"Ponyboy Michael Curtis, this is the third time I've called you!"

I roll onto my side and pull the pillow over my head as Mom's footsteps enter my room.

"Ponyboy, you're not even out of bed!"

"I feel funny." It's the truth - not that I'd mind skipping out on school, but I do feel kind of weird.

"Cold sick or stomach sick?" Mom's tone goes from exasperated to worried and she pulls the pillow away to feel my forehead, her hand soft and cool. "You don't have a fever."

"Not sick, just kind of strange, I guess. It's nothing, I'll be fine."

"Alright. Hurry up, then, or you'll be late for school!"

As she leaves and I get up to get dressed, the strange feeling grows stronger, but I can't figure out what it is. I try to ignore it as I go down to the kitchen, where Soda's talking through a mouthful of eggs, Dad's reading the newspaper, Darry's finishing cup of coffee and listening to whatever Soda's saying, and Mom's setting another plate on the table.

Dad looks over the newspaper at me and grins. "Nice of you to join us."

Everything's normal - so why do I feel like something's off? I sit down and start picking at my eggs, trying to figure out what I'm missing. I didn't forget a project for school…I haven't gotten into trouble lately…

"Hey, if you ain't gonna eat those, give 'em here."

I slide my plate over to Soda, who slathers the eggs in grape jelly before starting in on them.

Mom looks over at me, concern written in her face. "Are you sure you're feeling alright? You're not eating anything."

Dad puts the paper down. "You feel sick?"

I shake my head, feeling a little embarrassed that they're fussing over me so much. "Naw, something's just bugging me, but I can't figure out what."

"Forget to study for a test?"

I shake my head again. "I dunno what it is. I'll probably remember later."

"Alright." Dad downs the rest of his coffee before standing up. "We'd better head to work, Dar." He kisses Mom on the cheek and messes up Soda's and my hair before starting towards the door, Darry on his heels. "See ya'll later."

There's a chorus of 'Bye's' from us, and then Mom turns to Soda and I.

"You two'd better get ready for school-"

She cuts off, and I look at her, confused. She still talking - her mouth's moving, but I can't hear her. Come to think of it, I can't hear anything except a static that's slowly growing I my ears. Suddenly that weird feeling I had is so strong I start to panic - but I still don't know what's wrong.

Why can't I hear? Everything suddenly starts to go hazy as my vision blurs. What's happening? What-

And then it hits me so hard it's like someone punched me in the gut.

Mom and Dad.

They're dead.

I wake up screaming.