Chapter # 9:
AN: As I'm sure I mentioned in my other story, if you have any questions about the material of this chapter please ask a parent, guardian, or other trusted adult. I also think that the ages given by The Outsiders are too young, even if it does happen in real life.
That had been a very awkward night. Ponyboy felt so uncomfortable discussing the physical and emotional types of changes that his body was going through.
"Darry! Do we really have to talk about this?" Ponyboy pleaded. "I already know what wet dreams are. Soda has them at least once a week."
"This is not about me!" Sodapop shouted defensively.
Darry concealed a smile at his brother's outburst. Who was supposed to be the older and mature person here?
"I've heard all this stuff from the gang," Pony continued.
"I know that, but I'm telling you the honest truth about what you need to know about yourself. What you hear from the gang and what you hear from us are completely different," Darry said.
Ponyboy nodded. That was for sure. He had heard a lot of things from different members of the gang, and they always raised the curiosity to him. To bad he didn't have to guts to ask his older brothers about all the questions he had.
They had gown over the physical changes his body would be experiencing and how his feeling towards subjects like girls, love, lust, and so on were also destined to.
Ponyboy wondered if he would sound as gruff and intimidating as Darry did after his voice deepened.
"You're not going to be afraid of girls forever, Ponyboy," Soda took up the conversation. "You're getting more and more at ease. We've both noticed that with Leah."
"We're just friends," Ponyboy tried to sound convincing.
"You may be right now, but what happens when you want to be more than that?" Darry questioned.
"I- I've never done… I mean," Ponyboy stammered.
He couldn't believe that he was admitting this to his brothers even though they probably knew he was still a virgin anyway. He felt pressured about it sometimes.
Sodapop was the best-known skirt chaser in the city of Tulsa. Girls were all over him where ever he went. Sometimes they even came on to him if he was with Soda.
Around their neighborhood greases tended to enjoy their first experience about age fifteen. Ponyboy figured he still had a year, but he still worried about proving himself. What if he wasn't ready? How would he feel when he got older if he still hadn't done it yet?
"We're sorry we have to do this," Soda said.
"We've actually been meaning to do this for a while. You're a smart kid Pony, but when a guy thinks he's in love he doesn't think with his head," Darry said.
Pony raised an eyebrow at that. Darry didn't think he used his head at any time.
"Do have any questions for us?" Darry asked.
There were a lot of questions Pony had. He knew Darry was being sensor, but he didn't know if he could bear bringing them up.
"I can see the wheels in that smart head of yours turning," Soda teased.
"Pony," Darry prompted.
"What if I don't want to… uh, right now?" Pony tried to ask as best he could.
"That's your choose," Soda explained. "There's gonna be a lot of pressure, especially with our neighborhood and the bunch of hoods we hang with. You're going to have to be stronger than that pressure. Do whatever you feel is right."
"Don't model after our mistakes Pony," said Darry. Both of us have had different experiences, but I will tell you this. If you want a nice girl, then she is worth waiting for."
"You deserve the best Ponyboy," Soda told him. "You'll get it some day. I know it may seem right now that you're going no where and the gang treats you like a baby. I guess Darry and I are real guilty of that. You may feel like you have a rep to live up to now, but some day you'll be better than all of us."
Ponyboy felt really guilty now thinking that he couldn't talk to his brothers, especially knowing that Darry might never reach that dream after giving it up for him and Soda.
"You can talk to us Ponyboy, about anything. We'll try to listen and help you as best we can," Darry assured him.
"That is, as soon as Superman can calm down after he hits the roof," Soda joked.
"So, is that it?" Pony asked.
"No, there's one more thing. If you ever do decide to do anything we want to make sure you know how to put on a condom."
"What if I'm not that size?" Pony cried.
"It doesn't matter right now as long as you know how. You should also know that they can sometimes break, and that nothing is a hundred percent effective unless you do not have sex," Darry informed.
"You mean I have a choice," Pony said a little too sarcastically.
"Yes, you do,' said Darry. "Now quite mouthing off to me, and listen. Like I said before, I may not always like the choices you make. I know I get on to you a lot. But I want you to understand that no matter how much trouble you get in, Soda and I are hear for you."
Ponyboy nodded. He wondered if Johnny had ever had to go through this embarrassing stuff, and if he had which one of the gang taught him. He guessed it was probably Dally.
It was the last thoughts Ponyboy had that night while he lay in bed beside Soda. The paper had come out showing the pictures of Dally and Johnny as wanted for manslaughter.
Before Ponyboy fell asleep that night, he prayed that Dally, and most importantly Johnny, would be ok. The minister at church had told said that some of God's greatest gifts were unanswered prayers, but Ponyboy didn't think that counted in this situation.
