It was a crisp autumn afternoon, the kind where the air carried just the right mix of excitement and coolness. The entire Curtis family sat in the crowded bleachers, cheering as the high school football team took the field. Darry, all 17 years of muscle and determination, stood tall among his teammates, his jersey clinging to him as he scanned the field with sharp focus.

Sodapop, 14 and buzzing with energy, could hardly sit still, practically bouncing in his seat every time Darry’s team made a big play. Ponyboy, the youngest at 12, sat beside him, his eyes flicking between the game and the way their parents smiled proudly. It wasn’t often they got to do something like this as a family, and Ponyboy savored it.

Down on the field, Darry crouched into position, his heart pounding as the play began. His parents’ voices mixed with the crowd’s roar, and for a moment, he felt invincible. No worries about the future, no responsibilities weighing him down—just the game, his family in the stands, and the thrill of the moment.