Man, getting out of bed was relief. I thought I was going to be stuck there forever! The hearing wasn't anything special. I guess I had been watching too many court/law television shows. You know, the ones with the evidence in the little plastic bags and the dramatic turns of events. At the beginning, I saw the judge talking with the doctor that kept dropping by to check up on me. Why was he at the hearing? That didn't matter because at this time, that was the least of my worries. The foundation of our family depended on the outcome of this hearing. Randy, Cherry and some other Socs that were at the park that night were there. They were all truthful. They all said that Bob was drunk and asking for a fight but kept saying that Johnny had the knife. Even Cherry, who I thought would never lie about something so serious. I knew that I could fix this misconception soon enough...
When the judge got to question Soda, Darry and I about the whole incident, he really didn't stick to the topic. He just asks if Dally was our friend, about my grades in school and about how I like living with Darry. I was kinda bummed out that I didn't get to tell the judge that I had killed Bob but it doesn't really matter. I realized that the doctor had been telling the judge about our situation at home and to focus on that. Luckily, the judge acquitted me of any charges. This was a relief. Now I could go back to a normal life. It was all over; I had finally got things straightened out.
But life didn't go back to normal. For some reason, I was never hungry. Everything just tasted like bologna... As well as the loss of my eat-like-a-horse-habits, I also became extremely forgetful. I remember once I walked all the way home from school and didn't notice I had forgot my shoes until Two-Bit made some sly remark about my brightly-coloured socks. Also, my grades weren't doing so well. Usually I'm a whiz at English but now I could barely hold a passing grade. In fact, I didn't. At the end of term, my English teacher gave me an ultimatum - write a good end of year semester theme and he'd give me a C grade. This seemed like a good deal as my past grades had been.... lower than a C.
Even after we won the rumble, the Socs still wouldn't leave us alone. Once when Two-Bit, Steve and I were hanging at the Dingo and three Socs came by and threatened me cause I was the reason Bob was dead. I had enough of this crap. I finished the pop I was drinking and smashed it. They weren't going to do nothing; they didn't have the guts. Not like I did. I didn't care about any of this anymore. Those scardy-cats Socs tucked their tails between their legs and drove off. Two-Bit came out of the store and started freakin'. He kept asking me if I would've used the bottle. Of course I would've - if they made a move to attack me. I started picking up the glass that had fell on the road. I didn't want anyone to pop a tire. Two-Bit said, "You ain't like us Pony. You're different. Don't try to change." I knew he was right. I could never hurt anybody. I was different...
I got home and tried to start my theme. I really did. But I just couldn't Soda was acting weird. He usually jumps into the house with a grin on his face; ready to tackle any challenge that comes his way. But today he just walked in and slumped down on the couch, cigarettes clenched between his trembling fingers. I asked if anything was wrong but he just shrugged and said everything was fine. He cooked dinner that night. I was surprised when our meal came out a normal colour and it tasted decent. Darry and I got into an argument. Arguments between us were much more frequent nowadays. When we asked for Soda's opinion, he started mumbling and then burst out of the house. I guess we never really paid enough attention to Soda. Because of his flamboyant attitude we always took it that he had no problem. Now he had gone and blown up. Darry showed me a letter on the table that Soda had. Darry said it was to Sandy, and that it was returned unopened. Now I realized that Soda had every reason to blow up. Darry and I ran out after him. We saw Soda take a corner so I took a short-cut and took him out. We all fell to the ground, gasping for breath. Suddenly, Soda started crying. He said that he hated it when we fought. He felt like the middle man in a tug-of-war. I wanted to cry to but couldn't come to it in front of Soda and Darry. They knew and didn't have to use words to respond with their feelings. Soda made us promise that no one would fight anymore and we agreed. We decided to race back home. It wasn't really a race though. We all stayed beside each other this beautiful night. Like a family. Because we knew that no matter who arrived first, we were all winners.
I had to get back to my English theme though. I decided that it wouldn't hurt to read for inspiration. I had read almost everything in the house so finding a new book was a challenge. From the corner of my eye I saw the copy of Gone With The Wind that Johnny had given to me. I picked it up and flipped through its crisp pages. From the depths of the book a piece of paper fell out. At first I thought I had accidentally ripped a page out but as I started to read it I found out it was a note from Johnny. He says he doesn't care about dying now and it was worth saying those kids from the burning church. He tells Pony to keep enjoying sunsets and to stay gold forever. The letter ends with Johnny saying that there is still a lot of good in the world. It was as if a giant veil over the doorway a life was lifted. I could finally continue with my life now that I wasn't fretting about what had happened in the past. It reminded me of a few weeks ago when I heard Two-Bit complaining because when the police searched Dally they had lost his prized switch. Steve asked "Is that switch really bothering you do much?" and Two-Bit said, "No but I wish it was. It is a classic case of denial. And now I have faced up to the facts and can move on.
After reading the letter from Johnny, I realized what I wanted to do with my life. Too many people live like us and are shunned from civilization because of our financial status and our differences. I decided to make my life goal to tell everybody I could about the problems and struggling underprivileged children like myself had to face every day. I hoped my actions would bring about changes in the lives of people like myself. Something popped into my head; my English theme would be the perfect place to start my journey! I called up my English teacher and asked him if my theme could be a bit longer than expected. He said it was fine. So, I put pen to paper and wove a tapestry of fine words that, hopefully, would one day change the world.
I know a lot of people would have wanted all of this to be avoided but I think it was necessary. I lost two people very important to me in these past few weeks. But, without them, without anything that had happened, all this would've changed. If we had decided to go and get a pizza instead of go to the Nightly Double, none of this would've happened. If we had sat an extra few rows back at the Double, none of this would've happened. If Johnny hadn't stood up to his hero and tell him to back off, none of this would've happened. Johnny is the real one we should thank today. He came from a family that wanted nothing to do with him so we adopted him in a way. In the end though, we knew that we were the lucky ones. Good people are hard to find these days, and Johnny was a good person. He helped a society of outcasts merge with the rest and become normal. His words and his actions helped change the world.
Tuesday, November 11, 2008
Monday, November 10, 2008
Chapter 11 - Can't Run And Can't Hide
The past week must've been the most boring in my life. Even more boring than my time in the church. At least there we could walk around. Johnny and I could play cards and read Gone With The Wind. Maybe we'll go back up there when I get better. And when Johnny gets better. In a month would probably be good. I had read about every book in the house, so I started rereading. As I was flipping through our rather large collection of books, I came across Soda's old high school photo album. I decided to flip through it and see if I could recognize anyone. I moved up a year so some of the kids might be in my school. I saw Jamie, Ronald and Cliff, whom I knew slightly. This was about it until I read the final pages. A picture of one Robert Sheldon looked slightly familiar. I stared at it and started going through my memory to see if I knew him. Suddenly, it hit my like the bad taste of one of Soda's "creative" meals. This was Bob. I started to think about him. He couldn't have been all bad. He had managed to hold onto Cherry Valance who seemed like a pretty smart gal. I remembered back to the night of the rumble when she called me back to talk with her. Man, she looked good in that car. She talked about Bob. A leader, strays from the crowd was what she said. I tried to imagine this situation through his eyes. How would he feel if he was looking back upon his actions. Would he regret going to fight us in the park back what seems like an eternity ago? Or would he be proud of himself that he had beaten his parents in a struggle for discipline. I hope they hated us. I would take someone's hate any day than their pity.
Darry came in and told me I had a visitor. Randy walked in. What was he doing here. I decided to let the events play out and not get Darry to kick him out. Randy might be a Soc but that doesn't necessarily mean he's a bad guy. Randy said that he came to remind me that the hearing was tomorrow. I knew. I just didn't want to know. The hearing could be the events that rips my family apart. I just wanted to forget... Randy also says that he is sorry about the part he played in this whole mess. He says it has upset his father. How can he feel like he has gotten the bad end of this deal? He isn't stuck up in bed with a concussion. He didn't have to hide in a church for a week. He didn't see both of his friends die... I mean.... Not die.... Anyways, Randy should worry about any of this. His father is rich. If he gets into any trouble his dad can just buy his way out of it.
At this point, Randy started acting all jerky and weird. I thought he was a good guy but then he started lying and saying that Johnny had killed Bob. Johnny, who wouldn’t hurt a fly, kill somebody? This was ludicrous! He said I had nothing to fear at the trial because of this. But I knew that we would still get thrown away because they would find out the truth. They would throw Johnny and I in jail because Johnny ran away with me. This was after Johnny got out of the hospital. It would be OK though, because we could sit and talk. Just like the old days... I kept telling Randy that Johnny wasn’t dead, even though I knew deep down...
Darry came to my rescue. He told Randy to leave. He was just making me feel bad. I hate when people insult my friends. How did he even get the idea of Johnny killing Bob? The stupid Soc. When Darry was escorting Randy out, I heard him mumble something about me being unstable. I wasn’t unstable. I was fine, it was Randy who was the bad one. I actually thought he was decent but the truth is he’s just another cold-blooded, good-for-nothing Soc. Though deep down I knew...
Darry came in and told me I had a visitor. Randy walked in. What was he doing here. I decided to let the events play out and not get Darry to kick him out. Randy might be a Soc but that doesn't necessarily mean he's a bad guy. Randy said that he came to remind me that the hearing was tomorrow. I knew. I just didn't want to know. The hearing could be the events that rips my family apart. I just wanted to forget... Randy also says that he is sorry about the part he played in this whole mess. He says it has upset his father. How can he feel like he has gotten the bad end of this deal? He isn't stuck up in bed with a concussion. He didn't have to hide in a church for a week. He didn't see both of his friends die... I mean.... Not die.... Anyways, Randy should worry about any of this. His father is rich. If he gets into any trouble his dad can just buy his way out of it.
At this point, Randy started acting all jerky and weird. I thought he was a good guy but then he started lying and saying that Johnny had killed Bob. Johnny, who wouldn’t hurt a fly, kill somebody? This was ludicrous! He said I had nothing to fear at the trial because of this. But I knew that we would still get thrown away because they would find out the truth. They would throw Johnny and I in jail because Johnny ran away with me. This was after Johnny got out of the hospital. It would be OK though, because we could sit and talk. Just like the old days... I kept telling Randy that Johnny wasn’t dead, even though I knew deep down...
Darry came to my rescue. He told Randy to leave. He was just making me feel bad. I hate when people insult my friends. How did he even get the idea of Johnny killing Bob? The stupid Soc. When Darry was escorting Randy out, I heard him mumble something about me being unstable. I wasn’t unstable. I was fine, it was Randy who was the bad one. I actually thought he was decent but the truth is he’s just another cold-blooded, good-for-nothing Soc. Though deep down I knew...
Chapter 10 - Hindsight Is No Better
I can't do this. I just can't do this. Johnny just died and now Dally's lost it. No, Johnny hasn't died. He's just gone away for awhile. Back out to Windrixville but this time not as a criminal. As a free man. He likes the country. I'll just let him be happy there. After Dally left, I didn't really know what to do. Apart from being an emotional wreck, Dally was also my ride so I couldn't get home. I just wandered the streets. Man, my head was itching. I stumbled getting up on the curb and feel to the ground. Some man in a car drove up and told me to hop in. Normally, I wouldn't so willingly get into someone's car. It could've been a Soc looking to avenge Bob. But that was over. Right now, everything was over. The guy was nice enough and gave me a ride home.
When I got home, the gang was just sitting around the TV. Weren't they going to throw a party? It all seem strange. I told them about Johnny's passing. It didn't even seem hurtful to be at the time. As far as I can remember anyways. I felt nothing. Suddenly, the phone rung. It was Dally. He had just robbed a grocery store. Why would he rob a grocery store? It was indeed a strange grieving process. He told us to meet him at the vacant lot so we could hide him.
We ran as fast as we could to the lot. As we got closer, we could here the sirens clearer. They had closed in on Dally who was cornered under the circle of light of the street lamp. We were running to Dally when he looked at us. With that one stare, it was as if he was saying a speech to us. A speech about how he needed this. Who this was to be. He looked at the police and pulled out his heater. The fool! We knew the heater wasn't loaded but the police sure didn't. Then I understood. I understood just as I heard the bullets fly through the air; their deafening crack shake the fountains of my inner soul. Dally wanted to die. And, like everything, whatever Dally wanted he got. I tried to think through Dally's eyes. Was he happy with this decision. As the force of the bullets jerked him around. He could see the faintest trace of a grin on his face. Of course he wanted this. Johnny was the only thing that kept him sane. Johnny was his anchor that kept him from drifting out to the sea of loneliness and solitude. Dally couldn't live without Johnny. I don't even know how we managed to keep ourselves from doing something stupid and joining them. Dally died before he hit the ground. Dally was still. The police were none the wiser to the event that was going on here. To the fact that our gang was being torn apart, that everything that we stood for was being challenged, that our lives were metaphorically ending. At least Dally and Johnny got off lucky...
I couldn't move. It was as if, in that 10 seconds, my whole life was flashing before my eyes. I saw the gang and I playing football in the back yard. We weren't keeping score, just playing for fun. We were getting into play fights over the ball. We were pretending to care about the score and to act tough and to show that we were superior to the other team. But all we really cared about was that time we spent together. I thought back to when Ma and Pa were alive. If they were here, none of this would've happened. When Darry hit me that one night, I wouldn't have ran away. They would've cared and told me to stay. I would've, and Johnny would've came over. And none of this mess would've happened... I thought about how amazing it is that I got to the lot as fast as the rest of the gang. I could barely see straight let alone stand up. I got very dizzy. My head started to pound as it rushed up to meet the hard, cold pavement below.
After that, it all went blank. I woke up in my bed. Johnny was in the hospital and Dally... Oh ya! Dally had just called and told us he was in trouble. I had to go and help! I tried to sit up but my head was throbbing. I laid back down. Everything was too quiet. Usually our house is a zoo, Two-Bit acting like a deranged monkey and Steve wailing like an elephant in pain. Pain. I tried to remember. Johnny came into my head. He was whispering, "stay gold Pony Boy, stay gold". All of the memories came flooding back. Johnny lying silently on the hospital bed. The Socs running from the rumble. Dally crumbling under the street lamp... Darry walked in and told me everything. I was suffering from shock, exhaustion and a minor concussion. The concussion was cuz of that Socs kicking me in the head at the rumble. Darry said that I had been in the hospital for 3 days and that I was always moaning. He told me I was crying for Mom, Dad, Soda, the gang and him. He also mentioned my complaining of the bad taste of bologna...
I looked to my bedside and saw a rattled old copy of Gone With The Wind. Darry told me that is was Johnny’s; he had told the nurse to give it to me. I couldn’t understand why Johnny would want me to have this dirty thing. I had already read it. Anyways, I couldn’t read it. Whenever I looked at it all I could think of were those Southern Gentlemen walking into the certain death that war held. Just like Dally... I vowed never to read that stupid book because all it held were bad memories of a horrible time. I’m so glad that I had Soda and Darry. Everything that happened had hit so hard that I wouldn’t have been able to get through it without them by my side. Even though I never talked to them about it is was then being left alone with your thoughts. People say that sometimes you just need to step back and deal with your emotions. I think this to be false. Facing your emotions in solitude will only lure you away from your loved ones. People would kill to have a family like I do; no parents, a total anarchy. The truth is, it is tough to stay as a family. If anyone one of us was counted out, our family would fall apart. Just like a Jenga tower with too many pieces missing. Maybe that is what life is. It starts as a full tower and slowly it removes pieces until...
When I got home, the gang was just sitting around the TV. Weren't they going to throw a party? It all seem strange. I told them about Johnny's passing. It didn't even seem hurtful to be at the time. As far as I can remember anyways. I felt nothing. Suddenly, the phone rung. It was Dally. He had just robbed a grocery store. Why would he rob a grocery store? It was indeed a strange grieving process. He told us to meet him at the vacant lot so we could hide him.
We ran as fast as we could to the lot. As we got closer, we could here the sirens clearer. They had closed in on Dally who was cornered under the circle of light of the street lamp. We were running to Dally when he looked at us. With that one stare, it was as if he was saying a speech to us. A speech about how he needed this. Who this was to be. He looked at the police and pulled out his heater. The fool! We knew the heater wasn't loaded but the police sure didn't. Then I understood. I understood just as I heard the bullets fly through the air; their deafening crack shake the fountains of my inner soul. Dally wanted to die. And, like everything, whatever Dally wanted he got. I tried to think through Dally's eyes. Was he happy with this decision. As the force of the bullets jerked him around. He could see the faintest trace of a grin on his face. Of course he wanted this. Johnny was the only thing that kept him sane. Johnny was his anchor that kept him from drifting out to the sea of loneliness and solitude. Dally couldn't live without Johnny. I don't even know how we managed to keep ourselves from doing something stupid and joining them. Dally died before he hit the ground. Dally was still. The police were none the wiser to the event that was going on here. To the fact that our gang was being torn apart, that everything that we stood for was being challenged, that our lives were metaphorically ending. At least Dally and Johnny got off lucky...
I couldn't move. It was as if, in that 10 seconds, my whole life was flashing before my eyes. I saw the gang and I playing football in the back yard. We weren't keeping score, just playing for fun. We were getting into play fights over the ball. We were pretending to care about the score and to act tough and to show that we were superior to the other team. But all we really cared about was that time we spent together. I thought back to when Ma and Pa were alive. If they were here, none of this would've happened. When Darry hit me that one night, I wouldn't have ran away. They would've cared and told me to stay. I would've, and Johnny would've came over. And none of this mess would've happened... I thought about how amazing it is that I got to the lot as fast as the rest of the gang. I could barely see straight let alone stand up. I got very dizzy. My head started to pound as it rushed up to meet the hard, cold pavement below.
After that, it all went blank. I woke up in my bed. Johnny was in the hospital and Dally... Oh ya! Dally had just called and told us he was in trouble. I had to go and help! I tried to sit up but my head was throbbing. I laid back down. Everything was too quiet. Usually our house is a zoo, Two-Bit acting like a deranged monkey and Steve wailing like an elephant in pain. Pain. I tried to remember. Johnny came into my head. He was whispering, "stay gold Pony Boy, stay gold". All of the memories came flooding back. Johnny lying silently on the hospital bed. The Socs running from the rumble. Dally crumbling under the street lamp... Darry walked in and told me everything. I was suffering from shock, exhaustion and a minor concussion. The concussion was cuz of that Socs kicking me in the head at the rumble. Darry said that I had been in the hospital for 3 days and that I was always moaning. He told me I was crying for Mom, Dad, Soda, the gang and him. He also mentioned my complaining of the bad taste of bologna...
I looked to my bedside and saw a rattled old copy of Gone With The Wind. Darry told me that is was Johnny’s; he had told the nurse to give it to me. I couldn’t understand why Johnny would want me to have this dirty thing. I had already read it. Anyways, I couldn’t read it. Whenever I looked at it all I could think of were those Southern Gentlemen walking into the certain death that war held. Just like Dally... I vowed never to read that stupid book because all it held were bad memories of a horrible time. I’m so glad that I had Soda and Darry. Everything that happened had hit so hard that I wouldn’t have been able to get through it without them by my side. Even though I never talked to them about it is was then being left alone with your thoughts. People say that sometimes you just need to step back and deal with your emotions. I think this to be false. Facing your emotions in solitude will only lure you away from your loved ones. People would kill to have a family like I do; no parents, a total anarchy. The truth is, it is tough to stay as a family. If anyone one of us was counted out, our family would fall apart. Just like a Jenga tower with too many pieces missing. Maybe that is what life is. It starts as a full tower and slowly it removes pieces until...
Monday, November 3, 2008
Chapter 9 - The Delicate Sound Of Thunder
I got home at 6:30. That was good cause the rumble was at 7:00. I was late for supper though which didn't really matter. I wasn't in the mood for eating. Usually we eat like horses but I just couldn't swallow the food. I was too excited for the rumble. Instead, I took like 5 aspirins to get rid of my headache. Maybe that'll last me through the rumble. I went and took a shower. Everybody got spruced up before a rumble. It was to show those filthy Socs that we weren't trash, that we were just as good as they are. We all put on more hair oil than necessary. It was the show we were Greasers. We may not be much, but we do still have a reputation to uphold. What kind of a world is it that all people have to be proud of is greasy hair? Just because of my hair style people mark me off as a bad guy! Why should I even pretend to be proud of myself?
I sat in the armchair waiting for the rest of our outfit. Tonight, it would only be Two-Bit, since Steve was already here. Johnny and Dally wouldn't be coming. They would never be coming... Don't think like that! They'll be OK and before we know it, we will have won the rumble and everything will be back to normal. We were all getting pumped up for the rumble. Everyone was cracking jokes and keeping a light atmosphere. I asked everyone why they liked to fight. The unanimous answer was that everyone liked the contest of it. I don't especially like fighting. Don't get me wrong, I'm not one to chicken out when one of the gang needs help, but I don't like fighting to solve my problem. What does it really do?
We all started to do acrobatic tricks that Darry had taught us a few years ago after a course at the Y. Darry was doing flips of the steps, Soda was doing handless cartwheels. Everyone was having a blast. On the way to the rumble, Darry told us that if the fuzz showed, Soda and I had to run. No matter what. Steve or Two-Bit could get jailed if they are caught but Soda and I would be put in a boys home. That wasn't going to happen. When we arrived, I looked at the others that were joining us for the fight. There was Tim Shepard's gang, The Brumly Boys and a few other greasers. These people didn't look like our gang. Our gang looked like greasers but not the stereotypical hard, tough greaser. These people looked like hoods; true criminals. And that's the way they were going to stay. But we had some chance. Especially Darry. He had the potential to really be somebody. And I bet living here and looking at everybody else's grim and dismal futures only gave him more determination to get out of here. The Socs showed up now. I realized why we always get blamed for rumbles like this. The Socs were dressed casually. If I didn't know better, I would've thought they were going to the Nightly Double and out to dinner. We looked tough and dangerous and looking for a fight. Darry stepped up to start the rumble. He challenged anybody who would face him. Paul stepped up. He was Darry friend from high school. He was in college now. He was, as I would've imagined, Darry would've been if he went into college. Why weren't they still friends? Was it discrimination that kept these two buddies apart? I bet it was also jealousy. Paul got the future that Darry wanted. But now Darry could take his revenge out on Paul...
From out of the blue, we heard Dally show up. This is when Paul sucker punched Darry and the rumble began. After a while of the greasers winning, then the Socs taking the lead, then the greasers again, the greasers got a victory. He ran those filthy Socs out of our territory. I knew that none of it mattered. Socs would be Socs, greasers would be greasers. But at least now we strengthened our reputation of being the tough and the strongest. Was this good or bad?
Right after the fight, Dally drags me off. I can't even think of why; my head was spinning. I felt like I was going to throw up. We got to the hospital and I realized what was happening. We were going to see Johnny. It must be serious as Dally didn't waste a second in getting us there. I don't remember everything but what I do remember is what Dally said on the way to the hospital. He had changed his mind - Johnny should've gotten hard and mean. Like Dally. If Johnny had never tried to save those kids, he would've never gotten hurt. "You get tough like me, you don't get hurt," he said. "You look out for yourself and nothing can touch you..."
We show up at the hospital and find Johnny is dying. He manages to say a few words to us. We can feel his pain as he talks. We all just wanted him to shut up and get better. We wanted none of this to happen. It would've been OK if Dally had died. Or Steve or Two-Bit. Anyone of the gang really. Except for Johnny. Johnny was the member that kept us all together. In his dying breath, he told me to stay gold. What did this mean? Then, he died. It wasn't dramatic like in the movies. He just died. Now is when Dally lost it. He started screaming and beating his fist against the wall. He was hysterical. He ran out of the room. He was trying to run away from everything, like Johnny and I had that one night going to Windrixville. But he wouldn't be able to. Everything had changed.
I sat in the armchair waiting for the rest of our outfit. Tonight, it would only be Two-Bit, since Steve was already here. Johnny and Dally wouldn't be coming. They would never be coming... Don't think like that! They'll be OK and before we know it, we will have won the rumble and everything will be back to normal. We were all getting pumped up for the rumble. Everyone was cracking jokes and keeping a light atmosphere. I asked everyone why they liked to fight. The unanimous answer was that everyone liked the contest of it. I don't especially like fighting. Don't get me wrong, I'm not one to chicken out when one of the gang needs help, but I don't like fighting to solve my problem. What does it really do?
We all started to do acrobatic tricks that Darry had taught us a few years ago after a course at the Y. Darry was doing flips of the steps, Soda was doing handless cartwheels. Everyone was having a blast. On the way to the rumble, Darry told us that if the fuzz showed, Soda and I had to run. No matter what. Steve or Two-Bit could get jailed if they are caught but Soda and I would be put in a boys home. That wasn't going to happen. When we arrived, I looked at the others that were joining us for the fight. There was Tim Shepard's gang, The Brumly Boys and a few other greasers. These people didn't look like our gang. Our gang looked like greasers but not the stereotypical hard, tough greaser. These people looked like hoods; true criminals. And that's the way they were going to stay. But we had some chance. Especially Darry. He had the potential to really be somebody. And I bet living here and looking at everybody else's grim and dismal futures only gave him more determination to get out of here. The Socs showed up now. I realized why we always get blamed for rumbles like this. The Socs were dressed casually. If I didn't know better, I would've thought they were going to the Nightly Double and out to dinner. We looked tough and dangerous and looking for a fight. Darry stepped up to start the rumble. He challenged anybody who would face him. Paul stepped up. He was Darry friend from high school. He was in college now. He was, as I would've imagined, Darry would've been if he went into college. Why weren't they still friends? Was it discrimination that kept these two buddies apart? I bet it was also jealousy. Paul got the future that Darry wanted. But now Darry could take his revenge out on Paul...
From out of the blue, we heard Dally show up. This is when Paul sucker punched Darry and the rumble began. After a while of the greasers winning, then the Socs taking the lead, then the greasers again, the greasers got a victory. He ran those filthy Socs out of our territory. I knew that none of it mattered. Socs would be Socs, greasers would be greasers. But at least now we strengthened our reputation of being the tough and the strongest. Was this good or bad?
Right after the fight, Dally drags me off. I can't even think of why; my head was spinning. I felt like I was going to throw up. We got to the hospital and I realized what was happening. We were going to see Johnny. It must be serious as Dally didn't waste a second in getting us there. I don't remember everything but what I do remember is what Dally said on the way to the hospital. He had changed his mind - Johnny should've gotten hard and mean. Like Dally. If Johnny had never tried to save those kids, he would've never gotten hurt. "You get tough like me, you don't get hurt," he said. "You look out for yourself and nothing can touch you..."
We show up at the hospital and find Johnny is dying. He manages to say a few words to us. We can feel his pain as he talks. We all just wanted him to shut up and get better. We wanted none of this to happen. It would've been OK if Dally had died. Or Steve or Two-Bit. Anyone of the gang really. Except for Johnny. Johnny was the member that kept us all together. In his dying breath, he told me to stay gold. What did this mean? Then, he died. It wasn't dramatic like in the movies. He just died. Now is when Dally lost it. He started screaming and beating his fist against the wall. He was hysterical. He ran out of the room. He was trying to run away from everything, like Johnny and I had that one night going to Windrixville. But he wouldn't be able to. Everything had changed.
Thursday, October 30, 2008
Chapter 8 - The Silence Before The Rumble
We went to see Johnny today. It was hard to see him. He looked like he was in such pain. He had burns everywhere on his body and a large bandage on his back. He had to be placed looking down so his back didn't have a lot of stress though. You wouldn't have thought he was in so much pain to talk to him. He still had his same ol' sense of humour and talked like a greaser. He fought through the pain and I knew he was just trying to act tuff for Two-Bit and I. He didn't have to talk; I didn't want him to talk. I just wanted him to rest and get better and than everything will be better again. While we were talking to him, he mentioned that he wanted another copy of Gone With The Wind to read. I told you he really liked that book. I told Two-Bit to go pick him up a copy from the drug store. While he was gone, Johnny told me that he didn't want to die. He said he was too young and hadn't done enough with his life. You know, our trip to Windrixville was the only time he'd been away from the neighbourhood. A nurse came in and told us the Johnny's ma was here to see him. The nerve of her! How dare she want to she Johnny as she pretends to care when actually she treats him like 'another piece of hood filth'. The nerve of her...
We went to see Dally next. He was arguing with a nurse when he came in (what a surprise) and was very glad to see us. "They don't let me smoke in here! I want out!", I remember him saying. He talked to us about the rumble. He asked for Two-Bit beautiful black handled switch blade. It was his pride and joy. He reluctantly handed it over. "We're gonna get even with those Socs tonight," he said with fire in his eyes. "We're gonna win that rumble; for Johnny!!!"
When we were waiting to hop on the bus to get back home, Two-Bit started talking out of the blue. I remember him saying the fact that the only thing that kept Darry from being a Soc was us. I knew this was true. He was too smart to be a greaser. If he had gone to college, he would have left us all behind and turned into a madras jacket wearing, corvette driving Soc. No, he wouldn't. He just wouldn't be a greaser. He would be a normal guy - like both Socs and greasers want to be. As we were walking past the vacant lot, we saw Cherry sitting in her Stingray. "Hey boys," she said. He asked her about the Socs. She told us that they were gonna play our rules. It was a skin rumble. That was good. There would be no way I would be allowed if it was blades or chains anything else. But no one got hurt in a skin rumble. We were walking away when Cherry called me back. She told me that Randy wasn't going to show up at the rumble. I knew; Randy had told me. Cherry told me he was sick of fighting, something I also already knew. She asked about Johnny. I told her that he was OK and told her to go see him. It was the least she could do. It was her boyfriend that started all this. In an extent, it was all her fault! If she hadn't ditched Bob and Randy that night, none of this would've happened. But, it was also our fault. If we hadn't gone to the Nightly Doubled and picked up Cherry and Marcia, none of this would've happened. Maybe it was nobody's fault. Maybe we all knew that one day this would happen. That one day someone would take their discrimination too far...
I got angry at her now. I don't know why. I knew it wasn't her fault. I just needed to vent my anger. I was walking away again when I saw she was crying. I hate when a girl cries. She told me that she wasn't giving us charity. She wanted to help. She said I was a nice kid and nice kids are very rare these days. I asked her about the sunset; could you see it real good from the west side? She was startled for a second but then smiled. "Real good PonyBoy, real good."
We went to see Dally next. He was arguing with a nurse when he came in (what a surprise) and was very glad to see us. "They don't let me smoke in here! I want out!", I remember him saying. He talked to us about the rumble. He asked for Two-Bit beautiful black handled switch blade. It was his pride and joy. He reluctantly handed it over. "We're gonna get even with those Socs tonight," he said with fire in his eyes. "We're gonna win that rumble; for Johnny!!!"
When we were waiting to hop on the bus to get back home, Two-Bit started talking out of the blue. I remember him saying the fact that the only thing that kept Darry from being a Soc was us. I knew this was true. He was too smart to be a greaser. If he had gone to college, he would have left us all behind and turned into a madras jacket wearing, corvette driving Soc. No, he wouldn't. He just wouldn't be a greaser. He would be a normal guy - like both Socs and greasers want to be. As we were walking past the vacant lot, we saw Cherry sitting in her Stingray. "Hey boys," she said. He asked her about the Socs. She told us that they were gonna play our rules. It was a skin rumble. That was good. There would be no way I would be allowed if it was blades or chains anything else. But no one got hurt in a skin rumble. We were walking away when Cherry called me back. She told me that Randy wasn't going to show up at the rumble. I knew; Randy had told me. Cherry told me he was sick of fighting, something I also already knew. She asked about Johnny. I told her that he was OK and told her to go see him. It was the least she could do. It was her boyfriend that started all this. In an extent, it was all her fault! If she hadn't ditched Bob and Randy that night, none of this would've happened. But, it was also our fault. If we hadn't gone to the Nightly Doubled and picked up Cherry and Marcia, none of this would've happened. Maybe it was nobody's fault. Maybe we all knew that one day this would happen. That one day someone would take their discrimination too far...
I got angry at her now. I don't know why. I knew it wasn't her fault. I just needed to vent my anger. I was walking away again when I saw she was crying. I hate when a girl cries. She told me that she wasn't giving us charity. She wanted to help. She said I was a nice kid and nice kids are very rare these days. I asked her about the sunset; could you see it real good from the west side? She was startled for a second but then smiled. "Real good PonyBoy, real good."
Tuesday, October 28, 2008
Chapter 7 - Back To Normal; For Now
Now, the reporters showed up. I have never seen so many people interested in us. We rarely see anyone interested in us. Soda kept them entertained though. They became more interested in his crazy antics then Johnny, Dally and I. We once even tried to lift a gun off a police man. He was furious but couldn't keep from cracking up because Soda had such a big smile on his face. After a while, Soda got bored and fell asleep in Darry's lap. This is when the reporters left. It was real quiet after they were gone. The nurses wouldn't tell us anything about Dally and Johnny so we got a hold of the doctor. He gave it to us straight - Dally would be in the hospital for a few more weeks because he had severe burns on his left arms but Johnny was a different matter. He had busted his back and if he (NO! Don't say if! He'll be fine!)... WHEN he recovers he won't be able to walk again. I felt like crying. Everything was happening too fast! A month ago, the most exciting thing that would happen around here with us greasers would be Soda's green pancakes. Now, that would be a jiffy compared to what was happening now. Fires, injuries, even death. It was all too much...
When I got back to our house I was overcame with drowsiness. I didn't even take my shoes of before I passed out. I woke first this morning. I walked downstairs for some chow when Two-Bit and Steve came. They were so glad to see me. The ran at me as soon as they saw me and sent two uncooked eggs across the room into the clock. When Darry woke up. I told him about the dream I had last night. I had it a lot. It was about mom and dad dying. The dreams wouldn't go away so that is why Soda slept with me. They started to go away but it happened often enough that Darry brought me to a doctor. Steve left when Soda and Darry had to go to work and Two-Bit stayed to look after me. Darry knew I didn't need a babysitter; I had been alone a lot. But he worried about me in the condition I was in. I was let out of the hospital but was still not 100% I had been taking about 4 aspirins a day when Darry thought I was only taken one. I hope it'll help.
Two-Bit and I got bored so we took a walk. We stopped at the Tasty Freeze for a couple of Cokes and saw that a blue mustang had been tailing us for a few blocks. They stopped and that one stuck-up Soc who was there the night Bob died was there. Randy was his name. Being clear about the 'no jazz before the rumble' rule, I decided to talk to him. I founded out that Randy was just a normal guy. He wasn't going to show up at the rumble. he was sick of all the fighting. His best friend died a week ago and rumble was only another opportunity for something like this to happen again.
When I got back to our house I was overcame with drowsiness. I didn't even take my shoes of before I passed out. I woke first this morning. I walked downstairs for some chow when Two-Bit and Steve came. They were so glad to see me. The ran at me as soon as they saw me and sent two uncooked eggs across the room into the clock. When Darry woke up. I told him about the dream I had last night. I had it a lot. It was about mom and dad dying. The dreams wouldn't go away so that is why Soda slept with me. They started to go away but it happened often enough that Darry brought me to a doctor. Steve left when Soda and Darry had to go to work and Two-Bit stayed to look after me. Darry knew I didn't need a babysitter; I had been alone a lot. But he worried about me in the condition I was in. I was let out of the hospital but was still not 100% I had been taking about 4 aspirins a day when Darry thought I was only taken one. I hope it'll help.
Two-Bit and I got bored so we took a walk. We stopped at the Tasty Freeze for a couple of Cokes and saw that a blue mustang had been tailing us for a few blocks. They stopped and that one stuck-up Soc who was there the night Bob died was there. Randy was his name. Being clear about the 'no jazz before the rumble' rule, I decided to talk to him. I founded out that Randy was just a normal guy. He wasn't going to show up at the rumble. he was sick of all the fighting. His best friend died a week ago and rumble was only another opportunity for something like this to happen again.
Monday, October 27, 2008
Chapter 6 - Juvenile Delinquents Turn Heroes
Woah, we thought that we were already past the excitement of our lives. But we were wrong. On our way back to the church, Johnny professed that he was gonna turn himself in. I understood but Dally went ballistic. It was the first time I ever saw him care about someone. I knew Johnny was his pet; there was no doubt about it. But when Johnny said he was going to turn himself in, it was as if Dally failed. I remembered he said "You can't go to jail Johnny Cake, you just can't. People get hardened in jail. I don't want that to happen to you. Like it happened to me..." Johnny had his reasons though. He had no previous record with the fuzz and he fought back in self-defense. Cherry also said she'd testify for him. The word of a Soc was worth much more than the word of a greaser so this was a very good thing. Also, he didn't want to stay on the run with me all his life. He was guilty of keeping me up there. As I said, Johnny had his reasons.
Oh glory, wait until you hear what happens next. As we were going back to the old dump of a church we saw it was on fire! There were a group of tykes around it along with some adults. I bailed out of the car, with Johnny on my heels, before Dally could stop us. One of the blokes watching the building, our hideout, collapse told us that they were having a picnic when the church caught fire. What a weird place for a picnic! Then, I realized something. It was probably our cigarettes that started the fire! From the depths of the church we heard a scream. Some of the children were stuck inside! The bloke (Jerry Wood was his name) tried to stop me but I wiggled out of his grip and climbed through a window. I suddenly realized that Johnny was behind me this whole time. What a good friend. We travelled through the smoke and found them in the backroom of the church. The funny thing was that I wasn't scared. I wasn't afraid that I was going to die or that I would be hurt or anything. I felt completely normal; better than normal. I had a grin on my face the whole time. We handed the kids out through the window. Luckily we saved them all. There was no time to spare though. I jumped out of the church and from out of nowhere, Dally hit me in the back! I fell unconscious.
I woke up to the sound of sirens. Oh no, I thought. it's the fuzz. They've got us in a jam sandwich and we're going to the cop shop. I focused my eyes on the man infront of me. It was that Wood guy. He told me that I was in an ambulance and that we were going to a hospital. I told him about us; the fact that we were greaser and he seemed confused. I guessed prejudice doesn't exist everyone. Or maybe they have a different form of prejudice. Anyways, he said that were sent from heaven or professional heroes or something. This made it all worth while. I asked about Johnny and Dally. Then he got quiet. He told me that Dally would be OK; he had only got a burn on his arm. He would spend a couple of weeks in the hospital but he'll come out good as new. Johnny was a different matter. He had suffered severe burns in addition to a piece of burning timber falling and breaking his back. This news went through my heart like a knife. I knew there was nothing I could do, so I fell back asleep.
I waited in the waiting room of the hospital for anything report about how Dally and Johnny were. Jerry came up to me after awhile and said, "There are some people wanting to see you, they claim to be your brothers or something." I ran to the door and Soda was standing there with open arms. Darry was behind him. I let go of Soda and stared at Darry. His hard, grey eyes were taking on a new emotion. An emotion I had only seen when we were at mom and dad's funeral. He was crying. I ran up to him and gave him a great hug. We were a family again and we were going home. To stay.
Oh glory, wait until you hear what happens next. As we were going back to the old dump of a church we saw it was on fire! There were a group of tykes around it along with some adults. I bailed out of the car, with Johnny on my heels, before Dally could stop us. One of the blokes watching the building, our hideout, collapse told us that they were having a picnic when the church caught fire. What a weird place for a picnic! Then, I realized something. It was probably our cigarettes that started the fire! From the depths of the church we heard a scream. Some of the children were stuck inside! The bloke (Jerry Wood was his name) tried to stop me but I wiggled out of his grip and climbed through a window. I suddenly realized that Johnny was behind me this whole time. What a good friend. We travelled through the smoke and found them in the backroom of the church. The funny thing was that I wasn't scared. I wasn't afraid that I was going to die or that I would be hurt or anything. I felt completely normal; better than normal. I had a grin on my face the whole time. We handed the kids out through the window. Luckily we saved them all. There was no time to spare though. I jumped out of the church and from out of nowhere, Dally hit me in the back! I fell unconscious.
I woke up to the sound of sirens. Oh no, I thought. it's the fuzz. They've got us in a jam sandwich and we're going to the cop shop. I focused my eyes on the man infront of me. It was that Wood guy. He told me that I was in an ambulance and that we were going to a hospital. I told him about us; the fact that we were greaser and he seemed confused. I guessed prejudice doesn't exist everyone. Or maybe they have a different form of prejudice. Anyways, he said that were sent from heaven or professional heroes or something. This made it all worth while. I asked about Johnny and Dally. Then he got quiet. He told me that Dally would be OK; he had only got a burn on his arm. He would spend a couple of weeks in the hospital but he'll come out good as new. Johnny was a different matter. He had suffered severe burns in addition to a piece of burning timber falling and breaking his back. This news went through my heart like a knife. I knew there was nothing I could do, so I fell back asleep.
I waited in the waiting room of the hospital for anything report about how Dally and Johnny were. Jerry came up to me after awhile and said, "There are some people wanting to see you, they claim to be your brothers or something." I ran to the door and Soda was standing there with open arms. Darry was behind him. I let go of Soda and stared at Darry. His hard, grey eyes were taking on a new emotion. An emotion I had only seen when we were at mom and dad's funeral. He was crying. I ran up to him and gave him a great hug. We were a family again and we were going home. To stay.
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