1957 11 20 57 RWR to MB green ink

Dear Marilyn,

Forgive us for not writing-Ill try to inform you of some of what has happened since Sunday.

Sunday, we went to Walla Walla, picking up Grandmother from Mojonniers, going over. That evening I sat down to write a sonnet for English (see enclosed), and Kim & John were steaming with Vicks between the sewing machine and green davenport.

Somehow the steaming water was overturned, giving John a slight (4” diameter) 2^nd degree burn just above knee on second leg; and giving Kim extensive 2^nd degree burns from hip to ankle with 2 portions of flesh in each leg having 3^rd degree burn. He may need skin grafting. Very unfortunate-Grandmother ws somewhat upset, as was everyone.

That same evening, Grandmother taught me to sing 2 Fr. Hymns obtained from a French Little Flock Hymn Book found at Mojohnniers. I thoroughly enjoyed this. Uncle Don came Monday night to take Grandmother to his place.

I have asked at the hospital to only work 4 nites a week as I am tired of putting in 35 hr week at hosp. after school.

My grades were bad:

1^st hr Trig A [2^nd in class with 85-highest 90 Ron Van Enkeurt (?)

2^nd Typing A

3^rd NW Hist B+ [2^nd in class]

4^th Eng B [I feel gypped!]

5^th Am Government B+ [Ron got only A]

6^th Physics A [1^st in class; Ron’s second]

Ron Van Enkevort is proving rough competition in grades, while Dick Potts is proving tough competition with NaNu! [Nancy Nutley]

p. 2 Last nite, Tues, I went up to school, spending about 3-4 hrs in Chemistry lab and 1 hr. listening to the lousiest debate ever made by Al W. & NaNu. They lost. (They were debating Prosser in KHS library; The Prosser boy, John Peoil? Pearl? Whom they debated was an avid war story reader on my bookmobile run last summer.)

Tis afternoon I was excused from Am Gove. 5^th hr to go with Mr. Bartanen, Chuck Woofter [straight ”A” Jr. 7, Bill Welch, Roger Records, [also Jr’s.] out to Mrs Hardtke’s 6^th grade at Hawthorne for a ½ hr demonstration on friction.

11-21-57

Evelyn was here all day yesterday-she brought me a pamphlet for my birthday.

Last night I worked from 5-11:30. This is getting, unfortunately, to be the custom rather than the exception. Say, would you check and see what Carl Rantzou does at his hospital-and which hospital it is? Thx. We have a maintenance man at our hospital also named Carl. Wonder if CR does maintenance work, also?

Well, forgive me for not writing more oft, but please never feel that I do not remember you daily-both to God and certain w-friends of ours at school.

Love

Roger

PS We’re still taking care of Doug & sometimes (rarely) Jim. [Jim Jesernig]

p. 3

A Sonnet to My Sister

by Roger Rochat

‘Twas never love like that which I hold,

Betwixt my lovely sister and myself.

She is the light which I do ere behold,

When in despondency I find myself.

For then she quickly sets me free from fear,

Of that which my low state of mind does cause;

She always proves a remedy so dear,

That I from praising her might never pause.

And I for her do ever gladly that,

Which pleases most her gentle heart and mind;

And ne’er ‘twixt us has there ere passed a spot,

Which did our love not us more closely find!

Oh, A thousand deaths I’d gladly die,

To see a riant smile in sister’s eye.