Paul Newman and a Ride Home

We went to court and it went over just fine. The judge was very fair and listened to both sides of the story. I spoke mostly for our perspective because I knew Pony would screw up someway or another. I told him to keep quiet unless he was spoken too. I wasn't worried that he would lie or anything- but knowing Ponyboy; he wouldn't be the best person to have in a serious environment. The judge didn't talk to him much at all. He was asked to answer a few questions such as, if he liked living with me, if he liked school and what kind of grades he made.

Other than Soda Pony and I, only Randy, his parents, Cherry Valance, her parents, and a couple of assorted Socs who had jumped Johnny and my kid brother the night of the stabbing, there weren;t many people there. They each spoke before us, I wasn't bothered by it. It gave me more time to think about everything that I was going to mention when I was called upon to speak my word. Pony said after the hearing that they said nothing but the truth, that made me happy.

Ponyboy's teacher said that he was failing english and I got on his case. I started yelling and he started to yell back. It eventually erupted to them point where Soda ran out of the house. He was already upset because Sandy cheated on him, got pregnant and moved to Florida.

So Ponyboy and I eventually caught up with him and we started to talk things over. He said that I should ease up on Pony about his grades and he should realise how much I sacrifised for him. He's right both ways.

And so I got to bed with a whole feeling inside.

Mr. Super Tuff

Pony was in bed the rest of the week. I wouldn't let anything interfere with his recovery. Boy- did he ever complain a lot. It was starting to get really annoying, but then he'd get so exhausted that he'd fall right back to sleep in the middle of a sentence.

One strange thing happened during his time locked in his room. A Soc named Randy came by to see him. I didn't know if Ponyboy wanted any visitors so I peeked my head in his door and asked him. I guess I sounded a bit weary of the idea of a Social in my house- but Pony was fine with him to come in. I left them alone for the next ten minutes.

I tried to clean up the house. It's run-down looking, and the insides kinda poor looking too. I do the most cleaning in the house. Although I assigned my two kid-brothers to various chores, the system doesn't work that well.

Eventually Randy left, without a goodbye.

I'm guessing that they were talking about court in few days from now.

Hopefully- nothing will affect us.

Hopefully.

Sweat Streamed Down His Face

Ponyboy came home and he looked spaced out. He was bleeding from the head a bit and had hardly any colour about him at all. I asked him what was wrong- but I knew already. He looked at me with panic-stricken eyes and said that Johnny had died. It wasn't a big surprise to me. All of us knew it was bound to happen one time or another. I'm not saying that we weren't upset about it though. Johnny was one of us; he was a great friend. Two-Bit was real upset and Soda even let a few tears slip. I however wanted to be strong for the gang, so I kept my cool and questioned him how it went down.

From what I gathered, nothing dramatic happened on how he died. Johnny was talking to Dallas and Pony and he ran out of energy.

Dally didn't handle it well. He was pounding on the hospital walls; and telling Ponyboy that the whole circumstance was his fault. Eventually he fled the building and left my kid brother to find his own way home. I'm, actually not sure how he got back to us- he never said anything about it. But it was just a step out of the door to understand what happened.

Suddenly, the phone rang and I felt obliged to pick it up as everyone was still in a state of shock. It was Dallas and he sounded bitter and in a rush, what he said was this-

"Eugh- Darry, I'm done. I just robbed a grocery store and the fuzz is after me. I don't have much time so meet me at the empty lot right now- I'm on a pay phone about two blocks away. See you there." And hung up.

I turned to four worried, worn out faces and told them what was going on. We were out the door and off the front lawn within seconds. The lot of us sprinted down the cold roads down to where this whole venture began. The lot had a eerie feeling going about it. I don't know whether it was just my nerves or what- but I got the creeps.

Out of the blue- I saw Dallas' silhouette bounding down the cracked cement of Scott Street. But he stopped running under a street light. It all happened very quickly then. Minute after minute. The cops surrounded him- and he took out his gun. Before any of us could react- you could only hear shots in the air. And Dallas Winston was dead before he hit the ground.

I was about to follow Steve and Two-Bit over to him but Pony had collapsed onto the ground.

He was in bed since Saturday night. He had a concussion, and was in shock the entire time of the rumble. I knew I shouldn’t of let him participate in the fight! I don’t know where my common sense flew to. I mean- he was lucky out there that he didn’t get pounded on harder. The kid has no way of knowing what’s good for him. He already wasn’t feeling well when we got to the fight.

But the point is that he woke up today- and he looked thin. His face was sucked in and he was weak. Soda was about to jump on him and tussle around a bit; I grabbed him in mid-air and made sure he understood that Pony wasn’t in any shape to be playing around with. Sodapop then gently climbed on the bed and we had a conversation about how Ponyboy was yelling for people when in bed. Dad, Mom, Soda. But hardly ever me. He hardly even screamed my name. And every time he did it sounded angry. I need to begin a better relationship with him. I’m positive that there’s in still a tendency between us- and honestly, I don’t like it. He should have relatives to go to when there is something that is bothering him. A person who he feels comfortable sharing personal stuff with.

And now I’m really worried because we have to go to court. I can’t imagine living without my kid-brothers. Making cake for them, joking around, talking bad about Socials with them.

I went into the kitchen to make Pony soup because he said he was hungry- but by the time I got back Soda and him were out cold.

They Know What'd Happen If They Did

Around six-thirty, Ponyboy arrived back home for dinner. I had just finished making supper;two baked chickens, potatoes, and corn for the three of us. We eat like horses; so that would usually be gone in five minutes, but tonight there was something a little off about Pony. He looked sick- and a tiny bit pale. It started me thinking how it might not be a good idea for him to partake in the rumble with the Socs. I trusted that he was okay when he felt fine and normal- but the way he looked, it made me a tad uneasy about what might be coming.

So the remainder of our 'gang' eventually arrived at our house; Two-Bit and Steve. They had to busy themselves because we were still getting ready by taking showers, using way more hair gel than necessary, and putting on nice clothes. For every rumble you have to look sharp. It's sort of a rule. Thus, I put on a nice pair of jeans and a tight black shirt to look real swank for the fight. I was in a tuff mood until Soda had to blurt out that I was wearing the shirt to show off my muscles. Which; is true- but I would never tell him that. So I bluffed him off by saying- "I'm gonna show'em off on you, little buddy, if you get any mouthier."

I am so cool.

I tried to convince Ponyboy that he should not fight- but he kept insisting that it would be different if we were using objects- but this match was just skins. Nothing but fists and strengt. I let him come with us, but I was worried because the majority of the Socials are big guys.

Anyway we were heading to the rumble- which was placed for 7:00, when we see the other greasers from various parts of town. Tim Shepard's gang was there, and the Brumly outfit. Tim's brother, Curly was in the reformatory again. Every time he talks about it seems as though he's proud of his brother going to a school for little criminals. It makes me sick. I'm out there busting my butt to make sure everything is in line with my family, and he's letting his brother be a villain.

The Socs came in five cars and had a snooty look about them from the time they came from their fancy autos, to the empty lot. It was 22 against 20 so were were fairly even. I was the biggest so I knew that I had to start it.

With one quick movement it all came into play. I had to guys on me- left and right. Boy- do those guys know how to fight! I kept looking at Ponyboy; he was lying on the ground with a Soc on top of him. I would've felt useless as I couldn't go over to him and beat that Social to a bloody pulp but- faintly, I could see Dally kicking at him- so I knew that he wouldn't let anything too drastic happen to Pony.

Suddenly, they all started running away and I knew that we had won. I was overjoyed and showing off my emotion- until I saw Dallas and Ponyboy running off. I had a hunch where they were heading off to- but I still wasn't sure how well Pony was feeling.

So now I'm at home and waiting for his arrival.