A.N: S.E. HINTON OWNS THE OUTSIDERS.

A NORMAL WEEKEND

All I wanted was a nice, normal weekend. Just one. 'Cause it's been too long. Too long since anything felt nice. Or normal. Since my parents died things have been real rough around here & we're still adjusting. Maybe we always will be.

Friday afternoon started out normal enough. Johnny and I had come home from school & watched tv for awhile. Two-Bit was already there, on his 2nd beer, & relaxing on the couch. When Mickey Mouse was over Johnny and I worked on our homework and then the 3 of us started a game of poker. At 4:30 I noticed the winter sky was turning to twilight and my favorite time of day was starting to reveal itself. I decided to go out on the porch to watch the sunset. It sure was pretty that night. Swirly sky, all pink and purple with soft clouds and dark silhouettes casting cool shadows. I stood there in the hush, smoking and enjoying the peace and quiet when I heard Soda and Steve coming down the street. Those two couldn't sneak up on someone to save their lives. They were laughing and goofing off as usual.

"Hey, Pone" Soda called out to me with a grin as he hopped up the front steps.

"Hey Soda" I replied as I ducked, trying to get out of his reach. Too late. He wrapped his arm around me, put me in a gentle headlock, and ruffled my hair.

I tried to retaliate, but couldn't get loose.

"C'mon Soda - let go!" I hollered.

He complied with a laugh and got one last pass at my hair as he let me go. I stood up, my hair a rumpled, greasy mess, Soda smirked and winked at me.

"Lookin' good kiddo".

I shook my head and rolled my eyes. If I didn't love that guy so much I would be pissed, but who in the world can get pissed at Soda?!

We walked into the house surprised to find Johnny and Two-Bit wrestling.

"Say Uncle! " Two-Bit yelled.

"No way!" Johnny cried out, pinned under Two-Bit's weight.

Usually none of us get too physical with Johnny when it comes to wrestling and goofing around. He's still pretty spooked after being jumped by the socs awhile back and his dad beating him at home all the time doesn't help either, so I dove in and took Johnny's side immediately. Once it was two against one Two-Bit gave up easily. Johnny and I high fived and turned to look as the screen door opened again.

"Hey, Dally." Two-Bit greeted. "Mind teaching these two boys a lesson? They just ganged up on old Two-Bit here for no good reason and they need to be schooled".

Dally just rolled his eyes and scoffed, cool as ever, plunking himself down in Darry's armchair.

"Hey Dal. What's up?" Johnny spoke quietly as he straightened up the living room furniture he and Two-Bit had knocked over during their wrestling match.

"Spent the day being bored and irritated mostly but, then I ran into Shepherd and his gang and got my hands on this beauty..." Dally replied reaching into the inside pocket of his leather jacket. Johnny's eyes got big as saucers and I'm sure mine did as well as Dallas presented his latest acquisition.

"Wow, th-that's some heater Dal!" ... I stuttered.

Darry would kill us if he saw that thing in our house. As if reading my mind Soda spoke up.

"Dally, put that thing away before someone gets hurt will ya? Darry would skin every single one of us if he found out we had a gun in the house."

"Yeah, well what Superman doesn't know won't hurt him will it?" Dally replied with a bit of a sneer.

Not one to stand up to Dallas Winston on most occasions, Soda stood his ground.

"C'mon Dal... I mean it. Put it away... now."

The fact that the smile had left my brother's face must have told Dally Soda meant business and he surprisingly obeyed.

Once the gun was no longer in sight Soda breathed a sigh of relief and grabbed Steve by the shoulder dragging him into the kitchen.

"I'm on dinner duty tonight buddy, come help me think up something cool will ya?"

The second Steve and Soda were out of earshot, Dally chuckled to himself imitating Soda's voice ...

"Put it away Dally ... Darry won't like it."

A dangerous look in his eyes now.

"What a wimp ... it ain't like anyone's gonna shoot it in here."

and before Johnny and I could object there it was. Back out of Dally's pocket and gleaming in front of us. Man it was tough looking. I knew I shouldn't, but something made me want to touch it... made me want to hold it. Dallas must have seen a dangerous look in my eyes as well because before I knew it I could feel the cold steel barrel and smooth grip being pressed into my palm ... I was mesmerized. I felt like Clint Eastwood in 'A Fistful of Dollars'. I closed one eye and pretended to take aim at various things around the room.

And then I noticed him standing there ... staring... fuming... Darry. How had I missed the sound of his truck? His heavy boots on the front steps? The screen door? His voice was so low and intense it scared me ...

"What the hell is going on here?!"