A/N: S. E. Hinton owns all rights to the characters in The Outsiders and her other stories, I only own my imagination. I know almost nothing about tornadoes, so please let me know if I got anything wrong. I live in a place where earthquake drills are common. Also, let me know if you'd like me to continue this fic. (I would like to give a hat tip to my fellow author extraordinaire, theporcelaincardinal, since she offered the inspiration for this Cold War fic. Thank you, Comrade!)
The tornado drill siren sounded, jarring me from a daydream and sending me beneath the desk, like the all other kids. I put my arms over my face, running through my options if the Commies actually decided to nuke us, like President Johnson says they will. This isn't gonna work, they know we're gonna die anyway. Maybe it's a calming tactic. Yeah, that's it. A calming tactic. Just breathe, Johnny, it's okay, we're okay. It's just a tornado drill. "Attention, students, this is only a drill! I repeat, this is only a drill! You may return to your work now." The fuzzy loudspeaker seemed clearer today. Maybe they finally replaced it.
My desk was in the back, far away from both the windows and the door, so I would be safe anyway. Come tornado or Ruskie nuke, Johnny Cade would survive. I always survived. We started diagramming sentences once the principal turned off his microphone, but I flinched at the feedback. He was always messin' up his electrical stuff. I don't know how he does it, but Two-Bit and I think that his wife drives him to work. He couldn't get here in one piece, even if he tried his best. I stared at the blank piece of paper for a while, then watched the dark clouds drift closer together through the window.
What would my options be if the Reds decided to attack? Well, I could die, or run, or starve. Basically, I'd die no matter which hand was dealt. I doubt I could take them, even with the other guys. Seven guys against two-hundred million aren't the greatest odds. A low rumble of thunder shook the windows and we all started packing up. The teachers were mumbling something about an incoming tornado, so they were sending us home early. I stuffed that paper in my pocket, shoving the pencil in too. I didn't even have real good socks anymore, much less a backpack. Thick raindrops spattered the ground with dark splotches as Pony and I walked home. "You think the Reds'll nuke us, Johnny?"
"I hope not. Why?" I buttoned my jacket as the wind picked up.
"Well, my history teacher thinks they will. He says that they'll push the button any day now."
"I think that was just a tornado drill, Pony. We've had those before."
"I know, it just scares me. The world is hanging by a thread, and the only option we have is a big red button."
"I think he's just tryin' to spook you, is all. They ain't gonna nuke us any time soon. Besides, that tordnado'll kill us before them Ruskies do." The heavy clouds released a downpour big enough to float Noah's ark, and we ducked into a nearby library as the sirens started up. The lights began to flicker.
"I'm gonna call Darry and Soda. They'll wanna know where we are." Pony said.
"Make it quick, looks like the power's goin' out." I sat at a table far away from the windows and doors so we'd be safe. Pony came back, worriedly fiddling with a backpack strap.
"No dice. The lines are out." He flopped down in the chair next to me, laying his head on his arms.
"Excuse me, boys," A librarian hurried toward us. "shouldn't you be at home?"
"It's too far to walk. We live on the other side of town." Pony replied, sitting up.
"Well, I'm sorry, but you can't stay here. There are no public tornado shelters." She countered.
"But it's dangerous out there! Can we at least stay in the bathroom?" She thought for a moment as the world grew eerily silent outside. The calm before the storm.
"Yes, I suppose you could stay there, just make sure y'all get on home once the storm passes. Don't mention this to anyone."
"We won't. C'mon, Johnnycake."
The bathroom was cold, and we sat on the tile in the dark, huddled together in a corner. I put my arms over my face, imagining that the Reds had nuked us. Duck and cover, Johnny. Just calm down, you're shakin' somethin' awful. It'll be okay, they don't know we're here. They won't-
"What if they don't find us?" Pony sounded about to cry, and I put an arm around him.
"It'll be okay. This is just supposed to be a little one, and we can go home in half an hour." I knew why he was upset- the gang had always stuck together at one house when a tornado hit, and we'd never gone through one alone before.
"But what if we don't make it home? What if we get trapped here? There's no windows." He was shaking worse than me, and his hands were clammy.
"Stand up and help me find the sink."
"But-"
"Please? I'm thirsty." I wasn't really, but I thought he could use a drink and something to focus his attention away from the chaos outside and in his head.
"Okay, Johnny."
We found the sink after groping around the wall like blind men at night. Turning on the water, I splashed my face, took a drink, then turned toward where I thought Pony was. "Your turn."
"I'm not thirsty."
"You will be if you keep sweatin' like that. Now, do as I say." I made a point to never get rough or boss him around at all, but in this situation I thought it was necessary to use a little force. He didn't say anything for a long time, but eventually, he took a drink too. His grip on my hand relaxed a bit after that, and we made our way back to the corner to wait out the storm.
