Dear Pearl,

The bridge club is atwitter with news of your exciting new entrepreneurial spirit, Pearl. You simply must let us throw you a party to celebrate everything about Pearl's Diner. The girls want to create their own sandwich board fashions to wear for the occasion. You simply must indulge us! Oh, before I forget! If you need waitresses, Alexandra Blueblood knows the sweetest young thing through her housekeeper. Her name is Sunny Tiptoes and she can do ANYTHING! (If you do call her, don't let Louise know. She is so jealous about these sorts of things.)

I Remain As Always, Your Devoted Miss Blue

Dear Miss Blue,Yes, it does seem like only yesterday that my meatloaf sandwiches were all the rage (the orphans devoured them every Sunday after church and communion - a treat after their fast of the day before). My cooking skills, questionable, but diner food must be just that. Diner Food(although not mentioned in the famous cookbooks as such) Steamboat Stew and fish sticks with mayonnaise cocktail sauce had to be in their own culinary category, namely, "Almost." Very humble was the Diner.  Pearl's Diner will feature saucers of every type - small with slight rims, large with sloping rims, patterns of flowers and creature of the forests, colors, colors, colors - all to hold the most delightful little morsels of original, never before seen, food....

I am so excited, Miss Blue. I am hoping for a small government grant to help me with some of the initial expenses. My porch and my entire first floor will be outfitted with small tables, and of course, appropriate chairs. A darling display of saucers so that my customers may choose their favorites, and - an additional thought - take their choice home with them (at a small additional cost). Well, dear Miss Blue, that is the story.

And, before I go, how relieved I am that Melba has, as you say, shaken off the Mr. Wonderful doldrums. Her new beau, a dancer? How shocking, I would say. Just a gigolo, dancing and sending out sparks, will suffice for a while but then, hopefully, Melba will see the light.  And so now, I will send this letter along to you, my dearest Miss Blue, hoping we will meet again soon, right here on my doorstep.....Pearl, planning

Melba has shaken off the Mr. Wonderful doldrums, Pearl, and is head over heels in love (what you and I and everyone we know would call infatuation, you know how it is with Melba!) with a funny looking fellow she met on the subway. He's a wonderful dancer - very light on his feet - but a bit of an enigma. There are times when he seems really to be a dim bulb. But at other times he sparkles with energy. To his credit he never fails to cast a rosy glow on Melba. Which makes her happy. And when Melba is happy the household runs so much more smoothly. Fanny would be the first to tell you that! I simply must run. So many committees and only one of me!

Please write as soon as you have a chance!

I Remain As Always,

Your Devoted Miss Blue

I will be the very first one in line - in spirit, at least - outside Pearl's Diner, Pearl, waiting for fried potatoes and pickles served by your delightful self! It seems like only yesterday that you were famous for those glorious meatloaf sandwiches at Pearl's Lunch Car! Linguini says the boxcar is still there, just past the Church of Lost Souls' Orphanage and Thrift Shop. I'm afraid the old neighborhood has rather gone to seed. Still, it was a fun time, wasn't it? Steamboat Stew, those dear little fish sticks with mayonnaise cocktail sauce (how did you get the fish to be so rectangular?), the high and mighty angel food cakes with the tunnel of chocolate fluff, and the fragrant liver with onions. . . .

Oh dear. A frantic call from Melba. She is despondent over the demise of her romance with Mr. Wonderful and her golf game has gone simply to hell (excuse the vulgarity). I am urging her to find a past time that is more creative. Perhaps acting. She is so dramatic!

I Remain As Always,

Your Devoted Miss Blue

Dear Miss Blue,

Here in the Village, clothes lines are forbidden! Can you believe that? Victorian sensibilities alongside the race for the moon! There are rules about the placement of laundry - delicate unmentionables are never to be displayed for others to see but must be placed between the towels, sheets, and other large laundry items so as not to suggest the intimate life of ones neighbor. Then there is the fear that all households might display less than attractive wearing apparel - worn out socks and other signs of poverty. Why, the property value of the neighborhood is at risk! Well, it goes on and on. Nevertheless, I will be attending the City Council meetings with a vengeance, arguing for clean, outdoorsy laundry! Just to create a choice, Miss Blue, not to forsake the dryer in the basement, of course! Once we are reminded of the smell of fresh air on the pillow, or on our clothing, the rush to the clothes line and the clothes pin bag will be unavoidable. And so I will persevere, of course.

Have I told you, Miss, Blue, of my additional interest in business? Well, yes, just in the last week I have entertained the idea of opening a luncheonette, serving some of the "old faithful" foods of the Depression years. Pearl's Diner. Just a joyful hour or so each day, serving others with my own friendly, simple recipes. Why, just today I sliced a russet potato, very thin, and fried it in oil and butter, with sea salt, and pickles and brownies for dessert plus a beverage of choice, served to my only customer. He did brighten my day with a darling smile.

Love from
Saturday's Pearl