Disclaimer: Still belongs to S.E. Hinton

A/N: Thanks for the reviews… I really didn't know what to expect.

My first meeting with Ponyboy seemed like a small blip in the radar of our interactions at first. I knew it increased his confidence in his writing, but I also knew it would take a little while before he could accept the fact that I really would listen to him, so I gave him time. I didn't ask him to meet for another conference for a couple of weeks, and it was when I was trying to keep everything as light as possible that I noticed Pony was starting to open up more in class.

When he was first put into the room, the other kids initially gave him a pretty wide berth. It was obvious to me that they had also been reading the newspapers, or at least their parents had, and they seemed to have caught the international teenage affliction… if something bad happened to him, they suddenly realized, something bad could happen to them. For some reason, at least at first, they always seem to think that bad news is catching. It makes me a little crazy, but what could I do? I couldn't force anyone to talk to him, but luckily, within the first two months of his being in the class, they slowly started to forget that he hadn't been there all along, and as they welcomed him into their groups, I watched him smile for the first time in a very long time.

It was one day when the students were reading each other's rough drafts that I started to think maybe Pony would start to make some real friends in here. They had written about an important person in their lives as a pre-reading activity for Catcher in the Rye, and I was having them share their work in pairs. As they read and commented on each other's papers, I walked around the room, listening to their conversations and occasionally making my own comments. I paused by Pony for a little longer than usual, and he didn't even notice me at first. He was caught up in explaining what he'd enjoyed in Justin's paper, and I noticed that Justin's eyes had widened in surprise as he realized that Pony was giving him critiques like he normally received from me. It was the first time that he'd worked with him, and he was starting to understand what I already knew. When it came to writing, Pony really knew his stuff.

I started really listening to what Pony was saying:

"Justin, it's really good. Honest. But I have an idea. See, when you write about your Dad, instead of just describing his personality or what he looks like, you want to actually show it so your audience knows why he means so much to you. Like… tell a story. Use dialogue. Know what I mean?"

Justin nodded. "Yeah, I do. Thanks. Can I – can I read yours now? I really want to see how you did this."

Pony nodded agreeably and passed his paper across to Justin. I caught sight of the top of the page, and I stiffened. He'd written about Johnny. I was thrilled that he was already both willing and able to do that, but I hoped Justin would know enough to be sensitive to it. I needn't have worried. Pony had gotten his full respect with the way he'd discussed Justin's paper. I just didn't know why I didn't expect the reaction Justin did have.

I was working with the pair of students next to Justin and Ponyboy when I noticed a shadow cast across the page I was reading. I glanced up, and Justin was standing in front of me, staring at his feet.

"Yeah?" I asked, trying not to sound impatient. I was on the verge of losing my concentration, but then I happened to notice the look on Pony's face as he stared at his own notebook, and I looked more closely at Justin. Before I could process what I was seeing, he mumbled, "Can I go to the bathroom?" I nodded quickly as he bolted from the room, and I let out a deep breath. If Pony's theme had made me cry, I don't know how I could have expected my students to react any differently when they read his writing. I just hoped Pony wouldn't take it the wrong way.

I quickly finished up what I was reading, and then walked over to where he was sitting alone, waiting for Justin to come back. He glanced up at me as I perched on Justin's desk, and he mumbled, "Sorry."

I shook my head. "Don't apologize. It's the mark of a good writer. And Justin will be ok. I just… don't think he's used to reading something like that from someone his own age. That's all. But the good news is that since you are his age and you are in his class, he can actually talk to you about it… as long as you don't mind."

Pony started to brighten up, and he actually smiled. "Actually… I don't think I'll mind at all. It might… it might be nice."

I smiled too, but then I realized that Justin still hadn't come back.

"I'll be right back, Pony," I said, and he nodded. I walked over to the door and stuck my head out into the hall. Justin was approaching from the opposite end slowly, and he'd shaken his hair into his eyes. I glanced behind me to make sure everyone was still working, and then I slipped into the hall to wait for him. As he got closer, he noticed me standing there, and he slumped against the wall next to the door.

"I feel like an idiot," he muttered as he avoided eye contact.

I leaned against the wall next to him and said "Don't."

He snorted, and I continued. "Honestly, Justin… Pony's work makes me cry every time I read it. Don't feel like an idiot. You're in good company."

He started to smile, but it quickly faded. "Yeah, but you didn't lose it in class in front of him, Mrs. Nelson. God… I feel so stupid."

I turned to face him even though it was clear he didn't want me looking at him. I waited until he reluctantly met my gaze.

"Justin, listen to me now, and then it's time to go back in. I'm almost glad this happened today. I mean I'm sorry that reading his work made you sad, but that also shows Pony that you care, and after reading what he wrote, I'm pretty sure you know he needs that. And I think you two would probably be good friends for each other. Ok?"

He looked at me for a minute, and I knew he was thinking about conversations that he and I'd had about his own family. Then he nodded.

"Yeah. Ok."

As I turned to open the door, he said urgently, "Mrs. Nelson!" I turned and he asked quietly, "I don't look… I don't look like I've been…"

I stopped him. "Not in the least. Come on."

He let out a sigh of relief and slipped back into his own seat before anyone could notice that we'd been in the hall together. And as I watched from the front of the room, I could see that Pony had made a new friend. And I let out my own sigh of relief. Maybe things were finally on the right track.