Ponyboy's P.O.V
Cancer? I couldn't believe it. At first I thought the doctor was joking, then I realized that doctors probably don't joke around about serious medical illnesses. Before Johnny died he said that 16 years wasn't long enough to live. When him and Dally died I wanted to be dead. But now that death is staring me straight in the face, I'm scared. I don't want to die. I want to stay here with Darry and Soda. I want things to go back to the way they used to be. I want my mom and dad back. This isn't fair. Life is horrible. Why would God do this to us? It's hard to accept but this is my life now, why me?
I don't get very much sleep most nights because I can't stop coughing. When I'm not coughing my chest stings like a thousand bees stinging my lungs, from coughing. This is torture. I remember the first time I got stung by a bee. I was about 4 years old.
*Pony's Flashback*
I was playing in the front yard with Darry and Soda on a hot summer day. We decided we'd cool off with a Pepsi. We were sitting on the front steps when a little bee came along and landed on my Pepsi bottle. I blew on the bee hoping he would fly away and leave me alone. Boy was I wrong. The bee flew around me and landed on my left arm. So I smacked it. "No Pony don't!" Soda warned but it was too late. The bee had already left his little stinger in my arm and flew away. I started wailing and ran into the house so mom could help. Moms always make things better.
I wished desperately for my mom now. At least I had Darry and Soda to help me through this. The doctor only gave me a few months to live, I was happy that I could spend it with my brothers and Steve and Two bit.
I heard Soda and Steve talking one night:
"How are we going to get along when he's gone!" Soda was crying. "I don't know Soda." Steve sounded sad too. "I can't bear losing him, Johnny, Dally and mom and dad. I just can't. Why him?" Soda's voice got a little louder. "Shhhh Soda, you're gonna wake him. I know this hard for you Soda, it's hard for all of us. But I'm gonna help you through this." I'm glad that when I'm gone Soda'll have Steve.
Why am I thinking like that? For the longest time it was; 'I'm , .' but now I'm thinking about after I die? I'm loosing it for sure.
I didn't understand why I wasn't allowed to live and any longer than 14 years but like it or not I'm dying and I can't help it. I sure am going to miss living, but I can't save myself. Maybe this can be lesson for a kids my age to not smoke so much, maybe I'll make it into the newspaper again. Maybe my journey will continue, who knows?
Tulsa Star (newspaper article)
Young Ponyboy Curtis passed away from a short but painful battle with severe lung cancer this Thursday. His memory will be passed on through his brothers Darrel and Sodapop. He will be greatly missed. R.I.P. Ponyboy M. Curtis.
I'm sorry if this isn't how some people might have wanted it to end but I felt like seeing Pony's POV might give y'all a little closer at least. Thanks for reading!
