A New Perspective

2

Ponyboy, Johnny, and I walked down to the corner of Pickett and Sutton. Dally was standing against a lamp post, smoking a cigarette. He smiled at me, he was dangerous looking.

"Dallas, nice to see you again." I looked him up and down. "Please, just call me Dally. Nice to see you too Pepsi." I smiled as we began to walk towards the drug store in the shopping center.

We messed around for a while, bought cokes, blew the straw wrappers at the waitress, and walked around looking at stuff to steal until the manager caught up to his senses and had us leave. He was too late though, Dally had two packs of Kools under his jacket, and I had some Camel Blues packs in my pocket.

We walked out to The Dingo, which is the hangout we have for all us greasers. The Dingo is pretty tuff; one time a girl got shot.

We went around catching up with some greaser friends, getting in on whos getting jailed, and who's running away, and who stole what, when, where, and why. There was a fight between some older greaser and a Mexican hitchhiker. We ran out when they pulled blades on each other, and we didn't want to be there when the fuzz show up. Nobody does.

After the big switchblade fiasco, we chased some junior high kids around a field for a while. By then it was dark enough to slip in underneath the fence into the Nightly Double. It was the biggest movie set of the week. You could tell somebody you were going to the Nightly Double and you'd have enough time to walk around the whole town.

I offered to pay for the movie, but Dally refused. He liked to do things in any way he could to break the law. I guess that's Dally though. Nothing much any of us could do about it.

We sat down in some seats nearby the concession stands. Nobody else was there except two Soc girls sitting down front of us. Dally eyed them, stood up, walked down the aisle, and sat down right behind them. I already knew what Dally was gonna start.

Johnny and I quickly stood up and left Dally to his tricks with the Socs. "So," I began, "How often does Dally talk like that?" Johnny sighed, "A lot. Most of the time we go to the Nightly Double with him. I might've stuck around if they were greasers like us, but Socs," He paused and took a deep breath, "He's gonna be rejected so fast his head might spin." I laughed and kept walking with Johnny to the concessions. "He only does that to pretty girls. I was impressed that he didn't pull anything on you." Johnny smiled at me. I returned his gesture.

"You know, sometimes I wonder why people think that'll get somebody to like them, dirty talking." I said. Johnny shrugged, "I dunno. You want anything?"

I though for a moment. "A Coke would be nice." Johnny nodded and gave the order to our cashier. "You two kiddos here on a date?" The man asked. Johnny looked shocked for a second, "No, just here with some friends." "Well, you two have a nice night." The man smiled at us, handing us our sodas.

Eventually we made it back to our seats. Johnny shyly said hi to the girls and tried to watch the movie. I'd seen those girls before, at school. The redhead looked real familiar. I think her name is Cheryl or something. All I know is that she's the cheer captain.

That's when Dally came back with three sodas. He passed one to the brunette, and one to the redhead. I could tell that she was angry. "Here, this might cool you off." I leaned over to Ponyboy, "He's still going at it?" Ponyboy nodded, "Yup, sure is."

The redhead splashed the soda in Dally's face, "This might cool you off, greaser. After you wash your mouth and learn to talk and act decent, I might cool off too." Dally started to put his arm around her shoulder.

Johnny stopped him, "Leave her alone, Dally." I looked at him with a shocked expression. Johnny, telling Dally to cut it out? I couldn't believe it! "Huh?" Dally was caught off guard too I guess. "You heard me, leave her alone." Dally glared at Johnny, stood up, and stormed off. "I'm going to go back to your place Pony. Chessie probably tried to call." Ponyboy nodded, "Okay, I'll see you when I get home." I waved goodbye and left the drive-in.

"Pepsi? Is that you?" I heard a boy say. I turned around, "By golly would it be Timothee Sheppard himself!" I smiled. "Well I'll be damned, I ain't seen you in a hot minute!" He laughed and hugged me. Tim and I have been good friends since grade school. "I'm heading back to Ponyboy's house, my sister kicked me out and I'm not sure why I haven't had any calls telling me to come home." I said. "I can give you a ride if you want," Tim motioned to his car, "Who in the hell slashed my tires?" He said, rushing over. "Might've been Dally. I'd ask Ponyboy and Johnny. They're inside."

Tim thanked me and I continued my walk home. "See you around Pepsi!" Tim shouted as I walked away. "Catch you on the flipside!" I yelled back. Tonight wasn't as bad as I expected.