To Whomever is Looking for Mitch Conway,

First off, don't get your hopes up about finding him. He's impossible to track if he doesn't want to be found. And don't think yourself clever shit if you follow a paper trail of teen shelter records to his location. He's probably waiting for you. We've been playing this game for years.

In the hypothetical situation that you do find Mitch, bring him back to his house. Sticking him in Juvie isn't going to do any good. He's not going to 'learn his lesson' or 'turn his life around'. In fact, he'll be a pain in your ass, and there won't be a thing you can do about it, because he's too smart for you. He's to smart for any of us, frankly.

You don't need to waste your breath on that little speech that cops like to give on the drive home, either. I've got a whopper of a lecture for him next time I see him, then the mother of all silent treatments, and unlike you, he'll listen to me.

This all sounds like I don't care about him coming home, but that's not true. If he is playing hide and seek and just decided not to include me this time, then well, that's fine. He can just stay out. But I think maybe he isn't. Maybe he's in trouble. Maybe, and he would laugh in my face if he heard me say this, but maybe he needs help.

He's probably just being regular old confusing and frustrating Mitch, but just in case.

Sincerely,

Delia Marsh