Thank y'all so much for wishing me luck for my exams. It'll take more than luck to make me pass, I haven't studied a thing, I just cant be bothered! It's soo hot over here, I cant concentrate. I've still got 2 more exams and an essay, I'll start studying after this…

We didn't expect so many people at the funeral. People we had never seen in our entire lives were there. Some came and told us that they grew up with mum or played football with dad. They were all sympathetic and even gave us their numbers so we can call them if we ever needed anything.

We don't need your sympathy

They were all just faces to me. I wouldn't recognise any of them if I saw them down the street or in the shopping centre. They were just a blur.

The most important thing to me was that the gang was there. Even Tim Shepard made an appearance. He walked over to Darry and gently punched him on the shoulder then left. Only Dally was missing. He'd gotten himself back in the cooler by then but he wrote us a letter that just said "I'm going to miss them". He didn't even sign it but we knew his writing.

I tried hard not to cry at the funeral while the eulogy was being read, but I couldn't help it. Once I saw Soda start, there was no way I could keep it in. Darry didn't shed a tear. He just stood there dumbfounded. He looked so helpless.

When we got home, Soda was still crying. He cried so much I thought he was going to go blind. He went straight to bed and slept. He even cried in his sleep. I tried to calm him down the best way I could but there was no use. People came over all day to show their respects. Some of my mother's friends even made food for us so we'd have something to eat but none of us had an appetite. Two-Bit and Johnny wanted to stay over but Darry told them not to. I wasn't in the mood for company anyway so I was grateful that he did.

When everyone left, Darry and I cleaned the house from top to bottom. It didn't really need it but we had to occupy our minds with something. It was so hard not to think. After we'd finished, Darry sat me down on the couch to talk to me.

"Pony, you know things like this happen everyday to people" he paused, "its just the way things are"

"I know, but it's not fair" my voice cracked when I said that. I didn't realise how emotional I was. Darry took me into his arms and started rocking me back and forth.  "Pony, I've had time to think. I'm not going to college. I'm going to get another job so we can live together"

I looked up. "You're not going to college?" I was too dazed to think about what that really meant for him but he went on anyway, "you know those men that were talking to me today? The ones in suits? They're from the state. They want to put you and Sodapop in a boys' home"

"No, Darry, don't let them" I said drowsily. I was beginning to fall asleep listening to his heart beat.

"I've worked out a deal with them. They said we can stay together as long as you two stay out of trouble." He sighed, "Promise me you'll stay out of trouble?"

"I promise" I said but I must've fallen asleep because Darry carried me back to my bed.

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

Darry spend the night looking through his parent's things. He knew he wasn't fully up to it but he had to start some time. He couldn't sleep anyway.

Suddenly he heard a scream coming from Soda and Pony's room. He ran to the kitchen to get a knife then to the room as fast as possible. He thought an intruder had broken in and was trying to kill them but when he got there he found Soda up next to Ponyboy trying to calm him down.

"What happened?"

"He's having a nightmare. Help me wake him up" Soda said shaking.

They shook him and called his name but he didn't stop screaming. Finally Soda got a glass of water and splashed it in Pony's face. Pony shot up in the air and looked around.

"Pony, are you ok?" Soda asked reaching for his brother but Pony pulled away.

"I think so. Maybe" Pony said. But he was shaking so much that the bed was making squeaking noises.

They just sat there together on Pony's bed without saying a word. It was a long night but none of them could sleep.

Surviving was going to be harder than they thought.




Wow that was crap but review anyway ok! Now I gotta go study!! :(….