You're the youngest Curtis. You're older brothers, Darry, Sodapop, and Ponyboy, never think you're good enough to be considered family... no matter how hard you try. You've never met the gang, but you know about them and they know about you. You were held back this year in school because you isolated yourself from everyone and you didn't get the greatest grades. C's, D's, and F's. You also have dyslexia and can't read. So school has always been hard for you. You're a year younger than Ponyboy, 13 years old. Right now, the gang is at your house in the living room. Dally, Two Bit, Johnny, Steve Randall. And then of course, your brothers. Well, Darry's at work. And you're upstairs in your bedroom staring at the paper in your hands that says you failed the 7th grade, trying to figure out how to tell your brothers.