Chapter 7

Matty and I chose to not tell anyone about us. Not just yet. Keep it on the down low for awhile then finally sit Darry down and tell him first. He wouldn't be too happy, but I hope he'll be more understanding, now that he and Laura were together.

The next mroning, no one could even tell Matty and I left the house. After sitting on the log with my arm wraped around her for awhile we snuck back inside and went to our seprate beds. I'm surprised everyone was such a heavy sleeper.

Darry was up first, he made breakfast. Matty and I were the last ones to get up. I let her take a shower first. Girls sure do take a long time in the bathroom. Breakfast was slient. Two-Bit and Steve didn't show up during it either, which was something new.

Before Matty and Laura left that morning, Darry and Laura decided to go to court so Laura could have cusody of Matty. Laura said she would work on it during the weekend while getting Matty settled. Luckly, she bought a house with a spare bedroom. Matty would have to sleep on one of those pull-out couches but it was better then nothing. Before leaving Matty and I hugged goodbye. But no one took it seriously. They just felt like after all that happened I wanted to let Matty know it was okay to hug me after what happened with her dad. Which was partly true but it wasn't the whole reason.

It was kind of hard seeing her go. I wouldn't be able to walk with her to school in the morning. And knowing her dad was just down the street from me kind of scared me. But he couldn't hurt Matty anymore, and that was all that mattered.

...

Everything had settled by the end of the weekend. Laura had arranged for a court meeting to be held a few weeks later. Darry reported Mr. Dallas to the police for abusing Matty, and he got arrested. The house was now up on the market. For everyone's sake I hoped someone who was gonna hurt their kid wouldn't by it again.

The Monday we got back to school, most people knew. They whispered at Matty a lot more then they use to. They would point at the bruise on her face from where her dad hit her. But like always she acted like she was the only one in the room and had her tough face on. I really admired her courage.

At the office there was a sign for track sign-ups. They were starting early this year I guess. I took a pen out and wrote my name on the sheet before going to homeroom. "You run?" Matty asked, since she was walking with me. "Yeah, I'm pretty fast too." I answered. "I'll go to all your meets then." Matty said.

"You don't have to." I told her. "I know, but I want to." She answered. That was the first time someone told they wanted to go to one of my track meets. Darry and Soda always went. Sometimes Two-Bit or Johnny would too. But I always assumed they only went because they felt like they had to. It was nice to hear someone actually wanted to go.

That day we got out report cards back. Mostly A's, but one B in history. Darry wouldn't get upset. It was only a B, it wasn't like a C or D. That night for dinner, he made pizza. Pizza is like cheeseburgers, we don't have it much. Actually, we have it less then cheeseburgers. So whenever we have some it's a big deal. Darry spins the dough in the air and Soda and I help out. I like spreading out the sauce, Soda enjoys sprinkling the chesse on top.

But during our dinner there was a knock on the door. "Probably Two-Bit being a tramp. I'll get it." I said and grabbed a slice so Two-Bit wouldn't have to ask, "What'cha having?"
It wasn't Two-Bit though, it was Laura and Matty. I opened the screen door. "Hey you guys. Something the matter?" I asked. "We're sorry for coming over while you're having dinner, but I wanna talk to Darry for a quick second." Laura said. I let them in. I notcied Laura had a piece of paper in her hand.

When Laura said she wanted to talk to Darry, he told Soda Matty and I to go into me and Soda's room. Soda grabbed another slice and I gave the one in my hand to Matty. "What's going on?" Soda asked once he shut the door. "It's my grades." Matty answered. "All C's and D's. I guess Laura doesn't know what to do with me since she came here. You think she won't want me anymore?"

"No, Matty, not at all. She likes you. She just have more experience with little kids, so she doesn't know what to do when it comes to teenagers. So she figured Darry would know I guess." I told her. I didn't want her being scared about ending up in a group home. Darry soon called for us to come out. Soda and I sat on the couch in the living room, while Matty sat at the table with Laura and Darry.

"I just want you to know Matty that you aren't in trouble, but you can't be getting grades like this. You're a smart girl, you can do better then this." Laura started off. "I know it's hard concentrating in school after all that happened. But that doesn't mean you give up completely. Pony made the same mistake, but he was able to bounce back. You can too. If you ever need help, ask Laura. Or Ponyboy. And if you want, ask the teacher for extra credit, it helps bring your grade up." Darry finished.

"You know what? Since my mother died, this is the first time someone was really worried about me and wanted to help. Thanks, guys." Matty said after a while. "No problem. Just get those grades up. Said Laura. "I will I promise."

...

I ended up making the track team. I knew I would. I had a couple of practices before the first meet. Which was gonna be on my 15th birthday. Sometimes, Matty would show up at my practices and watch, if she didn't have too much homework that is. I never had someone show up to my practices, not even Soda or Johnny.

Even though I was one of the youngest on the team, I was one of the fastest. Not even some of the seniors could out run me. But I didn't let it go to my head. Darry says no one likes somebody with a big head. Only Socs let things go to their heads, and the last thing I wanted to be was like a Soc.

Everyone in the gang said they were gonna go to the first meet. Soda and Steve got some time off work as long as they made it up. Even Laura wanted to come. This was all kind of weird, I was being treated like a famous person. It wasn't like I was running in the Olympics or anything.

On my birthday I woke up to a noogie. It's Two-Bit I thought still groggy from sleep and my eyes closed. Only Two-Bit gave me noogies. When I opened my eyes not only Two-Bit was there, but so was Steve, Sodapop and Darry. "What's going on?" I asked sounding kind of grumpy from sleep.

They all began to sing 'Happy Birthday'. Off key, but it wasn't as bad as last year. Still, I don't like being sang too. On my 4th birthday I hid under the chair when everyone began to sing. This year I just put my head under my pillow. Once they finished, Soda grabbed hold of the pillow and Two-Bit ripped off my sheets. Why'd he have to go and do that? I only had underwear on!

"Come on, Ponyboy, don't be a Birthday Brat." Steve said with a little bit of a laugh. "Can I at least get ready first before you guys attack me?" I asked. Normaly I would play along, but I didn't get much sleep the night before. Too nervous about the meet. "Fine, fine. But don't take too long. I got breakfast almost done and your meet is at noon." Darry said and they soon all trailed out of the room.

I took a quick shower, greased my hair and got on some nice clothes. When I got to the breakfast table, everyone was waiting for me with pankcakes, bacon and a chocolate cake. I was surpised they didn't cave in and ate it all before I finished getting ready.

"You all really went all out this year." I said sitting down and myself a glass of apple juice. "Well we figured it would be something nice. Turning 15 can be a big deal, and 14 wasn't that good of a year for you. Plus, you're gonna need some energy if you wanna be the fastest at today's meet." Soda explained. "Just go easy on the cake. It'll slow you down." Darry added. So I cut myself a little piece, but grabbed a handful of bacon and three pancakes to make up for it.

After breakfast Darry said he'd take me and anyone else who wanted to go to see the new Paul Newman movie then out to dinner afterwards. Then since it was almost time for the meet, I went into my room and grabbed my bag of running clothes. A white shirt with the school's name on it, red shorts that I hate, and my only pair of running shows. They were really worn out. I almost didn't wanna run in them since all the Socs on the team were gonna have new sneakers.

Darry drove us all over to the school. "You gonna pick up Laura and Matty?" I asked. "No, they're gonna meet us there." Darry answered. When we got there everyone else went over to the bleachers near the track while I went to the locker room to get ready. I was the last one there, so I was the last one done. Even though I was grease, no one tried to pull something on me. I was one of the fastest on the team, so they owed me one I guess. None of them knew it was my birthday though.

When I walked out of the locker room, someone was waiting for me. It was Matty, she had a box in her hand. "Matty, what are you doing here?" I asked. "Relax, Ponyboy everyone else is outside. Plus, I wanted to give you your birthday present before you ran." She said handing me the box. I didn't take it just yet. "Who told you?"

"Darrel told Laura and Laura told me. C'mon, take the gift." I finally took it, and opened it slowly. It sure was shaped funny. Inside, there was a real nice pair of shoes. Running shoes. They were the kind a Soc would wear, and there was a book too. "This must of cost a fortune." I said.

"What's it matter? You deserve it. The shoes you're wearing now are gonna fall apart any minute anyway." Matty stated. "What book is this?" I asked. "It's a bunch of Robert Forst poems. It even has 'Nothing Gold Can Stay', I checked. And it has another in there that reminded me of you. It's called 'The Road Not Taken'. You'll like it."

"I don't know how to thank you." I said. "You don't have to." Said Matty. "No really, you don't know how much this means to me. I'll get you something nice for your birthday." I told her. "You don't know when it is." She stated. "Can I give you something now then?" I asked. "What?"

Then I kissed her for the first time since the night at the lot. This one lasted longer.

...

I ended up winning us the meet. When it was my turn to go I got ahead of this guy who was at least 6 feet and crossed the finish line. Everyone came running over to congratulate me. It was like I wasn't even a hood anymore.

After taking a shower and re-gresing my hair, Darry took everyone to the movies. They all wanted to come. Darry paid for me, Laura paid for Matty and everyone else had to pay for themselves. The movie was really good. Laura, Matty and I got into it the most. I didn't even knew Matty liked the movies. She later told me it was because she hadn't been to one since her mother died. Two-Bit, Soda and Steve tried their hardest not to get into a popcorn fight. But they did when there was about five minutes left in the movie. Nobody cared though.

Dinner was good. Darry let me get anything I wanted. The resturant even had chocolate cake. It was as good as Darry's, but it still tasted great. Laura offered to spilt the bill with Darry, but he refused. Then Two-Bit offered, then Soda, and Steve. "C'mon, Darry. Think of it as our birthday gift to Ponyboy." Said Two-Bit. Then Darry finally said yes.

"Hey, Laura, when is the court thing gonna happen?" Soda asked while Darry was paying. "In about 5 weeks from today. It was the closest time I could get, they're more busier then you think." She answered. Five weeks from today. That would be the day before the one-year mark of when Johnny and Dally died.