A Day in the Life growing up in 1943

A typical day for me as an 18 year old found adult in 1943 is interesting.  The war is growing and US involvement is increasing.  Also the depression rages on but the war offers new hope for the future.  Today i woke up in my house in buffalo and looked out to see it was raining.  This is a bad day for me because i am going to get soaked as i walk to school.  I arrive at my one room school house near south campus and sit down to see my classmates ranging from age 14-20.  I look to my right hoping to see my good friend but he isn't there.  I remember he was drafted and forgot the prior day was his last.  I get a sore feeling in the pit of my stomach at the thought of him fighting in the war.  I fear everyday that i will go home and my own letter will be sitting at the counter.  I try to pay attention in class but the thought of my friend is too distracting.  I leave for home at lunch to try and get my mind off of the fact that my friend.  As i walk home i come across our neighborhood mailman but, for some reason his face is real long and sad when he see's me.  i fear that he has news of my other drafted friends being hurt or even killed in the war but this was not the case, it was my even bigger fear.  He looks at me dead in the eyes and hands me my draft notice.