CHAPTER 5

Ponyboy's POV

"Whatcha gonna do, huh, Pony? Ponyboy?!" My little sister nudged me as I was walkin' her home from school, lost in my thoughts.

"Huh, Dani? Didja say somethin'?" I honestly had only one thing on my mind...the warning Darry had given me and Dani a little over a year ago about whippin' us if we didn't stay outta trouble.

And, boy howdy, was I ever in trouble.

Shoot...after my last whippin' from Darry because of my grades, I'd pretty well managed to keep both myself and Dani outta trouble - if ya don't count the one time about six months ago that Darry flipped me over his knees while the gang was over and landed about twenty on me because I was mouthin' off about somethin' or other.

But, he'd left my jeans on...and although I was humiliated because Two-Bit and Steve were there, it was bearable. I hadn't found myself over his knees since...but the threat of being there always hung right around the corner, too close for comfort.

There was no way possible he wouldn't take the belt to me tonight, and for the first time in my life I actually dreaded goin' home.

"I said, 'whatcha gonna do, Pony' " We had stopped walkin' and Dani was now facing me, shifting he feet nervously, a look of pure concern on her face.

"I don't know, Dani, I just don't know." I answered, putting my head down, hookin' my thumbs in my jeans and slouchin'.

"But, Pone, Darry's gonna be hoppin' mad. He's gonna whip you again..."

"Dontcha think I know that?!" I snapped, cutting her off, then suddenly feeling real bad because I knew she was genuinely worried about me. So, I flung my arm across her shoulder and continued talking as we started on our way home again. "Don't worry 'bout it, kiddo. I'm 16 now. Ain't like Darry's gonna drag me across his knees and spank me like I'm a little kid or something. He'll probably just ground me for the rest of my life." I managed a small smile, for Dani's benefit. I knew that once Darry found out what had happened he wouldn't think I was too old to be over his knees. But, I was trying to convince myself, as well as my kid sister, that there still might be some hope in this situation. It didn't work though. I didn't convince myself.

How do I always seem to get into these messes?

Lookin' back on what happened, I now know it was a stupid idea...and not just because I got caught rd-handed, but because it really was a stupid idea.

What was I thinkin'?

It was the last class of the day. I was supposed to be in study hall with one of my buddies, Bryan. I shoulda gone to class. I shoulda got started on my homework. I shoulda studied for the chemistry test that my class was gonna have the next day. But, no. I decided to go along with the stupid plan Bryan had come up with. He really didn't hafta twist me arm. In fact, seein' his excitement about what he proposed we do instead of attending class was enough for me. I didn't think for a moment that we might actually get caught.

So, instead of going to study hall, like usual, I met Bryan in the boys' bathroom right outside the locker rooms by the gym. We stayed in there until after the bell had rung...and when we were certain no one was around, we slipped out, unnoticed, and made our way into the girls' locker room.

Bryan had already made the sign, 'OUT OF ORDER', which we taped onto the front of one of the shower curtains, then we hid behind it and waited patiently for gym class to end and the locker room to fill with girls.

The shower curtains were long enough too hide our feet, and we never imagined we wouldn't get outta there safely. The thought never even entered my mind. If it had, I'd never have gone along with Bryan's plan 'cause I'd have known I'd hafta face Darry.

So, there we were, waiting, afraid to talk and trying to stifle our laughter about what would soon be happenin'.

At 16, I still hadn't 'been with a girl', but, glory, I was just as curious as the next guy. Ya can't blame me for that.

I started thinkin' about what Soda's reaction would be when I told him about it...but my thoughts were interrupted when the shower curtain was roughly drawn and we stood face to face with our schools athletic director, Mr. Parker.

A lump formed in my throat and I had knots in my stomach as he ordered us outta the shower and stated, "Principal's office. Now."

In that instant I knew Darry was gonna let me have it and I cussed, I thought under my breath, but apparently it was loud enough for Mr. Parker to hear and make a comment. "I see we'll be discussing your language as well, Mr. Curtis."

Great. I couldn't just leave well enough alone. On top of whatever else was bound to happen, I knew I'd certainly be in the bathroom, brushing my teeth with soap, with Darry at my side, lecturin' me.

Mama and Daddy never allowed cussin' and since their deaths, Soda and I had found ourselves in the bathroom with Darry on more than one occasion. Darry said he owed it to our parents...to continue raising us the way they wanted. But I couldn't care less what they wanted when I was the one with soap in my mouth. All I cared about was the glass of water I'd be allowed to rinse with once Darry thought I'd had enough.

When we reached the principal's office, Mr. Parker instructed us to 'take a seat and wait' while he went in and had a little chat with Mr. Wilson.

I sat down quietly, starin' at the floor, yet well aware of the fact that Bryan was grinnin' at me.

"Shoot, Ponyboy, we almost got away with it...""Shoot nothin', Bryan!" I snapped at him. "You ain't got nothin' to worry about, livin' with Mark and his Mom. But me? Heck, Darry's gonna whip me for sure." I sulked.

Bryan's eyes went wide and it took me a split second to realize it was because of what I'd just said. I had to let him think I was exaggerating - I didn't need for this to get around. Ain't so tuff for a 16 year old greaser to be spanked by his big brother.

"Well...not whip me...but I'll sure be grounded for awhile..."Bryan relaxed again and a moment later we were summoned into Mr. Wilson's private office.

Mr. Wilson didn't even offer us a seat. As we walked in, he just stood up and glared at us from behind his desk.

"I can't even begin to tell you how disappointed I am in you boys. What you did is inexcusable and will not be tolerated. Do I make myself clear?"

"Yes sir", I managed. "Crystal", was Bryan's cocky reply. Leave it to him to be cocky in a situation like this, I thought.

"Bryan, I've called your home and Mark's mother will be here to pick you up within 15 minutes. I'm suspending the two of you for 3 days. Ponyboy...I've attempted to reach your brother, Darrel, but was unsuccessful." He paused and handed me a paper. "Please have him sign this. You will not be permitted to return to school until it is returned to me, signed by your guardian."

I was dead.