Chapter 14: Milk and Alcohol

Ponyboy and Louis were in the kitchen continuing their reading lessons. Ponyboy wanted to get to know Louis more, but he couldn't think of any questions to ask him. Everything he asked him when he met him was pretty much a secret. He guessed he had a lot in common with Johnny. Ponyboy put a period behind the last word to finish his sentence.

"Can you say this sentence?"

Louis looked at it. It was about five seconds until he said.

"Th- the ddd-dog ra-n, ran to the paaa-park. The dog ran to the park."

"Nice job,"

Louis smiled. He was getting a lot better. He felt smart almost knowing how to read. He had asked Johnny once if he could read. Johnny said he could, he just couldn't do it very well. Louis asked if he wanted him to ask Ponyboy to teach him. Johnny said maybe. Johnny really didn't intend to answer that question.

They both heard the door close and Louis and Ponyboy looked into the living room. They saw Darry walking in greeting Soda and Johnny. Darry stuck his head into the kitchen and said hi to the two boys.

"How's it coming?" he asked looking at Pony.

"Pretty good."

"Good. Soda's gonna cook dinner tonight."

Darry left and went to the back to take a shower. Louis had never tasted Soda's cooking the whole time he had been there. Louis looked at the youngest Curtis and asked,

"Is Soda's food good?"

"Uh. I can say it hasn't killed us yet."

Louis looked at Ponyboy with a confused face and wondered what he meant by that. They continued with the lesson and Soda came in about fifteen minutes later. Louis kept taking glances back at Soda. Trying to see how Soda cooks. He really didn't get any good glances though. After a while, Soda walked over to them and said,

"Clear the table. Dinner will be ready in about five minutes."

"Okay, Soda. Louis can you help me take my books to my room?"

"Sure."

Louis and Ponyboy walked towards Ponyboy's room. Ponyboy told Johnny, who was sitting on the sofa, that dinner was ready and yelled into Darry's room the same thing. They reached the room and Pony put his books into his backpack. Louis handed him the books he was carrying and Pony put them into the backpack.

"Thanks," he said.

The two walked back to the kitchen and grabbed plates. Johnny and Darry were walking towards the pot on the counter. Darry looked back at Soda and asked,

"What are we having?"

Soda was grinning.

"Open and see."

Darry lifted the lid off of the pot. Everyone's facial expression changed. Soda had made fish dipped in chocolate milk. Louis stared at it. He was hoping that a bubble wouldn't pop up. Everyone looked back at Sodapop with raised eyebrows.

"What!" he said laughing. "I thought this family loved chocolate."

"But not with fish," said Ponyboy.

Everyone was starving, so they had no other choice. Darry got out a fork and stuck the silverware into the dead sea creature. He lifted it up as the chocolate milk dripped down its sides and plopped into the contents in the bottom of the pot.

Louis almost felt like puking. Ponyboy knew it would be different, but he wasn't expecting this. Darry put the fish on an extra plate, and cut the fish up.

Soda made spinach and lima beans also, but the chocolate milk from the fish wasn't helping. Everyone sat down at the table and started eating. Louis took a gulp before he ate. It wasn't really that bad. But he hated the after taste.

After that 'interesting' meal, Johnny and Louis went walking around the town. They were both talking about if the secret was out.

"How would they find out. Nobody was around when I told you the story."

"Yeah. But Dally is acting a little suspicious. That's what's concerning me. Should we tell him?"

Louis shook his head.

"Dally is cool and all. But I really don't know him like I know you."

Johnny nodded. He understood what he meant. Before any of them could say another word. They heard someone yell

"Grease!"

They both looked up the street and saw a soc sticking his head out of a car window. Louis and Johnny ran, but they were thinking differently. Johnny ran across the street and Louis ran into the woods. Louis thought Johnny was right behind him the entire time. The same with Johnny. When Louis got out of the woods, he finally turned around. He didn't see his best friend.

"Johnny," he yelled. No answer.

Louis looked around. He kinda recognized the place. He thought for a moment and then remembered the place. This was near Buck Merril's place. If he could find the place, he could find Dally. That would help.

Louis looked through some trees and saw bright lights and heard some music. Louis followed it and saw Buck was having a party. He walked up to the door. It was wide open, so he just walked on in.

Louis had never seen anything like this. The people here were absolutely crazy. Slugging beer, making out on couches, yelling at each other during poker games. Louis walked around the drunken men and nasty woman. He walked towards the back of one room. Still no Dally.

He probably isn't here, he thought. Louis was about to leave. As he turned around, some drunk guy was in front of him. He had a bottle of beer in his hand. He looked down at Louis and demanded,

"Drink it."

Louis backed up shaking his head. The guy was acting worse now.

"I said, drink this!"

"No!" yelled Louis.

The guy pushed Louis towards the wall and pinned him against the wall. The guy raised the bottle into the air.

"Not again," yelled Louis aloud.

Suddenly someone grabbed the guy from the back and pulled him back. Which let Louis go. Louis looked and saw it was Dally.

"Do you wanna step outside," said Dallas in a tough voice.

"Why not?"

This guy must have been drunk. Dally walked outside and the guy followed; with the bottle still in the air. Louis ran outside too. When they were outside, Dally and the other guy exchanged a couple of words. After a while, the guy threw the bottle at Dally.

Dally ducked and the bottle soared across the air and hit the outside wall of Merril's place. Dallas then to it to the guy and knocked him unconscious. Dally then turned to Louis.

"What are you doing here?"

"I got lost. I figured you would be here."

"C'mon. Let's get you back to the Curtis' house."

Dally walked Louis back to the Curtis' house.