The next day was the annual Oklahoma Buck Riding Championship, a favorite
haunt of both greasers and Socs alike. Pony and Johnny had invited me,
along with May-Sarah. Soda was one of the contestants, so I couldn't
reject; Sodapop Curtis was the handsomest boy I'd ever seen in my life. But
Dallas Winston was also a contestant, and that was the real reason I
couldn't say no. Dally, though I hated him, was too much like Bob, and I
think I was falling in love with him more and more each day.
"Alright Cowboys and Gals," called a voice from the speakers in a thick, western accent, "Get ready! Cause up first we've got Hector Johnson, a newcomer, but he's proved he's good!" Ponyboy, Johnny, May-Sarah, and I filed into the front row, eager to watch the contest. Pony and Johnny sat in the middle, I to Pony's right, and May-Sarah to Johnny's left. We almost looked like couples.
Hector Johnson was a good rider, and lasted two minutes and twenty- seven seconds on the buck. Next up was a man named Gregory Shard, who lasted only a minute and a half, then a woman named Henrietta Thompson, who, surprisingly, lasted four minutes and fifty-two seconds- a record. Soda was next. He bravely saddled the romping buck, and sat, clutching for his life, steady for five minutes and thirty-five seconds! The newest record.
When he walked out of the pen, he had a look of victory on his face; he was glistening with sweat, which made him look all the more handsome. After Soda was Tim Shepard, who lasted only three minutes and eight seconds, then about three Socs, who all lasted under three minutes, and finally, Dally.
He walked proudly into the pen, jumped onto the buck and sat firm for five minutes and twenty-nine seconds. The crowd gasped with eagerness as they watched him nearly beat the champion, Soda.
It was a fun tournament, and by the end of it, Pony, Johnny, May- Sarah and I had yelled ourselves hoarse. It was about three o'clock when it ended, and we all went to the Homebridge Park, where they were having a barbeque, as tradition required.
Ponyboy led us to a table where Soda sat, gleaming with pride and perspiration, wearing his gold medal around his neck shamelessly.
"Congratulations, Sodapop!" cried Pony, "Yeah, good goin, buddy!" agreed Johnny. Trish-Ann smiled at him, "Yeah, you squashed the competition!" she said excitedly. "Totally! You were great Soda!" I joined in.
Darry came up behind Soda and slapped his back, "Great job Soda! Man, Dally's gonna be mad!" he laughed. I smiled.
And then came Dally, strutting towards Soda like he was king, tugging at his silver medal.
He was about to say something to Soda, probably a rude comment, when he saw me. His eyes widened. I have to admit, I looked pretty nice in my pale yellow sundress. It was outlined with ruffles, and flared when I walked.
"Cherri?!" he said half shocked half amused. "Why if it isn't the little Soc, Cherri-what's-your-name!" He tilted his head back and laughed cruelly. I felt my heart jolt. Why was he teasing me?
"Good Lord Dally, shut-up will you? And if you've come to taunt Soda, you'd best retreat, cause he beat you, fair-and-square!" I said angrily, putting my hands on my hips. He gaped at me, and I knew what he was thinking, because I was thinking the same thing: "No one talks to Dally like that".
Dally had begun to blush, and then he swirled on his heel and stormed away. May-Sarah looked scared, "Cherri, he ain't gonna hurt you or anything, is he?" she asked worriedly. Soda answered for me and shook his head, "Nah! There ain't nothing to be scared of! Dally won't ever hurt Cherri." he looked at me with a goofy expression pasted onto his face, "He's too much in love with her."
Then, it was all silence. We were all staring at Soda in shock. He shrugged. "I ain't joking," his voice turned serious, "That's all he's been talking about lately, 'Cherri Valance, that Soc', and 'I wonder if Cherri's gotta guy yet'. Now if that ain't love, someone slap me in the face."
Out of air, Two-bit and Steve had appeared, and they were gaping as well, almost on the ground with silent laughter. Darry's eyes were wide, Pony had this amazed and amused look, Johnny looked blank and dazed, like he'd been hit with a club, and May-Sarah looked oblivious to the situation.
It was I who broke the silence: "What are you saying exactly Sodapop Curtis?" I questioned, my voice hinting bemusement. Soda rolled his eyes at me, "I'm saying he likes you, dig?"
If it weren't for Darry catching me, I would have fainted clear to the ground.
"Alright Cowboys and Gals," called a voice from the speakers in a thick, western accent, "Get ready! Cause up first we've got Hector Johnson, a newcomer, but he's proved he's good!" Ponyboy, Johnny, May-Sarah, and I filed into the front row, eager to watch the contest. Pony and Johnny sat in the middle, I to Pony's right, and May-Sarah to Johnny's left. We almost looked like couples.
Hector Johnson was a good rider, and lasted two minutes and twenty- seven seconds on the buck. Next up was a man named Gregory Shard, who lasted only a minute and a half, then a woman named Henrietta Thompson, who, surprisingly, lasted four minutes and fifty-two seconds- a record. Soda was next. He bravely saddled the romping buck, and sat, clutching for his life, steady for five minutes and thirty-five seconds! The newest record.
When he walked out of the pen, he had a look of victory on his face; he was glistening with sweat, which made him look all the more handsome. After Soda was Tim Shepard, who lasted only three minutes and eight seconds, then about three Socs, who all lasted under three minutes, and finally, Dally.
He walked proudly into the pen, jumped onto the buck and sat firm for five minutes and twenty-nine seconds. The crowd gasped with eagerness as they watched him nearly beat the champion, Soda.
It was a fun tournament, and by the end of it, Pony, Johnny, May- Sarah and I had yelled ourselves hoarse. It was about three o'clock when it ended, and we all went to the Homebridge Park, where they were having a barbeque, as tradition required.
Ponyboy led us to a table where Soda sat, gleaming with pride and perspiration, wearing his gold medal around his neck shamelessly.
"Congratulations, Sodapop!" cried Pony, "Yeah, good goin, buddy!" agreed Johnny. Trish-Ann smiled at him, "Yeah, you squashed the competition!" she said excitedly. "Totally! You were great Soda!" I joined in.
Darry came up behind Soda and slapped his back, "Great job Soda! Man, Dally's gonna be mad!" he laughed. I smiled.
And then came Dally, strutting towards Soda like he was king, tugging at his silver medal.
He was about to say something to Soda, probably a rude comment, when he saw me. His eyes widened. I have to admit, I looked pretty nice in my pale yellow sundress. It was outlined with ruffles, and flared when I walked.
"Cherri?!" he said half shocked half amused. "Why if it isn't the little Soc, Cherri-what's-your-name!" He tilted his head back and laughed cruelly. I felt my heart jolt. Why was he teasing me?
"Good Lord Dally, shut-up will you? And if you've come to taunt Soda, you'd best retreat, cause he beat you, fair-and-square!" I said angrily, putting my hands on my hips. He gaped at me, and I knew what he was thinking, because I was thinking the same thing: "No one talks to Dally like that".
Dally had begun to blush, and then he swirled on his heel and stormed away. May-Sarah looked scared, "Cherri, he ain't gonna hurt you or anything, is he?" she asked worriedly. Soda answered for me and shook his head, "Nah! There ain't nothing to be scared of! Dally won't ever hurt Cherri." he looked at me with a goofy expression pasted onto his face, "He's too much in love with her."
Then, it was all silence. We were all staring at Soda in shock. He shrugged. "I ain't joking," his voice turned serious, "That's all he's been talking about lately, 'Cherri Valance, that Soc', and 'I wonder if Cherri's gotta guy yet'. Now if that ain't love, someone slap me in the face."
Out of air, Two-bit and Steve had appeared, and they were gaping as well, almost on the ground with silent laughter. Darry's eyes were wide, Pony had this amazed and amused look, Johnny looked blank and dazed, like he'd been hit with a club, and May-Sarah looked oblivious to the situation.
It was I who broke the silence: "What are you saying exactly Sodapop Curtis?" I questioned, my voice hinting bemusement. Soda rolled his eyes at me, "I'm saying he likes you, dig?"
If it weren't for Darry catching me, I would have fainted clear to the ground.