Thurs. March 16, 1967

Months felt like centuries. School is an absolute nightmare but luckily I can keep my grades up enough to pass. Mom doesn't seem to bother me about grades because she is smart enough to know that yelling and screaming will not make my grades go up. I think she's had enough with my immaturity, even Max seems more adult like than I do and he's twelve. Travis kept his word when he said he didn't want to talk to me. It's been a month and he's said a total of four words to me.

Sun. May 21, 1967

My mom dragged me to the store today so I would get out of the house, except for the time I go to school. Travis was home alone (oh, boy) and Max was at a friend's house. I left my mom to carry the bags in; I ditched her to go inside the house.

"Hi, Travis." That was an awkward hello because Travis was in his room making out with some new girl he met at school. She looked at me like I was some other girl he was dating.

"Oh, that's my sister. But um, Christina, my mom's home."

"Travis, Max, we're home!" Mom called from the front door.

"Max! I forgot to pick him up!" Travis shouted. He pushed me out of the way. He rushed out the door, so that left me and Christina in the room alone.

"Well, this is awkward. I'll take you home. But we'll have to go through the window." She smiled a willing smile. She went through first and then we snuck to Travis' car and she told me where to go.

"This is really awkward. Sorry. I'm Typhani by the way. It's nice meeting you."

"You too. I guess you know that I'm Christina. Does this happen to you a lot? I mean, running into his girlfriends this way?" She said. Christina was friendly and that reduced the amount of awkwardness. She didn't live to far, so that was less time for us to talk.

"Well, thanks for the ride. Maybe, hopefully, I'll see some other time."

"That'd be nice. See ya later." I said. Wow, that had to be the most awkward time in my life. Well, that and the time Soda found out I like him and I had to go to school with him. Awkward.

Wed. May 31, 1967

After school Travis and I went out with Lisa and Anthony. They took us to this little sandwich shop. Lisa said they had the best sandwiches in town. I got a table and told them to order me whatever was good.

"Hey, what kinda soda do you want?" Anthony asked.

"Curtis… I mean Pepsi." I can't believe I just said that.

"Did you really just say that?" Travis asked.

"Yeah, I did." I snapped back. Jeez.

Thurs. June 8, 1967

There was some sort of school party today and Travis, Lisa, and Anthony begged me to go with them. So I did. Lisa was overly excited and Anthony was already drunk (I honestly didn't know he was like a Two-Bit). The party was on a beautiful beach house and people were both inside and in the water, having a good old time. Anthony left us to meet up with some friends. The other three of us went inside to check out the house. Lisa knew a lot of people. I hardly knew any. Travis met up with a few guys he knew from his math class. What a nerd. Lisa tried to introduce me to a bunch of guys so I could have a boyfriend, I guess. I ignored every boy that tried to talk to me until a really cute one approached me.

"Hi, it's Typhani right?" I nodded. "I'm Keith." I choked on my drink. His name would be Keith. "Are you okay?"

"Yeah, I'm fine." Keith and I talked for a long time and we were really hit it off. When the party ended Keith gave me his number and I gave him mine.

"Call me." He smiled all cute like and gave me butterflies. NO! I can't fall for someone else. Soda would flip. Sorry Keith I can never call you back.

Thurs. June 15, 1967

I haven't talked to Travis like we used to, I'm a lot lazier so I haven't done the things I would normally do (I've been spending most of my time making up homework and trying to study. So I've lost time to write in my journal), and I haven't heard anything from Soda. He hasn't written back like he promised and I sent my letter the day after I wrote it. Travis moved into Max's room to avoid me. Whatever.

That night when I went to bed, I went to sleep with the thought that Soda moved on and no longer cares about me like he used to. Mom and Travis moved on.

"Typhani, wake up." Someone was shaking my shoulder to make me wake up. I wasn't quite sure who it was.

"Travis, go away." I mumbled.

"I'm not Travis—"

"Then, Max, leave me alone." I knew for sure it wasn't my mom because the person sounded male.

"I'm not Max either."

"Oh, my gosh! Take whatever you want, just please don't hurt me." I put my hands up to surrender and then turned around to face the burglar. "Two-Bit?" Was it really true; did someone come back for me? I couldn't help but smiled. He got down to my level and we hugged.

"We miss you, kid." He hugged me tighter.

"No offense, but why are you here?" It's not that I wasn't happy to see Two-Bit, it's just that I thought that if they were to send someone they would send Soda.

"Darry's working, Pony's going to school, Steve's working and I had nothing better to do."

"What about Soda?" There was a reason he didn't mention Soda, he was hiding something.

"He's busy too." Two-Bit was going to tell me what was up with Soda.

"Busy writing my letter?" I said, with some sarcasm, under my breath.

"What?"

"Nothing." I paused. "Two-Bit you better go before my mom catches you. If she does she'll kill both of us."

"But I just go—"

"Typhani, who are you talk… You! Get out of my house!" Mom yelled.

"Two-Bit I told you to leave, you never listen!" I yelled at Two-Bit, I felt bad about it later.

"Nice seeing you, too, Taylor." Two-Bit was real mad as he climbed back out the window. A piece of paper fell out when he climbed out. I leaned over to pick it up but my mom yelled at me, "Go to sleep Typhani."

"Mom I—"

"Go to sleep." She was furious. She turned off the light in my room and left. I hid the paper under my pillow to read in the morning when it was light outside.

Fri. June 16, 1967

I woke up a bit earlier today so I could read the secret note that fell out of Two-Bit's pocket. I went to the kitchen for breakfast and I stayed as quiet as I could. I sat down at the table with a bowl of cereal and the note. On the outside of the envelope it read: To: Typhani PLEASE READ

Inside the envelope was another envelope. This one was address to my new house and with my name on it. The return address was to Soda's house. It was never opened but I could tell that it's been resent a few times. I opened the second envelope and the date said Jan. 15, 1967. Soda wrote this letter as soon as he got mine. I read the letter:

Dear Typhani,

I'm glad to hear from you even though I saw like two days ago. I'm smiling right now just thinking of you. I can't believe you might actually be gone forever. I might not ever see you again. Before I forget, I love you. Don't forget that. I know I won't. The guys miss you too. You made a difference in our lives and I don't know how we are possibly going to live with out you. You're a great person no matter what anyone says to you. I miss you a lot and I'm crazy about you. I love you.

Sodapop Curtis

"What's that?" Mom came out to make herself coffee.

"Nothing." I quickly put the letter face down but completely forgot about the envelope. She walked to the table and picked up the envelope.

"Sodapop Curtis. Where'd you find this letter?"

"It fell out Two-Bit's pocket last night. Why? Have you seen this letter before?" I asked. I could tell by the way she asked the question that she had seen this letter before; like she was the one who sent it back.

"I thought it'd be best if you had no ways of communication with them." She sighed.

"Fine, you did what you thought was best." I got up with the letter in hand and went to my room. I thought about writing back and then I thought about going to visit them. "Mom would you ever consider letting me go visit them?"

"Ha, no." She laughed like I was stupid for asking.

"I figured."

Sun. June 18, 1967

Mom left early for work so one of us three had to wake up early. Travis volunteered to wake up when Mom left. Though Travis was tired of my immaturity, he still did nice things for me, so I know that he loves and cares for me. It was about nine-thirty when I woke up. I really have a hard time sleeping in for a long time. I've heard people say they can sleep in on the weekends 'til like noon. I could hear the TV in the living room. Max must be awake, Travis rarely watches TV. I noticed a piece of paper on my side table. It was a plane ticket and a note.

Travis talked me into it. Thank him.

Please be safe, Typhani. I'm giving you two weeks max but you have to promise to come back. All I want is for you to be happy.

Mom

P.S. I worked it out with your father. He'll give you money for a ticket back.

"You are the greatest brother ever." I hugged Travis with a huge grip. I really don't know how to describe how tight my grip was but it was tight.

"I know." Travis said. Max cleared his throat to imply his existence.

"You're a great brother too Maxy." He smiled because he was pleased.

The ticket was for tomorrow afternoon. I could try to promise to come back but I'm not calling it a true statement. That night at dinner and the rest of the day, nothing was ever said about my trip but I was packing for it and I packed everything. Everything like I was moving back to Oklahoma. I couldn't help but smile all night long. Sodapop Curtis: I love you.

Later, I called my dad to wish him a happy father's day… not that I meant it. Just so he knew I didn't forget him.