COMING WEDNESDAY: The dreaded dear John

The dreaded dear JohnAs Johnny prepares to march home again (hurrah, hurrah) he might picture himself picking right back up with Susie Sweetheart, marrying the girl and living the dream.After all, hes been out in the trenches, fighting the good fight. Battered, he clings to those rumpled letters covered in elaborate pen swirls: My beloved Johnny…, To my true love…, Darling Johnny…But before he can pack his bags, hes handed an envelope. Like any other envelope on any other day, he tears open the side and slides the letter into his greedy, waiting palm, only to read:Dear John…The callous bite of formality! The blatant omission of pet names! The bare-chested brevity!John? But John is my father! he thinks. I am Johnny! Im her beloved, darling Johnny! Nooo!