Chapter 20 (ummm, about stopping this story.I was.uh.just
kidding..yeah..that's it..(awkward Silence) um..yeah! Now, back due to
popular demand.(and multiple threats of physical harm to the author) I
bring you.Chapter 20!)
All sorts of thoughts are going through mind. How can I do this? Am I crazy? I can't do this to myself! Run, Ponyboy! I think to myself, Head for the hills!
But when Blake says, "Come on up here, Ponyboy. We'll tell you the favor." I go, even though I'm convinced that my mind is sending signals to my legs to stop.
"Are you sure this is what you want, now, Ponyboy?" I'm not sure. I couldn't be less sure if someone asked me what a kid named Ojouard who lived in Hong Kong liked to eat for breakfast, but I don't really have a choice now, so I tell them I'm sure.
"We're going to do this rationally, now. The second we tell you, you might chicken out. Or, your brothers over there could jump in front of me, 'cause lord knows they'd take a bullet for you any day." Blake puts his right arm around my neck, holding me tightly against him. You'd think with all the profit he makes selling drugs he'd have enough money for some deodorant, but I'm guessing not. With his left hand he holds the gun against my head. "Everyone, even my gang, go stand there!" He commands, pointing to a clearing in the trees about a football-fields' distance away.
Everyone reluctantly starts walking, but not Darry. He's just standing there, acting as though it's impossible for him to budge. "Pony, come on. Don't do this! This is stupid! There's still time to back out. Or, at least agree to whatever he wants. Don't allow your own murder to happen! Fight, little buddy." Darry begs, "fight for all you have!"
Blake lets Darry get that much in before saying, "Darry, go with the rest of them, or I'll shoot him right here, right now!" Well, if you think Darry didn't go than, you're crazy.
"You ready Ponyboy?" Blake asks in an amazingly soothing voice. I nod, as best I can. He's nearly choking me he's holding on so tight! "Ok, than, let's do this."
You know how people say when you're really scared your whole life flashes before your eyes? Well, it doesn't happen like that to me. There was only one thought going on in my mind. "Oh!!!!!" I'm thinking, "So this is it. One second you're alive, the next your not. That's all there is. No time in between to linger or let go. Just here, than gone."
Suddenly, I feel Blake's hot breath on my skin, going into my ear. He's whispering so soft, and I struggle to hear. All I can make out is something like, "-girl---Pony---Kayla- ---she ripped me off. ---kill-just want-----dead."
I can't breath. I can't feel, I can't talk, or even reason. Kill Kayla? I can't do that! NO WAY, NO WAY, NO!!!!!!! WAY!!!!!!!!!!!
I glance over at the guys so far away. Darry and Sodapop are standing in front of everyone, just starin' at me. I can't leave them---but, God, I CAN NOT kill Kayla! I love her!
"Well, will you do it?"
I can't kill her, can't kill Kayla, I Love her, There's no way I can kill her! I'm so scared I feel myself shaking and I'm gasping for air because Blake keeps on tightening his grip on my neck. Darry has given up his dreams for me; Soda needs me as much as I need him. Two-bit and Steve couldn't handle it, another death in the gang. Will I do it?
"Yeah," I gasp out, "I'll do it."
Blake smiles, for no other reason; I'm sure, than that now he doesn't have to kill me. But he doesn't loosen his grip.
"Promise?" What can I say? "Yeah, Blake, I promise!"
Blake gives his consent for the guys to come back up, but he still doesn't let me go until Darry tells him to. I look from Darry to Soda, trying to figure out who to run to, who I'll feel safer with.
Even I'm surprised when I run to Darry.
All sorts of thoughts are going through mind. How can I do this? Am I crazy? I can't do this to myself! Run, Ponyboy! I think to myself, Head for the hills!
But when Blake says, "Come on up here, Ponyboy. We'll tell you the favor." I go, even though I'm convinced that my mind is sending signals to my legs to stop.
"Are you sure this is what you want, now, Ponyboy?" I'm not sure. I couldn't be less sure if someone asked me what a kid named Ojouard who lived in Hong Kong liked to eat for breakfast, but I don't really have a choice now, so I tell them I'm sure.
"We're going to do this rationally, now. The second we tell you, you might chicken out. Or, your brothers over there could jump in front of me, 'cause lord knows they'd take a bullet for you any day." Blake puts his right arm around my neck, holding me tightly against him. You'd think with all the profit he makes selling drugs he'd have enough money for some deodorant, but I'm guessing not. With his left hand he holds the gun against my head. "Everyone, even my gang, go stand there!" He commands, pointing to a clearing in the trees about a football-fields' distance away.
Everyone reluctantly starts walking, but not Darry. He's just standing there, acting as though it's impossible for him to budge. "Pony, come on. Don't do this! This is stupid! There's still time to back out. Or, at least agree to whatever he wants. Don't allow your own murder to happen! Fight, little buddy." Darry begs, "fight for all you have!"
Blake lets Darry get that much in before saying, "Darry, go with the rest of them, or I'll shoot him right here, right now!" Well, if you think Darry didn't go than, you're crazy.
"You ready Ponyboy?" Blake asks in an amazingly soothing voice. I nod, as best I can. He's nearly choking me he's holding on so tight! "Ok, than, let's do this."
You know how people say when you're really scared your whole life flashes before your eyes? Well, it doesn't happen like that to me. There was only one thought going on in my mind. "Oh!!!!!" I'm thinking, "So this is it. One second you're alive, the next your not. That's all there is. No time in between to linger or let go. Just here, than gone."
Suddenly, I feel Blake's hot breath on my skin, going into my ear. He's whispering so soft, and I struggle to hear. All I can make out is something like, "-girl---Pony---Kayla- ---she ripped me off. ---kill-just want-----dead."
I can't breath. I can't feel, I can't talk, or even reason. Kill Kayla? I can't do that! NO WAY, NO WAY, NO!!!!!!! WAY!!!!!!!!!!!
I glance over at the guys so far away. Darry and Sodapop are standing in front of everyone, just starin' at me. I can't leave them---but, God, I CAN NOT kill Kayla! I love her!
"Well, will you do it?"
I can't kill her, can't kill Kayla, I Love her, There's no way I can kill her! I'm so scared I feel myself shaking and I'm gasping for air because Blake keeps on tightening his grip on my neck. Darry has given up his dreams for me; Soda needs me as much as I need him. Two-bit and Steve couldn't handle it, another death in the gang. Will I do it?
"Yeah," I gasp out, "I'll do it."
Blake smiles, for no other reason; I'm sure, than that now he doesn't have to kill me. But he doesn't loosen his grip.
"Promise?" What can I say? "Yeah, Blake, I promise!"
Blake gives his consent for the guys to come back up, but he still doesn't let me go until Darry tells him to. I look from Darry to Soda, trying to figure out who to run to, who I'll feel safer with.
Even I'm surprised when I run to Darry.