Chapter 7: Appearance
I walked to school alone again. The second day. I usually would have a ride with Tyler. But he was a soc and I was a greaser. I guessed I would have to get used to it. And I guessed I could start hanging with Ponyboy and his friends.
I walked through the door. Even though I knew a couple of socs were still looking at me. I knew why. I still had on soc-like clothes. I had on a clean button up shirt and another pair of kakis.
When I was sitting in class, Ponyboy came right up next to me. I knew he would do that.
"Hey. Um. Do you want to come to my house after school?"
I looked at him.
"For what?
"My brother told my friends about you. They want to show you how to be a greaser."
Show me how to be a greaser? I really did need that. I mean, I was still acting like a soc.
"Okay. I'll be there."
I sat by myself at lunch again. I thought it would be a little awkward walking in there sitting with greasers. You know what? Now that I think about it, I've never seen any greasers in the lunch room. I'm serious. Where do they go?
After school, Ponyboy found me.
"Hey. One of my friends is giving a ride home. We can ride home with him."
"Okay."
"I followed Ponyboy towards this car with a greaser with some rusty sideburns. He was throwing remarks at socs walking on by. He looked at Pony when we reached him.
"Hey Pony! This you're new friend?"
"Yeah, Two-Bit. This is Dean. Dean, Two-Bit."
"Hey," I said quietly. This guy had one crazy grin.
"Well, we're going to have to show you how to be a greaser. Soda and Steve are going to run by after work. Let's get going."
We all got into his car and drove towards Ponyboy's house. 'Two-Bit', I hoped that wasn't his real name. If it was, then greaser parents must be high when they're pregnant. Well, his house looked a little better than mine. His was slightly larger. My soc house would still crush this one though. We walked inside and Two-Bit signaled me to follow him.
We walked to the back and went inside a bathroom.
"Stand in front of the mirror," commanded Two-Bit. Normally I would have gotten into it with him, but his tone of voice was different. I stood in front of the mirror and he examined my face.
"Let's see here," he said imitating a professor. That made me crack a smile.
"We have short hair and a clean face. That will change over time. We'll just have to do with the clothes."
"What are you going to do with my regular clothes?" I asked turning around.
"Oh, you can keep them and do whatever you want with them," said Two-Bit. "We just gotta get you some jeans and a couple of T-shirts. And maybe a jacket. I'll be right back."
Two-Bit walked back up to the front and ran out the door. I just sat on the couch. Ponyboy came and sat next to me.
"Where'd Two-Bit go?"
"Not sure."
"Oh. So…How old are you?"
"Fifteen."
"Okay. Everyone else in the gang is sixteen. Well, except for Two-Bit and Darry. My brother's turning seventeen next week."
"Who's Darry."
"My oldest brother. He's working late. You can meet him later."
"Alright."
Two-Bit came back later with two other guys. I recognized one of them as Soda. I didn't know who the other one was.
"This is my best friend, Steve," introduced Sodapop.
"Hey," I said once again.
"Let's get to working," said Steve and the dragged me to the back.
"First we're gonna work on this hair," said Soda. "It's too neat looking. He ran his hands through my hair and shook it a little bit.
"That's better," said Steve.
"Let's get him into these clothes," said Two-Bit. He then pulled clothes from under his jacket.
"You lifted those?" asked Soda.
"Yup!"
I couldn't believe what I just heard. I guess greasers do steal what they can't afford.
"Throw on those jeans and shirt. You've got plenty here."
They left the bathroom and closed the door. I looked at the clothes on the floor. Man, I don't think I've ever worn jeans. If I did, then I don't remember doing it. I tried put on a pair of jeans, and put on this old button up shirt. I walked out to the front and everyone approved.
"Yup," started Two-Bit who was slouching on the sofa. "That's a greaser."
"Wait," cut in Sodapop. "There's one thing missing."
He got up and walked to me. He ran to the back and appeared behind me. He put something slick and cold on my head. I jumped when I felt it. He had gotten it all on my head though.
"Yeah!" said Steve jumping up. "Now there's a greaser."
I realized then that they had just put grease on my hair.
"Go check yourself out," said Soda.
I walked into the bathroom and looked into the mirror. I was an entirely new person.
