I thought I was going to cross that finish line first, but no. I didn't. Someone got to it before I could, as he always did. He was a fourteen year old boy. Ponyboy Curtis.
I knew him; he was a nice boy who lived in my neighborhood. He had longer hair than most boys, it was squared off in the back and so light brown it was almost red. He also had green-gray eyes just like mine. We were both labeled "greasers" because of our living conditions and appearance. It was the Socs way of making us feel different, like outsiders.
The Socs are the rich kids from the south side of Tulsa, Oklahoma and Socs is short for socials. If you weren't a Soc or a greaser you would probably think the same thing as everybody else, the Socs are the perfect, rich, "angels" that never do anything wrong, or at least "Didn't mean to" and the Greasers are the no-good, poor, JDs or hoods. But if you were one of us you would know better. Yeah, the rich and poor parts are usually true, but the rest depends on the individual. Take me and Ponyboy for example, we'd never hurt anyone unless we really had to and we're both good in school. Then there are people like the Socs who jump kids just for the fun of it. We greasers like to wear blue jeans, leather jackets and t-shirts, and we keep our hair long and greasy (that's why we got the name greasers). While the Socs like to wear madras ski jackets and khaki pants while they drive around in their mustangs and corvettes looking for someone to jump.
As soon as I crossed the finish line I went up to Ponyboy.
"Congrats, Pony." I panted.
"Thanks Annie, you did good too." He panted back.
My full name is Annie T. Codwell. The T stands for Tangerine; it was my fathers' favorite fruit when I was born. I have wavy dirty blonde hair that falls just below my shoulders and green-gray eyes; I also have a splash of freckles on my nose and a cleft in my chin. I'm tall and thin and I guess I'm really pretty too. At least that's what I'm told five times a day by the boys that try to ask me out, including the Socs, but I'm not interested. I concentrate on school and helping my family, which is a total disaster. I've got two younger twin brothers that are only four years old and my parents don't even care about or pay attention to us. They do get money though, but other than that I take care of the family.
I guess I'm a popular girl too, maybe people don't realize I'm a greaser, but everyone talks to me. I just don't talk back to them other than "Hello, how are you?" and "Goodbye". I usually just daydream, and nod and laugh when it's the right time. It's just, the things people talk about aren't important and they don't interest me, it's mostly pointless gossip. The only person I really talk to is Ponyboy; we're both on the track team and in the same grade, so I see him at school every day. That's it though, the only other time I see him is out in the neighborhood either by himself or with a group of boys I don't know. But I guess he's considered my friend.
We walked up to the stage together to receive our awards.
"You always get first Ponyboy. You're real' good." I said in awe.
"Oh shoot, Annie," he said with a small playful punch in the arm. "You're so close every time I'm sure you'll be first soon."
We were handed our ribbons and started for the locker rooms to change.
"So how you been Annie? Family all right?" he asked.
"I guess I'm alright but I'm not sure what's gonna happen to my family, our parents seem to hate us… Anyways, how've you been Pony?"
"Oh I've been fine, well, actually, I don't know. I wish Darry would lay off me about every little thing I do, but ever since mom and dad died he's been so… you know…"
"No," I said, "I don't know, but I can understand. It's hard when people die, but I don't know who 'Darry' is. This whole time I've known you you've never told me anything about your family and friends, you only told me your parents died… So, tell me something, please."
"Oh," he said looking a little ashamed, "Well, I live with my two brothers, Darry and Soda, and I have a gang - but it's more like family instead of a gang. There's me and my brothers, Johnny, Steve, Dally, and Two-Bit…" He was smiling as he said this and I could see how much his friends meant to him. This only made me a little more upset that he had never told me about these people that were so important to him.
"Instead of me telling you about them I want you to meet them! You busy this weekend?" He asked suddenly.
"Uh," I shrugged. "Just homework."
"Then you should come over! You know where I live right?"
"Yeah, the house with the blue paint, I'll come." I said.
"Yes! That's tuff; see you there just come on by whenever!" He said as he waved and ran home without changing.
"Okay, bye!" I shouted.
I went into the locker room and changed into my t-shirt and blue jeans, pulling on my leather jacket as I started to walk home, it was getting cold. People always told me I should be more lady-like and wear some skirts instead of jeans or maybe even a dress. One time I actually decided to try one and I really didn't care for it. I preferred to wear pants or shorts, and if I had to wear skirts I always put shorts on under.
As I walked home my thoughts shifted between Ponyboy, and my uncle who had died two years ago, when I was twelve. Whenever I talked to someone about death it reminded me of my Uncle Max, who had been the best family I'd ever had. He had been only twenty-seven when he was attacked and killed by a group of Socs who had gone to high school with him. They had hated him for being such a popular greaser, so handsome and smart. He had always gotten the girls and was all of the teachers' favorite student, he was a great person. I cried a lot the month after he died, but my dad just told me to shut up because he didn't want to hear it. I still missed him now, the way he would joke around with me and cheer me up when I was sad. I remembered how he said he would let me live with him if dad would let him take me, because even when I was younger my parents were bitter.
I pushed the thought of him out of my head and focused on the good things, like how I was finally going to meet Ponyboy's friends and family. Right after I finish my homework, and my chores, and feed the twins, and make dinner. Whoa, I thought, I'd better hurry if I want to go to Ponyboy's at all tonight.
As I walked up to the house though, I saw a man in a suit standing next to a car. And when I looked closely, I saw the twins' heads poking up over the seat in the back. They were looking at me, with a mixture of confusion and excitement on their faces. I immediately knew what was happening, but I decided to play dumb to see if I could do something for the twins.
"Where are we going?" I asked slowly.
"Oh, a wonderful place really," My mother answered with a look of twisted satisfaction in her blue eyes and a wicked smile across her pointed face.
"A wonderful place for us, anyways," She said, gesturing to her and my father who had a dull expression on his face, as always. "You three are going to an orphanage, where we won't have to deal with you!" She screamed.
"And your precious Uncle Max isn't here to save you, because he's dead!" My father hissed.
The man in the suit looked at his watch. "Mam, please, get in the car." He told me.
"No!" I shouted. "And don't you ever talk about Uncle Max like that again!"
Then I ran off, dodging the arms that tried to grab me and confine me. I ran. To the only place I could think of. Ponyboy Curtis' house.