Soda: Giving Third-Degree Isn't Easy
Okay…On the plane now. Did I ever tell you how much I absolutely despise planes? I can't stand them. Not to mention that I am sooo cramped. Well anyway…here's the next chapter!
Teri was really cute, not to mention nice, sweet and funny too. She was such a relief. And I really thought that I was ready to move on and meet new people. I couldn't mope over Sandy forever, you know. The only thing I was really afraid of was getting hurt again. I made sure I didn't attach myself to Teri too quickly. But I figured that she was okay when Ponyboy walked by and she knew him. He looked cool with her so I thought, 'She's definitely not immature or snotty.'
When Pony looked up, though, I had a whole new thing to worry about. His face was purplish reddish. I gasped. Obviously, someone had beaten my brother up miserably.
"Ponyboy Curtis! What did you do to yourself?" I asked him once the girls brought him over. Pony looked at me, then at Two-bit, then at Steve. Finally, he shrugged, "Nothing. I got into a fight at school."
"With who? Darry's gonna kill you as soon as he bandages you up and quits worrying."
"With…With…a bully." He muttered the last part. I looked over to Steve and Two-Bit, "Did you guys know about this?" Reluctantly, Steve shook his head, but Two-Bit nodded, "Yeah. I saw him in gym. He came in late. Sorry I didn't tell you Soda."
"It's okay, but don't you have gym in the beginning of the day?"
"Yeah, two periods before lunch."
"Pony," I turned towards my younger brother, "who did this to you?"
"Uh…this guy…at school…he's…he's big. And mean. He likes to…push people around a lot."
"What's his name?"
"Ste- Stevenson. Yeah, that's his name."
"Stevenson? What kinda name is that?" Two-Bit asked incredulously.
"Uh…that's his last name. We call people by their last names mostly in my grade…yeah." He stumbled. I knew that he was lying, but there wasn't anything I could do about it. Not when the three girls were around. I looked over at them, suddenly remembering that they were still there. They were giggling as if that was the cutest thing in the world. Sighing, I let it go.
"So do people call you Curtis?" Two-Bit asked Pony curiously. Pony nodded slightly, "Sometimes. Other times it's 'Hey! Kid grease!' that's what the other greasers call me. Socs call me 'dirty hood' for the girls and 'bum' for the guys. The middle class calls me 'that smart kid' or 'Soda's kid brother'."
"Wow, you have a lot names don't you?" Teri asked amusedly.
"But why would they call you a bum? I don't get it. You're not a bum," Sarah started. But Pony cut her off,
"Yeah I am. Come to my school and you'll find out how much of a bum I really am."
Bianca rolled her eyes, "Socs are so over-rated. I mean, they really aren't that different from the rest of us. In fact, I think all of you greasers have more personality that any Soc any day!"
Pony blushed, "Thanks. Uh, I gotta go home. I have a history test tomorrow. And I guess I better start packing for the school trip thing…" he trailed off and walked away.
"PONYBOY! WE'RE NOT DONE TALKING ABOUT THOSE BRUISES!" I yelled after him. He didn't turn around. I sighed again and turned back to the girls and the fellas.
Work dragged out that day. The customers were coming in slow and I was really anxious to get home before Darry. I prayed that I would be home before Darry so that I could get the real scoop on what happened to Pony that day in school. I knew that even though Pony knew that Darry loved him and cared about him a lot, he still shied away from telling Darry the whole story, leaving out little details…like who the real person who beat him up was. Finally the little hand rolled around to the five on the clock and I jumped out of my chair, signing out, and while running out the door, yelling good-bye to Steve.
Closing the door behind me when I reached my house, I looked around. Ponyboy was nowhere to be found. Where was he? I started panicking and thought of calling Darry. I had almost finished dialing the roofing number, but figured that I shouldn't bother Darry when Pony was probably at the library or something studying for his test.
"Yeah, that's it. He's just at the library studying. He'll be back soon," I told myself. Just then I spotted the mail on the kitchen table. I sat down to look at it and found a note from Ponyboy:
Soda and Darry,
Don't worry about me. I just finished my homework. I'm at the lot and I promise to be back for dinner and in time to start getting ready for the trip like I promised I'd do. Don't worry.
Ponyboy
The lot? What would Pony be doing at the lot? What was there at the lot anyway? We hadn't been there since…Johnny and Dally died. I scribbled another note for Darry and flew out the door heading for the lot.
Still on the plane. Ooo! BRADY BUNCH IS ON EVERYONE!! BEST SHOW EVER!!! I'll write as the show goes on commercial. PLEASE REVIEW!