The Southpaw
by Judith Viorst
rd,
rthday d
i
a
b
h
c
r
i
u
R
o
Dear
e to y oming. An
m
e
t
i
v
c
n
Don’t i ause I’m not d sweatshirt
ec
an
party b k the Disneyl If I’m not
c
.
give ba u could wear your team,
n
o
I said y ugh to play o be friends
to
no
good e ood enough
tg
I’m n o
end,
with.
i
r
f
r
e
rm
Your fo et
Jan
Dear Janet
,
Here is yo
ur stupid D
isneyland s
that’s how
weatshirt,
you’re goin
if
g t o b e. I
comic boo
want my
ks now—fi
nished or n
has ever pla
ot. No gir
yed on the
l
Mapes Stre
team, and
et baseball
as long as
I’m the cap
ever will.
tain, no gir
l
Your form
er friend,
Richard
P.S. I hope
when you
go for you
you need a
r checkup
tetanus sh
ot .
1
Dear Ric
har
I’m chan d,
gin
Don’t cou g my goldfish’s n
ame from
nt
R
cause I’m on my vote for c
lass presi ichard to Stanley
a membe
.
de
r of the b
terrific ba
allet club nt next year. Just
llplayer.
doesn’t m
b
ean I’m n eot a
Your form
er friend,
Janet
r all I care you can
Fo
Dear Janet,
s.
bu
e
th
on
u
yo
ore seats for
about baseball
et
rg
fo
st
I’m not saving anym
ju
u
yo
t
n’
to school. Why do
stand the whole way
nice like knitting?
ng
hi
et
m
so
n
ar
le
d
an
Your former friend,
Richard
nesday!
P.S. Wait until Wed
Dear Richar
d,
My father s
aid
ride and hot I could call someone to
-fudge sund
aes. In case go with us for a
didn’t call y
you didn’t n
ou.
otice, I
Your former
friend,
Janet
2
t,
Dear Jane
ook the
t
I
n
e
h
w
r
Remembe
blue-andy
m
f
o
t
laces ou
ave them
g
d
n
a
s
r
e
ak
.
white sne
hem back
t
t
n
a
w
I
to you?
er friend,
Your form
Richard
Dear Rich
ar
Congratul d,
ati
broken re ons on your unco r
losses, wo d. Eight straight
w! I unde
rst
you’re the
laughing s and
tock of
New Jerse
y.
Friday!
il
t
n
u
it
a
P.S. W
Your form
er friend,
Janet
P.S. Why
do
team forg n’t you and your
et
learn som about baseball and
ething nic
e like knit
-
Dear Janet,
r horseback
e
v
il
s
e
h
t
’s
e
Her
you gave
t
a
th
y
h
p
ro
riding t
ink I want to
h
t
’t
n
o
d
I
me.
ore.
keep it anym
r friend,
Your forme
Richard
Dear Rich
ard,
I wasn’t k
icking exa
ctly. I
was kicki
ng back!
Your form
er friend,
Janet
P.S. In ca
se
dering, m you were wony batting
average
is .345.
’d be the
u
o
y
k
in
th
P.S. I didn’t
man when
a
k
ic
k
’d
o
kind wh
he’s down.
3
Dear Janet,
t
his tonsils ou
g
in
v
a
h
is
ie
Alf
ight be able
m
e
W
.
w
o
rr
tomo
k.
tch next wee
a
c
u
o
y
t
le
to
Richard
Dear Rich
ard,
I pitch.
Janet
Dear Janet,
y
s and Dann
sa
n
a
K
o
t
g
in
Joel is mov
w about a
o
H
t.
s
ri
w
?
sprained his
the outfield
in
e
c
la
p
t
n
e
perman
Richard
Dear Rich
ard,
I pitch.
Janet
Dear Janet,
Leo broke his
d
an
x
po
en
k
ic
e ch
I’ll
Ronnie caught th
d violin lessons.
pi
u
st
e
es
th
as
h
ffer.
toe and Elwood
that’s my final o
d
an
e,
as
b
t
rs
fi
e
give you th
Richard
4
ckson
rd,
a
a
J
h
n
c
i
y
l
R
i
r
r
a
a
De
base, M
t
s
r
itch.
i
f
p
I
s
,
y
a
d
l
l
e
p
i
f
y
r
l
l
i
te
Susan Re el Kahn plays cen
th
catches, E e deal.
ag
It’s a pack
Janet
streak.
g
n
i
s
o
l
e
r 12-gam
u
o
y
t
u
o
b
a
P.S. Sorry
Dear Janet
,
Please! No
t Marilyn
Jackson.
Richard
easonchard,
r
i
n
R
u
r
s
a
a
e
D
that I w tindale ind
i
a
s
r
e
ev
ie Mar
z
z
i
Nobody
L
t
u
ow a b o
H
.
e
l
b
a
stead?
Dear Janet,
At least cou
ld you
call your go
ld fish
Richard again
?
Your friend,
Richard
5