Chapter Nineteen

Houston Cassidy

then one night in desperation, a young man breaks away

buys a gun, steals a car, tries to run but he don't get far

"Good morning, sir." I greeted the old man sitting in front of me. He seemed pleasant, he looked like a stereotypical grandfather.

He smiled at me. "Hi, Houston Cassidy, right, miss?"

I nodded. "Any relation to Serena Cassidy?"

My heart pounded wildly in my chest. Not many people mentioned my mother, especially not by her full name.

"Yes, sir." I answered. "She was my mama."

"Oh!" He looked at me apologetically. "She was my daughters best friend when they were hooligans."

Come to think of it, he looked sort of familiar. Maybe I'd met him when I was a kid.

"Well back to business," he cleared his throat. "Why do you think I should hire you?"

"I've got a good work ethic, I'm determined and I really need the money so you know I won't slack off."

I laughed and he laughed along with me.

He looked at a couple papers and we sat in silence for a moment.

He glanced up at me, "You're the best I've seen, and I'm pretty sure it gets no better on this side of town."

I smiled. "You're hired! You start tomorrow at 9am, if that's okay?"

"That's perfect. Thank you, Mr. Rees."

He grinned at me, but his eyes looked sad. "You're a very pretty girl, Houston. Just like your mother."

My heart fluttered and gave the older man the warmest smile I had left in me.

I showed up to "Rees Drug Mart" the next day fifteen minutes early. I wanted to make a good first impression since my reputation wasn't so good.

Mister Rees was at the cash when I walked in and he smiled at me like he did yesterday.

"Hello." He said. "I'm actually glad you're early, I have an emergency. Can you take over? It shouldn't be busy."

"Ain't a problem."

Mister Rees grabbed his jacket and left the corner store. I had to use the phone though, I felt bad because I was on the job but I hadn't had time to see Dallas or Johnny today.

"Southcrest Hospital, how may I help you?" Said a overly polite voice.

"Can I speak to patient Dallas Winston?" I replied in the exact same voice. I doubted they'd let me speak to Johnny.

"Oh, yes, of course. I'll just transfer the call."

There was a moment of static then a hello in his sleepy, raspy voice.

"Hey Dally." I greeted.

"Hey, doll. I'm surprised you haven't come see me yet." He laughed to himself.

"I kinda got a job." I tell him.

"A job?" He chuckled more. "Houston, you're a riot."

"No, Dal. For real."

He stopped his laughter. "Hell, ain't this something then."

"I can't stay at Bucks forever." I shrugged even though he couldn't see me.

"Yeah you're right, me neither," He agreed. "Where ya workin' because I sure as hell know it ain't the Dingo."

I rolled my eyes. "No it ain't the Dingo, smart ass. It's Rees Drug Mart."

"Where..?"

"You know, in the shopping center."

"Oh cool," He said distantly. I knew he didn't really care about this conversation.

"So you okay? How's Johnny?"

"I'm good. Getting out tonight. Johnny's bad, nurse said he's worse."

The bell over the door rang and I knew I had to go.

"Poor kid. I gotta go."

I hung up the phone and smiled at the couple that just walked in.

"Good morning. Welcome to Ree's."

They both muttered a reply back and kept searching through the shelves.

I always liked Ree's, even more as a kid. It wasn't just a drug mart, it had a couple tables in the back and it sold quick meals like burgers and sandwiches and ice cream.

It also got it's magazine rack renewed on time, every time. Which had made me real happy when I was stuck on Elvis.

The couple left, and many other couples came and left.

Around 11:30, a girl my age came in and put on the company shirt and tag.

"Hey, I'm Rita." She had ginger hair and green eyes. She also snapped her gum obnoxiously.

I tried not to be rude so I'm smiled politely. "Houston."

"Well, Houston," She pinched up her nose. "You can take your lunch now and I'll take over."

I nodded and took of the company shirt and tag and put it under the counter. I had some money so I was going to get the bus to the hospital.

One my way out I heard Rita's gum snap twenty seven times. I almost screamed.

I didn't know Rita, but I knew girls like her. Her type was what gave us East Side girls the name "greaser", along with the boys. She was the type that wore bright make up and tight skirts, all while trying to out curse and drink the boys. Not saying I was better than her, it just wasn't my thing.

When I got to the hospital, Dally was asleep. I nudged him and he groaned loudly.

"God. Let me fucking sleep." He mumbled to himself.

I let an eye roll slip and threw and burger and fries on his lap, I laid a coke on the table.

"It's from Ree's," I informed him as he inspected it. "Not the cafeteria."

That's all it took for him to dig in. I almost laughed. Instead, I went in to see Johnny.

He did look worse. He hardly looked up when I walked in and he just seemed limo today. There was hardly any emotion in him.

"Hi, Johnny."

He sort of smiled in response.

"I brought you a root beer," Immediately he reached out his hand. But it was slow and frail. "I ain't s'pposed to but I thought I'd break the rules. You seem miserable, baby."

Johnny gulped down the drink, then responded. "I-I am. I feel w-worse."

I felt bad. "No. Stay. Houston, just talk to me ok? Even if I can't respond."

"Okay, I will."

I talked to him for a full forty five minutes, he responded about five times but I was offended. I knew he was weak and tired, and his eyes let me know he was interested. When I glanced up at him then, he had fallen asleep.

I chuckled and left his room. I didn't have time to say goodbye to Dally so I just hopped on the bus.

Rita wasn't as bad as she first seemed. When I got back, she had no gum to chew and she seemed more pleasant. She still wasn't on my favourite persons list, though.
Not many people came in, but it was a Tuesday after all. Most kids wee in school right now.

Like me, Rita was a drop out. Last year, when she was sixteen she had gotten herself knocked up. That's when she left school, her baby would be one in a week. I got to know all this in between customers. I even got to see the little baby girl, her boyfriend brought her in later on in the afternoon. She was dating Rodney Marlow. I didn't know him, but I knew he was in the River Kings, Curly told me.

A little after nine I got to leave. It had just gotten dark and the stars looked real pretty.

My bliss was soon interuppted when a beat up red thunderbird raced into the parking lot of the shopping center. It pulled up to me hastily.

The window was already reeled in and all Dallas said was a low, "Get in."

Ponyboy was in the passenger seat and he was beat up. He had bruises everywhere and he looked dazed. I remembered the rumble had been tonight. Dally wasn't half as bad as Pony, only one bruise was showing a cut on his left cheek.

I didn't even have time for a seatbelt before Dallas was speeding off. He was upset for Dallas – he even rambled to Pony about being tough and when he did I could see tears in his eyes. I knew Ponyboy saw them, too but neither of us said anything. We both knew Dally would never want us to point that out because he was trying his hardest to hide it. It was the rudest thing you could do to point out someone's tears if you knew they were trying to keep them hidden.

Lights, red and blue flashed from behind us, Dallas's speeding attracted the attention of one of the cops patrolling. I wasn't surprised, he had been going one hundred in a sixty zone.

Dallas muttered something to Pony I couldn't catch from the backseat but after he did Pony started groaning and acting as if he was dizzy. It became obvious what Dallas had told him to do.

The window reeled down and the officer poked his head. "Whats the rush? You were speedin' an awful lot there, son."

Dally nodded. "I'm sorry officer, but the kid here has been in a motorcycle accident. I'm tryna get him to the hospital."

One look at Ponyboy and the officer was quick to believe Dally's well said lies. He escorted us the rest of the way.

We skipped signing in with the snotty nurse and climbed the stairs to Johnny's room.

He looked a lot worse than he had that afternoon. When I had seen him earlier he could at least crack a smile to greet me. Now all the kid did was grunt.

"How ya feelin', Johnny?" Dallas asked. "You okay?"

Johnny shook his head. He talked to us the best he could. His voice was little and it cracked. He said something to each of us that sounded too much like a goodbye for my liking.

Lastly, he called Pony over to him closer. I heard him whisper "Stay Gold."

Johnny's body was limp after that. The heart monitor flat lined.

Tears brimmed in my eyes and I had no idea what to do.

Dallas was gone by the time I turned around but I hadn't missed hearing the rough thud of his fist punching the wall. I knew I should go find him. If you knew Dally, you knew when he got upset he didn't cry or sulk. Dallas did something completely stupid.

Tears streamed down my face, blurring my vision, and making my search for Dally harder. I heard a boy yelling and a woman scream and I knew that's where he was. He was outside the emergency exit, swinging his gun around. Ponyboy had already found him. They both looked worn out.

He was gone soon after I found him. That worried me but Pony looked distressed; I couldn't leave him without feeling guilty.

I wrapped the boy in my arms and let him cry.

"I'll bring you home now, okay?" I had enough money for a cab. Waiting for the bus would have been cheaper but I couldn't bear the thought of embarrassing Ponyboy. I got one of the nurses to call one for me.

As soon as Pony was in the house Darry jumped off the armchair, ready to give him an earful. I shook my head at him.

"What happened, Pone?" That was Soda.

"Johnny, he's dead. Dallas is gone. He ran off like he's about to explode."

Nobody said anything, they just let Johnny's death sink in.

Two-Bit threw his arm around me and we both sat on the floor. The celebratory chocolate cake wasn't even touched. Soda wrapped Pony up in him; Darry patted his head. They were a family thick and thin.

The phone rang a little while later. Steve got it.

"Its Dal," He told us all. "He wants to talk to Darry. It seems important."

Darry took it quickly. We all silently knew that Dally was out doing something reckless.

"He's in trouble, he needs us to go to the lot and help him hide." He looked my way. "He said he loves you, Houston."

If that had been anyone else on the phone, it would have been cute. But that was too out of character. That was a goodbye.

It came to me then that Dallas might love me but it wasn't enough. The only thing that he really loved was Johnny and that was gone. I was nothing compared to that.

The boys ran off immediately to get Dally. I chased after them, but as usual I lagged behind.

The lot came into view and I could see the figure of Dallas. But not even seconds later, flashing lights appear and sirens wail. Dallas is pointing his gun at the police.

Dallas is pointing a heater at the police.

"Dallas, no!" I scream at him as loud as I can. He turns to me, but it's useless. Shots are already fired by the fuzz. The boys are yelling and hollering at the cops.

I watch Dallas fall to the ground.

I push my way through the group of boys and kneel down next to Dallas. There's gun wounds everywhere and he's bleeding bad. He doesn't have much more time. His eyes are still open though, but they're fluttering.

"Hous-ton." He says. I wrap my arms around him, despite the blood pouring out from his wounds.

"Don't die, Dally." I realize now I'm crying again. Wet, hot tears are pouring down my face. My words are in vain though because the boy is already dead. Just like he wanted.

a crowd gather 'round an angry young man

face down in the street with a gun in his hand

in the ghetto

This is it! This is the end! Last chapter after three years! There will be an epilogue though, so heads up. Also, I'll be moving accounts because after I end this story I realize how much my writing as changed and I feel like I need a fresh start for my new stuff. Check it out: /~vasoline