Disclaimer: All characters and scenarios belong to S.E. Hilton.
XXXX
January 1965
Dear Ponyboy,
Ever since mom and dad died, things have been real tough. Just staying as a family with Sodapop and Darry has been a constant struggle. Soda's had to drop out of school so he could work. At least he's still lively and enjoys a Greaser's life. Darry was the one that got all the stress and responsibility. He was always the serious one, even when mom and dad were alive. He was athletic, smart and popular in school and could have gone a long way, but then suddenly, his entire life collapsed by that one dreadful event. At the age of 18, he had to raise and care for his own family. Under that pressure, he's grown up faster that any kid deserves to. He may seem to hate your guts and wants you out of his hair as soon as possible. He's always hollering and fussing that every single thing from you needs to be better. But if he really hated you and didn't give a hang, he wouldn't be minding you in the first place. He could have just dropped you in Kids' Home instead of struggling daily to keep the remainder of the Curtis family intact.
Darry really does care and his way of showing it is on his protective side. He does make a good guardian. He always makes sure you finish your homework and checks it over and always knows where you are. Dad didn't yell as much, but Darry's just a kid who forced himself onto this responsibility. You have to understand that was his decision in the first place. With your brain and all, Darry knows you're the one key out here. That's why he's got all these high expectations for you. I know it's hard to understand. You and Darry don't see the world the same way. He's grown up too fast, and you've still got that bit of childhood and innocence left in you. You and Darry could be face to face, but you'll never see eye to eye. You two don't get along, but it's still better than most boys on this side of town. Take Dally, his old man doesn't even care if he was dead or alive. Or Johnny, whose parents would only bat an eye at him before a good beating or a long hollering. You really need to be content with what you have, Ponyboy.
No matter what will happen in the future, remember that Sodapop and even Darry'll be there for you. Just go easy on him, he loves you as much as Sodapop, he's just over-protective and you'll soon learn to appreciate that. Try to understand that without your brothers, you've got nothing. You might as well try to stick together.
Good luck, you'll certainly be needing it,
From Ponyboy
June 1966
AN: In case you haven't noticed, he time traveled, and we all know time traveling was high popular in the 1960s! This was a school assignment, so if you didn't find it too good, since when is school really amusing? No flame, Please! I'm just a poor kid who wanted to know how far her English assignment will go!