A Ride Home
A Story Based on The Outsiders.
"Ponyboy Curtis?". Mr. Syme called me to his desk. It was my first day back since it happened. Well not exactly, but it sure seemed that way. I had spent most of the last two weeks working on my English essay. I sure was nervous, this was my big reveal, the true story of the Greasers, the Socs, Dally Winston...Johnny Cade, my best-est buddy. Dally and Johnny. Two boys, one considered a hoodlum, the other a hero. They both died gallantly, I say. I started tearing up. Stay Gold, Pony, Don't Back Down. I swear I heard Johnny's soft voice and Dally's cold voice cheering me on. My eyes were so watery...
"Ponyboy? Are you okay?", Mr. Syme asked. Some stupid Socs burst out laughing near the front, at least I think they were Socs. "I'm sorry Ponyboy, I know what..." I interrupted him, "It's not your fault, Mr. Syme. I'm okay". I gave him my essay. "Wow, Ponyboy" he said "It will take me a while to fully evaluate your work, but it looks like an A". Mr. Syme smiled. Those same stupid Socs, plus a few middle class kids and even some Greasers started parading around shouting Mr. Syme and Pony sittin' in a tree, like a bunch of little kids. The bell rang to switch classes, and I hurried out.
After school, I met my older brother Soda at the DX. He's sixteen, and is a funny guy. He has long, greasy dirty-blonde hair, and this build that makes him look like a movie star, the kind girls chase around. People say I look like him, but I really don't see it. I'm fourteen, with short bleach blonde hair (it used to be long and light brown) and green eyes. I used to loathe people with eyes like mine, but ever since I met Cherry (shes a Socy girl who helped us in the big rumble, and I really like her), I've gotten a liking to them. "Darry ain't gonna be home til' later, so me an' Steve are lookin' after you" Soda said to me as we started home.
We got up to our house, and when we walked in, Soda kicked off his shoes and lounged on the couch. He does that every time he walks in. "Soda? You an' Ponyboy home?" Steve Randle yelled from the kitchen. Soda was already snoring away. "Uh-huh!" I replied. Steve casually walked into the living room and shoved Soda off the couch like you would to a cat or dog. He kept on snoring away. "He can sleep through a twister" I pointed out. Steve rolled his eyes. "I know, kid". He sat on the couch. "What's cooking?" I asked. "Mac n' Cheese", he replied.
Darry Curtis was talking to Two-Bit Mathews in an alleyway near the bowling alley. "Why did you call me down?", Darry asked sternly. "Did' cha know Johnnycake had a kid sister" Two-Bit replied, unusually serious. Darry thought for a moment. "No, Johnny never really talked about his family". "Well" Two-Bit continued, "He did, a nine year old, almost at double digits, name's Sarah". Darry shrugged. " How is this very important to us?" he asked. "Well, Mister Cade got drunk and went too far, he started destroyin' the place. The wife called the fuzz, and they found all 'bout Johnny an' took the kid away. My momma knew that me an' Johnny were friends and she wants to take her in." Two-Bit explained. Darry was silent.
"Ponyboy!", Sodapop hollered, "Come an' get it!". I walked into the kitchen and got myself a bowl of Mac n' Cheese. I was about to take a spoonful when I noticed something. It was blood red. Soda, I thought. He must have been reading my mind, because just then he said "I put some food colourin' in it, cause it was bland". "That figures", I replied.
End Of Part One