All the gang came over that night to celebrate me finishing my test. Mom made desserts and we played games and messed around. Tomorrow was New Years Eve so we had a fun night of fireworks and celebrating to look forward too and then everyone had the day off for New Years Day as well which I was grateful for. Now that I didn't have to study, I wasn't really sure what I was going to do all day. I realized that I was kind of happy that I had studied most of the break because with Soda now working I would have been real bored over the break otherwise without anyone home except Mom all day.
Before everyone headed home for the night I had asked Johnny to come over tomorrow so that we could go to the movies since I didn't know what else to do before the festivities started that night. He said he would stop by in the afternoon. Now I wouldn't be bored all day. I'm glad I had him around to hang out with still.
The next morning I sat down for breakfast and asked Mom if she had heard anything about my results yet. Darry was eating his breakfast and he just looked at me like I was stupid "Ponyboy it's 7 in the morning. When would they have called?" Soda started cracking up "maybe Principal Rogers called in the middle of the night because he couldn't sleep since he was so excited to tell Mom that he wouldn't have any more Curtis children in his school after this year!" Soda joked. "Ha ha ha very funny Soda! You should send that into the paper since you have all the jokes" I shot back at him. Mom set my breakfast down in front of me and stroked my hair "no honey I haven't heard anything. Remember he said we would find out by Friday. I will let you know the second I hear from him" and then she walked back to the kitchen.
Everyone headed off to work and I tried to busy myself while I waited for Johnny to come over. I had finished the books I got for Christmas already and was debating rereading one of them, but couldn't decide and started to just roam the house. Mom must have been annoyed that I was just wondering around and told me to go clean my room. I sighed but headed off to do as I was told. At least this would maybe pass the time and my room was a mess. I put all my dirty clothes in a basket and set it in front of the washing machine for Mom to do. I went back to my room and started stacking all my books. I really needed a book shelf in here. Maybe Dad could build me one this summer.
Finally Johnny showed up. Mom seemed anxious to get me out of the house. I think she was ready for school to start back up again. I think she liked having the house to herself during the day. She drove us to the theater since it was kind of a far walk from the house and it was still pretty cold outside. She handed me a dollar as we got out of the car "Ok boys I'm going to run some errands and will be back here in a few hours so wait for me. I don't want you walking home in this cold" We both nodded and said thanks and headed into the theater. We were just in time to see Gone With the Wind. We bought our tickets and some snacks and went to watch the movie.
I had seen this one before, but I really liked it. This was Johnny's first time watching it though and he seemed to enjoy it. After the movie was over we sat in the lobby waiting for Mom to come pick us up. "How did you like the movie Johnny?" I asked. "It was real good Pony. I can see why that's one of your favorites."
"Did you know that it's actually a book? I want to read it sometime, but I can never find it at the library" I told him. He just nodded. Mom showed back up and we got in the car. There were more bags of groceries than I was expecting to see. "What's all this Mom?" I asked her. "I know I went a little crazy, but I wanted to get stuff for tonight and then it's Darry's birthday so I picked up some stuff for that. This time of year is just always so busy and more expensive." I just nodded in understanding. There was a lot that happened during this time. But I wasn't really worried about it. Mom and Dad never seemed all that worried about the bills so I'm sure it was fine.
When we got home everyone was already there and it seemed like something was going on. Everyone seemed a little more edgy. But when they saw Mom walk in, they all tried to seem nonchalant and Darry even offered to help carry in the groceries. Something was going on and I was determined not to be left out this time. Mom started cooking and Dad went outside to grill. We always had hot dogs on New Years Eve. Don't ask me why, but it was tradition. The gang all decided to play a game of poker while we waited for the food and for it to get dark.
As we were playing I kept noticing Darry and Dally whispering a lot and the rest of the gang joining in as well. No one was letting me in on anything and I didn't know if it was about me or if they were just trying to hide things from Mom and Dad. I asked Johnny what was up. "Why is everyone whispering. What are they all talking about?" Johnny looked unsure if he wanted to answer me or not but finally decided too. Johnny and I didn't really have secrets. "Tim Shepard called for a rumble. He talked to Dally and told him that Darry needed to come with all of us. He needed some more numbers. Too many Greasers have been jumped over the break. It's happening Saturday night but Tim's going to talk to Darry tonight about it" Johnny whispered back to me. I was surprised I hadn't heard or seen any of this, but I guess I had been focused on studying and Mom hadn't let me go out much due to the cold. I wonder if she knew more than she let on.
Without thinking I called out over the table "I want to go Saturday!" Right as Dad walked into the room with a plate of hot dogs. "Go where on Saturday?" He asked. All eyes were on me and some of them not very friendly. Specifically Dally, Steve, and Darry looked like they would rip my head off right there. Ooops shouldn't have said that out loud. I really hadn't been thinking before I opened my mouth. I froze not sure what to say. "uhhhhh" I started but couldn't think of anything. I wasn't great at lying on the spot. Darry spoke up "There's just some party that we were talking about. Nothing big. Ponyboy wont be going so don't worry. We will be back by curfew" and he shot me a glace that I knew meant 'don't you dare say anything more about this' I kept quiet. "Well that doesn't sound very fair. You can't leave Ponyboy home every time you have a party. If it's not going to be that big then why don't you take him along?" He gave me an encouraging smile thinking that he was standing up for me. I tried to grin back, but knew he was just making it worse. Darry was going to kill me.
"Dad we really can't tomorrow. I promise we will take him to the next one. You wouldn't like it anyways" Darry tried to argue. Soda and the others all nodded in agreement. Now everyone was trying to keep me out? I could fight. I have been wrestling with the guys since I could walk! I know I have never been to a rumble before, but that's just because they never take me. I am sure Soda and all the guys for that matter had been to one by the time they were my age. This might be my chance. It was a risky hand to play, but with Dad unaware of what he was on my side for at the moment I knew I could get them to take me or I could snitch and none of them would go. Mom and Dad would go so far as to keep the whole gang here if they knew what was really happening.
I looked Darry straight in the eyes as I played my hand "I want to go Saturday. You could always just stay home if the party isn't going to be that big or fun anyways." Darry knew what I was implying with that. He tried to intimidate me, but I wasn't going to back down. "Fine you can come" he said with a growl. Dad seemed to know something was up, but was choosing not to comment on it. He just grinned and set the plate of hot dogs down. "Well if that's all settled lets eat!"
Everyone started grabbing food, but there was still a bit of tension in the air. I knew I was playing a dangerous game, but I was sick of being treated like a little kid and I wanted to go! No one really said anything for a few minutes and we all just were silently eating. I knew Mom and Dad were already getting suspicious, we were never this quiet, they were going to catch on to the fact that this was about more than just a party.
Finally Darry announced to the whole gang that he wanted to teach us what he had learned in his class at the Y tomorrow during he day off. It was an acrobatic class that he had taken for fun after he graduated, but he said that he could teach the gang some flips and stuff. I think he said that mostly as a cover for Mom when he was actually going to teach my some fighting moves like he had promised. When he said that I knew he had come to terms with me going and everyone seemed to let their breath out as the tension faded away.
We quickly finished up dinner and then played some more poker until it was time to head to the bonfire and fireworks. Every year on New Years Eve, this side of town had a bonfire and fireworks party at the lot. I think that's the main reason that lot never had a house built on it. It was for this one night a year, but our gang got use out of it the rest of the year too. I'm sure the other side of town also had big parties, but here families and gangs from all over the neighborhood came together for fun and to light off fireworks.
With families all around you could count on all the gangs behaving themselves. Our gang wasn't like the others. We didn't get in trouble much. Well Dally did a lot, but the rest of us stayed out of serious trouble for the most part. The main gangs in this neighborhood were Tim's group and the Brumly boys. They were a lot more serious than us. But on a night like tonight, everyone would keep their cool. They didn't mess around when little kids were hanging around to watch the fireworks.
We all walked over to the lot right as the bonfire was being built up. Most people had a beer in hand and familys with younger kids stood off on one side and all the teens and hoods gathered on the other. Mom and Dad left us to go talk to some of the neighbors shouting at Darry and Soda to keep an eye on me. That was embarrassing. The whole neighborhood was here and I didn't need no babysitter. I was in a bad mood as we all headed over to where the action was.
"Oh lighten up Ponyboy! The fireworks haven't even started yet! Don't start sulking now" Sodapop said as he ruffled my hair. I slapped his hand away and crossed my arms. Two-Bit started to laugh and said in a mocking baby voice "we wouldn't want our little baby to get lost in the crowd before the new year begins" "Shut it Two!" I yelled at him. "Ok guys leave him alone" Darry said and then started glancing around like he was looking for someone.
Two-Bit ran off to go get some beers. Soda and Steve disappeared to go find some girls. Tonight was Sodas deadline to have Sandy be his official girlfriend. I hadn't heard an update on if he was going to pull it off. Dally pointed in the distance and said to Darry "there he is" Darry looked and nodded and then realized I was still with him and he wasn't supposed to leave me alone. It was dark and crowded around here. "Come on Ponyboy I need to go talk to Tim."
I followed Darry with Dally and Johnny walking behind. Tim called out to Darry when he saw us walking up. "Hey Curtis. So did Dally fill you in on what's been happening? Could really use you and your boys this Saturday." Darry just nodded. Then he grabbed me by the arm and brought me forward to say "I'm taking Ponyboy here Saturday too. Time he join in. It's just a fair fight right? Just skin? I can't risk him getting cut up and explaining that to my folks" I looked up at Darry confused. Who was this? Now he's acting like it was his idea to take me when he had tried to keep me home? Also I had never heard him talk like that about our parents. Tuff Darry was different than I had ever seen before. But I just looked up at Tim trying to give a tuff face as he stared me down.
After fully looking me over, finally Tim spoke. He first addressed Darry "Yeah it will be a fair fight. No blades. But you sure you want to bring the kid? I need your muscle and I don't want him to get in the way." I spoke up at that "hey I'm no kid" Tim seemed surprised I spoke. He looked down on me again "How old are you kid? 10? You don't look like you even weigh 100 pounds"
I crossed my arms at that "I'm 13. and I know how to fight" I didn't fully yet, but I knew enough. Anyways if Darry could lie and be tuff than so could I. Tim raised his eyebrow. "13? really? You know my brother then?" I thought about it. Did I know his brother? And then it came back to me. His brother was Curly Shepard. He's in the 8th grade so if I move up grades I'll be in classes with him. He was one of those kids who was always in the Principals office. He was pretty much bad news.
"Yeah I know him" I replied. Tim then turned and yelled in the other direction "Hey Curly! Get over here!" and over walked Curly. "Curly you know this kid?" Tim asked him when he was standing by us. Curly looked me over and then got an annoyed look on his face. "Yeah I know him. What about it? He's one of those boy genius kids at school. Never gets in trouble and is a teachers pet. I hear you might be skipping a grade too" I didn't know what to say to that. Being smart really wasn't a tuff look but I couldn't help it that I did good in school.
Luckily Darry stepped in. He probably didn't want to have his reputation hurt because of me "Ponyboy isn't some nerd Shepard. He's just smart. Smart enough not to get in trouble at school and end up in the station all the time like your hood-ass is." Again I was shocked by Darry in this moment, but also grateful to have him. Dally and Johnny were still standing by and Dally spoke up "Yeah I'm not in the business of hanging out with no squares. Ponyboy knows the score." That was high praises coming from Dally. I was having a hard time not breaking out in a grin. That wouldn't look very tuff.
Tim seemed to realize he didn't want to insult us anymore and lose us as numbers so he just said "well maybe you can rub off some of your brain on this idiot here and teach him how to stay outta trouble" and then he knocked the back of Curly's head. Curly looked furious at the insult, but stayed quiet. "I have no problem if the kid comes Saturday as long as the rest of you are there as well" Tim continued.
"Yeah we'll all be there." Darry replied and with that we started to head in different directions. But not before Curly called out "I'll see you at school Ponyboy. Can't wait to show you how the 8th graders play." and with that they were gone.
"You need to watch out for that boy Ponyboy." Darry said to me as we went to find our friends again. Dally just gave a chuckle "Curly is an idiot. Ponyboy doesn't have anything to worry about with him." We ended up finding the guys and Soda had his arm over a pretty blonde. "Guys I'd like you to meet me girlfriend. Sandy." Dally grumbled as he pulled out a dollar and handed it to Darry who just laughed. Guess the charming Sodapop can pull any girl he wants.
A little while later, the fireworks finally started to go off. Everyone cheered and watched the show and then we counted down to midnight. As everyone cheered for the new year I thought about how good this next year was going to be! I was hopefully going to be in high school and was already more part of the gang. I was excited for this new year and could only think of all the fun I'd have.