I was desperate for something to read that dealt realistically with teenage life, and I thought others might be, too.

I lie to myself all the time. But I never believe me.

I don't know why I go to school unless for kicks, oh well might as well do dissect a frog.

I've been thinking about it, and that poem, that guy that wrote it, he meant you're gold when you're a kid, like green. When you're a kid everything's new, dawn. It's just when you get used to everything that it's day. Like the way you dig sunsets, Pony. That's gold. Keep that way, it's a good way to be.

You still have a lot of time to make yourself be what you want. There's still lots of good in the world. Tell Dally. I don't think he knows.

He sure put things into words good.

I think that The Outsiders was meant to be written, and I was just picked to write it.