raise than little boys. Don't get me wrong -- he's a good father, but it'd be nice for him to have a son to raise.

Still missing you (and your cookies),
Jenny

___________

June 15, 1965
San Diego, CA

Dear Jenny,
I've enclosed the recipe for my ginger cookies, so crave no more. And I'm glad for you that you're expecting another baby. It may seem sudden to you, but, if I'm being honest, I'm bit jealous too. Two babies will mean double the work, but they'll also mean double the joy.
I’m sure Phil will be happy if it’s a boy or a girl, but I know what you mean about fathers and sons. John signed Greg up for Little League, and he takes him out nearly every day to throw him the ball and help Greg learn how to catch and hit. John's determined to make a pitcher out of him. It's been good for them to spend more time together.

I'll be thinking of you, and still hope that we can manage to get together sometime soon, though not until after the baby comes.

Love,
Blythe.

______________


December 12, 1965
San Francisco, CA

Dear Blythe,

I'm so sorry it's taken me so long to write. I kept meaning to drop you a note before Karen was born, but then never got to it. After she was born, everything was so busy, and now here it is nearly Christmas.

As you can imagine things have been hectic here, but good. Susie loves her new little sister. Well, most of the time. She's had problems giving up her crib, but we got her a new "big girl" bed, and that's helped. You know how hard it is for children her age to share.

The baby has her Daddy wrapped around her little finger, just like Susie did, and Phil loves to rock her to sleep whenever he's home. He's been called out on maneuvers so many times, though, that it sometimes seems like he's never here. And when he is here, sometimes it seems like Karen is the only thing he notices.

I'm sorry. I shouldn't even mention that, but my sisters would never understand. They don't know what it's like to be married to a Marine, and what it's like for their husband to have so many responsibilities. He seems so distracted sometimes that I'm worried he'll just drift away. I know you'll understand what I mean, and I feel like you're the only person who would.

It's not much of a Christmas card sentiment, is it? Let me at least close with best wishes for you and John and Greg for the holidays, and make an early New Year's wish that we all see each other soon.

Merry Christmas,
Jenny

Chapter Eight (Letters 1966)

(no subject)

Date: 2008-11-29 06:06 pm (UTC)
From: [identity profile] hibernia1.livejournal.com
Oh, excellent. I love stories & books in letter-form. I cringed at Phil longing for a son... I'll run to the next part!

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