The next morning Pony woke up to loud music again. Could it be two-bit again, he thought in disbelief. Sure enough, two-bit was on the floor with a beer. Pony stared – "Does Darry know you are here?"

"No," two-bit giggled, "I got in after Darry and Soda left for work, but he never does lock that door." Then two-bit looked up at Pony, and there was a serious look in his eyes "don't worry 'bout that money it's all taken care of." He said firmly.

"What do ya mean?" Pony looked shocked.

Two-bit propped his head on his hands "I got us a job."

"What?" Pony raised his eyebrows, "Doing what?"

"Janitor work at the West side prince billiards"

"That's socs' hangout, now I'm gonna be a janitor to socs." Pony said unenthusiastically.

"Who cares?" two-bit snorted, "pays triple than what you gonna get on our side of town. We'll never make one grand here."

"When do we start?" Pony sighed, taking a seat on the couch.

"Tomorrow." Two-bit grinned, and added, "Maybe we can do some damage control while we are there."

"You do realize you are on probation," Pony frowned.

"Who cares, they will never prove anything," two-bit replied without missing a beat.

The next evening two-bit drove to pick Pony up. He honked the horn, and Pony walked outside. He was dreading it, and it showed on his facial expression.

"Oh, don't be like that, there probably be no one there, I mean janitors work at the latest possible hour."

"Whatever," Pony said less than enthusiastically.

"Check out my new bumper sticker," two-bit grinned. Pony turned around and looked. It said "beep to see what's hanging." Pony cringed, wondering vaguely where two-bit got it from.

"The same guy that did my fake ID did it," two-bit said proudly.

Pony proceeded to get in the car, settling in the passenger seat, not buckling up, though with two-bit's driving he probably should've.

They drove through the nice neighborhoods of Tulsa – they were passing two story mansions, with perfectly mowed lawns, flowers blooming, bushes sculpted into various shapes. Looking around made Pony depressed. Even the road was nicer, and the car was gliding smoothly as opposed to driving through bumps and puddles and dirt on greaser side of town.

They arrived at pool hall at a quarter to eight. They went in- two-bit walking straight and confident – one time he was sober. And Pony trudging after him, feeling self-conscious, looking around apprehensively.

It was dark in the room, and only 2 of the 10 pool tables were taken. Socs playing pool, talking about their upper class issues and problems. They were wearing khakis and sweaters even in the pool hall. There was thick smoke and smell from their cigarettes, other than that the room was pretty dark. How am I supposed to wash the floor if I can't see anything Pony thought dully.

In the meantime two-bit approached the clerk and explained that they were the new janitors. The clerk looked him over, glancing suspiciously at his blue jeans and blue converses. "Over there," he merely pointed to the corner where two-bit saw two mops and a bucket. He turned around, and waved for Pony to get closer, which he did.

Two-bit filled the bucket with water, and started to mop, keeping an eye on Pony, who started mopping as well. Soon enough, two-bit reached the area where the socs were playing. They looked 18 or maybe 19. Two-bit proceeded to mop by the table, humming some tune under his breath. Just then one of the socs, who looked like their leader, turned around and flicked the ashes of the cigarette just where two-bit just washed, then he proceeded to throw the cigarette on the floor. "Sorry, my bad," he said with an evil grin, "my hand slipped." Then he looked over at two-bit, and said "mop my floor, grease." Pony was watching apprehensively, hoping two-bit does not start anything, but at the same time hoping he does, since the soc insulted him.

Two-bit proceeded to mop where the cigarette was, as if nothing was the matter. Then all of the sudden, he dropped his mop just by the soc's feet. The soc tripped and fell his face down on the floor, right where his dirty cigarette was. He started getting up, glaring at two-bit.

"Sorry," two-bit said innocently, "My hand slipped."

The soc lunged forward, and punched two-bit on the shoulder. All of the sudden, two-bit picked up the bucket, and poured the dirty water over the soc's head, then before the soc even had a chance to recover, two-bit proceeded to put the bucket over the soc's head. The soc's hands flew up to his head in an attempt to remove the bucket, but it appeared it was stuck. Two-bit snorted, the soc desperately trying to remove the bucket with both of his hands, muffled curses heard from under the bucket. Two-bit snorted again, and even the soc's buddies started to snicker. There goes our probation, Pony thought, but he smiled in spite of himself.

Finally two-bit felt bad. He walked up to the soc, grabbed the bucket from both sides and removed it. Pony braced himself for the worst, expecting the soc to attack two-bit, and getting ready to back up his friend. But the soc was so humiliated, his face was red, he just looked down and ran out of the room, his buddies following suit. Two bit grinned – "what'd I tell you? Don't mess with the janitor," he yelled after them, then added, "and don't leave your dirty foot prints - I just mopped."

Two-bit looked over at Pony, and winked.

"There goes our probation," Pony sighed.

"They can't prove shit," two-bit grinned.

"I hope so," Pony swallowed hard, then added, "you do realize we have to go back here tomorrow." Two-bit looked a little puzzled, as if he hadn't thought of that, then grinned and said, "we'll think of something."

The next day before going to the pool hall, two-bit looked over at Pony, "take the blade, just in case those socs get back and start something." Pony nodded. He opened his drawer, took out the blade and put it in the pocket.

They arrived at a quarter to eight, the place was totally empty. "Losers," two-bit said with contempt.

"Maybe they are planning something," Pony reasoned, proceeding to wet his mop in the bucket, smiling remembering the bucket over the soc's head.

"Ok," two-bit replied, "we'll see." In about an hour no one showed up. Two-bit and Pony finished up and left, looking carefully outside if the socs were there, but they were NOT, and two-bit and Pony realized the socs were scared.

For the rest of the month two-bit and Pony continued this job, most of the time there was no one there, but a few times there were socs, but not the same ones, and they never started anything. Two-bit and Pony were able to pay their fine, and walk away free men.

It was August 31, 1969 Pony just got home from running. There was no track at school anymore since he graduated, but he practiced for college. Pony proceeded into the kitchen, and poured himself a glass of water, wiping the sweat from his face with his sleeve. Darry walked up to him – "I'm really proud of you Ponyboy," he said. Pony turned to face him – "you are not mad?" Darry looked at him question in his eyes.

"For the whole getting drunk and getting a fine thing." Darry shrugged, then smiled, "I blame two-bit." "Yeah," Pony grinned.

"Are you ready for tomorrow?" Darry asked.

"As ready as I'll be," Pony smiled.

The next day all the guys gathered at the Curtis. It was a nice, sunny day, and Pony was leaving for college. He was going to NYU. He didn't have a car so he was taking a bus. The guys drove him to the bus station, and everyone got out. "Ok, you better write," Soda messed up his hair.

"Yeah," two-bit said, "and don't forget what I taught you about girls the other day." Soda gave two-bit a puzzled look, two-bit just shrugged, and Darry shook his head.

"Don't go and turn into a supersoc," Dallas said in between the puffs on his cigarette.

"That will never happen," Pony assured him.

Johnny stepped forward and gave Pony an awkward hug, "I'll miss you."

"I'll be back for Thanksgiving," Pony smiled.

Johnny had graduated too, but he was not going to college. He couldn't afford it, but the main reason was Pony found out about this program run by the state, they gave you money to get into a profession. One of the options was veterinary technician. When Pony told Johnny, he was hesitant, but he had started a few weeks ago and so far he loved it. He always had a special connection with animals and this profession fit him well.

They said their final good-byes, and Pony boarded the bus. As the bus took off, Pony looked through the rear window, as the images of the guys got smaller and smaller until they were not visible anymore. What will college bring to my life? Pony thought, as he settled in a seat by the window.