The Three Christs of Ypsilanti - Milton Rokeach [128]
As for your request to quit the vegetable room, I hereby give you my permission. It is fine with me. I will discuss shortly with Dr. Rokeach the question of assigning you to another job which will be more pleasant for you.
In the meantime, please be assured that I will, as always, try to act like a loving father toward you, and I enclose 25¢ as a token of my loving esteem for you.
Sincerely yours,
O. R. Yoder, M.D.
Joseph, overjoyed as he finishes reading the letter, exclaims: “I have finally won the battle of the vegetable room! I am gratified.” He responds immediately with a long letter to Dr. Yoder, addressing him—as he would regularly in the future—“My dear Dad.” After profuse thanks for granting Joseph’s two requests, the letter continues:
I will keep your letter to show that I have permission for discards to throw into the boiler and for proof that I have quit the job in the vegetable room.
And now I feel like my calling you my real dad, because of not only your giving me the two permissions but of your writing in the letter such as “Since you are like a son to me, and since I love you like a son, I am happy to say I am able to grant both requests; and be assured that I will, as always, try to act like a loving father toward you.” Thus, thank you endlessly.
Joseph very quickly makes some new demands on Dr. Yoder. He needs medicine; he is giddy; he is constipated; his stomach could be better.
I am God, and I have been through a hard campaign that has affected me. Certainly I need medicine! And a rest. In the vegetable room I was affected not only by stink, but also by patients who were pushing their ills to me. . . .
And in the next letter I may ask about a transfer to a different ward. Yet I have reasons for everything written in this letter.
Yours very truly,
Joseph Cassel
January 24. At the group meeting, Joseph reads aloud a letter from Dr. Yoder. The letter says that the superintendent is going to give Joseph a new miracle drug, the purpose of which is to eliminate Joseph’s physical complaints. It goes on to suggest Joseph sing such songs as The Star-Spangled Banner and Glory, Glory, Hallelujah at the meetings. Finally, Dr. Yoder writes, he would be willing to consider Joseph’s request for a transfer from the ward if Joseph writes in more detail why he wishes it.
Immediately Joseph turns to Leon to suggest they sing The Star-Spangled Banner. Would Leon lend him his Bible, in which the words were written down? Leon refuses, saying the print is too small for them to read. Joseph tries to figure out where they could get the words to some new songs. I suggest a songbook from the library.
January 25. Joseph, as chairman, suggests they open the meeting with The Star-Spangled Banner. Clyde and Joseph rise to their feet, but Leon continues to sit. The two sing, without Leon. At the close of the meeting Joseph suggests the second verse of America, and this time all three rise to their feet and sing.
January 25
My dear dad:
I want to thank you for your nice letter, withal, for the 25¢.
As for the new drug, which you are about to give me, I accept it, heartfully, thankfully! I am anxious to obtain this new drug; and I want to thank you for it.
As for the transfer, the reason is that this ward is too small … What is wrong with C-63? That is a big ward, is it not? Moreover, I want to separate from the other two fellows who attend the meetings with me. Their psychology is tremendously bad towards me, thus, a bad feeling and sickness. . . . And I am most thankful to you for your feeling like a father toward his son. Thus, my addressing you as Dad in this letter …
As for the suggestion by you of a variety of songs, I have asked of the librarian for a pamphlet of anthems.
I must use a repetition; this new drug, I am awaiting for … I am quite confident in the faith that this drug is fine, if only it is prescribed by you … And I will let you know of the results, after I have taken it or partaken of