The Curtis' lived a couple of houses away from the loudest house on the street. Almost every other day, you could hear loud voices yelling at each other or items being thrown at walls. That house was a reck too, in the lawn you could see whisky and beer bottles laying out. Mr. and Mrs. Curtis always assumed an alcoholic couple lived there. They informed their oldest son, Darrel to never play by their house and if their second oldest, Sodapop, ever wondered over there that he should get Soda to come back. Once their son, Ponyboy, started to play outside, he was informed of these rules as well.

One day, Ms. Curtis was looking out a window of their small house. She was more than shocked to see a small child out in the glass ridden lawn. The child had dark tan skin and black hair. He looked to be about Ponyboy's age,4. Almost everyday, the same kid would sit outside after school hours- so Ms. Curtis assumed that this kid was in school. None of her kids ever talked to him, mostly because of the rule not to go over to that house. She didn't know whether to be glad that her kids obeyed the rules or feel miserable for the kid.

Lately Soda had been getting himself in trouble. Innocent trouble, like rough housing or knocking over a cup, but it was still trouble. You would think he would learn his lesson, but instead Sodapop was gaining tolerance from his punishments.

Soda, Darry, and Pony were all playing out in their front yard, trying to dig a hole deep hole and finding worms.

"Hey", Soda said, "How come we ain't never say nothing to that kid over there. He looks lonely."

Soda got up to go over to the kid in the other yard but Ponyboy stopped him.

"No Soda, You will get in trouble. We can't go there." He said. Darry scoffed and replied "That don't never stop him. But Pony's right, Soda, mom said…". Soda looked really smug as he said "We can't go over there but he can come over here." Before an other word was said, Soda ran across the road to talk to the mysterious lonely kid.

"Hi", Soda said.

"Hi", the kid responded quietly, barely audible.

" We's digging a hole over there. An' you look pretty lonely and bored. I was wondering if you wanted to help or come over or somthin'. We're hoping to get our hole deep enough for us to fit in. Wanna help?". The kid looked nervous and was timid but he replied with "sure." Soda grinned and said "oh yeah, my name is Sodapop." The kid looked shocked and Soda started to chuckle, "I ain't joking. My little brother's name is Ponyboy. The old one is Darrell, but we call him Darry, Anyway, you got a name?". The kid looked at Soda and this time more confidently said, "Yeah, my name is Johnny".

Ever since that day, Johnny always played with the Curtis kids. Him and Ponyboy got along the best, they were both less rowdy and thoughtful. Mrs. Curtis didn't ever scold Soda for breaking the rule and walking over to his house. She was very glad that Johnny had opened up a bit. She noticed that he would occasionally had bruises or cuts, but she assumed that that was just from playing or kids at school.