This story deals with Steve's return home after serving in Viet Nam. I
have nothing but the utmost respect for those who served their country in
that war and the response of civilians in this story are based on things
that actually happened not my opinion. I do not remember this war, as I
was only a toddler when we pulled the last of our troops out of that
country. Steve's story is historical fiction. Some of the things may have
happened but since Steve is a fictional person these event did not actually
happen to him. There will probably be some very graphic parts in this
story. If any of this bothers or offends you, please leave now. If you do
read, please respond. *Disclaimer: I don't own any of the Outsiders
characters they belong to SE Hinton. *
**There is screaming echoing through the air: screams of fear, screams of pain, screams of despair, screams of anguish. The air is thick with the smell of death and blood. All around me are pieces of people, people screaming for help. I try to move, to help; but I can't move. "Why can't I move?" I think to myself in panic. I look down and now my screams are echoing through the air.**
"Steve, wake up! Come on man wake up! Steve!" My best friend Soda was shaking me by the shoulders. "Please Steve! Wake up!" I could hear the panic in his voice but I was still caught in the terror of my nightmare.
"What's wrong?" I heard Soda's older brother Darry ask.
"It's another one of those nightmares. I wish he would talk to someone about whatever he dreams about because they are getting worse."
Darry placed his hands on either side of my face, "Steve, can you hear me?" he asked.
My eyes were open and slowly I began to focus. "Darry?" I whispered. "Is that you?"
"It's me Steve. Soda's here and so's Two-Bit and Pony. We're all here."
I felt my breathing return to normal and my heart beat slow down as I realized that I was safe at the Curtis' house.
"Steve, you have to talk about it, Buddy."
"No," I said firmly. "I am not going to talk about it." I started shaking at the thought.
"Easy, Steve," said Darry softly. I think he knew how close I was to blowing up. "Everything is going to be ok. We'll help you get through this."
That was almost funny. "How?" I asked. "You weren't there. You have no idea what it was like, so how in the Hell do you think you are going to be able to help me through anything!" I was yelling and pounding my fist on the back of the couch. Everyone stepped back. They had all been on the receiving end of one of my tirades. I was so mad I didn't even notice. "You think if I tell you everything that will make everything better? Are you fucking crazy? If you weren't there, you will never be able to understand!"
"Steve," said Soda softly, "None of us knows what it was like for you in Viet Nam. You're right we weren't there. That doesn't me we can't listen. Talk to us please."
"What do you want to talk about, Soda? You want to talk about what it was like to see your buddy step on a trip wire? You want to know what it's like to watch an eighteen year old kid bleed to death in your arms? Maybe you want to talk about what it's like to be spit on or cussed at for following orders and doing your job. Or maybe Soda, just maybe, you want to talk about this!" I screamed, throwing the blanket back and revealing the stump of my right leg. "Is that what you want to talk about, Soda? Is it?'
With tears running down his face, my best friend took my hand in his and said, "Yes."
**There is screaming echoing through the air: screams of fear, screams of pain, screams of despair, screams of anguish. The air is thick with the smell of death and blood. All around me are pieces of people, people screaming for help. I try to move, to help; but I can't move. "Why can't I move?" I think to myself in panic. I look down and now my screams are echoing through the air.**
"Steve, wake up! Come on man wake up! Steve!" My best friend Soda was shaking me by the shoulders. "Please Steve! Wake up!" I could hear the panic in his voice but I was still caught in the terror of my nightmare.
"What's wrong?" I heard Soda's older brother Darry ask.
"It's another one of those nightmares. I wish he would talk to someone about whatever he dreams about because they are getting worse."
Darry placed his hands on either side of my face, "Steve, can you hear me?" he asked.
My eyes were open and slowly I began to focus. "Darry?" I whispered. "Is that you?"
"It's me Steve. Soda's here and so's Two-Bit and Pony. We're all here."
I felt my breathing return to normal and my heart beat slow down as I realized that I was safe at the Curtis' house.
"Steve, you have to talk about it, Buddy."
"No," I said firmly. "I am not going to talk about it." I started shaking at the thought.
"Easy, Steve," said Darry softly. I think he knew how close I was to blowing up. "Everything is going to be ok. We'll help you get through this."
That was almost funny. "How?" I asked. "You weren't there. You have no idea what it was like, so how in the Hell do you think you are going to be able to help me through anything!" I was yelling and pounding my fist on the back of the couch. Everyone stepped back. They had all been on the receiving end of one of my tirades. I was so mad I didn't even notice. "You think if I tell you everything that will make everything better? Are you fucking crazy? If you weren't there, you will never be able to understand!"
"Steve," said Soda softly, "None of us knows what it was like for you in Viet Nam. You're right we weren't there. That doesn't me we can't listen. Talk to us please."
"What do you want to talk about, Soda? You want to talk about what it was like to see your buddy step on a trip wire? You want to know what it's like to watch an eighteen year old kid bleed to death in your arms? Maybe you want to talk about what it's like to be spit on or cussed at for following orders and doing your job. Or maybe Soda, just maybe, you want to talk about this!" I screamed, throwing the blanket back and revealing the stump of my right leg. "Is that what you want to talk about, Soda? Is it?'
With tears running down his face, my best friend took my hand in his and said, "Yes."