The Southpaw

by Judith Viorst

R ic h a rd, o u r bi rthday d
Dear v i te m e to y oming. An
n c
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,
o n
I said y ugh to play o be friends
no to
good e ood enough
tg
I’m n o
with. e r f r i end,
rm
Your fo et
Jan

Dear Janet
,

Here is yo
ur stupid D
that’s how isneyland s
you’re goin weatshirt,
comic boo g t o b e. I if
ks now—fi want my
has ever pla nished or n
yed on the ot. No gir
team, and Mapes Stre l
as long as et baseball
ever will. I’m the cap
tain, no gir
l

Your form
er friend,
Richard
P.S. I hope
when you
you need a go for you
tetanus sh r checkup
ot .

1
 Dear Ric
har
I’m chan d,
gin
Don’t cou g my goldfish’s n
nt ame from
cause I’m on my vote for c R
a membe lass presi ichard to Stanley
terrific ba r of the b de .
llplayer. allet club nt next year. Just
doesn’t m b
ean I’m n e-
Your form ot a
er friend,
Janet

Dear Janet, u on th e bu s. Fo r all I care you can

ore seats for yo
I’m not saving anym n’t yo u ju st fo rg et about baseball
to school. Why do
stand the whole way
d lear n som ethi ng nice like knitting?
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
didn’t call y aes. In case go with us for a
ou. you didn’t n
otice, I
Your former
friend,
Janet

2
 t,
Dear Jane n I t ook the
r w h e
Remembe blue-and-
t o f m y
laces ou an d gave them
ak e rs
white sne them back
. Dear Rich
I w a n t
to you? Congratul d,
ar
er friend, ati
broken re ons on your un-
Your form co r
Richard losses, wo d. Eight straight
w! I unde
t il Friday! you’re the rst
P.S. W a it u n
laughing s and
New Jerse tock of
y.
Your form
er friend,
Janet
P.S. Why
do
team forg n’t you and your
et
Dear Janet, learn som about baseball and
’s t he s ilv e r horseback ething nic
e like knit
Her e
ro p h y th a t you gave -
riding t
I d o n ’t th ink I want to
me.
ore.
keep it anym
r friend,
Your forme Dear Rich
Richard ard,
I wasn’t k
th ink y ou ’d be the icking exa
P.S. I didn’t man when
was kicki
ng back!
ctly. I
o’d kic k a
kind wh
he’s down. Your form
er friend,
Janet
P.S. In ca
se
dering, m you were won-
y batting
is .345. average

3
Dear Janet,
t
ie is h a v ing his tonsils ou
Alf
o w . W e m ight be able
tomo rr Dear Rich
k.
le t y o u ca tch next wee ard,
to I pitch.
Richard

Janet

Dear Janet, y
g to Ka n sa s and Dann
in
Joel is mov H o w about a
w ri st.
sprained his the outfield
?
en t p la c e in Dear Rich
perman ard,
Richard I pitch.

Janet

Dear Janet,
ic ken po x and Leo broke his
e ch
Ronnie caught th st upi d violin lessons.
I’ll
h as th es e
toe and Elwood that’s my final o
ffer.
e fi rs t b ase, an d
give you th
Richard

4
 a r R ic h a rd, a r il y n J a ckson
De f irs t base, M p itch.
i ll y p la y s te rf ie ld , I
Susan Re el Kahn plays cen
th
catches, E e deal.
ag
It’s a pack
Janet
e lo si ng streak.
b ou t y o u r 12-gam
a
P.S. Sorry

Dear Janet
,
Please! No
t Marilyn
Jackson.
Richard

e a r Richard, a s u n reason-
D
e r sa id that I w tindale in-
Nobody
ev
u t L i z zie Mar
b l e. H ow a b o
a
stead?
Dear Janet,
At least cou
ld you
call your go
ld fish
Richard again
?

Your friend,
Richard