—–——
After seeing Steve waving to Johnny and Dal, I opened the screen door carefully, trying not to wake Darry up. I didn't want to wake up my oldest brother. He looked so peaceful. More peaceful than I've ever seen him in almost a year.
Ever since our parents died in an auto-wreck, he has worked 2 jobs, and was working his tail off at 20 for me and Soda, and always yellin' at me or Sodapop whenever he was stressed at work. He stopped working two jobs,and only one now so he can spend more time with me and Sodapop. The judge said that the court will help pay some of our overdue payments so Darry could be home more often to help around the house and to spend more time with Soda and I. It was actually working.
I've always been a smart kid, there was always a ton of Socs in my class– I get put into A classes because I'm supposed to be smart. Ever since that whole incident with the fire in Windrixville, and Johnny being in the hospital and all.. My grades had gone down, and my teacher gave me an extra credit assessment to write about something in my life. Great .–'My First Trip to the Zoo' By: Ponyboy Curtis.'- I thought.
As time passed, my grades in school improved significantly, as well as my attitude. I worked real hard on my English grade. I wanted to make my teacher proud by the end of the semester.
I ended up accepting the extra credit assessment for class; mostly because Darry forced me too because my grades were 'too low'. The assignment was supposed to be about something important in my life. I wondered for a long time how to start.. How to start writing about something that was important to me– And it finally began like this: When I stepped out into the bright sunlight from the darkness of the movie house, I had only two things on my mind: Paul Newman, and a ride home.
