DuMont (Socks CCXCIV)

The table was moved into the next room, and the box took it's place in front of the window.
The box had a tail that got plugged into the wall next to Phil's tail. Elsebeth brought a lacy piece of cloth to put between Phil and the box. There were rabbit ears set on Phil and connected to the back of the box.
"Phil, what's a rabbit, and why does it have skinny ears?"
Phil didn't have the answer.
Donald called Wilhiem a tightwad for buying a used TV.
"Phil, what's a TV?"
"I'm not just a TV, I'm DuMont."

Wooden Box (Socks CCXCIII)

Dana came to visit every day now, staying all day, with Katherina or Donald coming and taking her away at the end of the day.
During the day Dana would play near the radio listening to Archie, or Blondie.
People confused Margreth, the older couple called each other Elebeth and Wilhiem, but now they called each other, as Dana did, oma and opa. Soon Katerina and Donald were calling them that too.
One day Donald and Wilhiem carried in a large wooden box with glass in the front. Donald said that the old cheapskate was finally moving into the fifties.

A Move (Socks CCXCII)

Donald came into the house to tears, hugs, and claps on the back.
He and Katherina stayed at the house.
The two men became close, leaving every morning, coming home every evening together, and occasionally drinking out of brown bottles together, talking.
After a few years Margreth, and Phil were moved to a new, bigger house with the older couple. The younger couple lived somewhere else, and visited often, to eat, and listen to the radio.
And soon Katherina was getting bigger again. This time a baby, Dana, came visit Oma and Opa.
In time Dana mimicked Margreth, “Cuckoo, cuckoo.”

Holiday Season (Socks CCXCI)

Soon the snow began to fly. The family decorated the house the same way that they had for years. A tree was brought in, and set in the corner. Popcorn puffs were sewn together in a string, and draped on the tree, along with brightly colored balls. A circle made of the tree boughs was hung on the door to the outside, a candle in the middle.
A Menorah sat on the table next to Phil, and as darkness fell, the candles were lit, one the first night, adding one each night thereafter.
Donald came home on the sixth day.

More Letters (Socks CCXC)

The weather turned cool, then cold, yet the family was happier than they had been for the past few years. The letters from Donald arrived more often now, and Katherina was inclined to leave them on the table so the others could read them.
The clock took advantage to read the letters also. None of the words were marked or cut out anymore. Donald said that he didn't have enough points to leave Italy yet, but was doing all he could to get home very soon. He also said that working with Wilhiem would be great. He also missed Katherina.

High Spirits (Socks CCLXXXIX)

Phil grabbed the signal again with the help of Katherina, allowing the man at Times Square to continue reporting. After a couple more hours Phil relayed big band music to the family, but every so often the man would come back. The revelry in Times Square was still underway long after dark.
The next morning the family was in an upbeat mood. Katherina smiled and sang softly to herself until she left the house, Wilhiem seemed to limp just a little less, and Elsebeth hummed tunes all day that the clock had not heard in years.
"Phil, that's Fur Elise."

Tuning The Dial (Socks CCLXXXVIII)

"Hisss, Sailor, what will, hiss, now that the war, hiss, over? I'm going home to, hiss, and give 'er a big kiss. Then I'm monna ask her to marr me. If yer liss-nin', Kellie Jean, Ah'd be proud to have you be mah wahf. You hear me Kellie, soon zie get home, we're going to the preacher. Well, folks, there goes one happy sailor. He's running around in circles, kissing every woman in sight. Oh my, he just kissed a nurse so hard she bent over backwards. Don't be jealous Kellie Jean, wherever you are, he's just a happy man."