Thurs. Jan. 4, 1968

It was like any other day. I picked Pony up from school and we hung out at Flinn's. We planned a party for Darry tomorrow. Darry would hate us if we threw him a birthday party, but that's what he gets for throwing me a party, Soda too. The party was to be nothing too big but enough to bother him. I drove Ponyboy back home around nine o' clock. Soda was happy to see me but I disappointed him when I had to leave.

I was so tired while driving back home. When I pulled up to my house I saw an extra car parked in front. I figured it was a new car Casey brought home. She was pretty spoiled. I walked inside and their sitting on the couch was a girl I had never seen before. I looked around for Casey or Cherry, wondering if this mysterious girl was their friend.

"Hi." I said to the girl.

"Hi, I'm Charlotte Cade, Johnny's sister." Oh, my gosh, Johnny's sister that I've never encountered was now here in my house.

"Oh… is there something I can do for you?" I asked as kindly as I could for it was Johnny's sister.

"I wanna talk about Johnny." She seemed sad but not like she was about to break out into tears any second.

"Um, okay… uh, what do you want to, uh, talk about him… about?" I couldn't form my question correctly due to confusion and worry.

"I just heard about Johnny's death." She lowered her head, probably to hide tears. I went to sit next to her so she would get the idea that she had no right to be embarrassed about tears. That was one trait that I possessed that the boys didn't, actually any boy, to have the fear of crying in front of anyone because it would break their manliness.

"Well, news travels… slow. Johnny died like two years ago."

"I know but this was as soon as I could get here. Johnny's talked so greatly about you before and I just felt like you were the best person to talk to."

"It's fine."

"I want to know everything." She said, confidently this time. I told her everything, like she asked. Every little detail about what happened here and there. She cried one tear and so did I. I cried harder though when I mentioned Dallas. Charlotte left as soon as I finished my story.

There was nothing right about the Cade Family. I felt bad for Johnny, Charlotte, Frankie, and Mary. Martha was pregnant with Frankie at sixteen. Two years later, by accident, she had Charlotte. Then at twenty-five she had Johnny. Finally she gave birth to a kid she wanted, Mary. Frankie was a stoner and delinquent and was constantly in and out of jail. Charlotte was pretty normal but she went with every guy she met. She ended up eloping when she turned sixteen. Mary, though loved by both her parents, wanted nothing but Martha and Ray to love the other three children. Unfortunately, Mary would never get her wish and she ran away when she was eight. No news has been announced about Mary.

Johnny hated his living conditions but there was nothing he could do. I think that's why he always considered suicide. Frankie had a rep for being a big shot around town. He was like Dallas but only tougher.

Fri. Jan. 5, 1968

Happy Birthday Darry! Finally twenty-three years old! We were having a party today for him. He hated parties and being celebrated but it was gonna happened whether or not he wanted it. The hardest part was trying to get him to take off work; eventually, he did agree to it. So then we dragged him out of bed at ten o' clock (he took advantage of not having work to sleep-in). Soda prepared a fabulous breakfast (pancakes, eggs, and black coffee) and he got his first gift. Two-Bit gave Darry his present (a new hammer, he's been wanting a new one).

After breakfast Darry was still hungry so we devoured his cake that Soda had made. Two-Bit was drunk within the first half and hour, of course. We listened to music and had a good old time like any other would. Thankfully, and surprisingly, Darry had a good time too. The party officially ended at eleven. I was able to drive myself home but Two-Bit and Steve crashed there.

Sat. Jan. 6, 1968

I had a plan today; a plan to help Frankie like I helped Charlotte. I knew he was still around because he is constantly in the newspaper and his name is heard around town. I drove to the station to bail him out. No one could get any more stupid than me. I walked up to the front counter.

"Can I help you?" The guy sitting there put his newspaper down. When he saw who I was he conducted himself in a professional manner because I am the chief of police's daughter.

"I'd like to bail out Franklin Cade."

"Frankie the Ring Leader of his Circus Monkeys?" He looked at me like I was stupid. "Are you stupid?"

"Yeah."

"Okay… fill out these papers first." He had me some papers and he got up to get Frankie. After filling out papers and giving him the money, Frankie was handed over to me.

"Who are you?" Frankie asked when he first saw me.

"Typhani Taylor, I was Johnny's friend." I said.

"Ah, well its pleasure finally getting to meet you. Johnny has said good things about you." Frankie was no longer worried. "But why are you doing this? Do you even know who I am?"

"Yes, you are Frankie and you're the Ring Leader of your Monkey Clan. And I am doing this because you're Johnny's brother." I explained.

"That's a horrible reason and you know it." He snapped back.

"Why can't you just be happy that I got you out of jail?"

"'Cause I don't deserve it."

"Well, I don't care about what you deserve and what you don't deserve. I'm doing this for Johnny, because this is what he would want." I walked away, leaving him there alone. I felt like I did the right thing. "Oh!" I turned around but saw that Frankie was gone. "Don't do anything stupid." I said it directed to him but for only me to hear.

Sun. Jan. 7, 1968

Two-Bit, Steve, Evie, and I were hanging out downtown. Evie now went everywhere with Steve since they eloped while I was in California, well, they eloped and came back. Steve is a candy fiend so we were all dragged to the candy store. I haven't been in here for years. The last time I was in this candy store was when Dallas Winston punched some guy in the face.

Dallas and I were walking around, being stupid. We walked into a candy store and the first thing that Dallas did was steal pieces of candy. At first no one noticed and no one cared. Then he was getting out of control. His pockets were so full he made me start to carry some. I rolled my eyes and just played along. Of course, the manager came over to us.

"I see you've been stealing candy." The manager said. His name tag said his name was Tony.

"So." Dallas put on a tough face.

"Look, just put the candy back and we don't have to make a big deal about this."

"What right do you have to tell me what to do?" Dallas snapped back at him.

"Put the candy back, boy." Tony remained calm but firm.

"How do you even know it was me? Maybe it was her?" Dallas pointed his thumb at me.

"What?" I said in surprise.

"You're Dallas Winston and you steal things like you breathe air. Now I'll tell you one more time: put the candy back and we won't have a problem." Tony was getting real angry real fast.

"I'll tell you one more time: you have no right to tell me what to do!" Dallas yelled back.

"Boy, put the candy back or I'll call the police."

"Oh, the police! Ah, Typh what am I going to do?" He looked at me with a sarcastic grin.

"Dallas just put the candy back." I said.

"Stay of it, Typhani." Dallas kept his eye on Tony.

"You better listen to your girlfriend." Tony snapped. "Connor, call the cops!"

People were starting to stare now and look at us like we were criminals; well, I guess Dallas is a criminal. Tony then started grabbing the candy from Dallas' pockets and Dallas punched him in the face. My jaw dropped from shock. Dallas grabbed my arm and we sprinted out of the store. We hid in a dark alley waiting for the cops to pass. I was breathing heavy from running so hard.

"I cannot believe you. If my dad catches me, he will kill me." It took the breath out of me to speak.

"We won't get caught. Calm down. I've done this plenty of times of times to know how to not get caught."

"You better hope so." I glared at him but he just smiled. After the coast was clear, we walked to a pay phone and got a ride from Steve. Luckily, we were never caught, well, I was never caught. The police did arrest Dallas the next day but Tony didn't know my name and Dallas wouldn't turn me in. Dallas said my dad interrogated him. I'm sure my dad knew it was me but he didn't want me in trouble.

So, the four of us walked inside and the first thing that happened was that the manager remembered me.

"You!" Tony, I remembered his name, pointed his finger at me and gave me the death stare. Two-Bit, Steve, and Evie looked at me with confused faces. "Is that boy with you?"

"No." I paused and looked down at my shoes. "He's dead." My jaw tightened.

"Oh, well, I still don't want you in here! Get out!" He pointed his finger to the door. I escorted myself out. Evie followed.

"What the heck just happened?" She asked.

"A couple years ago Dallas stole some candy and then the manager and him got in a fight then Dallas punched him. Then we ran away. Dallas got arrested but he didn't say my name." I explained.

"And he remembered your face?" Evie asked, very surprised.

"I guess so." I shrugged. Me and Evie continued to talk as we waited for the boys to come out. When they did come out, I had to explain the Dallas-Tony story again.

"Ooh, a fugitive still on the run." Steve mused.

"I am not a fugitive." I playfully punched his arm. We finished the day making more mischief around town. We all went back to crash at the Curtis house when it got dark.

Sun. Jan. 14, 1968

Today is Casey's birthday but she went to celebrate it with her parents. So I had the night off from partying. Two-Bit insisted that she have a party but I was able to convince him that she had other plans. Oh, Two-Bit. Happy Birthday Casey!