Chapter 10: Again

The rest of the day continued to scorch on. Ponyboy did a little hanging out with Sodapop this day. They had a couple of talks and Pony's mind eased. He always felt comfortable around Sodapop.

The next day, they did the same thing. While they were talking, Darry came in. At first the youngest Curtis brothers were smiling, but after seeing their older brother's face it flipped upside down. Darry had a slightly concerned look on his face. But they knew, Soda more than Pony, that he was hiding majority of his worry.

"What's wrong Darry?"

"It's nothing. I mean. I haven't heard from Pam all day. I called the house but her boyfriend said she was busy."

"I'm sure she's fine, Darry," said Ponyboy, trying his best to sound cheerful.

He was clearly unsuccessful because Darry kept the same expression on his face.

"I hope you're right."

And with that, he walked down the hallway.

"I don't know…"

Pony's head turned quickly to his brothers. His face wasn't as cheerful as it usually was. It looked like he knew something was wrong.

"What do you mean?" he asked.

"It's…," started Soda but he stopped. "It's nothing. Just my mind running away from me."

Ponyboy looked at his brother for a while and just decided to not bother him about it. He walked up front to get himself a drink of water. Two-Bit came earlier and hung out with Gregory for a while. He wanted to go with Two-Bit after it was time to go, but Pony didn't let him. Even Two-Bit thought it was a bad idea, so Gregory understood more.

As he was getting some ice from the refrigerator, Lisa walked in and asked if he'd seen her husband.

"He just walked up here. He could be outside."

"Outside?"

"Yes. He seemed kind of worried."

"About what," she asked with lowered eyebrows.

"Well…he's kind of worried about Pam."

"Oh yes. He still doesn't trust her boyfriend."

"Really?" lied Ponyboy. He acted like he didn't know.

"Yes. But truly…"

Pony stared at her for a second. Truly what?

"Truly I have a bad gut feeling."

There seemed to be a lot of negative feelings in the house. Ponyboy didn't want to be around that so he just went out for a drive again. While he was driving, he felt something in his chest. He ignored the pain since it didn't really feel that vital.

As he was driving along, he noticed a bunch of kids in a field playing football. Just having fun. He pulled over and took a look at them all playing. He was now starting to miss those days and kind of wished that they would come back.

He didn't see too much of this anymore, not even with Gregory. He was always inside, and whenever his friends came over, they were inside with him. Back in the 60's, the boys would always be outside. The only reason to be inside was if it was too dangerous to be outside, and also in Ponyboy's case homework. Shoot. You could probably just call them outsiders…but it may have a different meaning.

Ponyboy decided that he would head back home. He now had an idea for his next book. As he approached the house, he noticed another automobile. It must have been Pam's. But he heard some slight yelling coming from the inside and it sounded like it was Darry's. Pony did the math, Pam's home plus Darry's yelling. Something awful had just happened.

He turned the car off and rushed into the house. When he opened the door, everyone turned around and looked at him. Everyone in the family was sitting in the living room. He looked at who was sitting on the couch and he saw Pam. She had a black eye and a cut across her head.

"Aw, God!" he nearly screamed. "What happened?"

"I'll tell you what happened," yelled Darry. "That boyfriend of hers beat her. I told you all that I didn't trust that son of a bitch!"

So that was why Pam was in pain the other day. It all made since now….and he was supposed to tell Darry about it. How could he forget something so important? Pony's chest hurt a little, but ignored it again. Right now, he had to fess up. He figured that would make him feel better.

"Um…Darry."

"What!"

"The-the other day, I saw that Pam was in pain."

Darry stared at him with large eyes and lowered eyebrows. It was the scariest look Ponyboy had ever received from him.

"You what?" he screamed and everyone in the room seemed to jump. He continued.

"Dammit, Ponyboy you don't ever think! What the hell has been the matter with you?"

Soda must have known what was coming because he hobbled himself closer to his brothers.

"Darry, c'mon. Don't-"

"Soda. I'm gonna say it!"

Say what, have those two been talking behind his back?

"Ponyboy! You don't stop living because you've lost someone. You should have known that!"

He knew exactly who his older brother was referring to. His deceased wife. The name Patricia came to his mind. His chest pain began to rise.

"Who the hell do you think you are?" yelled back Pony. "Who in the hell do you think you are!"

Gregory was sitting on the side, with wide eyes. Ponyboy had never cussed in front of him. Never.

"Guys! Please!" yelled Lisa.

"C'mon! Quit it," added in Soda.

Ponyboy was furious. This was the most furious he had ever been in his life. All of a sudden the anger in his head flushed down to his body, and more pain hit him in his chest. He wanted to say something, but couldn't get any words out of his mouth for some reason. Sodapop and Lisa had their back turned. Before he could get their attention, he fell to the ground clutching his chest.

"Dad!"

At that moment everyone turned to Pony.

"Oh my God! What's wrong!" screamed Pamela and Soda followed with,

"Pony!

"I think he's having a heart attack. Pamela, go call the ambulance," commanded Darry and his daughter ran to the telephone.

"C'mon Pony. Stay with us."

The youngest Curtis brother lied there looking upwards at his sister-in-law Lisa. His step-nephew Willie, his son Gregory and his brothers Sodapop and Darry.