"Be careful," Darry repeated as I walked down the front stairs. I sighed in
exasperation. So far we had kept Soda's no-fighting promise, but sometimes
Darry nagged so much it was hard.
"I will." I replied, trying to keep the annoyance out of my voice.
"Seeya later Pony!" shouted Soda. Steve got into the car too, and they left. I started the short walk to school.
It was the first day of eleventh grade. I had gotten all A's again for my last report card. Mr. Syme had boosted my grade up to an A after reading my theme and I collected mountains of missed homework and extra credit work from my other teachers. The last three months of school had been oddly comforting. I had buried myself in my work, my only goal being to get all A's again. With all the hard work I was too exhausted to get nightmares or think about Johnny at all.
But after term ended I found myself at a loss. The nightmares returned- I had two or three every night, and I couldn't stop thinking of Johnny. I remembered his quiet smile, the way we understood each other without having to speak. I suddenly realized tears were running down my cheeks. I stopped walking and leaned against the nearest building to me. It was the lot we used to hang out at. Now we all avoided it- it brought back too many memories.
I walked in and sat down, closing my eyes. Remembering. I remembered that night we lay down together and watched the stars... All the worries I had then seemed so small and insignificant now. The way I had wished I was wearing something better than Soda's old shirt when I was with Cherry compared to Johnny's death. I had never had a chance to actually say goodbye to him.
I opened my eyes. That was it. That was what was troubling me all this time. Walking out of the lot, I trembled a little as I walked away from school. This was the first time I had ever played hooky. If Darry found out. . . well, I'd better not think about that.
"I will." I replied, trying to keep the annoyance out of my voice.
"Seeya later Pony!" shouted Soda. Steve got into the car too, and they left. I started the short walk to school.
It was the first day of eleventh grade. I had gotten all A's again for my last report card. Mr. Syme had boosted my grade up to an A after reading my theme and I collected mountains of missed homework and extra credit work from my other teachers. The last three months of school had been oddly comforting. I had buried myself in my work, my only goal being to get all A's again. With all the hard work I was too exhausted to get nightmares or think about Johnny at all.
But after term ended I found myself at a loss. The nightmares returned- I had two or three every night, and I couldn't stop thinking of Johnny. I remembered his quiet smile, the way we understood each other without having to speak. I suddenly realized tears were running down my cheeks. I stopped walking and leaned against the nearest building to me. It was the lot we used to hang out at. Now we all avoided it- it brought back too many memories.
I walked in and sat down, closing my eyes. Remembering. I remembered that night we lay down together and watched the stars... All the worries I had then seemed so small and insignificant now. The way I had wished I was wearing something better than Soda's old shirt when I was with Cherry compared to Johnny's death. I had never had a chance to actually say goodbye to him.
I opened my eyes. That was it. That was what was troubling me all this time. Walking out of the lot, I trembled a little as I walked away from school. This was the first time I had ever played hooky. If Darry found out. . . well, I'd better not think about that.
