Chapter One: The Meeting
Jeez, I wish this day would by no means come. The day some punks from Tulsa, Oklahoma, come and visit me. Who are they, anyways? I’m glad where I am. My two brothers, Danny, who is two years older than me, and Mark, who is one year older than me, and my sister, Jennie, who is two years older than me--don’t forget my two parents, Steve and Anna. My name is Ponyboy McKay and I am sixteen. Well, time to go me theses punks, or so that’s what Mark calls them.
I heard the doorbell ring and watched Steve get the door. He opened the door wide and let a couple kids stride in. The first one to walk in was a gentleman. He had muscles actual ones. He wore a black shirt with dirty blue jeans and dark tan boots. His eyes were blue and filled with mix emotion.
After him, another fellow came in. Boy, he was really good-looking, like a movie celebrity. He wore a light blue shirt, with a white under shirt. He wore blue jeans and boots, also. He had light brown hair like the first one. His eyes were mixed also. It was confusing.
Another one came in, a real mean looking one. He had dark brown hair and cold brown eyes that sent a chill up and down my spine.
After the mean one followed another guy. He wasn’t as tall as the mean looking one. He was a lot different. His eyes shown terrified and lost. He looked like a puppy that was beaten to many times. He wore a blue jean jacket, a shirt and like the rest-blue jeans, but instead of boots he had tee-shoes.
I noticed a tall one, like the first guy that walked in. He wore a Mickey Mouse t-shirt and like the rest-blue jeans and boots.
The last one that came in, looked like the mean looking one but not as mean as him. He wore a light blue shirt and a white under shirt and blue jeans. He wore brown work boots.
I was scared at first, I didn’t who theses people were. They looked familiar though.
My mother called for dinner and everyone came to the long table. The ‘hoods’ sat on one side of the table. Boy, they had good manners, unlike my brothers.
“Thank you, Mrs. McKay,” the movie celebrity looking one said nicely. He looked at me and smiled slightly. I just looked down at my plate.
“Ma, I don’t feel like eating, may I be excused?” I asked my mother, Anna.
“Yes, you may, Pony,” my mother nodded as she talked with my father, Chris.
“Mrs. McKay,” a girl said shyly. She was maybe a year younger me.
“Yes?”
“I bet your cooking is great, but I’m not that hungry. May I be excused?” She asked. I looked at my mom and she nodded.
“Go ahead, just leave your plate here.”
“Thank you,” the girl replied as she got up from her chair and pushed it in. She nodded to everyone and walked out of the front door and sat on the steps. I followed her but I took a different route. I wondered who she was…I opened the front door and that must of startled her, because she jumped and looked back at me. I closed the door and walked over next to her.
“Can I sit here?” I asked shyly.
“Yea, it’s your house…I can’t prevent you.” She said back as she scooted over.
“Thanks,” I said quietly.
“No problem,” she gave a small smile to me so I returned it.
“So what’s your name?” I asked.
“Jessica, but my buddies call me Jesse for short.” She said I think she meant ‘buddies’ as those ‘hoods’ in the living room. She cut into my thoughts. “What’s your name?”
“Ponyboy McKay,” I said and she looked away from me. “Is something wrong?”
“No, nothing is wrong…I just had a best friend, back two years ago. He’s name was Ponyboy, like yours. Before he vanished one day. I never saw him again. He didn’t write to me. He wrote to his brothers and the rest of the gang. The guys told me what really happened. That my best buddy was taken to a boys’ home then to a foster home.” I could see tears fill her eyes as she went on. “He said that nothing could shatter us apart…I guess he lied to me.” A tear rolled down her cheek, but she quickly wiped it away.
“Oh,” I said as I couldn’t say anything then. “I’m sorry.”
“You should be…I’m sorry. I mean…I didn’t mean that. Please don’t take that personal. I’m sorry.” She said quickly.
“That’s right,” a tone of voice came from behind us. I turned and noticed Mark was standing there and glaring at Jesse. “You should be sorry, hood.” I looked at the girl, Jessica; she got up and walked over to Mark.
“What did you label me?” She hissed.
“You heard me, hood.” Mark taunted then pushed her back. She turned away from him and walked down the steps. She looked back at me.
“Tell the others, I’m going to go home.” She looked at Mark. “I’m no hood! I’m a greaser.” She said to him before running down the street.
