20 Nov 1939
John Griffin to Mother / Chicago, IL
Dear Mother,
I received your air mail letter this morning and am hastening to get a reply back to you.
About Gordon coming. I really don't know what to say.. We received a letter from Ben last Saturday in which they said that-they were leaving for the west this coming Friday, the day after Thanksgiving. We write to them and told them that we would not be back to Washington until a week from Wednesday at the earliest and I don't know, whether they have decided to wait for us or come on and see us here. It is very possible that I' won,t be able to get away for a couple of weeks yet, as you know we have to stay until we-have found all the evidence that they want on this case.. I think Ben plans on stopping here for a few hours at, least but I don't know how much longer.. We are living in a hotel room, and Dot brought Bobby's mattress and he sleeps on the floor so you see we wont be able to helps them much in the way of a place to stay.
If we can make connections with Ben so that Gordon could go back with him we would be glad to make some arrangements for him here and take him to Washington with us if Ben will wait, but I don't know exactly what Ben's plans are or how much of a load he will have.. I imagine with two kids and all his luggage (if I remember correctly from the previous trip he made) he will have his car pretty full.
I think that you are wrong in assuming that this will be the last opportunity for Gordon to see the east. Ben will be in New York for some time to come and I expect to someday return to Washington myself. Then too, with Ben and family coming home, your expenses are going to be considerable the next few weeks and you will need all you can scrape together. I know that this trip would mean a lot to Gordon, but I think that the summer time would be a much nicer time to make the trip, and under more favorable circumstances.
In any event if you can arrange for him to come back with Ben we will be glad to accommodate him here and take him on to Washington with us. Let us know by wire (tourist rate 35¢) if and when Gordon is coming and we will meet the bus and show him Chicago. Also have Ben get in touch with us so that we can arrange our plans accordingly.
It surely seems swell to have Dot here in Chicago. Since she has been here I have had to be away two nights in Youngstown Ohio, and I never know when I will have to go out from day today, however, it is usually only for a few days or a week at the most and this being away for months at a time was getting me down.
The two dollars for Bob's birthday arrived and I thought I had thanked you on his Behalf. We have a movie picture of him opening the letter and taking out the two dollars which we will either sent: to you or show You when we are there on our way to California.
The very clever card and sox for my birthday arrived OK too and I am very sorry that I have not mentioned it before. The sox were very, good looking and Dot remarked how nice they were when she saw them. She also thought that your card was very, clever. My birthday didn't seem like much of an event out here alone and your card and gift helped a lot. I am sorry I was forgetful in thanking you, but this case I am working on has me, dreaming about it and I hardly know what I am doing most of the time.
I don't think that it will be possible for me to get off to come home for Christmas. As I will no doubt be transferred, somewhere, right after
the first of the year I couldn't make a long trip just before. Then too,
there are fellows that have been working for the I.C.C. for two; or three
years who haven't had vacations yet, and I wouldn't dare ask for one having been there for only three months. I hope, that if f we are transferred to California, I can arrange to get a Couple of days on the way out to stop off and see you. When we get out on the coast it will not be so hard to get over and see you more often.
I must get this in the mail so will sign off. Let us hear from you right away, and incidentally, you might let, us know what the rest of the family and yourself too want for Christmas. Things are cheaper here in Chicago and we would like to do some of our shopping here before we leave.
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