A/N: I'm finally updating this story, whaaa?

Trigger warning for censored racial slurs/attitudes

Shopping at the Salvation Army wasn't my favorite thing in the whole wide world, but I did it for Lily, like I did a lot of things.

I don't know why Lily liked shopping there, out of all the nice stores she could afford. I don't know why she liked looking poor, looking like a boy. Was it to impress me? I don't care about what a girl wears usually, even though Lily's outfits are rather eccentric; like today's consisted of patterned leggings, boots that a witch should be wearing, and a shirt that I'm pretty sure was a giant secret coded weed reference… did she know? Did she engage in that behavior?

Anyways, I wasn't at my happiest here. The Mamas and the Papas were playing too loudly in here. I asked the store clerk to turn it down, and she rudely said "No." They might have as well spat in my face!

Lily showed off a shirt with a "Great Gatsby" print on it. "I thought you'd like it!"

"Yeah, I do." I smiled. I actually did, and I continued to look around, maybe see if there's anything I could buy. I stumbled upon a pair of nice looking red pumps, just like some my mother used to own. I couldn't help but gasp. Did Darry donate them or something? No, he couldn't have? Those shoes had to have been common, right? I still look at the shoes and touch them, just in case. They look exactly the same, sound the same with the clacking, smell the same with their sleek leather, feel the same coldness. No way am I tasting them.

Please don't let them be the same…

I take a deep breath and move on with Lily.

X

Lily had gotten the Gatsby shirt, a new hoodie, a large flower headband, an orange belt, a giant silver bird necklace, yet another plaid shirt, a white scarf, and a green alien lunchbox. So much quirk!

The mean store clerk just stares at her rudely through her thick eyeliner and says, "You will be paying, right?"

"Yeah, what do you mean?" Lily said, confused.

"I know how greasers and immigrants are." She said rolling her eyes. Oh great, another one of those people who judge us.

"You're right, Germans can be quiet tricksters." Lily replied.

The clerk looked confused. I was too, until Lily looked at me to say something. I think she was trying to say I was the German!

"Um…" My mom was born in Germany but she didn't teach us much unfortunately. "Nein?"

"Just pay for the damn stuff, or I'm calling the cops." The clerk demanded.

Lily sighed and paid for her clothes.

After we walked out of the store, Lily groaned "She sure was professional."

I laughed awkwardly. "Yeah."

"Let's just go home after this. I'm hungry."

I gave a half smile and nodded.

As we walked to Lily's house, I couldn't help but have many thoughts swirl through my mind. Why are people so nasty to Lily because of her race? Could the war in the past have something to do with it?

Why are people so nasty to me because of my social status? Could it be… oh I don't even know why.

Why did Darry give Mom's shoes away? Stop, stop! Darry would never do that, and besides, they probably weren't Mom's shoes. Those shoes were a dime a dozen!

We walked into Lily's house on top of the hill, and Lily goes into the kitchen, and I follow her. But I stopped because her parents seemed to be having a serious talk. I listened in.

"So basically, this fat, white man with a baseball cap saying something about "American Pride" was saying how he fought against our people and how we don't belong here. Then he said "Fucking j*ps." I don't know why he freaked out like that. All I did was mind my own business by sitting at my front desk, with my first and last name on display." Lily's father said the last part very loudly.

"I knew this would happen. It happened to me, it happened to Hasumi. I hate Oklahoma!" Her mother exclaimed.

"It's not my fault! These people need to move on, and accept that not everyone is an evil monster!"

Her mother sighed. "You are right. But there's a lot of those people in Oklahoma. And remember what happened to your sister during the war."

"Oh Jesus. Yes…"

"Look, I'm not gonna have us move again. Hasumi's happy here, Yuri sorta likes it here. The little ones love their school at least." She then moved in to give him a hug. He hugged her back.

I hid away when Lily came into the room. "What's going on?"

Her mother's voice got low. "A bad man called your father a slur at work yesterday. I know people have mocked you. Has anyone called you any slurs?"

"No…"

"Well, if they do… tell me. I'm not sure what I'll do but… tell me."

Lily then left and went back into the kitchen, followed by the side door opening.

Enter Jeffery. "Dad, what happened, you look glum."

"Well, some bully called Daddy a mean word. We don't like bullies, right?"

"Nope. They suck!"

"That's not appropriate." Lily's mother said.

Jeffery groaned and then went upstairs. I then joined Lily in the kitchen.

"Where were you?"

"Um, the bathroom." I said.

"Hm."

"You okay?"

"Yeah, my Dad's just kinda sad."

"Why, what's wrong?"

"Oh nothing, just work stuff?"

"Talk to me."

"It's FINE."

"Okay…"

I worried for Lily, because she could talk to me about anything. Anything. Even this. I would understand. Right? Greasers have it pretty damn rough. We get beat up, called nasty things. Hell, once I almost got killed for being a greaser.

"What do you wanna do?"

"Um… I'm not sure?"

"Well… we can-" She was cut off by the phone ringing and then she ran to get it.

"It's for you, Pony. Your brother."

"Oh, what happened?"

"Oh nothing, he just wants you home."

"I'll… go home then. Sorry our time had to be cut short."

"It's okay. Oh, my parents said you can come with us next weekend out to Austin to tour colleges."

"I'll ask Darry. I'd love to go."

We kissed goodbye and I walked out of her house.

On my way back, I wondered my usual wonderings.

Do I really understand Lily? Do I really know what she goes through? Is it really equal to what greasers go through?

What about those shoes? Are they really my Mom's shoes?

Stop thinking about the stupid shoes!

I then proceeded to think in silence for the rest of the walk.

X

"Pony, there you are! I wanted to ask you if you wanted to accompany me to the grocery store?"

I knew I shouldn't think about those shoes, but I just couldn't.

"And make me leave Lily? No!"

"Ponyboy, what are you doing? Why are you being rude?"

"Did you sell Mom's red shoes? The pumps?"

"Pony, what are you talking about?"

"I saw them at Goodwill today! They looked the same!"

"Those shoes are a dime a dozen! No, I didn't!"

I took a deep breath. "Look, I'm sorry, you know I've been so antsy lately. I wanna see Mrs Langley."

"She's booked up, especially with all those soldiers coming back from Vietnam."

"Oh… look Darry, I'm sorry. For snapping. I just miss Mom and Dad."

"I know kid. Me too. Does Mrs Langley help at least?"

"Yeah,kinda."

"That's real good."

"Can we talk about the memories you had with Mom and Dad?"

"Yeah. Do you want to visit the store?"

I knew the store made me upset, but I really wanted to spend time with my brother. And besides, things would get better with time.

"Yeah." I smiled. "Yes please."