It was almost eight when I left the Curtis home and started the walk to my own home. I was walking alone even though Soda had offered to come with me. Usually, greasers don't walk alone because if the socs decide to jump you, it's nice to have others there who will help you out. But I had declined Soda's offer. Besides, if he had come with, he would have had to walk by himself back to his place. So, I walked alone.

I was half way home when a black Mustang pulled up beside me and four socs got out. As they surounded me, I quickly looked for a way to escape. To be honest, I wasn't to thrilled with the idea of being jumped. At that moment, I wished that I had had one of the gang come with me. Especially since I know I can't fight off four socs by myself.

"Hi grease." One of them said with a fake smile.

"Hey." I replied trying to act casual. "How's it going?"

Two of the socs laughed.

"Oh, things are going really well, grease." The first soc replied. "We're just in a helpful mood tonight. Aren't we guys?"

The other three nodded and one put his hand on my shoulder.

The first soc continued, "See grease, it's not wise to walk the streets alone. You never know what might happen."

I frowned slightly. I didn't know what these socs were up to, but I was sure it wasn't good. And I was positive that they weren't in a helpful mood. Not unless helping themselves counts. They had me surrounded by now. Each wearing the same fake smile on their face.

"Thanks guys, but I really don't need help." I told them.

"No?" The first soc asked. "Hey, greaser doesn't need help!"

At that moment, one of them shoved me to the ground and they all pounced on me like a bunch of hungry lions attacking their prey. I tried to fight back, but like I said, I can't fight off four guys by myself. And these socs were stronger than I was. Before I knew it , I was screaming for the gang.

"Oh, so now the greaser wants help." The first soc said as he punched me in the mouth.

"Hey! What's this? An unfair fight?" A familiar voice said.

Instantly, the socs got up and rushed for the Mustang, but not before the gang took a few swings at them. A minute later the socs drove off, cursing at us.

Darry pulled me to my feet. "Are you okay?"

I nodded.

"Chris, why don't you come back to our place?" Soda asked. "You can stay the night."

I started to say no, but Pony nodded encouragingly. "Alright."

"II told you I should have walked with you, Chris." Soda told me.

"Yeah, but what if you had been jumped going back to your place?" I asked. "You would have been alone yourself."

Soda flexed his muscles which compared to Darry's weren't that impressive. "I can handle them." He bragged with a crazy grin on his face.

Darry shook his head. "Sure little buddy."

Ponyboy just laughed while Two-Bit and Steve pretended not to know them.

I had to grin. "Those socs sure had a tuff looking car."

Steve nodded in agreement. He loves cars. Sometimes I think he knows cars better than he knows himself.

"Have you guys ever wondered if the socs think their cars are tuff, too? Or if they're just another thing to spend their money on?" I asked not knowing why I was asking it.

Two-Bit stared at me as if I had just asked why the grass was green. "Everyone knows the socs spend their money on anything they want."

"Yeah." I nodded in agreement. "But have you ever wondered if they have everything a person could want, then why do they have to go out and buy more stuff?"

The others were all looking at me. I wasn't sure why I was asking this stuff. I mean, most greasers would give anything to be able to spend money on everything under the sun like the socs do. Still I couldn't help wondering what drove the socs to spend money the way they did. I also wondered why us greasers ,even though we didn't like the socs, envied them so much. Was it really the money, or was there something else we assumed they had but we didn't? I didn't ask this. The gang was already giving me weird looks.

"Now I see why you and Pony get along so well." Steve was commenting."You both ask crazy questions."

Soda gave him a playful punch in the shoulder. "Lay off Steve. His question isn't that crazy. Besides, I think we've all wondered that at least once."

"Yeah, I know I have." Pony admitted.

Steve just rolled his eyes and gave Pony a 'you would' look. Pony ignored him and walked next to me on my left side. Soda was walking on my right. The entire way back to the Curtis home, I continued to wonder about the socs and the real reason for their spending habits.