Chapter 1 of “The Outsiders”

Ponyboy Curtis, the narrator, begins the novel with a story. He is walking home one afternoon after watching a Paul Newman film, and his mind starters wander. He thinks about how he wants to look like Paul Newman. Though he does like his own greaser look, he also thinks although he likes watching movies alone, he wishes he had company on the walk home. Ponyboy returns to the story to explain that it's unsafe for greaser to walk home alone for the eastside gang of friends which he belongs to. When alone they are harassed by the rich west crowd, socials or Socs. Greasers wear their hair long with grease in it, they dress tough and constantly get into gang fights, and often carry switchblades mainly to defend themself against Scos. Ponyboy returns to his story about his solitude walks after the movies. On his walk home he notices a corvair trailing him, and he begins to fasten his pase after remembering how badly the Socs beat his friend. Five Socs get out of the car and surround him, he shouts out for help as they beat and threaten him intel greasers arrive and help him. The brothers plan for the next night and decide on going to the drive though.