When Two-Bit dropped Pony and I off at the YMCA the next morning, I went first thing to the register office.

I asked to change to another class from photography. The secretary, or whatever she is, looked disapproving.

She handed over a sheet of paper for me to look at. "Those are the classes that are available for change."

There were only three classes listed on the paper. Pre Civil War history; The Tudor years; and Speed Reading.

"Aren't there any others?" I asked her.

"No," she said, curtly.

"None of these really interest me-" I began.

"Then I suppose you must stay in the classes you've selected," she said. Not really as a suggestion, either.

"It's just that-I don't really want to be in the photography class because somethin' happened," I began. I let my voice trail

off due to the woman's disapproving/bored expression.

"So what is your decision?" she asked, crisply.

"I'll stay in photography," I said, feeling discouraged.

"Fine," she said, and returned to her paperwork, effectively dismissing me.

Outsiders

During class that day, the photography teacher began to work with us on developing film, in the small darkroom to the side. I found it

really interesting, but then, when it was over, and the discussion turned to cameras again, I felt let down.

Dennis, (the teacher), came to me as class was being dismissed, and asked me what I'd thought of the film developing.

I told him I had really enjoyed learning about it, and he smiled and nodded. Then he surprised me by asking, "You alright? You

seem sort of down."

I told him what had happened, how my camera had been stolen. He was nice. Sympathetic. He even told me about a couple

of cameras that he knew of that were for sale from other people. He told me the prices, and even though they weren't nearly of the same

class of the one that I'd had, I knew there was no way I could buy one. I had no money. And no remedy to that anytime soon. And,

I couldn't ask Darry for any money. Or Soda.

So, therefore, after the class, I felt more discouraged, and down, not less. All my conversation with the teacher had done was

point out to me that I'd really screwed up-I would never, ever, not in a million years, be able to afford to own a camera like the one

that I'd had. It really made it final, somehow.

Two-Bit swung back by to pick us up again, since he didn't have to be at work until the afternoon. Sitting in the middle

between Two-Bit and Pony, I was silent on the way home. Pony was asking Two-Bit about a part-time job at the lumberyard.

Apparently there was going to be an opening for 10-15 hours a week for the rest of the summer.

"Think they'd hire me?" Pony was asking Two-Bit.

"Sure. Why not?" Two-Bit said.

"Maybe I oughta go down there today and apply, huh?" Pony suggested.

"Ya gotta talk to Darry about it first?" Two-Bit asked.

"Yeah. Maybe I should," Pony said. "Or I could go apply, and talk to him tonight. I don't want 'em to fill the job before I

get down there-"

"Can you take me home first?" I interrupted.

"Sure, Junie," Two-Bit said.

"You okay?" Pony asked me, noticing for the first time, I guess, that my demeanor was less than perky.

"Yeah," I said, not wanting to talk about the loss of my camera, yet again. I knew that my brothers and even Two-Bit were

probably almighty weary of hearing me moan about it.

The boys dropped me off in front of the house, and Pony handed me the house key from his jean's pocket.

"I'll be back before long," Pony told me. "You be okay?"

"Sure. Why not?" I said, glumly.

Once inside, I ignored the breakfast dishes and all the other housework that needed to be done. Instead, I took a Coke from the

refrigerator, and went outside to the back yard. There, I had a mighty self-pity party for myself. I even cried some more.

I did rouse myself enough to go inside, eventually, and do my chores.

Soda cooked for supper that night. Pony was in high spirits, because he thought he had a good chance of getting the job

at the lumberyard. I was quiet during the meal, eating my tuna and macaroni and cheese, and not contributing to the

conversation. At one point, Darry asked me how my day had gone.

I shrugged, and said, "Okay."

"How were classes today?"

I shrugged again. "Alright, I guess."

"Did ya change to another one, like we talked about?" he asked.

I shook my head, stabbing at a piece of macaroni with my fork.

Darry dropped the subject, and I went to take a shower while Pony and Soda did the dishes. After that, I went out to sit

on the front porch. Sitting there, feeling so glum, I had the sudden urge for a cigarette. Which was really wierd. I don't smoke, but

I do like the smell of it, when I'm around somebody that is smoking. And, I thought it would give me something to do with my hands. And,

calm my nerves.

It was beginning to get dusk, and the fireflies were coming out, when the screen door squeaked open, and Darry

came out onto the porch.

He came over to the porch swing, and sat down beside me. He gave the swing a slight push to start it swinging.

He was quiet, and so was I. I tucked my legs up to my chest, and wrapped my arms around them.

"Ya didn't eat much at supper," Darry commented.

"Wasn't hungry, I guess," I said.

"Ya decided to stay in the photography class, huh?"

"The register lady, or whatever she is-she decided," I said.

"What's that mean?" Darry asked.

"There wasn't any left-only three, and none of 'em were good," I said.

"Oh."

There was silence then, until Darry said, "I know you're feelin' let-down, Junie. I wish there was somethin' I could say

that would make ya feel better."

"It's not your fault," I said, squeezing my legs, and feeling miserable.

"No," he said, and sighed. "I still wish I could help, though."

I slipped one of my arms thru his, and snuggled closer to him. Like I said before, Darry's not all that affectionate. It's not that

he won't show affection. He just generally doesn't. But, somehow, tonight I sensed that he was feeling real sorry for me. So, I took

advantage of that. I admit it. I leaned my head onto his shoulder.

I sighed. "Today the photography teacher told me about some cameras that he knows about that are for sale. And, even though

they're second or even third-hand, they're expensive, Darry! I was so lucky to win that camera, and just because I'm a stupid

idiot, it's gone!"

Darry pushed the swing gently, and was quiet.

"I couldn't even ever afford one of the ones the teacher was tellin' me about. I had the best and I blew it!" I caught my breath on

a sob that I couldn't stop.

Darry disengaged me from his side, just enough to put his arm around my shoulders. He tugged me closer and rested

his chin on the top of my head.

"For the first time, I had somethin' special," I said, in between my tears. "Somethin' that I was sort of good at. And now-"

"Shh," he said, tightening his arm.

After a few minutes, I stopped my sniveling.

"I'm a crybaby," I said.

"No such thing," Darry said. "You're down, and you've got a reason to be."

There was something in his tone that I recognized. I lifted my face to look up at him. "But?" I prompted.

He shook his head at me. "No buts," he said. "You're entitled to feel rough about it."

I squeezed even tighter onto his arm. I had to admit it-if I had to be feeling almighty miserable, then it was sure nice

to have Darry give me some sympathetic coddling.

Outsiders

After that, the next few days were uneventful and quiet. Boring, even. I just stayed at home, and did stuff around the house,

and read from my library books. Two-Bit and Steve were over for supper two different nights. I refused to cook for Steve so Pony and

Two-Bit ended up doing the cooking.

On Friday afternoon, I was sweeping the front porch when the telephone began ringing. I answered it, and Soda

began peppering me with questions about ingredients in the kitchen cabinets.

He wanted to know how much sugar we had, and if we had self-rising flour-I had to put the phone down to go and

check on those things. When I came back to the phone, I asked him why he wanted to know.

"Cause I'm gonna make a dessert-a dessert to upstage all other desserts," he said.

"How come? What's the special occasion?" I asked.

"Keep wonderin'," he said, mysteriously.

When Pony came back from cutting the grass at the neighbor's house, I told him about it, and he grinned.

"Who cares why? Dessert needs no explanation," he said, breezily. He went to get a Coke from the refrigerator.

When Soda got home just before five, he installed himself in the kitchen, and began preparing his dessert masterpiece.

He shooed Pony and I out of the way, telling us to stay out of the kitchen.

When Darry got home, Pony and I went to greet him on the porch. He was carrying two brown packages under his arm.

"Soda's makin' something special," Pony announced.

"Is he?" Darry asked, sounding casual.

"Yeah. He won't say why," I said.

"Maybe you both ought to stop askin' then," Darry suggested.

"What's that you're carryin'?" Pony asked.

"More questions," Darry said. "Go do your chores."

"We've done 'em," Pony said, and when we stood looking at him questioningly, Darry shook his head, and said, "Well-go

find somethin' to do, then."

He went off to his bedroom, and when he came out, he wasn't carrying the brown packages.

We had supper, with Two-bit, as well. Tacos, and then Soda's extravagant dessert-which was a three layer chocolate

cake, with bits of chocolate candy sprinkled over the top.

"That was great," Pony said, leaning back from his seat on the living room floor. He patted his stomach.

"Yeah, Soda," I agreed. "Best cake, ever."

Darry leaned forward a bit, and set his empty plate on the coffee table.

"I got my money from the two jobs that was owed to me," he announced.

"That's great, Darry!" Pony said.

"Yep. I paid the bills, and so we're good for the next month and a half," Darry said, sounding satisfied.

I breathed a sigh of relief. I knew we all felt it. If Darry wasn't stressed about money, then life was bound to be more

sunny.

"Did he give ya the bonus?" Pony asked.

"Naw. No bonus. I guess the couple of shoves I gave him made him decide against that," Darry said.

"That's alright," Soda said. "We're in the clover without it. Right, Darry?"

"I don't know about clover, but we're safe for a while, anyway," Darry said. He stood up, and went to his bedroom, returning

carrying the two brown packages.

He handed one to Pony, and one to me.

"What's this?" Pony asked.

"Soda and I wanted to do somethin' for both of ya," Darry said.

"Presents?" Pony asked, sounding shocked. "It's not our birthdays or anything-"

"We just wanted to," Soda said.

"You're both good kids," Darry said. "Ya both try hard, and don't give Soda and me a lot of trouble."

Pony and I exchanged looks, and I had to admit, I was feeling excited about what was in the package.

"Well, come on," Two-bit urged us. "Open them, already."

I could tell that he knew, too, what was in those packages.

Pony ripped into his, and took out a key. A key in the whole box.

"Before ya get too excited, it's not a car," Darry cautioned. "I couldn't swing that."

"What, then?" Pony asked.

"Go look in the back yard," Soda said, leaping to his feet in excitement.

When we all crowded at the back door, there was a Vespa scooter parked there. It was beat up, and dented, but Pony's

eyes were full of wonderment.

"I thought you'd be safer, ridin' this around, instead of walkin' everywhere," Darry said. "To the lumberyard, if ya get the job, and

all-"

"It's amazin', Darry," Pony said.

"She's not real pretty, but she runs good," Darry said.

Pony lunged himself at Darry, hugging him, and then hugging Soda. "Man, I can't believe it!" he said. "Can I take it for a ride?"

"Sure," Darry said.

After a few minutes, Pony was on the Vespa and going down the street in front of the house, a wide grin on his face.

"How about you, Junie?" Soda said, obviously impatient. "Open yours."

"Okay," I said, sitting down at the picnic table, and opening the brown wrapper around my box.

When I saw what was in there, nestled amongst tissue paper to protect it from being jarred, I held my breath. Afraid to breathe,

almost, as if it would be a dream or something.

"Well?" Soda prompted me, when I just sat there, looking into the box. "What do ya think?"

I lifted my face to look at Soda's excitement and Two-Bit's grin. And, at Darry.

"I can't believe it-" I said.

"Believe it," Soda said. "Just don't be takin' it anywhere to get stolen, okay?"

"I won't," I said, reverently, lifting the Nikon out of the box. It was heavy, and I recognized the quality. It was a good camera.

"It's not new, for sure," Darry said, "But the guy at the pawn shop said it has a lot of life left to it-"

I pressed the camera to my chest, staring at my brothers. At Soda's face, so full of love and joy, just at the thought of Pony and I

being happy. And, Darry. His face, so commonly etched with worry and strain, looking pleased and satisfied, that he'd been able

to do something special for the two of us. I knew the money he'd spent should have been saved, put into the bank, or whatever.

"I'll take the best care of it," I promised, my voice cracking a little in emotion.

"I know ya will," Darry said.

I loaded my new camera with film, and shot pictures the rest of the evening. Of all of them, separately and together. Pony took me

for a short ride on his Vespa, and we finished off Soda's chocolate masterpiece.

I was brushing my teeth, preparing for bed, and the boys were all still talking, hanging round the living room.

I looked around our house with new eyes, a different outlook. The house was sort of shabby, but warm and comfortable. Darry and Soda had

made a home for Pony and me here, trying to fill the big shoes left by our parents. We were a team, the four of us. Well, five, if you

counted Two-bit. We were gonna be okay. We had each other to lean on.

"Hey, Junie!" somebody yelled from the living room. Soda. "Want some popcorn?"

"Comin'!" I hollared back. I gave my new possession a touch, making sure it was setting secure on my nighstand, facing out.

I thought how funny it would be, if the Nikon could see the memories we were making, all of us, together. And, I went to

join my brothers.

Outsiders

This completes this story of the Curtis family-I don't know if there will be another Junie story or not, but I sure did enjoy writing this one.

Thanks to all those who were invested in this story.