Disclaimer: I do not own The Outsiders


There's only one thing on my mind and that's finding Minnie. Instead of heading home, instead of heading to school, even just for second period gym for a quick shower, I head to the one place I hope can give me answers. I know I ain't going to find her on some street corner around here. She'd get further away. But still I look in hopes of catching a glimpse of her and in a way I kind of do. It's more like ghosts, though. Like when me and her would ride her bike. I don't got a bike, but she lets me ride hers and I drive her around on the handle bars. At least we used to because we ain't got no cars and technically I can't drive for another year.

I don't know what I'd say to her if I do find her. I don't know what I'd do, but I figure I can cross that bridge when it comes up. I just need to find her is all. And I need to know where to start looking.

I replay our last conversation in my head, trying to figure out when staying the night turned into her beating it out of there for good. I don't exactly blame her, but in a way, I guess I do. I don't know. It just hurts. I don't know which is worse, that she would leave like that or that she could. I feel bad enough ma stays for me, but at the same time I thought I meant something to Minnie. I thought she was a friend. I thought I could be someone's reason to stay. I don't know why I thought it would be so different with her. I never was a reason before.

My mind is so focused on old memories and trying to decipher conversations that I don't notice the cop cars until I'm a house or two away. The fuzz is parked right in front, in front of the perfectly green lawn and perfect white fence and in front of her parents. They're still in their robes and slippers and her mom's still got curlers. They know she's gone. They know she ain't coming back. I wonder if she left them a note or called them or something and that's how they know this. I burn with jealousy because they were always so mean to her and Minnie hasn't left me no phone call, no letter, no nothing. I would've thought if she was going to leave anything for anybody it would've been for me.

I turn quickly to walk away, hoping no one would notice me. I don't like cops and they feel the same way. Like everyone else in this town, they just got to hear my last name or where I live and they've already got their mind made up. This is one situation where being Two-bit's sister ain't a good thing.

No such luck, though. I ain't ever had much luck. Her mom sees me and starts waving and yelling my name and pointing and I can't do nothing but walk over to them or else I look guilty of something. "Hey Ms. Cutlin." I focus all my attention on her so I don't got to focus on the guys in uniforms. They look me over suspiciously and I want to tell them the only thing I'm guilty of is of living on the East side.

"Have you seen Minnie?" Her mom is crying and the question comes out in a desperate rush. "She didn't come home last night and…" I can't make out the rest with all the gasping for air between sobs. I would feel bad for her if she wasn't what made Minnie want to disappear in the first place. Her father just looks serious and angry.

My eyes dart to the cops, back to her parents and I'm a lousy liar, but I ain't about to rat her out. Besides, there ain't much to rat, but even if there were I'd never give up a friend like Minnie like that. I shake my head. "Naw. Ain't seen her."

One of the cops narrows his eyes like he don't believe me. But it ain't a total lie. Since she up and left last night, I ain't seen her at all. "We've spoken to some of your other friends and they said she left with you at the DX yesterday."

Of course Tiffany would and Kellly and Susie-Ann wouldn't mind backing her up. I shrug. "Sure. She was with me yesterday."

"And one of those girls also told us if anyone would know what happened to Minnie Cutlin, it would be you, Ms. Mathews." My nose scrunches. I don't get why adults always use that fake politeness as intimidation. My math teacher does that and it really makes my teeth grind. "Some people also state seeing you and her at the Nightly Double."

"Sure," I drawl, folding my arms and leaning against Minnie's mailbox. "We saw a movie."

"This is a serious matter, Ms. Mathews."

"If you know where my Minnie is, you have to tell us. "Ms. Cutlin sobs and pleads.

"Ain't much to tell." I stare the cop down. I narrow my eyes, too. "Yeah, we went to the DX. Then we saw a movie. And she split right after."

"And where was she going?" The cop jots it all down in his notebook.

"How the hell should I know? I ain't my friend's keeper." But with me not telling, I kind of am. They glower at me and I shrug a shoulder like I couldn't care less.

"And why aren't you in school?" It's like they're looking for a reason to get me in trouble. They'd probably take any reason to drag me down to the station.

I can't help but smile a little 'cause they give me the perfect out. "She didn't meet me like she normally does for school and I was headed here to see if everything was okay."

The cops suggest I get my tail to school and if they see me again they'll make sure to give me an escort. I roll my eyes and head back down the street. I can dodge cops when I don't got my head focused on other things. The problem is I don't know no more than when I started. So I think screw it. I ain't about to get in her house or in her room to find out. And I ain't about to head back to school. So I decided to wing it. I hop the first bus I can find and ride all around town thinking and looking. Then all over the next town, thinking and looking. Then the next.