After dinner I put away the clothes Mr. Ottavi had graciously shipped to me, and I cracked open the tin full of cookies Kathryn included in the box. I ate two of them and thought about what Ponyboy had written in his letter. He was right the cookies were delicious. I wanted them to last and I knew I couldn't trust my roommate, so I put the lid back on the tin and hid it underneath my bed.
Kneeling down, I looked over my shoulder to be sure the dorm door was shut tight then I pulled the box from Owen out from it's hiding spot under the bed. I sat on my bed with my legs crossed then I ripped through the brown paper the box was wrapped in revealing a Buster Brown shoebox. I lifted the lid to find a ten-dollar bill resting on top of a new pink polo shirt and a pair of Capri length khakis. I took the money and thought of how sweet it was that Owen wanted to make sure I was well taken care of. I put the cash in the top drawer of my nightstand. I pulled out the new clothes, stripped off my school uniform, and slipped on my new duds-a perfect fit. At the bottom of the box I noticed a folded letter. I pulled it out and read.
Dear Scout,
I can't believe it has almost been a month since we have seen each other or heard each other's voices. Everyday is hard for me to go to school and see your empty desk in class. It just about kills me. I can only imagine how much harder it must be for you. Hang in there, as soon as I am allowed I am coming to see you. Maybe I'll even bring along a few of your favorite people.
I sent along some money just in case you needed it. I hope you enjoy your new outfit. I took Bethany downtown and she helped me pick it out. She assured me it would be the right size. I hope it fits and you love it.
This may seem funny, but being apart from you has me thinking a lot about football and college. At school today the girls put up a banner for tryouts for next years cheerleading squad. Try outs are in two weeks. I talked to Charlotte and Bethany to see if there was any chance you could try out when you come home for the summer. They said they would talk with Mrs. Furlong to see if she will allow it. I know you haven't ever said you want to be on the cheer squad, but I am hoping you will be. I don't think I have ever told you about how I'd always dreamt that someday I'd be on the field playing football and then I would come to the sideline, take off my helmet, and see my girl on the sidelines cheering on me and my team. After all, you're my girl and I think that's the way it should be. I hope you will give it some thought.
Remember on the couch the day you had trouble with James I told you I was going to go to college no matter what and we were destined to be apart. I don't know what I was thinking. Leaving you behind won't be as easy as I had thought, but I guess we can talk about that more when you get home. I just hope all goes well and you get to come home sooner than later.
I was talking with the Ottavi's at the country club last Sunday and he said he'd do what he could to get you home. Mrs. Ottavi said she was talking about you at her ladies bridge club and a few of her friends said they may consider adopting you if the judge decides Darry can't be your guardian anymore. That way it can be assured the you will be well taken care of. That was a relief to hear, but she didn't say anything about Ponyboy.
Everything else here is just the same old thing. I am working more than I was- I know you are thinking that's impossible, but I am working at my cemetery and at Jasper Hills Cemetery on the west side of town. Our caretaker for the place has decided after 45 years to retire. Jasper Hills is the biggest cemetery we own so dad has started looking for someone to run the place. It's too big of a job for me to do alone and dad says he's too busy to help out. I don't care much about having to work. At least it helps to keep you off my mind. Not that I like that, but I like that.
I go over to see your brothers every once in awhile. I like to visit, but it is really hard to be with them without you. Everything around here is a little harder without you.
I am counting the days till I can call you and I can come to visit! Don't forget how much I love you.
Owen
The smile on my face almost made my cheeks hurt. Without a doubt, I loved that boy. We were perfect for each other in so many ways. Some may say we were too young for each other, but I would disagree. I stuffed the letter into my nightstand drawer with the other ones then I grabbed another from the stack of unread letters.
Dear Scout,
As always I hope everything is dandy at the school. Darry is doing so well. He is up and walking and the docs are hoping he will be ready to come home in a week but he wont be able to go back to work roofin houses. Doc says it will be a long time till he has the strength to do that again. Same goes for the job at the rail yards he aint going to be ready for that ether. He could pump gas but it dont pay enough to prove to the judge that we are ready for you and Ponyboy to come home. Two-Bit said he could get him a bagger or cheker job down at the grocery store so he might do that. We aint got no idea what to do but dont worry about it we'll figure it out.
I wanted to send you some money this time but I aint got none extra. I hope you dont need any. Two-Bit and Casey are both given me money for groceries and Casey pays some rent but without Darry working things are tighter than they ever have been. We talk to Ponyboy once a week and our phone bills cost a fortune now but its worth every penny. Once we can start calling you I bet we will go broke for sure! I am looking forward to it.
I am glad to hear how great things have been at Ashford. I sure hope the school is not so great that you decide to stay there. I know that might be best for you but I would miss you too much. I am glad you wrote Darry to tell him how much you like it there. He was really worried you would have a tough time being away.
Darrys birthday is coming up soon. Theres no money to buy him nothing. Two-Bit offered to swipe him something nice from a store that he didnt work at but I told him no. I think Darry would waste all his energy strangling him for stealin cause Darry says he don't need nothing. Casey plans to bake a cake for him and Kathryn will probably buy him something. She has been helping out a lot. I think she feels guilty or something for makin Darry leave you alone at the laundrymat. Shes brought us a bunch of dinners in the past weeks. Shes a good cook so if she hooked up with Darry maybe we wouldn't have to eat each others cooking so much! I sure miss your cooking and Darrys too. Ponyboys dinners I don't miss so much. A bunch of times I go to the restaurant and eat when Caseys working. She always smuggles me free extra food as long as I buy a soda. Then she gets to bring some food home every once inawhile to.
I guess I dont have much more to write right now. Casey put a piece of paper on the icebox to count down the days till you can receive a phone call. I cant wait to call you on the phone. I dont like writin so much but you knew that already.
Love ya lots,
Sodapop Curtis
I sighed heavy as I thought of how much I wanted to be at home. I wished I could be pumping gas or working at the restaurant to help out. There weren't a lot of jobs I could do at my age, but I would find one.
I dug thought the remaining envelopes and read the return addresses. There was one from Kathryn that was postmarked back to a few days after I had arrived to the school. Another one from Kathryn had a more recent date. There was another letter from Owen, two from Casey and one from Ponyboy and one with a very recent postmark. The letter at the bottom of the pile caught my attention as I recognized the handwriting. It was from Darry. I tore into the envelope and fished out the letter that was written on a piece of hospital stationary.
Baby Girl,
I bet you weren't expecting to see a letter from me, but as soon as I could get the nurses to give me a pen and paper I wrote to Ponyboy and now to you.
I want to be sure you are doing well and behaving yourself. I know the way you ended up at Ashford wasn't the best plan, but you are there now so I want you to remember how much you could use a scholarship to college. Be sure to do your best they way I know you can!
Life at the hospital has been a pretty big bore. I don't know how you handled being here for so long. Your favorite nurse Norma Rae stops by whenever she is working. She asks about you and Pony and she is still flirting with Sodapop. She calls him "her little soft drink". It's pretty funny but I am about to go crazy being stuck here! I am behaving though. I am hoping they let me out early on good behavior.
I see Sodapop everyday and Casey, Steve and Two-Bit stop by when they can. Everyone has been working real hard to keep things together and the bills paid. Owen came by the hospital the other day to talk to me about football and cars and stuff. Then he went to the house and left a bunch of bags of groceries for everyone. Don't tell Soda, but I like that kid a lot. I like him more than I ever liked Sandy.
It sounds like Casey and Sodapop are doing well at the house. Two-Bit says they've been keeping their hands to themselves. It sounds like they have figured out a way to be just friends. I think that is good for Soda. He could really use a gal to just take care of him and not the other way around. He doesn't need a girl around messing with his head.
You'll be happy to know that being stuck in bed has really got me thinking more about me too. Kathryn has been by my side for a lot of nights and I know you'll be happy to hear that I'm considering giving more of my time to her. Maybe life is too short not to try.
You be sure to be good. I am real happy to hear how great things have been for you. You deserve to be in a safe and happy place. I love you a ton and I can't wait to be home so I can call and talk to you. Get good grades and I miss you.
Your brother,
Darry.
I reread the letter again and could hear Darry's voice in my head speaking the words on the page. I was so relieved to receive a letter from him. In a way, I hoped it meant I was that much closer to getting home. I felt a tear form in my eye, but I held in my emotions just in time as heard my roommate outside of my room. In a hurry I pushed my pile of letters into the shoebox and hid them under my bed.
I looked up at my cranky roommate and continued with my futile attempt to have her like me. "Did you have a nice dinner?"
Lacey looked over at me and responded in a sarcastic tone. "I have been eating dinners at Ashford for half of my life. None of them have been nice; so quit trying to make things nice between the two of us. I'm not interested in having someone like you for a friend."
I frowned with slight disappointment, but I agreed with her. After a few days with her I didn't want her for a friend either. I didn't have time to return to the rest of my letters for a full day. When I did, I finished reading them all, most of them twice. It took me another day to find time to write back. By the light of the moon I finished the one letter that I felt I could be honest in.
Dear Ponyboy,
It's official; I am now a resident of the Covington House dormitory. I was released from the infirmary two days ago and so far my entire experience here at Ashford has been nothing but miserable. You need to be sure not to tell anyone back home about any of this because they have plenty to worry about on their own, pinky swear?
My roommate, Miss Lacey McGovern, is a horrible witch and her friends in Covington house are no better. I had barely begun to unpack when she learned I was at Ashford Academy on a scholarship, and to make the matter worse I am the very first girl to ever have a scholarship to the school Now, keep in mint that to you and me a scholarship means accomplishment, but to rich, spoiled princesses a scholarship only means, poor!
When Lacey discovered she had to room with a poor girl she through a hissy fit and ran off to complaining to our housemother, Miss Lemon. Miss Lemon isn't much better than Lacey when it comes to judging a person. She had warned me about my roommate being sour, but she told me that I could handle it because of the side of Tulsa I came from. She all but called me a greaser! It was humiliating, but not as humiliating as the torment Lacey has put me through in just a short while. She has taken to calling me Charity Case and she introduces me as such. The way I see it the girl is lucky I'm not a greaser or I would have punched her lights out by now. Sometimes, deep in my mind I hear Dallas's voice saying, 'go on Sissy, show her what you are made of.'
I don't mean to complain, but I really want to go home. Life here is miserable and I don't see it getting any better anytime soon. Sometimes I wonder what we ever did to deserve al the grief our family has gotten.
I haven't made any new friends because I am afraid to try. I fear their all more spoiled rotten then the next one. I don't think there is anyone here I can trust other than Jackson, and he's just the janitor!
I'll tell you what Ponyboy, I'd rather have no luck at all then the bad luck I've been having.
You better be sure to keep all of this to yourself. No one back home needs to know any of this. They couldn't do anything to change it anyway. I already wrote to Darry and Soda and told them how great things are since I moved into the dorm. I didn't even tell Owen about the trouble I've been having or even who my roommate is. I fear that with my bad luck Owen and Lacey would probably be old friends from the Country Club or something.
I miss you so much everyday. I don't cry as much as I used to, but sometimes when I am alone I think of you and my heartbreaks and a tear or two roll down my face. I miss you terribly. I can't wait for Darry to get back on his feet. That way we can both go home where we belong.
Take care, I love you and be sure not to tell the others how bad Ashford really is.
Miss you,
Scout
I folded up the letter and sealed it inside a stamped envelope. I looked over at my roommate in her pink satin sheets and felt a rush of envy run through my veins. I loathed the girl and there wasn't much that would change those feelings now. Just for safekeeping I slid the envelope under my pillow and closed my eyes to get some much needed sleep.
Days later Ponyboy leaned against the concrete wall in the hallway of his Barrington dormitory. He had the phone wedged between his shoulder and his ear and my letter unfolded in another hand. "Soda, I got another letter from Scout today and things are pretty miserable for her…"