The bell rang. I slowly stood up from my seat. It had been a long day. "Ponyboy, you got a second?" asked Mr Syme, my ELA teacher. "Sure." "That semester theme you gave in to me? It was..." He paused. "It was the best one I've ever received in all my years of teaching." Mr Syme looked real old. Probably one of the oldest teachers in the school. I thought of how many of those he might have graded, and I was stunned. It was quite unexpected. "Well... Thanks I guess." I replied. I didn't know what to say. I was one of those people that don't know what to say or what to react when complimented.
"You know, you really could go somewhere if you tried. Maybe even be a big shot author someday. Ever thought about it?" He asked eagerly. "Well, I dunno." I replied slowly. I'd never really thought about it that way. I didn't really thing much about the future. I'd thought briefly on the subject, and I was thinking of becoming a track runner. I was real fast. I mean sure, I was good in school and everything, but I was a Greaser. Darry was real set on me getting a scholarship and everything. Maybe I would, maybe I wouldn't. When I was younger, I always dreamed of being a firefighter. Now, I really have no clue. After a brief pause, Mr Thomas continued. "You know how I said I would give you a C if you gave in a good revue? Well heck. This job sure deserves at least an A." I grinned. "Gee, thanks Mr Syme."
I was real scared of flunking this semester. Ever since the whole incident with Johnny and Dally I hadn't been paying much attention in school. Darry got kinda mad, but he tried sympathizing with me. I mean, I had just lost my best pal. "You got a great way with words. With a little practice, who knows how far you'll get." he added. I thanked him again and left.
The hallway was mostly deserted. Everyone was eager to go home since summer was almost here. I hadn't thought much about it. I was kinda excited, but at the same time a little disappointed. School was at least a distraction.
It was odd, not having Johnny there. Life passes by. Minutes, hours, and days without Johnny. According to the school counsellor, I was coping normally with his loss. Apparently I was still in shock. It takes a while to finally let go, and accept what really happened. Being his best friend and all, it had hit me the hardest. Darry seemed okay. He was never really an emotional person. He kept them bottled up. Soda was a bit distant, and real quiet. The only other time I'd seen him like that was after Mom and Dad died.
I took it differently. Sometimes I'd sob uncontrollably at night, replaying what had actually happened. But at other times, I couldn't cry. No matter how hard I tried. Writing did make me feel loads better, though. Letting it all out. I'd also catch myself staring outside the window, for long minutes, expecting Johnny to come in, quietly shut the door, and crash for the night on the sofa or in my room, his giant black eyes looking their usual scared and shy self. Sometimes I'd wake up, and forget about it for a few minutes. Then reality would come crashing back. It's weird how life works that way.
And of course, Dally couldn't control himself. Johnny was the one that held us all together. He was like a brother to him. I guess Dally is better off now. After Johnny was hospitalized, me and Dal sort of bonded together. We weren't really great buddies before.
The rest of the gang were more emotionally tough, I thought. I was wrong. Two-Bit was real shocked. The first few days, he would rarely crack a joke. For once, he was serious. I wish he weren't. His jokes were what made me laugh, even when I was real sad. Soda told me that Two-Bit promised himself he would never steal again in memory of Johnny and Dally. I wondered if he would ever fulfill his promise, remembering all the things he'd "borrowed" from anywhere.
Steve was acting real different too. Although him and Johnny had never been great pals, him and Dal were. They'd grown up together; snuck into bars, hotwired cars, stole from stores and whatnot. Steve had never liked me a great bunch, but he was treating me different, acting nice and stuff. It's not like I'm complaining though.
In the past, I would sometimes wonder and imagine the gang all grown up. I remember picturing me and Johnny creating some tuff invention and earning big bucks. Then Darry and Soda would quit work, Darry would go to that football school and become a big shot pro athlete, giving us season tickets to his games, and us cheering in the crowd. Soda would go back to school and earn that high school degree, and maybe get a better job than the gas station. Johnny would usually laugh when I told him this. "Do me a favour Pony and don't get our hoping up" he once said.
With my mind full of thoughts, I walked home.