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Galley0 Posted 22 years ago
Essay & Composition Writing
The Missing Pillow Case
The Missing Pillowcase
New York City
February, 1944
My "Shipping Buddy" and I were enjoying a platter of scrambled eggs, bacon, sausage, country ham, and home fries at a restaurant several blocks from our hotel. It was the first shore-side breakfast we'd had in some time and we were making the most of it. My fork, laden with scrambled eggs and country ham, was halfway to my mouth when the thought hit me that I'd left my wallet with $600.00 in the pillowcase back at the hotel (It was the custom of many sailors to temporarily safeguard their money this way.)
I told Jack "I'll see you later,” and headed full steam for the Hotel. When I opened the door and looked into my room I saw the bed had been stripped of sheets and pillowcases. All I could think of was that my wallet was gone and that I had the grand sum of $25.00 to show for several months at sea in the submarine infested waters of the North Atlantic. Instead of a month of "merrymaking" in New York, I would have to sign on another ship as soon as possible.
It was a very long shot but I went looking for the maid as she was the most likely person to know anything about my missing wallet.
She was just outside my room; her arms piled high with clean linen. "Did you find a wallet when you stripped the pillow cases in my room?" I asked. "No sir, I ain't seen no wallet nowhere. I just pulls the pillowcases off real quick and throws 'em in the hamper. When the hamper gets full, I dump everything in the chute and it goes down to the laundry room. Tell you what mister, “Sarah will just take you down to the laundry room and look for that wallet of yours".
A mountain of linen greeted us in the laundry room. It was at least eight feet high and spread out over a large area. It looked like a hopeless task. The maintenance man let us use a stepladder and the search began. It wasn't long before Sarah shouted, "I found it, I found it, and it's full of money" Every last dollar was there and I deeply regretted ever having doubts about her honesty. "Thanks for everything Sarah, I'll never forget you or this morning if I live to be a hundred," I said as I handed her a $50.00 dollar bill. "Lordy I ain't never seen this much money in my whole life. This lady's going to have herself a ball come Saturday Night," she responded with broad smile. Sarah did have her night on the "town" and I had a memorable shore leave in the "Big Apple".
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New York City
February, 1944
My "Shipping Buddy" and I were enjoying a platter of scrambled eggs, bacon, sausage, country ham, and home fries at a restaurant several blocks from our hotel. It was the first shore-side breakfast we'd had in some time and we were making the most of it. My fork, laden with scrambled eggs and country ham, was halfway to my mouth when the thought hit me that I'd left my wallet with $600.00 in the pillowcase back at the hotel (It was the custom of many sailors to temporarily safeguard their money this way.)
I told Jack "I'll see you later,” and headed full steam for the Hotel. When I opened the door and looked into my room I saw the bed had been stripped of sheets and pillowcases. All I could think of was that my wallet was gone and that I had the grand sum of $25.00 to show for several months at sea in the submarine infested waters of the North Atlantic. Instead of a month of "merrymaking" in New York, I would have to sign on another ship as soon as possible.
It was a very long shot but I went looking for the maid as she was the most likely person to know anything about my missing wallet.
She was just outside my room; her arms piled high with clean linen. "Did you find a wallet when you stripped the pillow cases in my room?" I asked. "No sir, I ain't seen no wallet nowhere. I just pulls the pillowcases off real quick and throws 'em in the hamper. When the hamper gets full, I dump everything in the chute and it goes down to the laundry room. Tell you what mister, “Sarah will just take you down to the laundry room and look for that wallet of yours".
A mountain of linen greeted us in the laundry room. It was at least eight feet high and spread out over a large area. It looked like a hopeless task. The maintenance man let us use a stepladder and the search began. It wasn't long before Sarah shouted, "I found it, I found it, and it's full of money" Every last dollar was there and I deeply regretted ever having doubts about her honesty. "Thanks for everything Sarah, I'll never forget you or this morning if I live to be a hundred," I said as I handed her a $50.00 dollar bill. "Lordy I ain't never seen this much money in my whole life. This lady's going to have herself a ball come Saturday Night," she responded with broad smile. Sarah did have her night on the "town" and I had a memorable shore leave in the "Big Apple".
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Top answer
Hi, A nice bit of fiction. A few wobbles here and there but no real problems, just make sure all your quote marks are in the right place. The main thing I wondered about was the money.
- Hi, A nice bit of fiction.
- A few wobbles here and there but no real problems, just make sure all your quote marks are in the right place.
- The main thing I wondered about was the money.
- In 1944 how much is $600 really worth (a lot I imagine) but how about the $50 bill?
- Would it really be an amount she hadn't seen before, and if so, isn't it a rather generous reward?
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3 Answers
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Hi,
A nice bit of fiction. A few wobbles here and there but no real problems, just make sure all your quote marks are in the right place.
The main thing I wondered about was the money. In 1944 how much is $600 really worth (a lot I imagine) but how about the $50 bill? Would it really be an amount she hadn't seen before, and if so, isn't it a rather generous reward?
A nice bit of fiction. A few wobbles here and there but no real problems, just make sure all your quote marks are in the right place.
The main thing I wondered about was the money. In 1944 how much is $600 really worth (a lot I imagine) but how about the $50 bill? Would it really be an amount she hadn't seen before, and if so, isn't it a rather generous reward?
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Nona,
Thanks so much for your response to my post and for your comments.
Though it may it may read like a bit of fiction, believe me it was very real when I lived those events so long ago.
My trips to The British Isles left me with a lasting respect and deep fondness for you ‘brits’. If my ship hadn’t left Cardiff two weeks ahead of schedule, I’d be married to a wonderfu
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Hello Galley0
I liked it too. Very interesting story. Thanks for posting it!
There were just a couple of minor things, if you're submitting
it anywhere:
$600.00 > usually just $600 (likewise for other sums mentioned).
to temporarily safeguard] Some people would object to the split infinitive. I
myself wouldn't. ('When I split an infinitive, I
I liked it too. Very interesting story. Thanks for posting it!
There were just a couple of minor things, if you're submitting
it anywhere:
$600.00 > usually just $600 (likewise for other sums mentioned).
to temporarily safeguard] Some people would object to the split infinitive. I
myself wouldn't. ('When I split an infinitive, I
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