Friday afternoon during lunch, I sat with Two-Bit, Johnny, and Ponyboy.

"Hey Jackie, um, we were wondering if we could invite you to dinner tonight."

"I'll ask my mom, ok? She doesn't know you guys are Greasers and she said I'm not allowed to hang out with them. I told her you guys are regular guys."

"So, you told her we're not Greasers so she could let you hang out with us?"

"Yeah. Is that a bad thing? Mom can barely trust me with anything these days, even teen idol posters and stuff like that."

"I'm not saying it's bad. Is she mean?"

"She's one of those strict southern mommas, if you know what I mean. She could give you a spanking with anything she could find laying around the house, a belt, a flyswatter, or something she would think of and make herself like a paddle that has been burnt with a lighter on the sides."

"Woah, that's actually kinda harsh."

"I know. I know she's a nice lady and she loves me unconditionally."

"She better be. Johnny's parents hit him, my older brother Darry is strict, our parents died so Darry takes care of me and Sodapop," Ponyboy said.

"I'll ask her if I can have dinner with you guys."

"Alright, if she says yes, call me. If she says no, no hard feelings."

"What if she asks what we're having because she wants me to live on country food so bad."

"Darry said he was making fried potatoes, fried chicken, and green beans," Two-Bit said.

"Yum."

Two-Bit gave me his number.

When I got home, Mom was making dinner already.

"Mom, I'm home."

"Hi baby! How was school?"

"Good. Keith asked me if I could have dinner with him and his friends tonight. Can I?"

"Baby, it's good you're making friends! I suppose it's ok with me."

"Thanks Mom, they're really nice boys."

"I'm glad. What time do they want you to be there?"

"Five."

"Fine, be home by seven. That gives you two hours."

"Thanks."

I called Two-Bit and told him she said yes.

I left for the Curtis' house.