John Out-the-Window: Letter the Tenth

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Letter the Tenth

From Mavis Brinkley to Antoinette Charleton

Dec. 23, ‘48

TONI:

What happens next? You can’t leave me like this. I need to know! Even if you don’t know, I need to know. Which reminds me: are you sure that Diane isn’t some strange kind of wizard quietly arranging your fate behind your back?

No? Quite sure?

Okay. It’s just that she seems to be the sort who would if she could.

I’m trying to be perfectly calm about this, Toni, but my head is in such an uproar these days. Do you know, Corky has asked me to marry him? My delivery-boy has proposed marriage to the Mavis Brinkley of the Brinkley fortune. I don’t understand why. I also don’t understand why I’m actually considering it. If Errol Flynn doesn’t make a move pretty soon, I might find myself Mrs. Corky Canes. Please get engaged soon and save me the trouble of doing it myself.

I don’t want to plan a wedding. It’d be in all the papers.

...

...

All right. I am actually wild with anticipation right now. If I don’t receive a telegram from you telling me otherwise (or at least telling me what gift he got you for the tenth day) I’ll hop on a train straight down to your apartment and make the most awkward third there ever was. Diane and I can sit primly on the couch and open our eyes wide when you and John kiss.

Yours As Usual,

    MAVIS

Telegram from Antoinette Charleton to Mavis Brinkley:

NO KISS YET. FIND MISTLETOE? HIS CALL. TEN LEAPING LORDS ARE RACES IN FAIRFAX CO. LORDS BEING HORSES? ANOTHER CHEAT. DONT MIND. LOVE HIM. WEARING NEW HAT. TRES BOUFFANT.

Telegram from Mavis Brinkley to Antoinette Charleton:

    GOOD HAT PROMISES GOOD THINGS. BIG HAT PROMISES BIG THINGS. GOOD BIG THINGS? I SAY YES. KEEP TELEGRAPHING. WILL COVER BILL. MUST KNOW ALL.

   

Telegram from Antoinette Charleton to Mavis Brinkley:

AT WINTER RACES. NO MISTLETOE. HORSES RUNNING. WON FIVE DOLLARS ON GILLY SLY GUY.  SO EXCITING. WISH I WAS JOCKEY. JOHN SAYS HE MUST ASK ME SOMETHING LATER.

Telegram from Mavis Brinkle to Antoinette Charleton:

    PAY ATTENTION TO JOHN NOT HORSES. IS HE HAPPY? IS HE ROMANTIC? IS HE RUINING FINANCES ON HORSE RACE? WILL YOU END DAY WITH RING?

Telegram from Antoinette Charleton to Mavis Brinkley:

NO RUIN OR RING. NOT YET. HAHA. TERRIBLY FUN DAY. GILLY SLY GUY STILL TOPS. STOP TELEGRAPHS. TEDIOUS WORK. WILL WRITE TOMORROW.

Telegram from Mavis Brinkley to Antoinette Charleton:

TONI DONT LEAVE ME IN SUSPENSE.

Telegram from Mavis Brinkley to Antoinette Charleton:

TONI?

Telegram from Mavis Brinkley to Antoinette Charleton:

TONI YOU BRAT.
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