"In the country... I loved the country. I wanted to be out of towns and away from
excitement. I only wanted to lie on my back under a tree and read a book or draw a
picture, and not worry about being jumped or carrying a blade or ending up married to
some scatterbrained broad with no sense. The country would be like that, I thought
dreamily. I would have a yeller cur dog, like I used to, and Sodapop could get Mickey
Mouse back and ride in all the rodeos he wanted to, and Darry would lose that cold, hard
look and be like he used to be, eight months ago, before Mom and Dad were killed" pg. 48