Disclaimer Note: The characters are that of SE Hinton the story is that of mine, as I would have seen it.

A/N. As title says, some familiar people are coming to Dallas

Chapter Eleven

"Ghosts of the Past Come to life"

June 11th Here I am again writing in my diary, I have come to rely on this when I have things I can't talk to Cherry about. Like today she wants to go down to Dealey Plaza, you know where it happened. Jeez I still can't believe it was back in November. Thanksgiving wasn't the same a week after that. Anyway she wants to go, I don't know why though. The front door opened so she must be home from work . . . Later

"Dally," I heard Cherry call out and I yelled back.

"I'll be out in a minute." I put the book away and grabbed a clean shirt.

"You ready to go?" She asked as I started walking out to her while buttoning up.

"Yeah," I answered. "Lets get it over with."

A half an hour later we were there and I found a place to park just about where dad parked that day. We started along and I could tell she was letting me lead. As we walked along, I felt her hesitate for a second and I looked at her.

"We don't have to do this." I said hoping she had changed her mind.

"No I am okay." She said with a smile. "I just . . . Well I was just looking up toward the fence over there and thought I saw a ghost."

I saw where she pointed and was reminded of what I saw that day. "Yeah that is where I saw the puff of smoke." I stopped then when I realized what she said so I asked. "What do you mean a ghost?"

I saw her smile. "Oh nothing don't worry about it." She said as if dismissing it. "Where was it you guys were standing?"

"Glory be," I said a few steps later and I bent over. "Right here Cherry," and she asked.

"What did you find?"

"My pen that dad gave me." I said as I stood up then and handed her the pen. "That is how I know this is where it was. I thought I had lost it you know at the Laundromat."

"So this is it." I heard her say as if not hearing what I said. "You were this close." I didn't hear anything she said then as I was reliving that day that minute of that hour and then I heard her say. "Dally did you hear me." I felt a tug of her hand and she was going to the silk.

We walked up toward the Depository and I found myself saying. "This is where they say Oswald was." I looked up, "in a window up there on the sixth floor."

"Damn," I heard a voice that made me freeze say. "If I didn't see it with my own eyes, I wouldn't believe it." I was turning to see if my ears were not deceiving me as I heard the voice call out. "Marcia come here baby. You weren't seeing things."

The guy there in front of me looked like Two-Bit and I started looking around. "You alone?" I asked and right then I heard Cherry gasp, she must have turned around.

"Oh my god," and I saw her light up a cigarette.

"Nope I must have mistaken you guys for someone else." He said only then a girl came up beside him and I heard Cherry say.

"It wasn't a ghost." Then I saw her cock her head. "So what are you two doing down here?"

I saw Two-Bit turn then. "Glory Be it is you." He started forward to us then and at first wasn't sure what to do, hell I wasn't sure either till he said. "Damn you have gained some weight Dally," and then Marcia said.

"Yeah and Cherry you are smoking."

"Yeah," Cherry answered and right then I asked again.

"You guys alone?"

Two-Bit cocked that eye brow of his. "Yeah Dally why wouldn't we be?"

"Just wondering that's all." I said and then it looked like a lightbulb went off in Marcia's head.

"What he means is, did the cops follow us?"

Two-Bit cocked an eyebrow. "Nah. man we are cool."

"How did you find me?" Was my next question and for a minute he didn't respond.

"Shoot we wasn't even looking for you . . . " I gave him a look and he held his head. "Well me and the guys were watching, you know that day when." He didn't have to say anything else then.

"Damn," I said and looked at Cherry but before I could say any more she did.

"I'll take care of things." She looked at the other two. "Thanks for that information now we got to go."

"What do you mean we just found you?" I heard Marcia say as we started off and again before I could say it Cherry beat me to the punch.

"Yeah and if you guys did then the cops did also."

I heard a laugh then and it was Two-Bit. "Oh you don't have to worry about that." I stopped then and gave him a look so he said. "That guy ended up dropping the charges to something like vandalism." He cocked an eyebrow again and grinned. "Old Hepper that cop that likes to harass us he was something sore the day before yesterday."

"Yeah," Marcia said then. "He was saying something about you getting away then because the statue of limitation something or another ran out on that."

I smiled beside myself then. "Yeah I bet he was mad as the dickens."

"That's the understatement of the year." Two-Bit said then and Marcia looked at him.

"Don't you have something for him?"

As if a light went off he said. "Oh yeah I almost forgot." He brought his hand out from his jacket then. "Here you have mail."

As I opened the piece of paper, I instantly saw familiar handwriting that I thought I would never see again.

Dally if you are reading this then Two-Bit wasn't kidding that day, and he found you. How are you? The guys were mighty worried that night after you didn't show at the lot, and then Cherry called and well you know. How are you two getting along? Before I forget Darry is down to one job, since it's summer I am helping out at the Drive-in as a projectionist.

'Jeez,' I thought. 'School is out already.' I read on then.

Anyway it was odd at first working there, they had me cleaning up and all. Don't worry I didn't get into any fights, we can't afford that anyway. Social workers have stopped coming around here like they were, now it's only every other month. Before I forget Soda says hi, maybe now he will stop pestering me and I can write. Johnny is doing homework, he is going to summer school to make up for what he missed. He's still in a wheelchair but the Physical Therapist says he is coming along. That is one of the reason's Darry is down to one job, Johnny goes every other day for therapy. Darry sure has changed since that night, he is almost like he used to be, you know before mom and dad died.

I smiled then causing Cherry to ask. "What's so funny?" I looked up and Two-Bit wasn't there as I heard her add. "He said something about he did what he had to do and it was time to go."

"Damn," I said beside myself and then she smiled.

"Don't worry I gave Marcia our address, I don't think this is the last time we will be seeing them." She lit up another cigarette then. "Are you ready to go now?"

"Yeah," I said while tucking the paper away. "What's for dinner anyway?"

She smiled. "I have some hamburger laid out for Tacos and burritos."

"Great," I said then and smiled. "Does that mean that Buddy and Rosita will be coming over?"

"Not that I know of." I heard her reply as we walked toward the car.

I let her drive back. I couldn't get what Ponyboy had written out of my head, how much things had changed. I even got the note out again and began reading where I left off.

There was a lot of heat there for a while around here. Even the Soc's was getting it and that was funny. Every time we turned around the cops were busting up a place for something. Buck is doing time, by the way, they got him for several things. He won't be out for a while, and get this the city took over his place and is even thinking of turning it into a club for kids. Old Tim isn't the same since you left, nobody slashes his tires anymore, well that is not true. The other day he found Curly doing that, and let me tell you, after he was done Curly was wishing he was back in reform school. Got to go for a minute Johnny just called me for something.

I smiled beside myself then and saw we were pulling into the driveway. Cherry said she would make dinner so I sat down on the steps of the porch and read on.

Johnny is funny Dally, if I didn't know any better I would say he is learning something. He just recited me a poem that he wrote, and it was something else, kind of mushy but still good. Have you seen any sunsets? I know that Cherry digs them that is why I ask.

I looked up then and wouldn't you know it, there was one. "Cherry are you busy." I called out and a minute later heard the screen door squeak.

"Not really," I heard her say. "Why is something wrong?"

"No," I replied and added. "I just realized this is a great place to see sunsets and noticed the time. Would you like to see this one with me?"

Cherry sat down next to me and I felt her hand on my forehead. "You feeling okay Dally?"

"Yeah," I said and realized why she asked so I smiled. "I just noticed this though, and it reminded me of that day behind the church."

I saw her give a funny smile. "Like I said are you feeling okay."

I leaned back against the rail post then and grinned. "Yeah Cherry, I am fine baby. What is wrong with a person liking sunsets?"

"Nothing except that person is Dallas Winston." I heard her say and I replied.

"Well maybe the old Dallas wouldn't care to much for them, but the new one finds them relaxing." I turned to her then. "Would you rather have the old one back?"

She pulled me close to her. "No I like this one better." She got a gleam in her eye then. "The old one as I recall ended up with a shower of coke."

"He deserved it," I said and let it be before adding. "That sure smells good by the way."

"Oh shoot," I heard her say. "I almost forgot," she got up like her pants were on fire. "The meat is going to burn."

She left and I went back to the letter from Ponyboy.

Before I forget Dally Soda's got a girl, and get this her name is Mickey, just like his old horse. Trust me though she looks a lot prettier and cleaner at that. Also believe it or not I got my license now, I decided it was time to fix up that old car that was in the backyard, that is one of the reasons I got the summer job. I don't think I am going out for sports next year though, I want to concentrate more on my studies, truth be known though my heart just isn't in it anyway. Well that about does it for now, hope this letter finds you and sorry it ran long. Tell Cherry thanks and that we said hey.

I put it away just as Cherry called from the kitchen and I rushed in to fix me a plate. "Why are you in such a hurry?" She asked and I could only nod toward the window as I said.

"Just enough sunset left want to join me."

We sat down again on the top step and ate. "So what was in the note?" Cherry asked after we were done.

I was almost lost there for a minute and then I remembered and said. "Oh Ponyboy said hey and just talked about everything that is going on." I flipped the letter to her and saw that she put it in her pocket. "Have you called your parent's lately?" I asked then as she lit up a cigarette.

"Yeah," She replied. "I called dad at work the other day when it was slow." I gave her a look and she added. "Don't worry Buddy said it was okay."

"How are they doing?" I asked to get past that and she smiled.

"They are doing okay. Dad sends her best and wants to know when we can visit." She put the cigarette out then and smiled again. "I told him at the wedding," I saw her grin then. "Then there was silence for a minute before dad got back on the phone."

She gave me a look then. "You feel up to a trip next weekend to see dad?"

"I was thinking just that." I said and added. "It's time for another fishing trip anyway. Why?"

She started twirling her hair then. "Well I had to compromise with them and kind of planned something then." I got ready to say something then only she added. "Not here though, I wanted it to be somewhere in between, and that was the only place I could think of." She was twirling her hair again. "Dad said it was okay. Are you mad?"

"Truth be told the old Dally would be." I said and then added with a grin. "No, I am not mad. It gives me a week to get ready." I got up then. "I guess I'll go call dad and tell him to expect company."

I saw her smile then. "He is already. I called him after getting off the phone with my dad that day."

"Okay," was all I could say then and happen to look in the window at the clock. "Glory be it's gotten late, and I have work tomorrow."

Thirty minutes later we were in the bed and she asked. "Seriously are you okay with next weekend?"

"Yeah," I said. "I mean I am just not sure what they will think of me that is all."

She took me by the chin then and pulled me to where we were face to face. "It doesn't matter what they think. I love you no matter what."

"The same as I do," I replied and added. "Everything is going to be okay then."

I felt her arms around me then as I went off into dreamland.