I sat up in bed, thinking about the dream I just had. It wasn't The
Nightmare, and it wasn't a scary dream at all. I'd dreamed about Dally and
Johnny, and the week they died. I began thinking about all of the stuff
that reminded me of Johnny. The lot, the hospital, Windrixville..but
nothing of Dally. He was as important as Johnny, but I didn't get to know
him enough to have any memories. What could remind me of Dally? The gun
he gave us before we left for Windrixville was destroyed in the fire at the
church, I remember that; Merrill's place has always been off limits to me;
his jacket had to be thrown away because of the charred back; I had
nothing. Then I remembered something.
When Dally had stayed over here one night, I found some kind of box under my and Soda's bed. He told us not to open it, and that he'd have to be dead before we did. It was still under our bed. I jumped off the bed and looked-sure enough, there it was.
It was a regular chest, the kind you padlocked. When I pulled the box out from under the bed, I looked around the combination lock for the numbers, but I couldn't find them. I flipped the box upside down, and there was the combination. I put the numbers in after I flipped it back over and popped it open. Inside was a photo of the gang; me, Sodapop, Darry, Steve, Two-Bit, Johnny, and Dally. It was taken by Steve's cousin, and maybe even Steve had forgotten about it. Under that was a picture of Dally and Johnny, Dally's arm around Johnny's shoulder, both looking tuff and ready for a rumble. There's my relic of you, Dally, I thought. Now I have something to remember you by.
When Dally had stayed over here one night, I found some kind of box under my and Soda's bed. He told us not to open it, and that he'd have to be dead before we did. It was still under our bed. I jumped off the bed and looked-sure enough, there it was.
It was a regular chest, the kind you padlocked. When I pulled the box out from under the bed, I looked around the combination lock for the numbers, but I couldn't find them. I flipped the box upside down, and there was the combination. I put the numbers in after I flipped it back over and popped it open. Inside was a photo of the gang; me, Sodapop, Darry, Steve, Two-Bit, Johnny, and Dally. It was taken by Steve's cousin, and maybe even Steve had forgotten about it. Under that was a picture of Dally and Johnny, Dally's arm around Johnny's shoulder, both looking tuff and ready for a rumble. There's my relic of you, Dally, I thought. Now I have something to remember you by.