Chapter 1:
I was walking home from the movies again, just like in my memoir. And of course, here came the red Corvair up the street towards me. Sometimes I wonder why I walk alone. But then, if I didn't, who'd go with me? It's not like Darry or Soda will take time off to go to the theater with me, and Johnny ain't comin' no more.
I decided to do exactly what I did last time, only speed it up a bit. I took off at a slow run, but the car caught up with me before I was at the corner. Five Socs jumped out of the car and practically landed on me. I was surrounded by big teenage boys with no way out. They closed in on me and knocked me to the ground. One stepped on my arms, and another on my legs. I was stuck.
This time, though, they didn't take out a knife. Instead, one guy, I think Randy, came forward and held up his fist, with big metal rings on all four fingers. Some rings even have jewels on them. The others started sniggering. I prayed he was just showing them off. But no, he walked up to me, bent down, and raised his fist. Before I could even think, he brought it down hard on my cheek. I felt the blood trickling down my face.
Randy raised his fist again. This time, he stopped before he could bring it down again. Someone behind him was talking, but I couldn't hear it with that big kid's feet near my ears. I thought it was a girl talking. Randy stood up and turned, moving just enough that I could see the girl standing in front of him. She was wearing blue jeans and white sneakers. The sleeves of her blue shirt came down to the middle of her arms above the elbow. Her long brown hair was tied back into a braid. She was holding three books in crossed arms.
"What you gonna do about it?" Randy said, replying to something she said.
"Do you know martial arts?" she said. Her voice was sweet like honey.
"I got a pocket knife. I don't need martial arts."
"If you don't want to be beat up by a girl, you certainly do need martial arts." That made the Socs start sniggering again. Randy gave her a look, and she responded by carefully putting her books down against the wall of the building next to us.
"Like you could beat me up," Randy said. "I'd like to see you try."
"Is that a challenge?" the girl asked, smiling a little.
"Yeah," Randy said after glancing at his companions. "Yeah, that is a challenge. I dare you to beat me up."
"Alright, but you'll regret it," she said, and it sure sounded like she was serious.
Randy positioned himself with his fists at the ready, and the girl braced herself. Without warning, she jumped up and grabbed the flagpole. She swung around it twice, and then let go and landed on top of Randy. He flailed his arms a bit before pushing her feet from under her and making her fall. He stood over her and laughed.
"You can't beat me," he said. She quickly lifted her leg and kicked his behind hard. He yowled in pain and backed up off her. He and the other Socs ran off before she could do any more damage. The girl came over and helped me up off the ground.
"Thanks," I said. "You new here?"
"Yeah," she replied. "I'm June."
"I'm Ponyboy," I said. She looked at me for a minute, then knelt and picked up one of the books she had been holding. She opened it and took out a piece of paper that had been stashed at the front.
"Are you Ponyboy Curtis?" she asked after scanning the paper.
"Yup."
"Are Sodapop and Darrel your brothers?"
"Uh-huh."
June put the paper back into the book, picked up the books and stood up.
"Ponyboy," she said, "I'm your cousin."