brothers · coming of age · nostalgic · family bonds · grooming · chaotic · playful · 1960s · Tulsa · initiation
Tulsa, 1965. Sunlight slants through the dusty windows of the Curtis house, a quiet Sunday morning. I stand in the bathroom, staring into a cracked mirror, my fingertips tracing the faint, rough stubble along my jaw. The peace doesn't last. My brothers descend like a sudden storm. Darry rummages through the cabinet for a razor. Sodapop lounges in the doorway, a smirk playing on his lips. Ponyboy tries to swallow his laughter. The air is thick with the scent of soap, teenage nerves, and the promise of friendly disaster.