Thanks for all the reviews…sorry this is so late. I really hope you like it!
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I was sitting in my bed clutching Soda's letter. I couldn't make out the words on the paper but I got Ponyboy to read it to me five times so I basically had it memorized.
Dear Bridget,
I'm glad everything is good in Tulsa. I miss you so much. Thank you for your picture you drew me. I hung it up right next to my bed so I see it when I fall asleep and when I wake up. It's real hot here. I hear its cold in Tulsa. The coldest February we've seen in years. I wish I were there drinking hot cocoa and snuggling with you while we watch cartoons. I have to go now but I want you to promise to be good and stay out of trouble. And say hey to the gang for me!
Love, Sodapop Curtis
P.S. Steve says "HI" and that he can't wait to see y'all.
I re-read or recited the letter three more times. I was halfway through my 4th when Darry walked into my room.
"Bridget it is way passed your bed time. You have school tomorrow. So go to sleep or I'll take away Sodapop's letter," he said.
"NO!" I whined clutching the letter to my heart.
"Then go to sleep," Darry said as he turned my light off and closed my door.
I sat in the dark for a while then I got up and found my flashlight. I turned it on and went back to bed.
I began to write Soda a letter under my covers.
Dear Sodapop,
I just got your letter today! I was super excited. Today I went to school. Miss Martin taught me how to write the letter M in cursive. I'll show you.
M m
Haley purposely made her 'm' bad so Miss Martin said mine was better. Then Ponyboy helped me with my homework. I had to read a book and write three sentences about it. I drew a picture about it too.
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I got up and took the picture out of my backpack. I decided I would give it to Sodapop. I returned to my bed and finished my letter.
Ponyboy said tomorrow he and Johnny would take me to buy a calendar to count down the days till you get home. I have to go. It's passed my bedtime and Darry will be mad.
With Love,
Bridget Curtis
I decided I would send it tomorrow after I but the calendar. I put my letter on my nightstand, turned off the flashlight and fell asleep.
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"BRIDGET ANNE CURTIS WAKE UP NOW!"
I jumped awake to the sound of Darry's very angry voice. I ran outta bed, put on a pair of jeans and one of Ponyboy's old t-shirts and ran to the kitchen.
"Good morning Mommy, Daddy and Sodapop," I said as I took my seat at the table.
"Good Morning," Darry said giving me a bowl of cereal,
"Gooo... Morning," I yawned. I was beginning to regret staying up late to write Soda's letter.
"Hurry up now," Darry said.
I finished my cereal, kissed Darry on the cheek, grabbed Soda's letter and my backpack and ran out to meet Ponyboy in the front yard.
Ponyboy always walks me to Haley/Two-Bit's house. Two-bit drives Haley and me to school and then takes himself and Ponyboy to school.
The walk to Two-bit's was real quiet. But that's normal. Ponyboy is NOT a morning person. So I know not to talk to him.
Two-bit, on the other hand, was wide-awake and waving at us as we approached his car. "Howdy Curtises!" he said.
"Hey Two-bit," I said climbing into the back with Haley.
Ponyboy only grunted in response to Two-bit's cheery hello.
Two-bit started the car and revved the engine. "Annnndddddddd were off!" he cried.
"WOO-HOO!" Haley and I shouted.
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"Hey Haley," I said. "Darry said we could play on Friday. Can you play?"
"Yeah!" she said excitedly as she hung up her backpack.
"Yeah I'm so excited!" I said.
"Alright kids," Miss Martin said clapping her hands. "Sit down. Sit down."
Haley and me rushed to our seats. "Good morning class," Miss Martin said.
"Good morning Miss Martin," my class chorused.
"Ok class, I want you to start your do now. And while you finish the do now I will check your homework."
I had to ask Haley what the do now was and I wrote it down as she said it so I wouldn't forget.
What is the most important thing to you? Why is it so important?
I began the do now after I wrote the instructions:
The most important thing that I own is a scrapbook of my family's vacation to the Grand Canyon. It is the most important thing I own because…
Miss Martin reached our table.
"Bridget where is your picture?" Miss Martin asked.
I froze. I forgot I put the picture in the letter for Sodapop.
"Ummm" I started thinking of an excuse.
"She's probably too poor to buy crayons," a soc girl named Sage said.
"Hey!" I said back.
"Girls!" Miss Martin said. "Now Bridget where is your picture?"
"Ummm Miss Martin, I drew a picture but I thought my brother Sodapop would like it so I put it into his letter," I said with my head down.
I looked up with my eyes. Miss Martin's expression changed from mad to understanding. "That's ok Bridget. Do you have your sentences?"
I nodded and gave my sheet of paper with my three sentences. She read it quickly and put a smiley face on the top of the paper. "Thank you Bridget," she said. Then more quietly she said, "I just got a letter from Paul too." Paul is Miss Martin's fiancé. He is in Vietnam, too.
I smiled at her and finished my Do Now.
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"Look at her! Why is she so mean?" I was talking to Haley on the playground. We were talking about Sage and that snotty comment she said this morning.
"She's just jealous of your awesomeness," Haley said.
I snorted a laugh. I looked over at her. She and her soc friends were kicking a 1st grader off the swing set.
"Bridget can I see you for a moment?" Miss Martin asked.
"Umm, sure," I said nervously, getting up and following her. She took us back into our classroom and sat down with me at my table. Another teacher was sitting there.
"Bridget, I want to introduce you to Mrs. Andrews." Miss Martin said.
"Hi there Bridget," Mrs. Andrews said cheerfully.
"Hi," I said.
"Bridget, could you read this sentence to us please." Miss Martin asked, giving me a piece of paper with a something written on it.
I looked at it for about a minute before giving up. I had no clue what it said! I shook my head giving the paper back.
"Bridget, Mrs. Andrews is a Reading Specialist She wants to help you make schoolwork a little easier for you."
I looked up. "NO!" I said. "NO I'M NOT GOING TO A STUPID CLASS! I'M NOT STUPID!"
"Ok Bridget calm down," Miss Martin said. "We aren't saying that you are stupid."
"YES YOU ARE!' I interrupted. I could feel tears starting to form in my eyes. I did NOT like bpeople pointing out my bad grades.
"Don't worry about it. You can go back recess, ok Bridget." Mrs. Andrews says nicely.
I walked outside to meet up with Haley before recess is over.
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"Bridget what about this one?" Ponyboy asked.
He was holding up a calendar of puppies. I scrunched up my nose and shook my head. I liked puppies but I didn't want a puppy calendar.
I kept looking through the shelves.
Johnny held up a calendar of horses. "What about this one? Soda likes horses."
"Yeah he does." I looked through the pictures and liked the pictures. "I liked this one," I said. "But I also like this one."
I showed Ponyboy the other calendar in my other hand. It was a calendar of pictures from foreign cities. I like the pictures of the cities cause when I get older I want to travel the world.
Ponyboy shrugged and said, "I don't know Bridget. You have enough money to buy one but not both."
I slumped against the wall. I hate making decisions. I was sitting thinking about what calendar to get.
"Look, Bridget," Ponyboy said. "You buy a calendar of the cities, and I'll buy you a notebook with a horse on it."
I thought about. It seemed like a good deal. "Ok deal!" I said.
Johnny and Ponyboy walked us to our house. It was 5 o'clock and Darry was home.
"Hey Darry!" I said.
He was on the phone and as soon as I noticed I slapped my hand against my mouth. I went back outside with Ponyboy and Johnny.
I sat next to Johnny and started to play with his hair. I like Johnny's hair. It's so soft.
"So Bridget how's school going?" Johnny asked.
"It's good," I said. "How is your school?"
"Its good," he smiled at me.
I heard Darry hang up the phone and then he stepped out of the house on to the porch with us.
"Bridget that was your teacher," he said. "She told me that she wants to talk to me about your reading problem."
