Part VIII: The Visitor

October 8, 1956 4:00 PM



Ponyboy recently was told he had to stay in bed a week to recuperate. WhenI left for work, I saw some Soc at the door. I told him to get lost, but he told me he had something to say to Pony. I let him in. At work, nothing eventful happened. When I got home, I entered Pony's room. The first thing I noticed was one of my old yearbooks on the table, open to a page with Bob Sheldon. He told me, "The hearing is coming up soon. But Randy came and told me he'd testify for us."

I asked him if Randy was the Soc that was at the door. "Yes," he answered, "and he was here until Darry came and kicked him out. I don't know what I was doing." he told me. "I insisted that I had the knife, that I killed Bob, and Johnny isn't dead."
"That's normal, Ponyboy" I said, seeing the worry in his eyes. "Your friend died. Of course you're going to deny it."
"I know. I just feel like it was all my fault. If I hadn't been drowning in the fountain, he wouldn't have stabbed Bob."
"It's not your fault. You couldn't help what the Socs were doing."
"Yeah, I guess so."
"You remember that, okay?" I told him.
"Okay." he agreed.
I left his room. I was worried about him. I just hope he doesn't do anything stupid.

Part VII: The 2nd Death

October 7, 1956 7:06 AM

Shortly after Pony told us about the hospital, Dally called. He had just robbed a store and the fuzz were after him. He told us to meet him in the vacant lot. We all rushed to meet him. When we arrived, he was already there, with the fuzz close on his heels. He stopped under a streetlight, took out the unloaded gun, and raised it towards the police. They opened fire, and Dally crumpled to the ground like a sack of potatoes. Ponyboy fainted at the sight.

October 7, 1956 2:47 PM

I did some research on Johnny's last words: 'Stay gold'. As it turns out, it's a reference to a poem by Robert Frost. I was never into poetry, but I'll repeat it here:

Nature's first green is gold,

Her heart is hue to hold.

Her early leaf's a flower,

But only so an hour.

Then leaf subsides to leaf,

So Eden sank to grief,

So dawn goes down to day,

Nothing gold can stay.

I had absolutely no idea what it meant, so I asked Ponyboy about it. He didn't know what he meant either, except for the connection to the poem. I didn't get it. Johnny was smart. He wouldn't have told Pony that if he didn't know what it meant. If only that piece of wood hadn't fallen on his back. I wish he was still with us. Dally, too.

When I asked Pony about the poem, I also gave him the copy of Gone with the Wind. I knew that Johnny wanted him to have it. Ponyboy told me that he couldn't continue reading it, because it would remind him too much of the deaths of Johnny and Dally. So I kept it. Who knows, I might want to read it later.

Part VI: Death of a Cripple

October 7, 1956 2:36 AM

After the rumble, Dally convinced Ponyboy to visit Johnny in the hospital. "He's getting worse," he told us. He took Ponyboy to the hospital. We arrived home, but we didn't party like we planned. I wasn't feeling in a party mood for two reasons. One, Johnny was dying. Two, Sandy sent my letter back unopened. We just sat around, drinking and smoking. There wasn't much to do. We just fixed up each other's cuts, bruises and injuries. After about an hour, Ponyboy returned to us, crying. He told us what happened when he went to visit Johnny.

When they arrived at the hospital, the doctor stopped them from entering because Johnny was getting worse. Dally pulls out Two-Bit's switchblade and forced their way into the room. When they arrived at Johnny's side, Dally told him that they won the rumble. Johnny's response was "Useless... fighting's no good". He then told Ponyboy "Stay gold, Ponyboy. Stay gold." Those were his last words. Dally was devastated at the loss of his best friend. He hit the wall, begging Johnny not to be dead. Then all of a sudden he bolted out of the room, down the hall, and left.

I was afraid at this news. "Now that Johnny's dead, the only person he loved, who knows what he's going to do?" I asked.

"Dally can take care of himself." Two-Bit said. "But what did Johnny mean by 'Stay gold'?"

I saw it in Pony's eyes that he knew, but he said he didn't understand. I decided I'd try to find out. I just hope Dally's OK.

Part V: The Soc War

October 6, 1956 11:47 PM

When I arrived home from work, I took a shower because we greasers always get spruced up before a rumble. When I got out, Pony was there. He told me everything that happened while I was gone. Pony and Two-Bit had gone to visit Johnny. Two-Bit left for the drugstore to get a book. Johnny's mom came. He refused to visit her and after a long battle with the nurse, he passed out. They went to visit Dally. He asked Two-Bit for his switchblade. Two-Bit gave it to him without hesitation. Dally told them that the greasers had to win that fight. Then they left.
We left for the rumble at 9:00. We walked slowly to the park, and when we arrived we waited for the Socs. They took a bit longer because they're on the other side of town. When they arrived, Darry stood up and said he would take any challenger. I couldn't believe my eyes when Paul, his old friend, came p and started fighting him. That's when it all started. The Socs just pounced on us, hitting any greaser they saw! I was fighting a big, blond haired one when Dally arrived. He had used the switchblade to get out of the hostpital. He started fighting, really well for being injured. Just then, the Soc jumped on me, kicking me hard in the chest. He was about to kick me as I lay on the ground when Two-Bit came out of nowhere and tackled him.He got up and ran away. In fact, all of them ran. We won!

Part IV: The Aftermath

October 6, 1956 5:37 PM

Today the reporters came and interviewed Ponyboy. I could tell he didn't want to, so I stepped in and distracted them for a while. But I got bored, so I fell asleep in Darry's lap. When I woke up, we went to visit Dally and Johnny. Dally was okay. Johnny, however, was not. He had a broken back, he couldn't feel anything below his waist, and on top of it all he had third degree burns. He would be crippled for life-if he survived.

When we arrived home, Ponyboy fell asleep almost immediately. I laid down beside him and fell
asleep, too.

The next day, I got up late. Pony and Darry were already up. I ran around, looking for my work clothes. After I found them, I had to hurry to work. I quickly ate, did the dishes, and left.

When I arrived at work, my boss yelled at me. I just tuned him out and kept nodding.

When he was done, I went and started working. During the day, all I could think of was Sandy and how she had moved to Florida. I missed her a lot. I hope she reads my letter.

Part III: Return Of The Ponyboy

October 5, 1956 5:32 PM

This afternoon I went to Dally's place and snuck in. I looked around to see if there was anything that could help me find out where he was. I looked around and didn't find anything helpful besides that sweatshirt of Pony's. I would have taken it back, but I left it there because I didn't want Dally to know I was there. All I saw were smokes, a knife, and other everyday objects. Just then I realized that it was what I didn't see that mattered. The note I had wrote was gone! Now I knew for sure. Dally was with Pony and Johnny! Suddenly, my phone rang. I nearly jumped out of my skin because I was afraid of getting caught snooping,. I looked. It was Darry.
"Where are you?" he asked.
"I'm just hanging around" I replied.
"I'm at the hospital parking lot. Come quick." he replied. "Dally, Johnny and Ponyboy are here!"
Before he finished his sentence I was shooting out the door to my car. Ponyboy was back!

October 5, 1956 9:49 PM

When I met Darry at the hospital parking lot, we went inside. As soon as we got to the waiting room, Ponyboy jumped out of one of the seats and I hugged him. He looked so different, without his long, tuff hair. Darry looked to Ponyboy. Ponyboy looked back at him, and I could see recognition in those greenish-gray eyes. He finally understood how much Darry loved him. Pony ran up to him and gave him a big hug. And surprisingly, Darry cried! Darry NEVER cries. Even at our parents' funeral, he just sat there. But today, today was different. Today he flat out bawled. And so did I. Ponyboy was back!

Part II: Putting it All Together

October 4, 1956 5:56 PM

I went and saw Dallas today. I found Ponyboy's sweater with him. This proved to me that he knew where Ponyboy was. I asked him where Ponyboy and Johnny were, and he said the same thing he told the fuzz: Texas. I didn't believe him, but I gave him a note to give Pony saying that Darry was sorry and he didn't mean it, that this is killing Darry, and that I want them to turn themselves into the fuzz, even though that isn't an option.

October 4, 1956 10:34 PM

Us greasers made a deal with the Socs today. The deal was that we would have a big fight and if the Socs win, nothing changes. But if we win, the Socs back off. I hope Ponyboy and Johnnycake return soon. We need them for the fight. And also, Dally might be brought in to the fuzz and be unable to help. We need them to win.

October 5, 1956 9:27 AM

I cant find Dally anywhere. I think he`s off seeing Johnny and Pony. I hope he tells them about the rumble. It may convince them to come back.

Part I: Murder in the Park

October 4, 1956 5:42 AM


Today Darry got mighty angry at Ponyboy. So angry that he went and hit him. I was surprised, because Darry had never, ever, hit him. I knew Darry didn't mean to, because he was just as surprised as I was. But Ponyboy was so upset, he turned and ran. Darry yelled that he didn't mean to, but Ponyboy musn't have heard. Gosh, I hope he's all right. The Socs can get mighty nasty with us Greasers.

October 4, 1956 10:15 AM

Ponyboy still hasn't reterned to us. And to make matters worse, the fuzz found a dead Soc in the park, stabbed in the heart. We filed a missing persons report for him and Johnny today. Later today I'll ask Dally if he has an idea of where they could be. If he does know, he probably wont tell. I could probably learn more from my horse, Mickey Mouse.

Introduction

The title of this blog and the URL are optical illusions. They may say "the Ponyboy's blog, but I am really writing as Soda. Just saying this so my writing makes sense. Thanks for reading.

The Pony Boy

P.S. Don't blame me for bad spelling and grammar. It is on purpose because I am writing as Soda.