I awoke the day of trial. I was so nervous that my knees were shaking enough to start an earthquake. I went to the kitchen and had a slice of cake, very thin. After I ate that meager bit of food, I felt like I would vomit. I was getting more and more nerved up every second.

Slowly, but surly I got a strait breath and my heart slowed down. I went and ate a little more, for my hunger caught up with me. Then I saw Soda was sitting and smoking two cigarettes without noticing. When I told him he rinsed them down the drain. He told me he has never really taken anything seriously in his life, except Sandy. He then said he was very scared about the trial, and he was seriously concerned about the idea of going to a boy's home. That's why he was trying to over-calm himself. Darry was doing pushups in his bedroom, obviously to calm his own nerves. Although, I could not imagine how Darrel Curtis, the strong man of the gang, could have fears and nerves. To me it didn't seem right.

I felt the urge to yell at him for being weak like this. Then I thought of a voice lost in the ages of a slayer's wrath, a voice that crumpled under a street lamp. The voice told me, "You'd better wise up, Pony…you get tough like me and you don't get hurt. You look out for yourself and nothin' can touch you…" I gave an involuntary shudder, and Darry looked up.

"You okay, kid?" He asked.

"Yeah…" I lied.

"Go shower and change, okay?"

"Ummm…okay…uhh…Darry…why?"

"Why shower? Well because, when you get up you tend to smell a little …"

I had cut him off. "No," My voice was quite strong for how emotional I felt, "why must it be like this?"

"Like what?"

"Why?" I started to cry, "w-w-why did J-J-Johnny die? Why did Dally die? Why d-d-do I have to l-l-l-lose them like we…we..we..lost Mom and D-Dad?" I then broke into tears.

"I aint no genius at this," he took a heavy and hard breath, "but I don't think death is the true end. And we will see them one day. It is my guess that we enter heaven when we die. We go and live in a beautiful place of colors and sound… not of this earth. I think so at least." He gave a small chuckle.

"Thanks Dally!" I said, and really meant it.

"Yeah, now go bathe, you smell like a raccoon under a tire!"

I ran off and showered. I found my nicest clothes and got dressed. I had two hours, so I watched some Television. There was a report on our court case on the T.V.

I yelled what was on and they all came in. It was just a review of what happened. Still nothing about Dally, nobody cared, I was on the verge of tears. Darry must have seen so, because he turned it off.

"C'mon guys," he said enthusiastically, "let's have a coke."

Two hours later we entered the court room. I caught site of the judge and felt myself going as white as a sheet.

"It's okay." Said Soda plainly, but I could see the fear bleeding into his eyes.

"Iveelukay" I mumbled. (though I meant to say I feel okay…)

We sat down and began. I was interviewed last. I was asked if I like my family, what my connection with Dally was and about school.

I was relieved when they said Darry, Soda and I were a family still. When we got home, what was left of the gang had a party with us celebrating our good luck at court. Two-Bit even juggled beer cans for a good laugh.

The next day I sat down and did my end of the year project for English and wrote about my adventures. I wrote everything I could and fell asleep doing so. I finished over the next week.

My teacher gave me an A+. I was very happy.

Epilogue:

Two years later:

Soda moved to Florida to marry Sandy and we attended the wedding. Darry went off to college and became an economist. I went on to finish High School. Eventually I became an author of murder mysteries after I finished college. Oh and Two-Bit went into stand up comedy. Steve and Soda, who worked at the gas station, now own it. Yes, life is good.