Material Things

Ever since I went shopping with Susan downtown last week I've been feeling sort of blue. Even with the war on there are still plenty of temptations in places like Nordstrom's, Frederick & Nelson's and the Bon Marche. August is the usual time to buy furniture at the big sales, and I've got heaps of money from my job at Boeing. I heard one of the girls at the plant announce with amazement that she's earning more than her enlisted-man husband, and I suppose that's true for a lot of us.

But my heart's just not in it for shopping. All the coats, shoes and bedroom sets in the world aren't going to bring Bob home any quicker, and I don't seem to have room in my mind at the moment for much else.

What little attention I do have remaining is taken up by Jane, my unanticipated roommate. She's a diversion, no question about that. But whether she knows it or not my sympathy for her plight is in a race with my impatience, and the latter is gaining with every stride. She may have failed as a Hollywood starlet but her life has enough drama for three movies, and it's taking up more space than my bungalow can accommodate.

I'm going to have to figure out a way to "encourage" Jane to straighten out her situation with her mother before I go completely batty. My furniture may be old, but I'd rather be the only one using it until Bob returns.