Chapter 9

The Greasers and Shepard's gang are quite different. The Greasers hang out. They are like family, they look out for each other, and they genuinely care for each other. Shepard's gang is organized. It's built on size, organization, and deference to leadership. Shephard, the leader, implements "strict discipline.

The boys from Brumly were much like Shepard's gang. They were tough.... hoods.... in it for life. Ponyboy noted that the Greasers were different from hoods because they'd just keep getting worse as they got older. Ponyboy had no plan to get older with a gang..... he wanted to be someone.