Thelma and Lowell's Diary: Dec. 26, 1943

She writes her last full entry; poor children given Christmas toys

This is the last day that Thelma put pen to paper in the joint diary. It was Sunday and Lowell was working 12 hours — 8 a.m. to 8 p.m. She occupied her time by writing some letters, reading, cooking a chicken, and listening to the radio. At least she wasn’t lonely. “Vangy and Joe came over several times during the day,” she wrote.

Today’s Times-Picayune may have occupied some of her reading time, though for once neither she nor Lowell posted a list of expenses. The front page told of peace on earth, good will toward men — and Negro children — in the Big Easy.

Paid subscribers can read on. Remember, I will begin sharing “the rest of the story” on Dec. 30. If you want to find out what happened to our friends Thelma and Lowell, you will need to upgrade to paid.