D-A-L-L-Y

Chapter 1

Ugh, another day waking up in Tusla, Oklahoma. Nothing new ever happens, just the Greasers and the Socs. There will be rumbles sometimes, but still, not much goes on in Tusla. But here's me, 17 year old Nancy Davis. I've been here all my life.
My father, Charles, walked out on me and my mother in 1950 when I was about 2 years old. My mother always said he was a nice man, but apparently a year after I was born, everything changed. He didn't want a child, but my mother wanted one so badly, a baby girl especially. And that is what she got.
Right before my father left, my mother told him that she was pregnant again. He said he didn't want one child....but he got one.....and then he got the news that there was going to be another child coming... A few weeks after that, my mother and I came home from the grocery store and the whole house was a wreck. My mother went into the bedroom and all of my fathers belongings were gone. He only left a note, he never even warned my mother that he would leave. The note didn't even say anything specific, it only said that he was sick and tired not getting his way, even though he did always get his way...usually. And when he didn't, he would abuse my mother...he would hit her, slap her, even kick her.
My mother then had a miscarriage and lost her baby. I'd assume she was never the same because I've seen her crying hysterically. I've seen her get drunk and take a few pills...she almost overdosed once. I was 11 and I got home from school and she was passed out on the floor, she barely had a pulse. Thankfully Mrs. Curtis was across the street and she got some help in no time. Mr. and Mrs. Curtis later died in train to car accident...it was tragic because she was more of a mother than mine was toward me...
My mother then came home and she was so depressed, even 9 years after the miscarriage. Sometimes me and my mother fought about things. Sometimes I say to her that she doesn't care about me at all, cause it feels that way. She never gives me much attention unless I'm sick or bleeding.
But, I'm so lucky that I have a group of friends that help me through the tough times. They're all boys....men I guess, I'm the only girl in the group. Ponyboy is the baby of the group, he's 14. Even though I'm 3 years older than him, we both goof off a lot. His oldest brother Darry is 20. Personally, I think he's so charming.... Then there's Sodapop, he's the same age as me and he's a doll. All three of them, brothers, are so cute! And Johnny, who's 16, he's so quiet. We haven't had very many conversations but he's such a nice kid, he keeps the whole group together. Without him we'd be nothing, the whole group would fall apart. Then there's Two-Bit, who's 18, and Steve, who's 17 also. They're a real pair! They can make you laugh when you are so sad and down in the dumps!!! Oh...and Dallas Winston, Dally....he is the most attractive man I have ever met, and he too...is 17. Even though he has a license that says "21", he's 17, but he could actually pass for 21 if he didn't have the card. But oh my my, Dally is such a cutie. If I would ever call him "Cute" to his face, he'd probably kill me in a second. I don't know if he knows I like him, the only one who knows is Pony. He's the only one I tell my secrets too, because he can keep them! But, oh my, I'd do anything to be with Mr. Dallas Winston....