My next track meet was that Saturday. It turned out to be one of those bright fall days that you just love to be outside in, perfect for running. That week, we were facing Borrowick High School, the best in our league. I woke up feeling ready to face anything. Soda, on the other hand, felt like sleeping in. I had to roll him out of bed so I wouldn't be late. (Darry had left for work by that time)
I was really pumped by the time I got there. Soda had been drowsily trying to get me to calm down on the way there. I just turned the radio up loud so to wake him up. It worked.
By the time we got there, he was good old Soda, hyper and mischievous as ever. I was hoping he wouldn't do anything too crazy today.
As I began stretching, nervousness hit me. There were butterflies in my stomach, and it took every ounce of brain power I had to keep from thinking like I was going to lose. The guys on the other team seemed so confident that they would win. That boiled my blood, in a good way. Our team had only lost one meet that year, and I was going to make sure it stayed that way to the best of my ability. I'd even up the score with these guys. My ego was beginning to swell, so I had to bring it back to reality just a bit. But, only a bit.
I blanked the world out and began focusing my brain on one solitary thing: the finish line. I was getting there, and before everyone else if I could help it. The races had begun. Mine was the 10th race that day, so I had a good long while to think. I wouldn't let myself scan the crowd to see who was there. Normally I did, hoping to see a college scout or a good friend. Today, though I was still hoping for a scout and one particular friend, I knew there would be time later for that.
When that gun shot rang in my ears, I took off. Pacing myself was easy. I felt like the track was a part of me and getting from one part of myself to another was nothing. I heard nothing but the wind in my ears. I felt nothing but the warm sun on my back and the breeze blowing on my face. Nothing else existed but that race, and that time. No one except me. Somewhere during that different world, I got a sense that I should speed up. I could hardly tell I was running. It was all natural, normal. In a sudden burst of speed, a bright yellow line quickly came up to meet my steps.
Then, I heard the crowd, and the announcer. I saw all the runners behind me, quickly finishing also. Somehow, though, I didn't feel excited yet. That would come soon. Right then, I was taking in everything in the real word again, like it was the first time I saw it all. It was new and bright, but somehow, I missed the other world. The one where I was just an extension of the ever-mobile track, and that was all that was there.
Soda pop was shouting to me, and I broke out of my daze. The victory hit me just then, and I leaped into the air!
"Yeah! Soda, did you see me?!" I ran over to the stands, not winded at all. "I did it! I really did it! Glory, so this is what it feels like!"
Soda was looking at me with dancing eyes. "Yeah, I saw you kid."
He seemed awful calm for a moment that was so exciting to me.
"What's so different about this one, Pony? You must have won at least half of your races this year."
What he said hit me, and I stopped for a second. He was right, I had won before. But I never had felt victory like this before. I wasn't sure what it was, but I liked it.
"I don't really know. This one just feels different, I guess."
Soda cocked an eyebrow and grinned. I had to grin back. We sat together in silence for a little. Me basking in my glory, he lost in his thoughts, or a race, or something. Then, a familiar flash of dark brown hair caught my eye at the fence. I casually walked over there.
"Hey," I said, putting my hands on her shoulders. Sarah jumped, then spun around to see who the voice belonged to.
"Pony, hey! Good job, I saw your race." Olivia was calmly resting on Sarah's hip, making gurgling noises.
"Hey, kid," I ruffled her hair, and she giggled.
Sarah turned back to the race, which I realized Brie was running in. She wasn't doing too bad, running in third place at that moment. Then, the girl in second seemed to lose her wind and slowed down a whole lot. Seeing her chance, Brie quickened her pace. I watched her take second by a hair. Another glory witnessed that day. I was sure there would be more, too.
"Hey, Ponyboy, have you thought any more about coming to church with me?" Sarah asked casually.
"What? Oh, yeah. I'll come, as long as I can get directions there, and know what time it ends. Darry gets kind of mad if I don't tell him where I'm going or when I'll be back."
"Oh, well, we can drive you, if you want. We pass right by your house. It will only be Brie and me, because the rest of the family goes to church earlier." She stopped to switch the baby to her other hip. "It lets out by 9:00, but sometimes I help clean up afterwards. We can have you home by ten or earlier." She seemed eager to have me come. I vaguely wondered how often she invited people to church.
The next day I was nervous and getting ready way before Sarah and Brie were going to pick me up. I guess the fact that it was a church is what made me nervous. That and it was with my peers. Peers. Oh, how I hated that word. It had some sort of evil feel to it. Not many people in school were that nice to me, with the exception of some people at track. Part of me figure that that was only because I had made it to 'A' squad my first year. I was a loner, that's all there was to it.
Soda noticed that I was sprucing up more than normal. I was in the bathroom trying to get my wet hair to stay down. (Sometimes it stuck up in odd places like it had a mind of its own) I rooted through the cupboard, searching for hair oil or grease or something. Soda popped his head in as the contents of the shelf fell into the sink.
"Hey, Pony..... Whoa, what's goin' on in here? Looks like you're getting ready for a rumble or something. What gives?"
"Nah, I'm going to church." I tried to act casual, like I was saying I was going to the movies. You can bet how that worked out.
"Church, huh?" Soda said, speculating. Then, he started walking down the hall to our room, whistling. Soda pop didn't really like church.
I found the hair oil, after cleaning up the big mess before Darry saw. By that time, I barely had a second to shove dinner down my throat before a car horn sounded and I was out, my heart beating like a drum. One of those drums that you see in a marching band, too.
The church was big and eerie. It had an old Roman look to it, almost. The lights were dim, and the stained glass windows seemed illuminated. It gave me the impression that there would be boring old hymns with an out-of-tune sung by a million year old lady. But, I saw a band warming up on the side of the altar.
The next thing that caught my eye kept my gaze for the rest of the service. Right above the table, there was a massive cross on the wall. Not just any cross, it had a wooden statue of a body hanging on it. I had listened to the sermons in the other church I had been in, so I knew that was Jesus. What struck me was the way they depicted it. There was a lot of blood. The artist had carved the body in such a way that it seemed like you were seeing the ribs of a brutally beaten man. I didn't know what to think. I knew the brief version of the story, but never imagined it this graphic.
All the high school kids sat together in the front. I thought that was tuff, because then no one had to know I didn't have a family here. What's more, they seemed excited. I expected people to be bored in a church like this, all formal looking and big, but no one seemed bored. As the first song started up, I knew I liked it there.
The whole service was great, though some parts confused me. I really liked the sermon (though, Sarah called it something else. A homily, I think.) It was directed straight for us kids in the front. I actually began to understand what it meant to live for Christ. I had heard preachers before drone on and on about being nice and doing right, but nothing like what I heard that night. It was like these people really knew the score.
After the service, all the high schoolers met in the church basement. They had some snacks and things, and people mingled around. About half the people there were socs, but none of them looked down on me, despite my obvious greaser appearance. (The hair was a dead giveaway) I saw some kids I knew from school. People who had never acknowledged me at school started talking to me.
A guy in blue jeans and a t-shirt came up to Sarah and me as she was explaining what we were going to do tonight.
"Hey, Sarah, what's up?" He said. Then, he noticed me. "Hi, I'm Matt. Never seen you here before."
"The name's Ponyboy. Sarah invited me tonight."
"That's pretty neat. You've found yourself a good friend here, Ponyboy. What school are you from?"
"The public high school up on Lincoln Street."
"Hey, I go there too. I don't think I've ever seen you in the halls or anything, though."
Sarah and Matt began to talk a little about some political thing going on. Roe versus Wade or something strange like that. I just listened, trying to catch what was going on.
A lady called all the teens to sit down in some chairs that made a circle. Some of the seniors in the group put on a skit, and then they let us divide up into small groups to talk about the night's topic. I felt out of place and awkward as we formed a group of four.
"So," Sarah began, "What do you all feel like bringing up tonight?"
A sandy haired kid spoke up.
"I think we ought to introduce ourselves first."
"Alright, that works. You can go first."
The kid solemnly cleared his throat. "I'm Jon Fretz. I'm a junior at Saint John Bosco high school, it's north of town."
"Chelsea Patricks. I go to Chester High school. I'm a sophomore."
It was my turn next. The three of them looked at me expectantly.
"Uh, Ponyboy. Ponyboy Curtis. I go to the local public high school. Sophomore." I spoke as quickly as I could, and let out a deep breath when I was done.
"Okay, well, I'm Sarah Piatt. I'm a freshman at the public high school."
Jon spoke up next. "Okay, now that everyone knows everyone, let's get down to business. I guess today's topic is living the gospel and setting examples. That closely relates to peer pressure, if you think about it..." Jon went on for a little. They all talked about what it's like to be a good Catholic Christian. That confused me. I had never heard the term catholic before. A voice broke into my thoughts.
"What are you thinking over there, Ponyboy?"
"Oh, um..." I stuttered, "I've never heard the term catholic before. What gives? Y'all are Christians, right? So what's the difference?" I hadn't intended on saying that much, just short, terse answers were my intention, but curiosity had taken hold of me.
"Catholics are Christians, you're right about that." Jon chuckled, "But some Christians think that we're going to hell because we don't think the same way they do."
I was planning on staying in my quiet mode, keeping my mouth shut, but I really wanted to know.
"I thought a Christian was a Christian, though. Why complicate it further? Who cares who's going where?" those questions burst out of me. I was unable to suppress my need to know what was so complicated about being a Christian. You went to church, read a book, and didn't do things like steal or cuss.
"If everyone could think like you, our community would be a much better place." Chelsea put in.
The discussion continued from there, the group talking about how hard it was for people to understand that Catholics were Christians. By the end of the night, my head was swimming. How could some people not see it? That was what was really getting to me. I guessed that I was just an outsider looking in, though, so I figured I was the one who really didn't get it.
Sarah did help tear down, so I ended up stacking chairs and sweeping up. The guy from the small group, Jon, was helping too. After everything was getting taken care of as far a cleaning, he pulled me aside.
"Hey, Pony, I just wanted to...." He started, but then he saw my face. I guess I was frowning or something, because it stopped him for a minute. "What?" he asked.
"It's nothing, keep going."
He shrugged, then continued. "I wanted to thank you for coming tonight. We don't get many new kids here, except for the beginning of the year when new freshmen come in. Anyhow, I think it took a lot of guts for you to come. I mean, not being catholic or anything, I'd think that would be kind of intimidating."
I let what he said sink in. He was right, it took guts. But, it wasn't a big deal, really. I just did it so I could find out more about Sarah, and, curiosity, I guess. I could tell that Sarah had wanted me to come.
"It's no big deal, I guess." I shrugged.
"Well, I don't think I could have done it. Anyway, I sure hope you come back. See you later, man." He shook my hand, and then walked out the door, twirling his car keys. I caught a glimpse of the key. He drove a mustang. He was a soc.