The start of everything

Johnny was something more than a buddy.I opened the book and a slip of paper fell off.There's a phrase i could not forget; you're gold when you are a kid,like green.When you are a kid,every thing's new,dawn.I knew someone should tell their side of the story.Maybe people will understand by not judging a boy by the amount of grease oil he wore.It was important to me.I phoned my English teacher and asked how long can the theme be.He said as long as i want.I sat down remembering a handsome,dark boy with a reckless grin and a hot temper. A tough, towheaded boy with a cigarette in his mouth and a bitter grin on his hard face. Remembering - and this time it didn't hurt - a quiet, defeated-looking sixteen-year old whose hair needed cutting badly and who had black eyes with a frightened expression to them. One week had taken all three of them. And I decided I could tell people, beginning with my English teacher. I wondered for a long time how to start that theme, how to start writing about something that was important to me. And I finally began like this: When I stepped out into the bright sunlight from the darkness of the movie house, I had only two things on my mind: Paul Newman and a ride home....

Pissed off Soda

Darry,Sodapop,Randy and his parent,Cherry and his parents and some guys that jumped on Johnny and me,were present during the hearing.The Socs told the same story and mostly were the truth except that they said that it was Johnny who killed Bob.Cherry told what had happened before and after Johnny was being jumped.The judge asked Darry and Soda about Dally.i think they had to check up our background and find out what kind of guys we usually hang out with.The judge asked if i enjoyed living with Darry,if i like school,what kind of grades i get and things like that.I did not had the chance to talk and i did not feel like talking much too.I wished that everything would go back to normal.My English teacher talked to me about my grades and he would pass me only if i can come up with a good semester theme.He said that the theme must be based on my own ideas and experiences.During lunch hours,i met Two-Bit and Steve and we went to buy cigarettes and coke.The store was a grease hang-out and what we always had for lunch.The Socs was creating trouble at the school cafeteria and people tried to blame it on us.We thought i was funny as we rarely eat there.I was sitting on the fender of Steve's car,smoking drinking Pepsi when the Socs came.One of them thought that i was the one that killed Bob.I busted the end of my bottle and held it on the neck.They kind of looked surprised and one of them backed off.I held the bottle the way Tim Shepard holds a switch ; away from myself and holds it firm.The Socs then went away.Two-Bit and Steve were watching me and backing me up if i need but they guess the didn't need to.I later picked up the broken glass as i did not want anyone to get flat tyre.I tried to write the theme.Soda cooked dinner tonight and everything was alright.That was a bit unusual as he was always trying to make thing different.Once we even got GREEN PANCAKES !It will be never boring to have a brother like Soda.Soda was quiet and he didn't eat much.It was unusual,sometimes you can't even shut him up.After supper,Darry and I got into a fuss.Soda then bolted out of the door.There was an envelope that he had wrote to Sandy.Returned,unopened.We knew that Soda was not feeling great and we ran after him.We cut him halfway.Soda said that he can't stand us fighting.He explained to us and we realized that we had really hurt Soda.We then raced home.

Meeting Randy

I had to stay in the bed a whole week after that.I spend most of my time reading and drawing pictures.I came across a picture and i then realised it was Bob.I was thinking when Randy came to look for me.He told me we gonna see the judge tomorrow.He told me that his father asked him to tell the truth.He even felt that he had let him father down by mixing up in all this things.I felt that it was dumb,he didn't kill anyone,his friends did not die,he did not lose anything!His dad was rich and he could pay any fines there was for for being drunk or picking up a fight.He asked me if my parents felt awful.I told him my parents are dead and i am living with my two brothers.I was afraid that the judge would decide that Darry is not a good guardian.He was a good one that always keep me out of trouble.He said that i didn't do anything,it was Johnny who killed Bob.I stopped him.I said i was the one who had the switchblade and i was the one that killed Bob.Randy said that i was almost drowned and it was Johnny that killed him.I told him that i was scared that they beat me up and then i killed Bob.He said it was the one that died in the hospital,that killed Bob.My voice was shaking and i repeatedly said that Johnny isn't DEAD!Darry told Randy to get moving.He told Randy that i was still a bit racked up.Darry was just as cold-blooded.He told me to put out the cigarette.It was the first time he called me baby brother.

Dally's Death

We were all grieving over the loss of Johnnycake. We all took it badly, but no one took it as bad as Dally, he was a emotional wreck. Johnny was nearly everything to him, he cared so much for Johnny, but Johnny was gone. Dally called us and from a public phone, apparently he robbed a store and told us to meet him at the empty lot.

We went and saw Dally followed by policemen, he took out his blank pistol on purpose, and the policemen shot him down. When he saw him fall to the floor, we knew he died before he reached the ground.

We had received 2 deaths in a week. This time, we were not so devastated as we knew that Dally had it coming. But, i am still mourning for Johnny.

Rumble/Death

We stomped the greasers, but other things happened which shouldn't. It was a bittersweet day, bitter being the main emotion. It all happened after i woke up from my nap. I swallowed 5 aspirins to take the headache away.I then curiously asked Soda and Darry when they started shaving, they answered me 15 and 13 respectively. The house was a parade, everybody was busy and doing things. Darry was busy flexing his muscles, Steve and Soda were playing poker in the living room. Then, the bomb hit. Darry was unsure of whether i should participate in the rumble, i begged him to let me go but he refused at the start. But after more pleading from his baby brother, he allowed me to go for it. We then proceeded to head for the vacant lot and everybody did their gymnastics off the front door heading there, Darry taught us all moves back when he learnt them. We hanged around the other greasers and found out that Curly was in Rehab. I looked over at the Brumly Boys and back at us. They were organized, they had a leader, but they didn't look as if they had much fun. On the other hand, we were less organized but at least we always had fun together, no one was another person's leader and that was perfect. A few minutes later, the Socs arrived a long with their Mustangs. It was very fast action, and Darry walked up in the centre and announced that he would take on anyone. But, unknown to Darry, his old time buddy Paul was to be his rival. Darry fidgeted at first, but then went back to his old cold self. The rumble was about to begin when Dallas turned up, he took Darry's attention away and Paul took the opportunity to punch Darry in the jaw. That was the opening punch. Chaos soon followed. It was guy on guy everywhere. Every Greaser had a Social to bop and every Social has a Greaser to bop. There was people fighting everywhere, each person with their own gender. The socs to avenge Bob, and us, to defend our territory. It was long and hard, but eventually, we overcame them and they fled. I still can't believe it, we actually stomped them. After that Dally took me to the hospital, and he fooled the fuzz to escort us, allowing us to reach the hospital in record time. The following which happened, i will pretend didn't. It is a hard fact to take, the death of a friend, and if the person was like a brother to you, it hurt more. Trust me, it hurts. Johnny died. It was in the hospital,we were too late. We could only hear his last words, he told me to 'stay gold' to 'stay gold'. He died, peacefully at least, but he was young, he didn't want to die, but he did. I couldn't take the news and after Dallas bolted out of the hospital, i followed suit. Not going to accept the news.

Johnny's Visit

We went to the hospital today to visit Johnnycake. But the nurse didn't allow us, we plead the doctor to let us visit Johnny, and finally, he relented. Johnny wanted another copy of Gone With The Wind. since our original copy which we shared in Windrixville had been destroyed by the fire. Johnny also related to us the sad fact that he KNEW he as paralyzed from waist down. I wanted to break down when Johnny told us that he didn't want to die so young. It was depressing, i felt sad for the kid. He was a brother to me. Just then, Johnny's mother came to visit him, it was a sad sight seeing how he refused to see his mother, i mean, it was his own mother! You could have guessed what made him refuse her. She started screaming and shouting at him after that, something about ' ungratefulness and how we were a negative influence.' I couldn't blame Johnny for hating her, no one would. At the hospital, i also witnessed Dallas asking Two-Bit for his black handled switchblade, i wonder what he would do with it. We then met Cherry after visiting Johnny, and what a girl she was. She told us that the Socs has decided to play our way, without weapons, just our fists. She broke down telling us that she could not visit Johnny, as he was the one that killed Bob. She related the relationship between them, stating that she was really in love with Bob. Then, she said something to me that surprised me, she told me that she had liked me from the start, and that i was a nice kid. I blushed. I asked her a question too. She replied my question, saying that she could see the sunset from the East Side too. She was always a nice person to talk to. I guess that socs/greasers aren't so different after all

FIRE!

Johnny was thinking of turning himself in and dally wont allow...he don want johnny to get hurt ...he said that a few months in jail ...johnny will get hardened...he don't want that to happened to Johnny like it happened to himself..... Then johnny asked dally if he rather him to live in hideouts for the rest of his life and always on the run.... and i know that if dally said yes...johnny will go back to the church without any hesitation...he figured dally know more than him and Dally words is law but we never heard dally answers as when we reached top of jay mountain..... THE CHURCH WAS ON FIRE !i was excited at the same time curious of what was happening down there and i said to johnny to check it out and i hop off the car..Dally said he will beat my head in if i get off ...i figured that he will park his car and carry out his threst but johnny went out off the car and i figured that i was safe...There was crowd in front of the church mostly little kids and i tap the nearest adult and ask what was going on.... He said that the church is on fire ....and about that time a lady came running and said that some children were missing ..she aid that the children were missing for about half an hour.... Just that time we heard someone yell inside the church...and it seems to be the children yelling .i quicky ran and i know the fire was started by us.i ran inside the church with johnny....i saw johnny for the first time without his suspicious and defeated look..he was having time of his life... i picked a kid and dropped him out of the window as gentle as i could and then i heard Dally scream.... he ask ask to forget about those kids and get out of there as the roof is gonna fall soon at any minute.. i wish i had time to take off dally jacket as it was hot in there... we dropped off the last kid as the front of the church started to crumble... Johnny shoved me towards the window asn ask me to get out..i leaped out of the window and heard timber crashing and flames roaring behind me. i staggered almost fall ing ,coughing and sobbing for breath. Then i heard Johnny scream and as i turned back to go to him Dally swore at me and clubbed me across the back as hard as he could and i went down into peaceful darkness........i was in the hospital when i woke up ...........the guy, Jerry told me that there were some people looking for me and they claim to be my brothers.... i leaped up and ran for the door but the door was already opened...soda had me in a bear hug and was swinging me around... i was so glad to see him that i could have bawled....he finally let me down and pushed my hair back and said...Oh .. Ponyboy...your tuff tuff hair... Then i was Darry ..he was standing there with his olive jeans and black t shirt ..his fist jammed in his pocket and his eyes was pleading, i just simply stood there..he swallowed and said in his husky voice ..." Ponyboy..."i let go of Sodapop and stood there for a minute... Darry didnt like me ..he had driven me away that night...he hollered at me...he had hit me..he didn't give a hang about me... suddenly i realised..Horrifed..Darry was crying... He didn't make a sound ut tears was running down his cheeks .i had not seen him cry in few years not even when mom and dad were killed in a car accident...i remembered at the funeral that i sobbed in spite of myself ans soda had broken down and bawled like a baby; but darry just stood there ,his fists in his pockets and that look in his face, the same helpless ,pleading look that he is wearing now. Darry looked down and turned away silently and suddenly i broke out of my daze. "Darry"! i scream and next thing i know that i was around his waist and squeezing the daylight out of him." Darry "i said ..." i was sorry "he was stroking my hair and i could heard the sobs racking him as he fought to keep back his tears."oh pony, i thought i was gonna to lose u just like we lost mum and dad..." That was his silent fear then-losing another person he loved . i remember how close he and dad had been and i wondered how could i ever have thought him hard and unfeeling... i listened to his heart pounding through his t shirt and i knew everything gonna to be okay now. i had taken the long way around but i know i was finally home. To stay..........