#darrel curtis ilysm

[ellesversionn]

Hi! So what if I started crying? Peace and love!

It suddenly hit me today that “Mom and Dad wouldn't let you fight, not in a million years” means Darry was listening to Ponyboy even in the midst of their very heated argument. Pony told him “you're not Dad, Darrel, and you're not Mom neither, so stop trying to be!” and Darry, after arguably the worst week of his life, takes what was meant to be an insult and turns it into advice. He doesn’t try to parent Pony in this moment. He doesn’t say “you’re not allowed to fight.” Darry changes his approach to something more big brotherly; he reminds Pony of what their parents would say, then offers to fight on his behalf. Importantly, when Ponyboy just brushes him off, Darry doesn’t push him. He doesn’t try to stop him from making his own decision. They may still argue after this, but we can clearly see that Darry is trying his best to be what his little brother needs and see things from his perspective in order to heal their relationship.

[made-my-peace-with-all-the-bad]

Thinking about how Darrel and Paul’s failed relationship as well as the way his relationship with Sandy ended, impact Soda when he realizes he likes Cherry