On the fifth day, the bologna was starting to become very distasteful to me. Everytime I looked at it, I suddenly lost my appetite. Pony told me that he was just as sick of it as I was.
We were smoking a lot more than usual, giving us something to do. Johnny had told us that it'd make us sick. We were careful with our cigarettes because we didn't want to cause a fire.
I'd smoke outside while they smoked inside. I barely ate anything which doesn't sit well on an empty stomach. Even Johnny would try to read Gone with the Wind on the back steps.
The five days that we spent in that church, it felt as if we were living in it, nothing real but bologna sandwiches, the Civil War, and the mist of the valley. Ponyboy and I have wild imaginations given that we're twins.
I was sleeping on the floor next to Pony on my side. Pony and Johnny were sleeping on the pews. "Hey blondies." a familiar voice said, someone touching my hair.
I opened my eyes and smiled when I saw who it was. "Dally, you're here!" I said, sitting up with a stretch. "Hey, Dally!" Pony said, sitting up also.
We never thought we'd see the day when we're happy to see Dally Winston. He was our only connection to the outside world right now. Wonder what went down.
"How's Sodapop? And Darry?" I start asking, pushing myself up to my feet. "Are the fuzz after us? Do the boys know?" Pony adds but Dally breaks in.
"Hold your horses, kids." Dally said, "Can't answer everything at once. You three want to get something to eat? I'm starving." "Is it safe to go out?" Pony asked eagerly. "Yep." Dally said, trying to find a cigarette, "Gotta cancer stick, Johnny?"
Johnny gave him a cigarette. "The fuzz won't be lookin' for you here. They think you guys went to Texas. Texas, man." Dally said, lighting up. He then takes notice as to how different we looked since the last time we saw him.
"Haven't you guys eaten anything?" he asked. Johnny gave him a startled look. "Yeah. What gave you that idea?" Johnny asked.
"You three are pale and lost weight. Y'all need to get some more sun." Dally answered, shaking his head. Unlike us, Dally looked like he needed a shave. He had a bit of facial hair covering his jaw.
He also looked like he was the one sleeping in his clothes for a week instead of us. He hadn't been to a barber in months. I would've said something but I learned it was safer to not be a smart mouth with Dally Winston.
"Hey, Ponyboy, Bexley," he said, fumbling around his back pocket, "Got a letter for you guys." Pony and I exchanged a look. "From who?" Pony asked.
"The President of the United States." Dally sarcastically said. "You serious?" I questioned, raising my eyebrow. "It's from Sodapop." Pony and I were bewildered. "Soda? How'd he know?" Pony asked. "Yeah, we never said what happened." I add.
"He came over to Buck's a couple days ago and found your sweatshirt, Pony. I told him I didn't know where you guys were but he didn't believe me. He gave me this letter alone with half of his paycheck to give you guys. You two oughta see Darry. He's takin' this mighty hard." Dally replied.
Pony opened up the letter and held it out. I hung over his shoulder with an arm resting on his shoulder along with my head. We both read the letter.
Ponyboy, Bexley,
Well, I guess you two got into some trouble, huh? Darry and me nearly lost our minds when you guys ran out like that. Darry's awful sorry that he hit you guys. You both know that he didn't mean it. Then you guys and Johnny turned up missing and what with that dead kid in the park and Dally getting hauled into the station, well it scared us something awful. The police came by to question us and we told them everything we could. I can't believe that Johnny killed somebody. Dally knows where you guys are, you know him. Darry hasn't got the slightest notion where you two are at and it's nearly killing him. I wish you guys would come back and turn yourselves in but I guess you guys can't since Johnny might get hurt. You guys are sure famous. Got a paragraph in the newspaper. You two take care of each other and say hi to Johnny for us.
Sodapop Curtis.
He should improve on his handwriting. Although hearing from our brother made me tear up. It also made me feel a little better knowing Darry regretted hitting us. I'm hoping to see him and Soda soon; I miss them something awful.
"What's going on with the cops, Dally? How come you got hauled in?" Johnny asked, running his fingers through his hair. "Them boys at the station know me so well by now. I get hauled in for everything that happens in our turf. I also slipped out that you three were headin' for Texas. So they'll be lookin' there." Dally grinned wolfishly.
Dally looks at Ponyboy and I, taking a good look at our blonde and short hair, "Get a load of these two with their blonde hair. Pony, you used to have tuff hair. Bex, your hair honestly was better long."
I put on the leather jacket. "Yeah, we look lousy. So don't rub it in." Pony said sourly. "You guys want something to eat?" Dally asked. The sound of food made my stomach growl audibly.
"Starving. Let's get the hell outta here." I said, heading to the front door . "Yeah, it'll be good to get in a car again." Johnny said wistfully. "I'll give you guys a ride for your money." Dally drawled.
We rode in Buck's car, which he lent Dally to get up here, it was a convertible with the top down. However, Dally would always drive a bit too recklessly for my taste. Pony likes driving fast and Johnny was bonkers for drag races.
However, we were a little car sick when Dally took a corner on two wheels with the brakes screeching. We hadn't been in a car for a while so I think that's what it is.
We pulled into Dairy Queen and I grabbed a Dr. Pepper while Pony grabbed a Pepsi. Johnny, Pony, and I wolfed down some barbecue sandwiches and some ice cream sundaes. It had gotten the taste of bologna out of my mouth.
"Glory, you don't need to make every bite as if it's your last. I got enough money so take it easy. Man, I thought I was hungry!" Dally said, amazed by how fast we were eating. "Try living on bologna for five days. You'll get sick of it eventually." I said, finishing up my second sandwich.
Johnny ate his faster while Pony didn't slow down until he got a headache. "I didn't tell y'all this but the Socs and us are having all-out warfare all over the city. That kid you killed had plenty of friends. It's Soc against grease. We can't walk around alone so I started carryin' a heater." Dally said, finishing his third hamburger.
When he said that, I almost choked on my food. "Dally! You kill people with heaters!" Pony said, frightened. "Ya kill 'em with switchblades, too, don't ya, kid?" Dally said in a hard voice. Johnny was noticeably uncomfortable.
"Is it loaded, Dally?" I asked. "Nah. I ain't aiming to get picked up for murder. But it sure does help cause a bluff. Tim's gang and ours are having it out with the Socs in a few days at the vacant lot. We got hold of the president of one of the social clubs just like the good old days. If they win, things go on as usual. But if we do, they stay outta our territory for good. Also we got a spy." Dally went on, remembering New York.
"A spy? Who?" Johnny asked, looking from his banana split. "That good lookin' chick I tried picking up that night you killed the Soc. The redhead, Cherry what's-her-name." Dally answered.
"Cherry Valance!" Pony and I said, almost dropping our food. "Yeah, she came to the vacant lot the night Two-Bit was jumped. She drove up in her old Sting Ray. She told me to go to hell when I offered to take her to The Dingo. Said that they were drunk and looking for a fight and you guys fought back in self-defense." Dally said.
Johnny, Pony, and I were thinking back of that night and I could hear that soc telling us to pick up our own kind. Even me. She was afraid of falling in love with him if she saw him again. She was the soc that was the dreamer who watched sunsets and loathed fights. I can't believe that a soc was even helping us. Pretty sure that Dally noticed it.
"Man, what do they do for kicks around here? This place is out of it." Dally said, looking around the scene without interest, "So this is the country huh?"
"Man, it was a good idea that you two cut and bleached y'all's hair. They already printed your descriptions in the paper but you sure wouldn't fit 'em now." Dally commented. Johnny had finished his fifth sandwich and announced, "We're going to turn ourselves in."
That made Dally gag and swear awhile. He then turned to face Johnny, "What?" "I said we're goin' back and turning ourselves in." Johnny repeated quietly. Needless to say, Pony and I were surprised.
I thought about turning ourselves in for a while. Pony was also thinkin' about it. I don't even need to ask him about it; I know my brother too well. That alone jolted Dally.
"I got a good chance of getting let off easy." Johnny said desperately. "Exactly. He's got no record with the fuzz and you said it was self defense. Ponyboy, Cherry, and I can testify. Pretty sure that Johnny ain't gonna stay in that church for the rest of his life." I said.
Johnny was scared to death of the fuzz and the mere thought of going to the police station made his black eyes grow big. "We won't say that you helped us, Dally. We'll give you the gun back and what's left of that money. We can say that we hitch hiked back so you won't get into trouble." Johnny went on.
"Look, it ain't fair for Darry and Soda to worry about Ponyboy and Bexley all the time. Guess that my parents are lookin' for me." Johnny nodded, trying to not look eager.
"But the guys are worried. Two-Bit was going to Texas to hunt for you guys." Dally said in a matter-of-fact tone of voice. "Did they ask about me? My parents I mean." Johnny swallowed. "No they didn't. Man, Johnny, why do they even matter? You think that my old man gives a hang whether I'm dead in a car wreck, drunk in the gutter, or in jail. That don't bother me none." Dally snapped.
Johnny didn't reply to that. The way he stared at the dashboard made my heart break in two.
Dally cursed under his breath as we drove out of the Dairy Queen. He meant what he said about disowning his parents so I felt sympathy for him. But the entire gang cared and did what they could to make it up to him.
Perhaps that lost puppy look with those big eyes made him everyone's kid brother. But they couldn't take the place of his own parents. It made me think of my three brothers and I loved all of them, even if Darry scared both Pony and I; but Soda couldn't take our parents place.
They were Pony and I's real brothers, not some adopted ones. It hurt me to know that Johnny's own parents didn't want anything to do with him. Dally was the type of guy that could take anything that comes across him, hard and tough.
Johnny was a good fighter and played it cool, but he was also sensitive. It's not a good way to be if you're a greaser.
"Johnny, you should've turned yourself in five days ago. It'd save us a lot of trouble." Dally scowled, smacking the steering wheel. "I was scared and I still am." Johnny replied with conviction, "Guess I cut your hair for nothing, guys."
"Yeah." I sighed, running my fingers through my hair. "Guess so." Pony asked. We were both glad to be going back to Tulsa. Being in that church irritated me to no end.
"Johnny, you don't want to go to jail, man. I don't want to see you get hurt. You don't know what jail can do to you, man. It makes you mean and I don't want it to happen to you like it happened to me." Dally said, pushing his hair out of his eyes.
I stayed silent and rested my head in my hand, my elbow was resting on the side of the car, just watching as we sped passed the scene. Something rose in my chest, Dally never talked in that way. Not once.
He didn't give a damn about anyone but himself, he was cold and reserved. He's never talked about being in jail or his past. If it was at all, it was mostly to brag. He was growing up on the streets at ten years old.
Surely he would've went back to that church without hesitation. But we soon reached Jay Mountain and the smell of smoke hit my nostrils. Dally stomped on the breaks and we saw what it was.
My eyes widened as I saw that the church was on fire! "Bex, c'mon! Let's go see what it is." Pony said, hopping out. "Right behind you. Let's go!" I nod, hopping out as well.
Dally was annoyed by what we were doing and wanted us to get back in the car. He'd have to park the car in order to catch us. Johnny had got out to follow us.
I saw that there was a crowd of people in front of the church, which was ablaze. Most of the people was little kids and I wondered how they got there so quickly. "Let's go ask an adult. Maybe they'll know something." I say, feeling my heart pounding.
Ponyboy tapped the shoulder of the nearest adult. "Hey, what's going on?" he asked. "We don't know for sure." The heavy set man said with a good-natured smile, "We were having a school picnic here and the first thing we knew, the place is burning up." Pony, Johnny, and I exchanged looks and we believed that it was one of our lit cigarettes that caused the fire.
Then, another lady came running up and said in a panicked tone, "Jerry, some of the kids are missing." My heart dropped and I felt myself shaking. "They're probably somewhere around here." Jerry theorized.
I listened carefully and the faint sound of someone yelling was heard. It sounded like it was coming from inside the church. "C'mon, we gotta save them!" I shouted, starting to run towards the church, pulling Pony with me.
Pony would've protested me going inside a burning building but he knew that we had to save them before they burned to death in there. I felt my arm getting grabbed by that heavy-set man.
"Don't do it! You'll get hurt." he said. I pulled my arm free from the man and ran on towards the burning church. We didn't have time going through the front door.
I picked up a big rock and threw it through the boarded up window. Pony, Johnny, and I slipped inside the church. The minute we get inside, I feel the extreme heat from the fire brush passed me.
"Pony, Bex." Johnny said over the roaring flames. We looked behind us and saw Johnny behind us. I started coughing loudly from the smoke; it burned my eyes, causing them to tear up.
"That guy coming?" I call, holding my arms out in front of me. "That window stopped him." Johnny shook his head. "How come? Too scared?" Pony said. "No, too fat." Johnny chuckled.
I would've laughed at that but the smoke prevented me from doing so. The roaring and cracking of the fire was growing louder the further we went in. "Where are the kids?" Johnny asked.
"In the back!" Pony hollered, taking the lead. The cinders above and embers were starting to fall on us, stinging us like ants. For some reason, Pony and I weren't scared.
I pushed the door open and saw about six kids huddled in the corner. "Guys in here!" I holler, coughing as I went in. The kids looked no older than 7-8 years old. One was screaming at the top of his lungs.
"Calm down, we're gonna save you!" Johnny yelled, getting the kid to stop screaming. It surprised both Pony and I fierce, Johnny wasn't acting like his normal self. The door we came through was covered in flames.
"The window!" I call, breaking the window with another rock. I looked back at Pony and Johnny, their faces were red and marked from the falling ember, sweat streaked down their faces. Johnny wasn't scared either; it was as if he was having the time of his life by doing this.
I picked up a little boy by his underarms and lifted him over the broken window, then another little girl. "Don't worry! I got you!" I yell over the roaring of the flames.
Pony got another little boy out of the window as gently as he could. From what I could see, there was a crowd watching what was happening.
Dally stood there and saw Pony and I, "Get the hell outta there! Leave those kids there! The roof's gonna cave in any minute!" Before a piece of fallen ember could fall on me, I felt Johnny push me out of the way, causing me to fall over.
"Get outta here, Bex! Go!" Johnny yelled, "Go-!" The timber ended up falling on him on his back, making him fall through the floor. "Bex! Johnny!" I hear Pony's panicked voice as he was getting dragged outside by Dally. I had been coughing so hard that I felt dizzy. I wish I had taken this leather coat off, it was too damn hot.
The church started to crumble and I knew I had to get the hell out of there. I leaped out of the window, feeling extremely dizzy. The timber crashed loudly and the flames roared behind me.
I couldn't see where Ponyboy, Dally, or Johnny were.
My lungs were burning as I struggled to breathe. I collapsed to my knees and then to my chest, unable to stay awake for much longer. Just before I passed out, I heard Johnny scream for help...
