My name's Tinkerbelle Curtis , and this is my story. We better start at the begining. I was born on July 16th , 1950. I have a twin brother named Sodapop , an older brother named Darrel , we always call him Darry , and a younger brother named Ponyboy. Our parents were killed in an auto/train wreck about a year ago. Darry's our guardian now. Let's hope that's all the boring stuff we'll haveta go through. Since my parents were killed , we only get to stay together if me , Soda , and Pony behave. We try our best but sometimes I can't help it. When Mama and Daddy were alive I used to get dragged home by the cops about once a month. I never did nothing too serious. I get into a lot of fights , get into drag races , and once in a while I'd get drunk. I don't drink no more...since a drunk train driver hit the car Mama and Daddy was in. People tell me I have everything going for me. I've got looks , personality , and brains. I may be pretty and smart but my attitude isn't anything to be desired. When people tell me I've got everything goin' my way , I wanna hit 'em. I ain't got nothin' goin' my way. Darry keeps the family together , Soda keeps us grinning , Ponyboy's the baby and he makes everyone happy. What am I? I'm just the family screw up.

Darry says I'm somethin' special , but I know I ain't. I'm sick of being Little Miss Perfect and Little Miss Innocent to make him happy. If he heard things I've done and what I still wanna do he'd hit me so hard I'd fly to California. I just want things to be normal again. I know that'll never happen , cause nothin' good ever happens. Everything just turns to shit. People who think that things'll perk up better wise up. You gotta learn to watch out yourself and your family and no one else.

I was writing my composition and slammed my pen down. What's the use? I'm gonna fail and get left behind anyway. I couldn't care less about my grades anymore. Last month , if you told me I was failing a class , I would have cried. Now I'm not even putting effort into the work to get the grade up. "Hey Tink-how's it goin'?" Soda popped his head in. I shrugged and let out an agrivated sigh. "Not too well I see...can I read it?" I shrugged and handed it to him. He read it slowly and carefully. Soda can't read too great. Once he finished the two paragraphs I'd written , he looked up. "Tink , you gotta snap outa this depression. I've kept it secret long enough. You're really startin' to scare me , sis." I shrugged again and yawned. I pulled my sleeves down carefully as I stretched. "Tink , it's hot out , why don't you just wear tanktops or short sleeves like you used to?" I shrugged again. "I dunno. Maybe I'm anemic." I hopped on the bed and closed my eyes. I closed my eyes and heard Soda say somethin' but couldn't tell. Ah well , if it's important he'll tell me when I wake up.

I felt something on my arm , I guess it was a bug. I went to swat it to find a hand. "Jesus Christ Soda , scare the shit outa me why don'tcha!" I smiled at him , but he didn't smile back. He had a scared expression on his face and he was slowly turning pale. I looked down and realised he'd pulled up my sleeve. "Tink...what've you been doing?" My arm was covered in scratches. Most of them were healed over now , but one or two were fresh. I guess it looked deep. "C..cheerleading's not all that safe , Soda. W..we practice outside and there's sticks and rocks and pointy things. I'm head stunt so I fall a lot..." That was the suckiest lie I ever told. I usually lie really great , but I could never lie to Soda. I just couldn't. "That's it. First the depressed poetry , now this? I can't take it anymore." He went out the door and locked it and I heard him yell "Darry! Get over here!" I ran to the door. No use. I looked around and smiled. Window! I opened and jumped out and ran . I hid under a shrub and I heard Soda say "What the hell! She was here a minute ago!" I got up and ran. I don't know where I was going. I just ran.

I hammered on Two-Bit's door. His little sister , Katrina, answered. "Hey Kitty , is Two-Bi- Keith here?" Kitty always calls him Keith. She nodded. "Can you get him for me please?" She nodded again and squealed in her tiny voice "KEIF! THINKERBELLE'S HERE THO SEE YOU!" Kitty looked just like Two-Bit. Same red hair , same eyes , same grin. I loved Kitty's little lisp, it made my heart swell. I hoped for her sake I could keep the tears down for a few more minutes. Two-Bit came out as the tears started to fall. "Hey Tink-...what's wrong?" I closed my eyes. "It's nothin'. I'm juss kinda mad at Soda. Can I lay low here for a while?" He nodded but said "If Darry calls lookin' for yah I'm singin' like a canary. C'mon." He held the door open for me and I wiped my eyes. Two-Bit wrapped an arm around my waist. "You're okay here , Tink. I won't let nothin' happen to yah."

The phone woke me up and I groaned. I opened my eyes and almost fell off the bed. Who's bed was this! Two-Bit came in the room , dressed only his his jeans , and answered the phone. "Hello?" He sounded groggy. I came to my sences and relized where I was. "Uhh...hi Darry..." I gulped. He mouthed 'I'm sorry!' "Yea Darry , she's here. I let her sleep. I was just gonna call you." I groaned and pushed his pillow into his face. "No problem..okay...in about an twenty minutes? Okay , sounds good. Bye." He pulld the pillow off my face. "Sorry...he sounded upset...you do somethin' wrong?" I sighed and said "You'll find out pretty quick." Kitty came running in and bounced on the bed. I kept her entertained while Two-Bit got dressed , muttering something about how sugar shouldn't be allowed in breakfast cereals. I laughed and smiled at her. "Hey Thinkerbelle!" I pulled her onto my lap. "Hey Kitty!" She looked up at me with her big , gray eyes. "Can you do my hair for me?" I nodded and took the brush. The handle was covered in hair ties so I was in business. I pulled her hair into pigtails , even then her hair trailed down almost to her waist. "Thanks Thinkerbelle!" She hugged me and I heard a car horn. "Oh shit..." I said under my breath. Two-Bit came into the room. He gave me his hand and pulled me up. I'm dead...dead dead dead.

As Two-Bit opened the door I closed my eyes tightly , bracing myself for Darry's rage , but was greeted by Sodapop's arms. "Where's Darry?" I asked , but my question was muffled against his shirt. "Home. Where you're gonna be for a while." He dragged me to the car and sped outa there. Soda always got tickets for speeding. We arrived home and I closed my eyes tight again. "Tink...why'd you do it?" I stared at him. "Do WHAT? I fell Soda , I told you , I fell. I fall a LOT you know I'mma clutz!" That was actually a pretty good lie. Especially since Soda's the hardest person to lie to. He smiled and said "Alright...I believe you. Wear tanktops and I'll believe you more." I kissed him on the cheek and climbed through the window and laid on the bed. I sighed and did as Soda asked , I changed into a black tanktop. A thick-strapped one. I lay down on my bed , put my hands behind my head and closed my eyes.

Alright! There yah go! Meh. It sucks. Ah well. Tell me whatcha think! Flames will be used for roasting marshamallows. Reviewing my make my writing porcess a wheeee bit faster...