Chapter Thirteen

At this point of the reading, Carol, the girl from the beginning of the story, who was reading Susan Mary's diary, said to herself:

"Hey, the handwriting changes a little from this point on... why would that happen?"

Then she started to read again.

It's amazing that I haven't written in this notebook since 6/23/67. So many years, so many happenings...

I've found this inside a cabinet down in my basement and had forgotten about its very existence. In the next minute I couldn't stop reading this and felt like I've left the story unfinished.

I know that if someone catches me writing on my diary like a 17-year-old would do, the person will probably think I'm crazy or, at least, completely weird. I'll do it, anyway, and for no reason, continuing from where (or when) I stopped, until I reach today. What day is today? We'll leave it for tomorrow...

It's been a long time though, and I may not remember some details clearly. I'll do my best though, even if it's just to prevent me from the feeling of beginning something and letting it unfinished, un-wrapped.

Let's get down to business then from that night on the bus terminal and on...

Well, Soda was holding me tight and I couldn't stop trembling. I moved away a little to avoid him noticing my trembling. There stood, in front of me, three faces from my childhood, and this time it was for real, it wasn't a dream or a figment from my imagination. This time I wouldn't wake up in Houston missing them after dreaming about them. In spite of that, I was sure that so much has changed since I was 13.

I caught myself wondering if I still was Ponyboy's older sis, like that time we went to the movies and saw "The Hustler" with Paul Newman and afterwards went for an ice cream, while he told me about growing up and being as tough as Paul Newman. Was I still Darry's god-daughter? Was I still Soda's best friend, or even Soda's girlfriend, like that day when we went horseback riding?

Summarizing all that, I almost yelled:

"I just can't believe I am really here!"

They took me to their place. It was almost the same I remembered. And when I got in, I could barely hear Pony asking me not to mind the mess; it seemed like I was hearing Cynthia's voice trying to gather everybody to eat the cake she had just baked.

"Susie, you can have my room. I'll make some space in Soda's closet so that you can use mine, too." Darry said.

"But how?" I was embarrassed. "Where are you going to sleep?"

"In the couch for now. I'll buy a simple bed tomorrow or in the day after and will sleep with the guys in the next room. No problem."

"I've already started to trouble ya" I said, feeling bad.

Pony made me a hand signal as if telling me to shut up. He was a funny kid, who didn't speak his mind much, except when talking to me or to Sodapop.

Hearing Darry's tone of voice made me realize he had grown up to be almost a parent for the other two. Now he had real responsibilities. And Soda, well, he was all too quiet. I was more than used to his jokes, the only one he couldn't overcome was Two Bit. It could be possible that he was this quiet because I was there???

I took a shower and went to bed early with a strange feeling, as if I didn't fit there.