Chapter 9:
When I got home a few minutes after Meg asked me over for supper, I walked in to Darry burying his head in some paperwork. He lifted his head a little when I first walked in to acknowledge me but then exhumed him into the papers again.
"What's that?" I asked as I sat my backpack down on a nearby chair. I didn't have any homework due tomorrow so I figured I'd leave it until tomorrow and go to Meg's tonight.
"Taxes," he replied simply with a stern look on his face and I could tell he was trying to figure out some math problem. I wish Soda was here. I wanted so much to tell him about Meg and that she wanted me to meet her folks, but I couldn't say that Darry. I mean, I'd have to tell him I was going to Meg's house but he wouldn't be excited for me like Soda would.
"Did you see Soda today?" I asked casually.
"Mmm," he replied before forcing his head up to deliver the news about my brother, "It's looking good. He seemed drugged up when I got there from the morphine but he managed to tell you he said hi." I just nodded my head and walked into my room quietly.
"Hey Pony, is something the matter?" Darry asked, walking into my room as I lied down on the bed. I hesitated. I really did want to tell him about Meg, but I wasn't sure if it was the right time.
"No...I'm going out tonight though," I managed to say. At first I thought that maybe he wouldn't ask anymore about where I was going, but I guess deep down inside I knew he had to. That's just the kind of brother he was. So, when he did ask me, I decided to tell him the truth as I saw it. At first he just sort of looked at me; I don't think even he knew what to say.
"Now you listen here, Ponyboy...I don't want you gettin' mixed up with no Soc's. I'm sure she's a nice girl and all but, heck, aren't there some girls that are our type you're interested in? I mean look at that Sheila one that you used to talk about, why don't you start goin' out with her?" I shook my head and look up at Darry,
"No. I mean, Darry she's different. And I'd expect you to know better than anyone else that I don't wanna' be goin' out with no Greasy girl. Meg, she's...I don't know how to describe her. She's really somethin' else though, I'll tell you that," I said, finding myself almost daydreaming about her. I'm not one to get sappy about a girl I like, and I wasn't then either, but I'm just saying. Whenever I thought about her I'd get this feeling...kinda like the one I used to get when I was around Cherry at first. I was expecting Darry to tell me I couldn't go, or that I didn't belong at a Soc's dinner table, so what he said next came as a surprise.
"Well I just want you to be careful then, you hear? I guarantee her folks aren't nothing like mom or dad, so watch yourself. And don't say anything about Johnny or the gang okay? I suppose this Meg knows already though, does she?"
"Yeah, she knows," I said, feeling a little ashamed that I told her everything about the gang already, "And don't worry Dare, I'll be polite and all that," He smiled, patted me on the back and went into the kitchen to fix a supper for just him tonight.
I skimmed my closet in search of something to wear tonight. I sure didn't have any clothes like the boys Cherry would have brought home, so her parents were in for a shock no matter what I wore. Even so, I thought, I wanted to make a good impression, so I chose my least-greasy shirt with a pair of not-so faded jeans. Not bad, I thought, as I looked at myself in the mirror. At first I thought about taking the grease out of my hair but decided against it. I am a Greaser, I thought, and I'm not going to change just because I want to impress Meg's folks. Still, I put in a little less than usual.
I took out the wrinkled piece of paper Meg gave me with her address written on it, and glanced it over before heading out the door. I guessed it was about 20 minutes away if I walked fast, so I left right away. Right before I left, though, I brought my blade with me. I wasn't expecting anything to happen, but it was always better to have one just incase.
When I reached her street, I felt like the definition of a fish out of water. All the houses were at least two times bigger than any I've ever been in, and cleaner than any place I'd ever even seen. By the house next to Meg's I saw a couple little kids playing jump rope and I smiled at them. Immediately the thought of the kids in the church...and saving them...And Johnn...NO! I stopped myself from thinking about it. There's no way I'd let myself get all juiced up about what happened, especially now. I walked up to her front door and carefully stepped on the blue "Welcome" mat at my feet. I rang the doorbell and took my hands out of my pockets. I could hear somebody getting up to answer and hoped it was Meg, which would take some of the edge off. My nerves were finally calmed when I saw her smiling face with her hand on the doorknob, telling me to come in. She looked prettier than ever tonight, with a bright-red dress on and her hair in a different style than usual.
She led me into the dining room first, where I expected her aunt and uncle would be. Sure enough, there they were with all the places set and ready to eat. Both of them got out of their seats to greet me, and for once, when I saw an older Soc, I didn't feel intimidated. I could tell they were shocked when they saw me, but I got the impression that it wasn't a bad feeling. Just shock.
"Ponyboy, this is my Auntie Marie and my Uncle Mark," she said as I shook hands with both of them.
"Ponyboy, that's an original name!" Her uncle exclaimed, "It's not you're real name, is it son?"
"Yes sir, it is. My father was an original guy, and I even got...have a brother named Sodapop," I said with a small smile on my face. Both Marie and Mark laughed, and they told me to sit down and have something to eat.
The food was delicious; the best steak I'd had in a very long time. The potatoes were light and fluffy, and the gravy was just right. Conversation, for the most part, was easy-going with no real strenuous questions or anything. After we finished eating, Meg asked if I'd like a tour of the rest of her house. I said sure and thanked her family for a great supper. As we headed upstairs, Meg looked back and smiled at me.
"You were great," she said as we reached the top of the staircase,
"You think?" I asked, uncertain about the impression I had made,
"Of course you were, I can tell already they loved you," she said as she continued the tour, including Cherry's room which was a bit awkward, until finally we reached her room. I wasn't sure if she was going to show it to me, or if it was a kind of off-limits type of deal. I was surprised when she did in fact open the door and told me to come in.
It was a real girly room, which suited Meg because she was so feminine. The color was yellow, and she had everything from a TV to a huge bed with a lace canopy flowing over the edges.
"Wow," was all I could say, as she laughed. "What?" I asked, a smirk on my face along with hers
"Nothing just, you seem so shocked or something. First time in a girl's room?" She asked in a flirtatious voice. I couldn't figure out if she liked me in the way I liked her, or if I was just another friend. The question she asked startled me, as I thought that the answer was yes. I could lie to her, as I would to any of the guys, but I decided not to. I had been honest with her so far, why ruin that now? I nodded yes, a little ashamed, but she just smiled.
"Don't be embarrassed," she said. Oh great, I thought; now she's pitying me. "I think it's sweet," We just looked at each other for a bit until her mom broke the silence by yelling up that it was time for me to leave. I didn't think I'd feel this way, but I really didn't want to go.
We walked outside onto her porch and I thanked her for a great night.
"Your family's real nice," I said, looking down at my feet, "I hope they liked me,"
"I'm sure they did," She said. I smiled and began walking away, when she said my name and grabbed my arm. I looked into her eyes and knew what was coming next. I could feel my heart beating my chest, and tried not to show her how nervous I was. She leaned in first and I followed, and our lips met somewhere in the middle. We kissed for about five seconds, and when it ended I looked again at her. She smiled and as I began to walk away, I did too.
"Bye, Ponyboy," she said as she opened the door for her to go back inside.
"Bye," I said, smiling the whole way home.
When I got home a few minutes after Meg asked me over for supper, I walked in to Darry burying his head in some paperwork. He lifted his head a little when I first walked in to acknowledge me but then exhumed him into the papers again.
"What's that?" I asked as I sat my backpack down on a nearby chair. I didn't have any homework due tomorrow so I figured I'd leave it until tomorrow and go to Meg's tonight.
"Taxes," he replied simply with a stern look on his face and I could tell he was trying to figure out some math problem. I wish Soda was here. I wanted so much to tell him about Meg and that she wanted me to meet her folks, but I couldn't say that Darry. I mean, I'd have to tell him I was going to Meg's house but he wouldn't be excited for me like Soda would.
"Did you see Soda today?" I asked casually.
"Mmm," he replied before forcing his head up to deliver the news about my brother, "It's looking good. He seemed drugged up when I got there from the morphine but he managed to tell you he said hi." I just nodded my head and walked into my room quietly.
"Hey Pony, is something the matter?" Darry asked, walking into my room as I lied down on the bed. I hesitated. I really did want to tell him about Meg, but I wasn't sure if it was the right time.
"No...I'm going out tonight though," I managed to say. At first I thought that maybe he wouldn't ask anymore about where I was going, but I guess deep down inside I knew he had to. That's just the kind of brother he was. So, when he did ask me, I decided to tell him the truth as I saw it. At first he just sort of looked at me; I don't think even he knew what to say.
"Now you listen here, Ponyboy...I don't want you gettin' mixed up with no Soc's. I'm sure she's a nice girl and all but, heck, aren't there some girls that are our type you're interested in? I mean look at that Sheila one that you used to talk about, why don't you start goin' out with her?" I shook my head and look up at Darry,
"No. I mean, Darry she's different. And I'd expect you to know better than anyone else that I don't wanna' be goin' out with no Greasy girl. Meg, she's...I don't know how to describe her. She's really somethin' else though, I'll tell you that," I said, finding myself almost daydreaming about her. I'm not one to get sappy about a girl I like, and I wasn't then either, but I'm just saying. Whenever I thought about her I'd get this feeling...kinda like the one I used to get when I was around Cherry at first. I was expecting Darry to tell me I couldn't go, or that I didn't belong at a Soc's dinner table, so what he said next came as a surprise.
"Well I just want you to be careful then, you hear? I guarantee her folks aren't nothing like mom or dad, so watch yourself. And don't say anything about Johnny or the gang okay? I suppose this Meg knows already though, does she?"
"Yeah, she knows," I said, feeling a little ashamed that I told her everything about the gang already, "And don't worry Dare, I'll be polite and all that," He smiled, patted me on the back and went into the kitchen to fix a supper for just him tonight.
I skimmed my closet in search of something to wear tonight. I sure didn't have any clothes like the boys Cherry would have brought home, so her parents were in for a shock no matter what I wore. Even so, I thought, I wanted to make a good impression, so I chose my least-greasy shirt with a pair of not-so faded jeans. Not bad, I thought, as I looked at myself in the mirror. At first I thought about taking the grease out of my hair but decided against it. I am a Greaser, I thought, and I'm not going to change just because I want to impress Meg's folks. Still, I put in a little less than usual.
I took out the wrinkled piece of paper Meg gave me with her address written on it, and glanced it over before heading out the door. I guessed it was about 20 minutes away if I walked fast, so I left right away. Right before I left, though, I brought my blade with me. I wasn't expecting anything to happen, but it was always better to have one just incase.
When I reached her street, I felt like the definition of a fish out of water. All the houses were at least two times bigger than any I've ever been in, and cleaner than any place I'd ever even seen. By the house next to Meg's I saw a couple little kids playing jump rope and I smiled at them. Immediately the thought of the kids in the church...and saving them...And Johnn...NO! I stopped myself from thinking about it. There's no way I'd let myself get all juiced up about what happened, especially now. I walked up to her front door and carefully stepped on the blue "Welcome" mat at my feet. I rang the doorbell and took my hands out of my pockets. I could hear somebody getting up to answer and hoped it was Meg, which would take some of the edge off. My nerves were finally calmed when I saw her smiling face with her hand on the doorknob, telling me to come in. She looked prettier than ever tonight, with a bright-red dress on and her hair in a different style than usual.
She led me into the dining room first, where I expected her aunt and uncle would be. Sure enough, there they were with all the places set and ready to eat. Both of them got out of their seats to greet me, and for once, when I saw an older Soc, I didn't feel intimidated. I could tell they were shocked when they saw me, but I got the impression that it wasn't a bad feeling. Just shock.
"Ponyboy, this is my Auntie Marie and my Uncle Mark," she said as I shook hands with both of them.
"Ponyboy, that's an original name!" Her uncle exclaimed, "It's not you're real name, is it son?"
"Yes sir, it is. My father was an original guy, and I even got...have a brother named Sodapop," I said with a small smile on my face. Both Marie and Mark laughed, and they told me to sit down and have something to eat.
The food was delicious; the best steak I'd had in a very long time. The potatoes were light and fluffy, and the gravy was just right. Conversation, for the most part, was easy-going with no real strenuous questions or anything. After we finished eating, Meg asked if I'd like a tour of the rest of her house. I said sure and thanked her family for a great supper. As we headed upstairs, Meg looked back and smiled at me.
"You were great," she said as we reached the top of the staircase,
"You think?" I asked, uncertain about the impression I had made,
"Of course you were, I can tell already they loved you," she said as she continued the tour, including Cherry's room which was a bit awkward, until finally we reached her room. I wasn't sure if she was going to show it to me, or if it was a kind of off-limits type of deal. I was surprised when she did in fact open the door and told me to come in.
It was a real girly room, which suited Meg because she was so feminine. The color was yellow, and she had everything from a TV to a huge bed with a lace canopy flowing over the edges.
"Wow," was all I could say, as she laughed. "What?" I asked, a smirk on my face along with hers
"Nothing just, you seem so shocked or something. First time in a girl's room?" She asked in a flirtatious voice. I couldn't figure out if she liked me in the way I liked her, or if I was just another friend. The question she asked startled me, as I thought that the answer was yes. I could lie to her, as I would to any of the guys, but I decided not to. I had been honest with her so far, why ruin that now? I nodded yes, a little ashamed, but she just smiled.
"Don't be embarrassed," she said. Oh great, I thought; now she's pitying me. "I think it's sweet," We just looked at each other for a bit until her mom broke the silence by yelling up that it was time for me to leave. I didn't think I'd feel this way, but I really didn't want to go.
We walked outside onto her porch and I thanked her for a great night.
"Your family's real nice," I said, looking down at my feet, "I hope they liked me,"
"I'm sure they did," She said. I smiled and began walking away, when she said my name and grabbed my arm. I looked into her eyes and knew what was coming next. I could feel my heart beating my chest, and tried not to show her how nervous I was. She leaned in first and I followed, and our lips met somewhere in the middle. We kissed for about five seconds, and when it ended I looked again at her. She smiled and as I began to walk away, I did too.
"Bye, Ponyboy," she said as she opened the door for her to go back inside.
"Bye," I said, smiling the whole way home.