The Three Christs of Ypsilanti - Milton Rokeach [127]
December 12. Joseph reads aloud a letter from Dr. Yoder, who suggests Joseph invite Leon and Clyde to attend church services with him.
“I would suggest that Dr. O. R. Yoder mind his own business,” Leon says tersely.
“I know more about church than they can talk about. I am the church. I’m saved,” Clyde adds.
“He, Yoder, was just suggesting that I invite you two fellows,” Joseph says, somewhat defensively.
December 15. With Christmas approaching, Joseph is writing letters to all the relatives he can think of—a huge flurry of letter writing. He did not do this the previous Christmas.
The Social Service Department reports that he walked in today, and when asked what he wanted, announced: “I am God. I would like to apply for Social Security.”
December 19. Joseph embarks on a relentless campaign to be excused from his job in the vegetable room. He claims the smells make him sick. He launches a campaign of letters to Dr. Yoder and to his wife (to urge her to write to Dr. Yoder) which is so persevering that he will eventually emerge victorious. He makes other demands too, either singly or in combination; winning one demand serves as a signal for bringing forth the next.
My dear Dr. Yoder:
Thanks for your letter, also for the .25. I, too, wish you a Merry Xmas! I did not get your written permission for my quitting the vegetable room. I wish you would send it to me. I also wish a written permission about magazines. . . . I am getting discarded magazines from the library and throwing them into the burning boiler, located in the back of C 4-1, when a boss of the farm or tree party told me not to do this anymore. I’m sure it doesn’t hurt to throw magazines in the boiler … I should very much like to have these two written permissions. Thank you in advance for the two permissions …
Yours very truly,
Joseph Cassel
P.S. A reply if you wish. Thank you! …
I wish Jack Yoder a Merry Xmas. And your wife and whole family and my brothers, and my sisters.
Postscriptum:—
In working with magazines and books, I save lives. I help the world. It would mean saving your life, too. It may be that you did not get my last letter, I don’t know … It is a matter of life and death I tell you, Dr. Yoder! So, please, be responsive and send them to me? Please, mention if you have received my last letter, and this one, in your next letter? Excuse me for writing so much, but I am sure every word means something. I hope you get this letter; it may be that someone is stopping my mail. I hope not. Thank you! Thank you!
December 28. Joseph shows us the Christmas cards he has received, lamenting that he thought he would get more money since he had written so many letters. Actually, he got quite a lot—about $35.
December 29. Joseph is writing long answers to all the relatives who sent him money, saying to almost all of them that he has heart trouble but is getting better. In general the letters are long, chatty, reality-oriented, and somewhat perfunctory, mostly about jobs, babies, sickness, and other family news. But nothing about more money.
January 1, 1961. For the first time (and it is to be the only time), Joseph mentions that he attended Catholic as well as Protestant services. “Penitents all seemed or rather had the feeling that the New Year promised much for the world.”
January 3. Joseph says he had a momentary blackout when he got out of bed this morning. He does not go to work, claiming he is sick.
January 10
My dear Joseph:
Since you are like a son to me. and since I love you like a son, I am happy to say that I am able to grant you both requests which you have made. You asked for my permission to throw into the boiler discarded books and magazines. Provided that such books and magazines are really discarded and assuming that they are your property you certainly have my permission to throw them