Telephones. Such an amazing invention. I wondered how they worked. I traced over the faded numbers over and over.

Maybe I could get a book about them from the library…

"Pony, what are you doing?" Soda's voice broke my thoughts and I jumped. I didn't know anyone was home.

"I aint doin' nothing" I moved away and sat on the furthest couch from the phone. Soda came and sat next to me and just stared at me with a huge grin on his face. Like he knew my secret.

"Tell me"

"What?" I said trying to act dumb.

"Pony" he said

"Ok. Ok. But I don't see how it's any of your business"

"What's her name?"

"Cathy"

"Cathy" he repeated, "Did you call her yet?"

"I was about to"

"Well go on then, don't let me stop you"

I walked over to the phone and dialled the number.

Please don't let M&M answer. Please don't let M&M answer

 I could feel Soda eyeing me. He always got excited when girls gave me their numbers and encouraged me to call them but I never did. This was different. I asked for her number.

"Hey Cathy. It's me, Ponyboy Curtis"

"Oh hey Ponyboy, how are you?" she sounded surprised to hear from me.

"I'm fine, thanks. I was just wondering if you'd like to go out Friday night?"

Silence. My heart thumped.

She's going to say no, she's going to say no

"Oh I'm sorry Ponyboy. I'm busy then" she really did sound sorry.

"It's ok. Maybe another time"

"Ok then, I'll see you around ok. Bye"

I shut the phone and walked to my room, shutting the door behind me. Soda knew not to come in and integrate me. He'd heard the whole thing anyway.

I had a feeling she was going to say no but I couldn't help feeling disappointed.

But it was worth a try. She was worth it.

*Bryon thought his main problem with Cathy was that she liked him- he wanted her to be crazy about him. He had a very bad ego hang up.

"Guess who called me?" she said, "Ponyboy Curtis. He wanted to go out Friday night"

"No kiddin'" Bryon said, while thinking I'll murder that guy. "What'd you tell him?"

"I said I was busy. Am I?"

Bryon was stunned but didn't show it. "You are. I'll pick you up at seven". He had no idea what he was going to pick her up in, or where they'd go after he did pick her up, but he figured he could work that out later. *

*is an extract from the book (page 72)