Randy Adderson is Bob’s best friend; he is a fellow Soc. After Bob’s death, Randy stops Pony on the street and tells him that the fighting between the Socs and the greasers is pointless. Randy refuses to fight in the big rumble because “Greasers will still be greasers and Socs will still be Socs.”
Out of friendship, Randy comes to visit Pony while he is sick. Randy tells Pony that he regrets ever being involved with any of the violence because of the impact it is having on his father. Randy believes that his father is disappointed in him. Ponyboy can’t fully understand Randy’s concerns, because Randy didn’t kill anyone, or get hurt in the runble, or see his friend shot down by the police. Because his involvement was minimal, Randy’s wealthy father could pay any fines imposed and clear his son. But Randy forces Ponyboy to think about the impact his actions are having on his own family.
