Dancing In a Jar Read Free Page A

lady and she has been very kind to me. She offered to take me immediately to her house, but I did not want to be parted from Don so soon upon arrival. I have dreamed of this day for so long, and given that nothing else resembled my dream I wanted at least to be at his side. Poor Don! Not only did he have me to worry about, but there was no one to unload the machinery and I could see disappointment and frustration washing over him. I did not have the heart to add mine.
    It will take some doing to square my image of a sweet rustic village with what I am afraid is the reality of St. Lawrence. But I mustn’t bore you with that now and Don tells me if we don’t make this postal boat you will be fretting for news.
    Our boarding house is small but very tidy. We are meant to share the living area with the family, but I am much happier roosting in our own room for now. Don promises we will have our own house very soon. Tell Mother and Daddy I will write them in time for the next boat. I hope you have received my sunnier letter from Nova Scotia already.
    Love from your never-setting-foot-on-a-ship sister,
U
    Bucknell University
Lewisburg, Pennsylvania
    September 25, 1933
    Dear Urla,
    Daddy brought me your letter straightaway on Sunday and I could hardly wait for them to leave to tear it open. I have missed you so much already I hardly know if I’ll survive.
    I am so sorry about the seasickness, but you know you hate to be on water. I hope the rest of the voyage was smooth sailing, Sis!
    Bucknell is everything I remember from visiting you and more. I could lie on the rosette at the entrance to the Arts and Letters building and stare at the sky and feel the campus turn around me. I love everything about it.
    My roommate’s name is Vanessa Hodgeson from Gloucester, Massachusetts, and I think I like her. She is very tall and pretty and has the most delicious blonde curls—she’s like someone out of a Fitzgerald novel. See! I’ve already started with literary references and it’s my first week of class! Anyway, Mother says Vanessa is from a very old merchant family in Gloucester and seemed suitably impressed with her. I suspect by next visit Mother will be recommending I strangle my wiry black hair into soft blonde curls.
    One thing for certain is that while I am busy convincing my hair to sit in a neat bob, Vanessa is already busy being “seen” by sororities. Oh Urla, dear, I wish you could be with me. I have such misgivings that Sigma Beta Phi will be interested in me as they were in you. Vanessa seems to have such a thoughtful plan for this and I am simply hoping that being Urla Crammond’s baby sister will save the day and get me pledged. Mother asked me about it at least three times on Sunday. Daddy was his reassuring sweet self, but then he doesn’t understand the importance of hair in a girls’ world, does he?
    I must run, dear U. I have to get to the library and load up on my English novels and dive in.
    Give my new brother-in-law (see I am practising those words too!) a hug from me. I close my eyes and see you both in your little house by the sea with a rocking chair on the veranda and a new puppy by your side. Poor Sturdy is missing us both I’m afraid, but Daddy has promised extra brushings in our absence.
    Sweet kisses coming your way from me,
Ivah
    P.S. Your secret of the disappearing silk scarf is safe with me.
P.P.S. Let me know if you do get a puppy.
P.P.P.S. Your letter only took seven days to get to Nutley. See, you
are not at the end of the earth as Granny Crammond says!
    St. Lawrence, Newfoundland
    September 26, 1933
    Dear Viv,
    Thanks so much for your letter, which arrived on Friday’s mail boat. You may be impressed by it only taking five days from Halifax, but that is in CANADA, my dear. We are in a separate country altogether and I suspect our mail circumnavigates a pole before it reaches you.
    I couldn’t be happier that you are settling in at Bucknell. I can see the big leafy chestnuts and smell the