Going Home

Darry was telling us about how Cherry wanted to help us, when Johnny said that he was going to turn himself in, and that we were going to go home. Dally didn't seem to like that idea too much. He started cussing and swearing. I think that made Johnny real sad. He doesn't like it when anyone is mad at him. We stopped by the church to get our things that bought before we left, only to find it on fire. I asked the nearest adult what was going on, because by then there were people surrounding it. Mostly kids because the adult told me that they were having a class picnic. We found out that there were kids in the burning church, so Johnny and I went in to get them. You would think that I would have been scared, but I wasn't. Not at all. It was a very strange feeling. While we were in there, throwing kids out of the window, I glanced over at Johnny, who was smiling. He actually looked like he was enjoying himself. When we got all of the kids out, I jumped out of the window first, and I could hear Johnny scream behind me. Before I had the chance to go back in and get him, dally hit me in the back so hard that it knocked me out. When I came to, the adult I was talking to at the church earlier, Jerry, informed me that I was in an ambulance, headed for the hospital. I told him how Johnny was wanted for murder, and what had happened that night at the movies. He seemed to understand, and he was very encouraging. When we got to the hospital I got to see Dally, and he was going to be okay, but Johnny was unconscious when I saw him. A little later Jerry came up to me and told me that my brothers were here. I ran to the doors and gave Soda a huge bear hug. Then I saw Darry, just standing there in the door way. He had his hands in his pockets, and the same pleading look on his face was the same one that he had at our parent's funeral. He hadn't cried at the funeral, but he was crying now, which really made me understand the pain he felt. I ran up to him a big hug too. I was finally home, and it felt so good.

Living In The Country

When I woke up, Johnny had gone to get some supplies for us. He came back with a week's supply of bologna, two loaves of bread, a box of matches, a copy of the book Gone With The Wind, peroxide, a deck of cards, cigarettes, and some candy bars. Johnny convinced me to agree to him cutting my hair and bleaching it. I hated that idea, but I rather have my hair cut off, than have Johnny sit in the electric chair. I cut Johnny's hair too, but I didn't bleach it. I didn't like what I saw in the mirror at all that week. I hope my hair grows back soon, because I look like a pansy right now. After several days of eating nothing but bologna, reading Gone With The Wind to Johnny, and smoking a lot, Dally finally came. He gave me a letter from Sodapop, which made me even mare home sick. Dally took us for a drive to a Dairy Queen, and Johnny and I really pigged out. We drank cokes, ate sandwiches, and for dessert, we had banana splits and hot fudge sundaes. Dally also mentioned something about the Socs and the Greasers having a war everywhere, and that there is going to be a big rumble soon. That scared me a bit. What of something happened to Soda, or Darry, or two-Bit, or Steve? He also said that they had a spy. Johnny asked who it was, and the answer made Johnny gag, and made me almost drop my hot fudge sundae. It was Cherry.

I Got A "Bath"

We got to the park and were hanging around the fountain, when the blue mustang came driving around the park. Johnny and I were going to try to make a run for it, but before we could, five Socs came up to us, all looking pretty drunk. It all happened so fast. It was like a blur. They said that I needed a bath, and one of the Socs grabbed me and held my head under the water until I couldn't hold my breath any longer. Suddenly I was coughing up water. I saw Johnny sitting beside me, looking like he had just saw a ghost. He told me that he had killed him. Bob, the dark haired one. Cherry's boyfriend. Johnny saved my life, but instead of me thanking him, all I could do was worry about what we were going to do now. When I looked at the body lying there on the ground, with a pool of blood growing larger and larger around him, I started to feel sick. We thought quick and knew what to do. We went to Dally, because if anyone could help us, Dally could. We found him at a party, where he gave us a gun and fifty bucks. He also gave me a dry shirt and his jacket, since my sweat shirt had gotten soaked from the fountain. We got on a train, and headed for the county. We went to an old abandoned church which sort of creeped me out, and we fell asleep there on the hard rock floor instantly.

A Good Scare

We were walking to Two-Bit's house to get his car so we could drive the girls home. We just started to walk when a blue mustang drove by us. We knew it was the Socs, and we were lucky they didn't see us, especially because we were with their girls. While we were walking Cherry asked me to tell her about Darry, so I guess I just sort of stated the obvious. He's big and handsome, and likes to play football. She wanted me to tell her more, and something deeper. I always feel that Darry hates me, and that he doesn't love me, he just loves Sodapop, so that's pretty much what I told her. Two-Bit got really mad at me for saying those things, and he slapped me hard. I said some pretty nasty things to Johnny too, but as soon as I said them I wished I hadn't. We were just talking it out when we saw the blue mustang again, driving by more slowly now. I glanced over at Johnny, who was starting to tremble as the car stopped, and the two Socs that were sitting in the front got out. I notices that Johnny was staring at the dark haired Soc's hand, which had thee rings on them. When Johnny got attacked, it was by a Soc with lots of rings, and I think that it might have been the same guy.

Cherry thought that it would be best for her and Marcia to let the Socs give them a ride home, or things might not go so well. Cherry also thought that it would be best for us to not hang out anymore. That one really stung. I really like Cherry. She seems like the one person on this earth that understands me, and can actually relate to me. Other than Soda of course. And as if that moment couldn't have hurt more, she told me something that made me want to die. She told me, and I quote, "I could fall in love with Dallas Winston. I hope I never see him again, or I will." I was completely devastated. I couldn't move for a few minutes, I was too busy going over and over the exact words she spoke last in my head, trying to make sense of them. Is she really going to fall in love with Dally the next time she sees him? Wow. It was hard for me to imagine them together. I really like Cherry, and I think I know her well enough to trust her judgement. But Dally? Dallas Winston? I couldn't believe it. Maybe I didn't understand what she said. She probably said something else. Right?

Anyways, Two-Bit left to go play poker or something, and get drunk. I wasn't really listening, my mind was on other things. Me and Johnny went to the empty lot to watch the stars, and we talked for a while. I must have fallen asleep because the last thing I remembered was watching the stars, and then all of a sudden Johnny was nudging me to wake up. I quickly ran home, dreading what Darry was going to say to me. It must have been around 2:00 a.m, and I was supposed to be home by 12:00a.m. Like i had predicted, Darry started yelling at me, saying the usual, but this time it got too out of hand, and he hit me. He hit me hard. Darry had never hurt me before. He would have never done anything like that a year ago. This just wasn't like him. I didn't know what to do. I was scared and angry. I ran out of the house, tears streaming down my cheeks. I ran all the way to the lot, and told Johnny that we were going to run away. We ran for several blocks, then stopped to catch our breaths. It wasn't until a few minutes later I realized that running away might not have been the best idea I've ever had. I was tired and cold, and wanted to go to bed. I decided that I would go home and just not talk to Darry. Johnny seemed to be fine with that, so we began to walk back.

A Night At The Movies

Last night I went to the drive in with Johnny and Dally, and since Dally hates to do anything legal, we snuck over the back fence. We took a seat behind two girls, whose names we later found out were Cherry and Marcia. Dally started talking dirty instantly and it made me and Johnny uncomfortable. I could tell because as soon as Dally started, Johnny got up hastily to go get a coke. The really good-looking one, Cherry, got real mad, and started talking back with bitter sarcasm and rude remarks. I think that just made Dally want to keep on going. Dally went to get the girls cokes, and Johnny wasn't back yet, so I was stuck with the girls by myself. I didn't mind it so much once they got talking with me. It was a very strange yet pleasant experience. It was strange because these girls were Socs, and they never talk to greasers. We only get to hang out with greaser girls. But I liked the change. They seemed really nice too, so we talked and I got to know some stuff about them that I didn't know before. When Dally came back with the cokes, Marcia took it, but Cherry threw it in his face, which I found was pretty hard not to laugh at. He stormed off after Johnny got real defensive and told Dally to leave them alone. The girls invited us to come up and sit with them, and that was definitely something to brag about later! Later, Two-Bit came and joined us, and me and Cherry went to go get popcorn for everyone. The line was long, so I told her the story abut how Johnny get jumped. She seemed very understanding, and I like that about her.

I Got Jumped!

It was the first time I got jumped, and I'm still having nightmares about it. Sometimes I feel like I'm about to start bawling, but I know better than that. No one cries in front of Darry. You just don't. Soda was right about the bruse and cut on my cheek making me look tough. The bruse is still sore, but the cut is healing pretty quickly. Every time I look in the mirror I remind myself of a movie-type gang member. I like looking tough. It makes me feel like I fit in with the Greasers more.

Last night Soda told me that he was in love with Sandy, and that he was going to marry her when she got out of school. That really made me think about Sandy and Sodapop together, getting married. It was no suprise to me that he said he loved her, but I think getting married is a pretty big step for him. I don't think Soda has stuck with anything for a long time in.... well, I don't think he ever has. He dropped out of school, and I'm a little worried that marrage will be too hard for him and he will drop out of that too.