Something about me is that I smoke twice a year, on my brother-in-law's birthday and death day. He was my best friend and the brother I never had, and he gave me my first cigarette. I was thinking about him recently, and my mind wandered to how Ponyboy Curtis first got his too-young hands on a cigarette.
It wouldn't have been from Darry, too protective, or Soda, too clean. Steve didn't talk to him much, and while Two-bit is a prankster, and might’ve, I doubt he was that dangerous about it.
That leaves Johnny and Dally.
I think Pony picked it up from Johnny who got them from Dally. In the movie Dallas wanted to hang out "like old times" at the drive-in. I think Dally and Johnny went to hang out, and Pony tagged along because he's a movie nerd, Johnny liked his company, and Dallas tolerated whatever kept Johnny even just a little bit happy.
So then, I picture Ponyboy Curtis a month past 15. He's made friends, grown into his bones a little more. He still smokes 'cause he's a proper addict, but he's cut down for his brother's sake's, and he's doing better in track because of it.
Tonight is different. He's the one who stays the longest. He can't believe it's been a year. He's out behind the church back home, standing at the foot of the two graves, lighting his first one. He sits down and starts talking, and keeps talking, telling his old best friends about all the life they've missed and before he realizes it he's blown through almost whole pack.
There's two left in the box, so he leans it up against a nearby tree.
"Saved you one Johnny. You too, Dally", he says, before turning around and walking home at sunrise.
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