Chapter 16
As soon as I stepped in the car, I woke up. Literally and also in a metaphorical. Well, after I finally realized that I was going to New Jersey. Damn! And not with Pony either! Short Hills, although near to Livingston, was not near enough. I know Pony, even though he was extremely smart and independent, needed me. And I needed him, too. I thought that I would completely vaporize into another dimension or something. Also when we got to the airport, I found out that we didn't need two cars, since we obviously went to the same airport. Destination: Newark Airport.
Pony and I sat next to each other on the plane. He had clearly been crying on the way over, since his eyes were puffed and red. But I didn't mention it. I chattered on eagerly about our return to Darry. All of the things I hadn't said in that painful hour at home spilled out. Not only that, Pony told me that I looked really dead at home. I told him that I had less slepp than either he or Darry had.
Also, I was not quite with it, you know? I mean, people are unjustly forcing me away from home, so I know that I may have seemed zoned out. Pony also said that he was afraid of having a nightmare and freaking out in his new home. I said, "Pony, you have lived through more shit than anyone I know, so just live. You can do it. And if you really can't deal, call me. Darry has our numbers, so call Darry and get my number. But I know you can do this. Pony, think. You stayed with no one but Johnny for 5 days and did relatively okay." I think that drove something home, because Pony seemed to be very cheery (considering) for the rest of the 4-hour flight. We watched the movie, The Right Stuff, and I slept for some of the flight. Pony didn't, and I didn't need to ask why.
As soon as I stepped in the car, I woke up. Literally and also in a metaphorical. Well, after I finally realized that I was going to New Jersey. Damn! And not with Pony either! Short Hills, although near to Livingston, was not near enough. I know Pony, even though he was extremely smart and independent, needed me. And I needed him, too. I thought that I would completely vaporize into another dimension or something. Also when we got to the airport, I found out that we didn't need two cars, since we obviously went to the same airport. Destination: Newark Airport.
Pony and I sat next to each other on the plane. He had clearly been crying on the way over, since his eyes were puffed and red. But I didn't mention it. I chattered on eagerly about our return to Darry. All of the things I hadn't said in that painful hour at home spilled out. Not only that, Pony told me that I looked really dead at home. I told him that I had less slepp than either he or Darry had.
Also, I was not quite with it, you know? I mean, people are unjustly forcing me away from home, so I know that I may have seemed zoned out. Pony also said that he was afraid of having a nightmare and freaking out in his new home. I said, "Pony, you have lived through more shit than anyone I know, so just live. You can do it. And if you really can't deal, call me. Darry has our numbers, so call Darry and get my number. But I know you can do this. Pony, think. You stayed with no one but Johnny for 5 days and did relatively okay." I think that drove something home, because Pony seemed to be very cheery (considering) for the rest of the 4-hour flight. We watched the movie, The Right Stuff, and I slept for some of the flight. Pony didn't, and I didn't need to ask why.