The Outsiders — Chapter 12

About This Passage

The Curtis brothers have just had a hard talk in the park. Soda told Darry and Pony that he can't stand it when they fight, because he is the middleman who feels pulled in two. Darry and Pony promised: no more fights. Now the three of them are racing home in the cold, clean night air. Pony says they all tied, but really, they tied because they all wanted to stay together. The race is a quiet picture of what a family looks like when it chooses to stay close.

Narration Prompt

Tell the story of Chapter 12 in your own words. Talk about the hearing where the judge said Pony was free to go home. Talk about Pony getting in trouble at school and how his English teacher offered him a chance to pass by writing a special paper. Tell about the Socs in the parking lot and how Pony picked up the broken glass. Tell about Darry and Pony fighting, and Soda running out, and the brothers all running together in the park. Tell about Pony finding Johnny's letter inside the book — 'Stay gold' — and Pony deciding to write his theme paper and tell everyone the boys' side of the story.

Discussion Questions

1. Soda tells Darry and Pony that he feels like the middleman in a tug of war when they fight. How can you tell from the story that Soda has been hurting for a long time, and his brothers didn't notice?
2. When Pony picks up the broken glass after scaring off the Socs, Two-Bit looks 'relieved.' What in the story shows that Two-Bit was scared Pony might be turning into someone he wasn't?

+ 2 more questions in the complete study guide