305 ORPHANAGE ROAD ERDINGTON BIRMINGHAM
VERY LATE IN THE DAY ON THE SIXTH OF OCTOBER 1937
Ma Chere,
You must not be wrathful with me for taking this evening for work, and perhaps tomorrow too. It would be far more foolish to refuse rather necessary income for the sake of being awkward. I have not crawled this time; in fact I’ve been sublimely dignified and “Very well, then” all the while. And now we are doing some Dairy-Farmer, not as much as usual, which is a blessing, but enough to keen the wolf down the garden path, a necessary precaution. I can see how feeble it must appear to you, but if you knew how important it is to have sufficient money to pay my way you’d bow to the inevitable. Its not for long, things are very different to six months ago. So be peaceful and patient.
On the lines of Qui s’excuse s’accuse I’ve made out a grim case for myself! I hope that we can frolic on Friday evening, and I’d like to go to the pictures if you would. But leave it to me and believe that it shall be done if it can be done. Then perhaps I may come to supper and stay on Sunday night. I mean Saturday.
I’ve heard from the B.B.C. and they have given their blessing to Whittington, so I must smash ahead hard with that, to get the decks cleared for the next chance. There is much to be done, happily. This evening was useful, for Eileen went just after nine and I have had two hours clear and shall go on a bit. Same tomorrow, she’s going at eight thirty if we get our job done and then I’ll have five hours, and with tomorrow morning as well it’ll help. I’m working in the office in the afternoon. The sooner we get on with it the better I’ll like it.
I had my golf with Oliver this afternoon and got some more of my game back, some fairly sound drives and a couple of bogeys and one birdie. Oliver, being a Brookes, shaped very well. Oh, we are rehearsing the acorn palaver on Saturday morning and Monday afternoon. Good fun, that. I wish you could hear the show.
Oh, have you bought that music for me? I had better pick it up if you have, I may want it to work on on Friday morning. I’d better come over to collect it tomorrow evening, but if so I’ll let you know. So much to do this week, I must get a new Fantasticks programme worked out. Perhaps we can do it on Saturday afternoon. I’ll not try to organise just now, it must work itself out. It will.
Be gay, don’t think me lost beyond redemption or separated from you for ever because of these two evenings lost. It is time very well spent, I assure you. And failing masses of better writing work, or a job, I could not do better. And its only a few evenings!
So be kindly, and believe that I am not mad. I’d be weaker still if I were all spiteful and awkward for the sake of a gesture. Fingers to the nose often has a boomerang effect.
My love to your mother, and the Babes in the Wood, or oakfield, and to yourgoodself. You are so devastatingly real, aren’t you?
Friday I hope, I’ll let you know. If its before it will be unexpected and sudden.
But a bientot, Saturday for very certain,
Ever yours,
I have Shakespeare to finish
I have Whittington to write,
I have 1000 words-a-day on the novel to start off,
I have a short story to write,
I have three variety sketches to write for Webster on spec.
I have to get a hustle on, for I have also my month’s share of money to make! Here’s a secret, I’ve applied for a B.B.C. job, just my mark. You’re not supposed to know, so don’t ask all the while! You’ll be told of good news, and protected from bad.