Ponyboy had two elder brothers, while Johnny just had Dally. Ponyboy was very close to Sodapop, and he was well-cared for by his brother Darry. Dally and Johnny have a special connection that is marked by mutual admiration, respect, and indirect concern for one another. For example, when Sodapop kills someone, it's usually because of a fight they started, and then things got out of control. However, when Dally murders someone, it's never because of a fight - he's a cold-blooded killer who enjoys it. Johnny has been known to get into fights too, but he's not as aggressive or violent as his older brother. He's also shown to be quite the ladies' man, often coming up with excuses to talk to other girls in school. Dally on the other hand, doesn't seem to care about anyone else except himself. He's been known to hurt people to protect himself or his friends, but never without first trying to work out a solution through discussion or negotiation. When Sodapop was still alive, Dally and Johnny used to fight all the time. They would beat each other up while their parents were away at work. Then one day Dally went too far and killed him during one of their fights. Since then, Dally has been going to jail or rehab every few months for assault or drug abuse.