Bursting With Love

Partida assignment, abstract shapes
pencil sketch by Art Price.

Wednesday, March 29, 1950

20 Cooper Street

Southampton, NY

Dear June,

Don’t worry, darling.  I’ll be bursting out with love for you Friday night.  Won’t it ever come?

I didn’t get my half-day off today.  We took inventory instead.  I hope maybe I can get a full day next week.  Sketch class was canceled tonight.  Mr. Secunda phoned and said he was having trouble getting a model so he called it off.  I paint tomorrow night, I guess.

My grandfather went to the hospital yesterday with pneumonia but is already coming home tomorrow.  He’s better and didn’t want to stay so the doctor is sending him home.  After all, he’s only 88.  Maybe if he was an old man, they’d make him stay.

Darling, I love you so much.  Only two more days!  I guess this will be my last letter.  See you Friday!

Lots of love,

Art

(Tomorrow – vacation plans.)

© 2011 Lee Price

Intrigue and Backstabbing

Deer, oil painting by Art Price.



Tuesday, March 28, 1950

20 Cooper Street

Southampton, NY

Dear June,

I don’t know what to say except I love you.  I’ve been painting tonight.  Now I think I’ll go to bed early again.  I have to get all rested up, you know.

Your phone call certainly surprised me.  I wondered what could be wrong.  I had a few bad seconds till I heard your voice. 

I’m still waiting to hear about what happened to Jane.  I knew there was a lot of intrigue and backstabbing going on Saturday night, but I found out today I didn’t hear the half of it (although, of course, Bruno does love to exaggerate everything).  Bruno thinks they probably decided to stay through Monday since Helen doesn’t work Mondays.  They weren’t very considerate of you, though, if that was what happened.  He thinks Jane will be here for Easter so you can bawl her out then.

I’ve spoken of my grandfather who’s 88.  He’s in the hospital with a mild case of pneumonia (at 88, I guess nothing is mild).  He seems to be alright so far.

Well, darling, not many more days left, just three more till I’m in paradise.  I do love you very much.  I think this has been the longest two weeks of my life.

Lots of love,

Art

(Tomorrow – bursting with love.)

© 2011 Lee Price

Stood Up!

Monday, March 27, 1950

46 West 83rd Street, Apt. 7B

New York City, NY

Dear Art,

Pencil sketch by June Anderson.

I’m mad at you and everyone else tonight.  Shirl says I’m being foolish and childish and I guess I am.  In the letter I received today you said that you were up to midnight on Friday night and weren’t used to those hours without me.  Then you stay out till 4 in the morning on Saturday night.  You never stay out that late with me!

But I’m mainly upset because I’ve been stood up and I hate that.  We waited for Jane in that drugstore from 5 till 6:30.  What’s more, no one answered at the BKLYN number – which probably means that the girls stayed in Southampton.  And I swear, Art, if you were fooling around with them or going out again tonight like Saturday I’ll pull every hair out of your head one by one and laugh like a fiend doing it.

So what were you doing Sunday, by the way?  On Friday night, I expect some quick talking.

- - - - -

Darling, it’s about 9:30 now and I just talked to you.  I’m sorry I bothered you by calling.  I know it was silly, but I was depressed and it was the only thing I could think of to cheer me up, and it did.  Of course, your mother must think me an awful fool calling up like that.  I hope she makes allowances for emotional immaturity and instability.

We called up Jane after I talked to you and she was home.  Both she and Helen came in on the 6:00 train tonight.  Apparently, Mary called us last night to tell us that Jane wouldn’t be here.  Someone took the message for us but it never got through.

- - - - -

It’s now 5 after 1 in the morning, darling.  Now I’m feeling remorse for bawling you out.  You’re so sweet.  I should remember never to get mad at you except in person when… oh, well, you’ll see.

Shirl and I have been working on the cape tonight.  Do you realize that we’re halfway done?  It makes me feel good.  I will like it even if no one else does.

Jane said you went to a donkey basketball game.  I would have loved to have seen it.  I’ve only seen one once and I sure did enjoy it.

I’ll be so glad to see you again, my darling.  It’s only four more days, but right now it seems like years away.

All my love,

June

(Tomorrow – intrigue and backstabbing.)

© 2011 Lee Price

A Strain of Jealousy

Fashion illustration by June Anderson.

Sunday, March 26, 1950

46 West 83rd Street, Apt. 7B

New York City, NY

Dear Art,

Just because I’m writing to you before midnight doesn’t mean I’m going to bed early.  As a matter of fact, I have to sew some more on my cape, wash some things, iron a blouse, set my hair, and take a shower.  Then I’ll go to bed.  Normally, I wouldn’t bother about all that, but I want to look halfway decent when I see Janie tomorrow.

Well, Art, I can’t ask you much about your Saturday night in a letter and I know it would be hard for you to write about it to me.  But just wait till Friday night!!!  Here I was missing you, and you were out having such a good time!  It’s a good thing Shirl didn’t go out Saturday night.  Then I would have been really lonely and when I heard about your good time I might have felt bad or even mad.  I’m sorry, darling – I know I should be glad when you get to go out and have a good time instead of moping around the house.

You must have been in fine condition for church!

I’ll be coming home soon now.  Think you’ll be glad to see me?  Sounds like I’ll be awfully quiet and dull to have around after what you got used to over the weekend.

Don’t worry, darling, I think I still love you in spite of everything.  It’s just that I need attention and love.  And you had better come Friday prepared with plenty of both.  Have you noted, dear, a strain of jealousy through this letter?

Take good care of yourself, darling.  I’m looking forward to my vacation with you so much.

All my love,

June

(Tomorrow – stood up.)

© 2011 Lee Price

Fallout from Saturday Night

Sunday, March 26, 1950

20 Cooper Street

Southampton, NY

Dear June,

It was wonderful to talk to you today, darling.  I’m so glad I’m forgiven.  Don’t you be jealous about my Saturday night.  You know there’s no reason to be.  I love you very much, darling.  It really was a weird evening.

I saw Mary and Helen for a minute this afternoon in Irene’s.  Bruno came in and they wouldn’t even look at him.  Jane had a date with Singer this afternoon.  Joe never got a chance to say anything to Jane about the dance so I don’t know how that will turn out.

I rode around a little this afternoon all by myself and felt lonesome for you, sweetheart.  Then I went to the first show tonight, Alfred Hitchcock’s Stage Fright.  It was quite good.  Hitchcock usually is.

As you can probably guess, I’m feeling kind of sleepy right now so I’d better go to bed.  I have to rest up this week,

sweetheart.  You had better rest up, too.  You have a date with me every night next week.  Now who’s possessive?

Enjoy yourself tomorrow, dear, but don’t you ride back from Brooklyn alone.  Make them come back with you.  I worry about you and miss you so much, my precious sweetheart.  Only five more days, darling.  Till then,

All my love,

Art

(Later today – you must have been in fine condition for church!)

© 2011 Lee Price

Late Nights in the City

Saturday, March 25, 1950

46 West 83rd Street, Apt. 7B

New York City, NY

Dear Art,

Pencil sketch by June Anderson.

It’s late at night again, 1:20 a.m.  I’m sitting cross-legged on my bed in my pajamas – all ready to crawl in.  Shirl’s setting her hair now.  Gee, I’m sleepy!

We went to a late show – that’s why we’re up so late.  Last night, I was up even later, until about 3:00.  I waited up for Shirl while she was out with Ted.  Art, darling, it was terribly lonesome.  I missed you so.

Well, dear, this is going to be short.  Just to tell you I love you.  I’ll be waiting for your telephone call tomorrow.

All my love,

June

P.S.  Darling, it’s 1:20 Sunday afternoon now.  I’m going down to mail this right away.  Shirl just found a note saying that Ted will be here at 2:00 instead of 3.  That means we have to hurry.  I hope she decides to come in early instead of staying out late again.  I doubt it though.

Art, I don’t mind your being with the boys, but it sounded from our phone call like there were too many girls for comfort this time.  I can practically guarantee that you’ll get the third degree from me on Friday night.

Love,

June

(Tomorrow – relationship problems back in Southampton.)

© 2011 Lee Price

I Should Bawl You Out

Friday, March 24, 1950

20 Cooper Street

Southampton, NY

Dear June,

Art, circa 1950.

Before I say anything you know I love you very much.  Now I should bawl you out.  Why did you tell Jane about the dance and Joe Cerullo???!!  Didn’t you know I was kind of hoping he wouldn’t be going?  You know I’d have more time with you if we’re not chauffering Joe and Jane.  Anyway, I saw Joe tonight and he says he’s planning to write Jane a letter asking her.  Oh well, I guess we’ll all have a good time.  I hope everything works out.

You and Shirl had quite a subway ride, didn’t you?  I sat there reading your letter and laughing.  My mother wondered what was the matter with me.

Well, darling, I haven’t much to tell you.  I went to a double feature tonight of Mrs. Mike and Jungle Jim.  Afterwards, I went and had a talk with Joe, then came home and read a little and now here it is almost midnight.  That’s late for me when I’m not with you.  I promise to take it easy tomorrow night.  I love you very, very much.  Only seven more days to go.

Lots of love,

Art

(Tomorrow – too many girls!)

© 2011 Lee Price