Last Days of Summer

Charlie begins his long train ride to his first military assignment and opens Joey’s letter containing the checklist of NYG baseball equipment from the Boston game where he first served as batboy. Charlie writes a response noting that all the other well-wishers had cried upon his departure: Hazel, Ida, and Carrie; however, Joey merely shook his hand and said, “Take care of yourself buddy” (259). This leads the ballplayer to suspect that Joey has some sort of plan that has not yet come to fruition. He includes a military anecdote, explaining that the train has one chow car for 800 soldiers; he had lined up for breakfast at 6:30 a.m., but lunch was being served by the time he reached the car. He coins a new military acronym: “SABUS (Screwed Again By Uncle Sam)” (260).

Mrs. Hicks provides a semester report for Joey, who once more has earned A’s in all academics, although now he has worked his way up to a B- in Obedience. She notes a change in her student, which she attributes to maturity, noting that he delivered the “Friends, Romans, Countrymen” speech from Julius Caesar with great feeling and poise.