You get to meet Johnny's family in this chapter. This isn't the actual chapter where they meet, but it'll be soon. I promise. :) If you haven't been able to figure out who his family is, you'll definitely know in this chapter. Enjoy chapter four! When you get done reading, please review! It gives me motivation to update!

Lucille stared at the papers in her hands and sighed. At this rate, there was no way she'd be able to afford their move to California. She sat the informational paper her real estate lady, Anna, had given her on the table and laid her head in her hands.

"Ma, the mail is here," her son, Daniel, spoke, entering the kitchen. He stopped in front of the table and skimmed through the envelopes before tossing the stack onto the table. Lucille picked her head up and curiously looked through the pile herself. Bills. Bills. Bills. It was the same thing as usual. But, hidden beneath the money sucking envelopes, was something more. Something that caught Lucille's eyes. She pulled it out of the pile and tossed the rest onto the table as Daniel had earlier. Lucille observed the front. It was from Tulsa, Oklahoma. She ripped it open eagerly and read over the letter. It was her son. Her younger son, Johnny.

My parents now have been treatin' me harshly, and I want to get away.

She read the sentence over and over. The sentence still sinking in. Tears pricked her eyes. She couldn't believe this. She couldn't believe she allowed two cruel adults to take her youngest. Daniel reappeared into the kitchen.

"Hey, Ma. Have you seen my cleats? Kevin, Kenny, and I are going to go kick the ball around . . ." Daniel trailed off and took a seat across from his mother. "What's wrong?" he asked, staring at her. Lucille wiped at her eyes and sniffled.

"N-Nothing," she stammered. Daniel continued to watch her.

"Ma, c'mon. You don't just start crying when you're reading a letter. What's wrong? Please tell me?" he pleaded. Lucille scanned over Johnny's letter once more before handing it over to her oldest.

XxXxXxX

After several silent minutes, Daniel sat the paper on the table. His eyes were wide, and he was speechless. Lucille wiped at her eyes once again and waited for his reaction.

"I-I have a b-brother?" Daniel asked in disbelief. Lucille weakly nodded her head. "Since when?"

"He was . . . I put him . . . Your father . . ." Lucille closed her mouth in attempts to figure out how to word it.

"Dad wanted to get rid of him?" Daniel asked. She looked back at him and nodded her head slowly. "Well . . . How c-come?" Lucille took a deep breath and looked at him, debating on if she was ready to tell him the whole situation.

"Well, it all started seventeen years ago . . ."

XxXxXxX

As soon as Daniel went to bed, Lucille sat down and decided to write her letter back. She held the pen tightly in her right hand and stared at the blank sheet of paper. There was so much she wanted to say. So many things that she didn't even know where to begin. She continued staring at the paper, and she felt as if she were going to be sick. So many emotions consumed her at the moment. She felt excited. She nauseous. She felt gleeful. But most of all, she felt anxious. Finally, after thinking it over several times, Lucille knew where to start. The pen met the paper, and the words seemed to flow easily onto the sheet.

Dear, Johnny . . .

XxXxXxX

Mr. Curtis stepped into the small house with a big smile on his face. Mrs. Curtis entered the living room to tidy up the furniture but stopped in her tracks when she noticed her husband looking more jovial than normal.

"What is it, sweetheart?" Barbara asked, leaning over to fix a pillow. Darrel held one envelope out towards his wife. She stood up and accepted it. Barbara read over the front, and, just like Darrel's, her lips curled into a big smile.

"Where are the boys?" he asked. "Ponyboy." His voice echoed throughout the whole house and bounced off the walls. Seconds later, his youngest son came running into the living room.

"Yeah, Dad?" Pony asked. Mr. Curtis said nothing and continued smiling; he held the letter out towards his son, who took it gingerly. Pony tore his attention away from his dad and looked at the front of the envelope.

Lucille LaRusso

Newark, New Jersey, 07104

Pony's eyes widened. Johnny got a letter from his mother. She got his letter. He gripped the envelope tightly and raced back into his room where his best friend was. Inside the room, Johnny was trying to read Gone with the Wind.

"Johnny!" Ponyboy shouted. His friend jumped and turned to look at his friend. Normally, he would've felt bad, but right now, the only thing he could feel was excitement. "Catch!" Pony tossed the letter onto Johnny's lap. He picked it up curiously and read the front. "It's from your mom!" Johnny eagerly tore open the package, pulled the letter from it, and carefully unfolded it. Pony collapsed onto the bed next to his friend and read over his best buddy's shoulder.

Dear, Johnny,

Johnny. Is it really you? I was afraid I'd never get to hear from you again. You want to come home? But, your home is in Tulsa. But if you want to come back with me, I would be more than willing to take you. I don't want you living with those monsters. Even if they're your "parents", I'm still your mother. You're mine. I'm sorry for everything though, and I want you to know, that no matter what, I love you. Forever and always. Call me when you get the chance. My number is 973-555-7114.

Love, your mother, Lucille

Johnny felt tears beginning to form in his eyes. Just like what had happened to Lucille.

"Johnny . . . She wants you back," Pony said softly. Johnny wiped his eyes.

"How do you know? It doesn't say that," he responded, scanning the letter quickly for any information he might have missed. Right then and there, Pony was tempted to hit his buddy upside the head.

"The way the letter is written. She called your adoptive parents monsters. She wants you, Johnny. She said she still loved you," Pony explained. Johnny stared at the letter happily.

"I want you to know, that no matter what, I love you. Forever and always.

Someone actually loved him.

"S-Should I got call her?" he asked Pony quietly. Ponyboy nodded his head and reached for the telephone on Soda's nightstand. Johnny accepted it and picked up the phone. He fumbled with it for a few seconds, but his shaky hands managed to dial the number. It rang a couple times, and he was afraid she wouldn't answer. But on the fourth ring, someone answered.

"Hello?" they answered.

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