Title- The Tale of Ronnie

Chapter Title- Can We Keep It?

Disclaimer- I do not own The Outsiders

Reviewers-

BlackLightningDX- Money is always the problem. But when you have quite a few Uncles, you never know what you can get.

Note- I'm not supposed to be on the computer. But, we went to the cemetery already and then my dad decides to have his friend over. Okay, my mom is crying her eyes out and he invites his friend over? Oh, well, so I got rights on the computer. Yes, I am halfway done with my summer assignment (50 post-it notes on Oedipus Rex by Sophocles)! If any of you tuff people feel like doing the other half for me, feel free. First, you have to read Siddhartha by Herman Hesse. Then, you need to make post-it notes. You need 2 theme notes, 7 notes on Literary element notes (such as irony, simile, metaphor, foreshadowing), 10 fact notes, 6 character notes, 5 reaction notes, 10 vocabulary notes, 5 important quote notes (why you chose the quotes), 5 question notes. So, that's about 50 post-it notes, each must include a page and paragraph number. But you can just e-mail them to me. Just kidding, although I will love you if you do it for me. I need it by Labor Day weekend. RIP Grandma "K", we love you so much.

I grabbed a thumbtack from my desk and put the picture on the wall. I know my mom doesn't like extra holes in the wall, but she deserves it. All I want is a dog and she says no. I tried to draw a few dogs, but they didn't come out good. I crumpled up the paper and threw it at the garbage pail. Nate's head got in the way. He looked at me and frowned.

"Sorry," I giggled. He shook his head and looked at me like I was weird. I rolled my eyes, I think I get that from my mom, and went back into the living room.

"Uncle Steve, if I get a dog can I keep it at your house?" I asked him. He gave me the same look Nate had.

"I think your mom already said no dog," he told me.

"Yeah, but it won't be in the house. 'Sides, I'll come over and visit you more often."

"No," he said and walked away before I got the chance to grin. I crossed my arms across my chest and stomped my foot. This was not going the way I planned. Who would I ask next? I already knew Uncle Darry would say no. Uncle Ponyboy was in college still, I think, so I wasn't going to ask him. What would Uncle Two-Bit say?

"Uncle Two-Bit," I called looking for him. I opened the front door and went to go look for him. I got as far as the sidewalk.

"Veronica Curtis," my mom said sternly. She grabbed my wrist.

"What have I told you about walking alone?" I sighed.

"Don't," I answered her. I walked back inside, following her.

"Where's Uncle Two-Bit?" I asked her.

"I don't know, why don't you go play with your brother?"

"Mama," I said, "do you know where Uncle Two-Bit is?"

"He'll be here soon, now please go play with your brother." I groaned and walked back into the room. Nate was busy crumpling papers and tossing them in the garbage pail.

"Are you gonna play basketball?" I asked him. He shook his head no. I didn't feel like listing all the sports and he wasn't in a mood to breathe a word today. Don't ask how I know, it must be a twin thing. I heard footsteps in the hallway. I turned to see Uncle Two-Bit leaning in the doorway.

"Your mom said you were lookin' for me," he said. I nodded. I was going to ask him for a dog and tell him mom said yes. I knew he'd never ask mom about it. Once mom saw the dog she'd fall in love with it.

"Yeah, mom said you could take me to get a dog, can we go now?" I gave Nate a death glare. There wasn't any need to, he'd never say anything.

"I don't see why not, c'mon." I gave him a hug and went into the kitchen.

"Mom, Uncle Two-Bit's takin' me out for a bit," I told her. I grinned. I knew she would let me go. If she asked any questions I could always say that he was taking me to get ice cream or something. If she wondered, Nate wasn't in the mood to come with us.

"Be careful," she warned me and I went to where Two-Bit was and grabbed his hand. I practically dragged him out to the car. I sat in the backseat. Uncle Two-Bit normally drove fast, but he had common sense. He drove at a decent speed.

"I want that one," I said pointing at the dark puppy in the corner. Uncle Two-Bit asked me if I was sure a couple of times. I kept telling him yes. He got me the dog, it was so cute mom just had to say yes. We bought a few more things for it and then decided to go home.

The dog was small so it fit on my lap. It must've been really young. I nervously rubbed its back all the way home. I didn't say much, which was a surprise.

"Uncle Two-Bit, I want the dog to be a surprise, so don't say anything to anybody, okay?" He nodded and parked near the house. I quietly walked into the house and into my bedroom. It was easy. Uncle Steve and dad were wrestling on the floor and mom was trying to break it up. I put the dog on the floor.

Nate's eyes got really big. I don't think he thought I was actually going to do it. I didn't know what to name it. What do you name a dog your not sure if you are going to keep? Nate rubbed the dog's tummy and the dog licked his hand. He smiled and I did too. Nate was only five minutes younger than me, but sometimes it seemed like years.

"Do you like it?" He nodded.

"I just hope we can keep it," I told him. He nodded it agreement. I wasn't going to ask in front of everybody, I couldn't get Two-Bit in trouble.

"Mom, can you come here?" I asked. I heard her footsteps getting closer and closer.

"What is it, baby?" she asked. I picked up the dog.

"Can we keep it?"