Disclaimer: No, I don't own The Outsiders!
Author's Note: When I asked her what she wanted for Mother's Day, my mom told me she wanted me to write her a story. So this one is dedicated to her. Love you, Mom!
Dear Mom,
It's Mother's Day. For our English assignment we have to write a letter to our mothers. My teacher, Mr. Syme, told me I could be exempt—after someone blurted out that I didn't have a mother anymore. But I wanted to write one anyway. Not for grades, just because.
Soda, Darry and I are all fine. So is the gang, or as fine as they ever were anyway. Dallas is in the cooler (again) but the rest have been staying out of trouble for the most part lately. Soda dropped out about a month ago. He works at the DX. But I guess you already knew that. And Darry is still doing two jobs, coming home with pulled muscles all the time. He's worse than Soda was when he still did rodeos! We still go to those, by the way.
I always feel bad for the guys on days like this. None of them really has a reason to celebrate Mother's Day except for Two-Bit, whose mom at least tries to take care of them.
Dallas never really knew his mom and his dad doesn't even care about him. The closest thing he had to a mother was you. At least you kept him a little less wild, talked him out of stupid stuff.
Steve still just lives with his dad, whom you know all about. No mom for him to give cards to, or bug him about school, or even yell at him when he came home late because she was so worried about him getting into trouble. None of that.
And of course, Darry and Soda have the same thing as me. We can't celebrate today or Father's Day either anymore. I think Sodapop misses it, but Darry doesn't seem to care. At least not from what I can tell. If you were here, he would make an effort, though. I know he would.
But the person I feel worst for on days like this is Johnny, because even though he has a mother, she doesn't act like one. On Mother's Day, when she should be so happy to have a kid like him, she ignores him. Or screams at him. I remember when we were younger, he bought her a gift. I think he was seven or eight then. But when he gave it to her, she just screamed at him to go away. Mom, I'll never forget the look on his face. That was when he knew, finally and completely, about how awful his parents really were. I almost cried, it was so horrible to see. Johnny goes through so much in that house, and a day like this is just a reminder of what he has to put up with having a mother like that. I wish you were here to say something to him.
We're going to be okay, don't worry about us. Darry does a good job running the house and paying the bills and stuff. And Sodapop is there to listen to my problems. I still wish things were like they were before, but since they can't be I'm just glad to have my brothers.
Darry wants us to play football now. He thinks I don't go outside enough. I'm not going to tell him about this letter. I know you'd understand why. I miss you, Mom. Ponyboy Curtis
PS: Happy Mother's Day.