Pony's POV
NOOO!! I wanted to scream at them all. But instead I just shook my head and said, "The hell it was" (an accident)
Autumn restrained Darry who looked like he wanted to knick some sense into me. Whatever, it didn't matter.
Soda looked so hurt. And there's nothing in the world worse than hurting Soda so I figured I owed them all an explanation or maybe I could tell them what I planned to do. But..no. Not now, It wasn't the right time.
"I want to go to sleep." I said, standing suddenly.
"Let him go." I heard Dr. B. and Soda tell Darry who wouldn't followed me otherwise. I had a feeling that Soda would make a good child shrink when he grew up. But he liked working on cars with Steve better than kids anyway.
So I showed and heard Dr. Brawning's car leave the house.
Somehow, it was sad seeing her go..but no, it didn't matter. Not to the tough Ponyboy Curtis I had become.
I fell into a deep slumber as soon as my head touch the pillow.
This time the dream wasn't about my parents. Or at least I didn't think so. Dr. Brawling was there and she needed me.
It was raining.just like the night my parents had died, shivers ran up my spine. The good doctor was calling out for me, trying and trying to get to me. Just like in real life, I realized. I reached for her stretching for the woman.but my legs wouldn't move. They were stuck to the floor.
"I'm coming!" I yelled, "I promise.." Then a rumbling noise distracted me. And the wavy clouds began to fog up my vision. Water was coming and it would wash Dr. B away from me, I could feel it in my whole being. I tried my hardest to get to her but I couldn't. I couldn't even see her in the flash of water that took her away from me. She was gone but her screams echoed in my mind, ' "Pony!!"'
"No!!!" I screamed and sat up in bed. I rolled unto Soda who stirred and switched on the light.
"What's wrong?" He looked nervous and sleepy.
"Dr. B., in my dream she drowned." It sounded stupid and babyish coming from me.
Soda tried to look reassuring and failed, "She only left a few hours ago, Ponyboy. She's probably sleeping right now."
And..in a way Soda was right.
The next day after Darry called her office, he looked real worried.
"They said she's not in this morning. But Autumn couldn't be sick thought, she was fine last night.." Darry frowned and hustled me out of the house. On the way to school we barely said a word to eachother-both of us knew something was wrong. And I could sense his still simmering anger.
At school I couldn't concentrate. My teachers were frowning at me but I ignored them. Could I help it if my doctor had gone missing? Wait. Since when was she my doctor?!
Since I began to respect her..that's when.
"ponyboy Curtis." The teacher called my name and handed me a hall pass, "office. Now." Her look clearly said no questions. I packed up my stuff and fled the classroom. Darry waited for me in the office. The gut wrenching feeling of wrongness hit me full on. My brother looked like hell. And maybe if I had looked closer I'd have realized I'd seen the pained look on his face before . When I'd been sent to the hospital after the burning church incident. I'd seen the worried pale look again and again.
"Pony." He dragged me to the car.
"It's Dr. Brawning isn't it?" I asked, dreading the answer. A knot twisted itself in my throat.
Darry nodded sadly, "her car was found just a few miles from our house and Autumn wasn't far from her vehicle."
His hands were clenching the steering wheel so tightly I was afraid he would break it.
"Is she." I couldn't finish, "I mean she couldn't be..she isn't.." All 3 unsuccessful attempts.
"She's hurt real bad, Ponyboy." Darry said. "I found out what I could from the doctors, but tonight I think we should go see her." That was funny, I could've sworn that my brother had taken me out of school strictly to go see Autumn.
"So then where are we going?" I asked, my voice trembling. My brother didn't answer. Darry's car was turning on roads that looked vaguely familiar but I couldn't quite place them. I knew we were heading towards the country, though.
When we approached our destination, my heart thudded in my chest. Grass blew freely in the wind as Darry parked the car.
I was already out the door- dry heaving with sickness. I felt Darry's hand on my back- gently patting.
"It's been a long time, I understand." My brother said, his voice lost in the wind. Grave stones answered him, standing tall in the breeze- descending up and down the hills.
"Welcome to the cemetery." I could almost hear the spirits in my mind, "welcome."
Autumn's POV
blinking lights and beeping machine all around me. A sharp pain in my skill and sharp needles sticking into my arms and legs.
"It's time to go back to sleep, Doctor." Someone muttered not unkindly in the distant fogginess that was the room.
Maybe I would have protested if I didn't feel so tired just then. The blackness closed in around me again, surrounding me until I could see and hear no more.
Pony's POV (cont.)
I fled from Darry, running up the grassy hills that were littered with grave markers.
He chased me but I was faster, "How could you do this to me? Bring me here?" I hollered back.
My brother answered with huffs and puffs. And because I was watching him so intently, I fell. Stumbled, really-over some loose rocks and went down hard.
I turned swiftly, rubbing my aching back. But my blood froze and I couldn't move. The breath came quickly to my chest and I felt like it was being sucked from my body like a vacuum.
"Darryl Curtis Senior" One gravestone read, and I sank to my knees before it. Another read my mother's name, plus "loving mother of three."
When Darry reached me, my breathing was far louder than his.
"I'm sorry!" I said to my mom and dad's grave stones, "I'm so sorry."
Darry sat down next to me and squeezed my shoulder, "They don't blame you, Pony."
"I know." I pressed the heels of my hands to my eyes, "but..I blame myself." That caused a rumble of disapproval from my brother and I'm sure the spirits of my parents wouldn't have been too happy either.
"It was my 13th birthday and even though mom and pop were at work..I wanted them to get through the storm. To me. I wanted them with me. I.I called them- on the phone." I choked reliving the scene in my mind. Memories hit me like nothing I'd ever felt before.
Blackness in the night sky and my desperate call to my parents. My selfish call.
And for once.I decided to tell someone else about it. ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
"Dad! Mom!" You can't be stuck at the airport, it's my birthday!" I yelled into the receiver of the phone.
"I know, tiger." Dad had coaxed, "We're trying our best..mom left a cake for you in the fridge."
"I don't wanna eat it." I said defiantly. Silently adding, "without you."
"Listen, we love you. We'll be home as soon as we can." I heard Dad strainging his voice to be heard over the distant thunder. But I was young then..and I couldn't take it. I slammed the phone down and went back to sleep, wallowing in bitterness.
That night police officers came in the darkness to tell us that in the storm my mother and father had passed away. A dreadful accident, ending in death for all.
I think Darry thought I didn't know..Soda too. But I did know, and I blamed myself.
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
This time when I told Darry, I didn't cry. But, he did. Tears slipped easily down his cheeks and he held me so tight that I had trouble breathing.
"Don't you think like that anymore, Ponyboy Curtis." He growled urgently, "Mom and Dad loved you and still do. They forgave you long ago."
He rose, patting my cheek with finality, "I'll get the flowers. I left them in the car."
Slowly he walked off, leaving me alone in front of mom and dad. I somehow felt naked and vulnerable in front of them, even if they weren't really there.
For some reason my soul felt lighter, as if everything would be okay now.
I asked the sky, "Have you really forgiven me?" there weren't any swirls or flashed of stars and almighty light..but somehow, I knew my parents were there with me.
The breeze touched my cheek tenderly, carresed my face. They forgave me, I gathered.I swore I could almost hear my mother's lighthearted laugh and my dad's big hand ruffling my hair saying, "Good job, Tiger."
I laughed too, a half choked-half jubilant laugh with tears running freely down my cheeks.
Then Darry returned with the flowers and we left. I left behind in that little cemetery, my grief, my guilt and my pain. My heart felt lighter than it had been in years.
Autumn's POV
Nurses and Doctors were taking my temperature when Soda came into my room. He looked uncomfortable and only just managed to keep the door from slamming behind him.
"Curtis?" I asked, opening my eyes.
Soda froze, "I thought you were resting, Doctor." He sighed, "It's a jungle out there."
I grinned, weakly, protesting, "I am resting!"
He frowned at me, looking more like Darry than ever, "You're sure popular. Reporters have swamped the hospital."
I ignored his comment, "How'd you get in then?"
Soda tapped his head, "By usin' my noggin, course. By the way I'm not your illegtimate love child." With a wink at me he sat down in a corner chair.
I laughed, clutching my side to stop the pain.
"You look like hell." Soda pointed out to me as I ran my hands through my hair.
"Peachy." I rolled my eyes, "Sorry I couldn't exactly brush my hair while I was unconscious."
Sodapop looked sad after that so I assured him I was only kidding.
My sarcasm seemed to convince Curtis that I was fine. And because I was fine he bagan to rain so many questions on me I almost drowned in them.
I held up a hand, stopping him mid-sentence, "Chill, Curtis. I have enough reporters waiting to give me the third degree. Except they are outside and you're in here. Just chill!"
Soda seemed to take this as a threat and he blushed and shut up.
"Now I'll tell you everything in good time, my friend. But now there's something more crucial going on than my pitiful troubles." I waved a hand for emphasis.
Soda frowned on me, seeming to think that I was underestimating my injuries.
This kid really would grow up to be like his older brother someday.
"c'mere and I'll tell you my plan." I whispered to Soda. Sitting up and talking loudly had quickly exhausted me.
Laying back on my hospital white bed, I whispered into Soda's ear my plans for Ponyboy Curtis.
NOOO!! I wanted to scream at them all. But instead I just shook my head and said, "The hell it was" (an accident)
Autumn restrained Darry who looked like he wanted to knick some sense into me. Whatever, it didn't matter.
Soda looked so hurt. And there's nothing in the world worse than hurting Soda so I figured I owed them all an explanation or maybe I could tell them what I planned to do. But..no. Not now, It wasn't the right time.
"I want to go to sleep." I said, standing suddenly.
"Let him go." I heard Dr. B. and Soda tell Darry who wouldn't followed me otherwise. I had a feeling that Soda would make a good child shrink when he grew up. But he liked working on cars with Steve better than kids anyway.
So I showed and heard Dr. Brawning's car leave the house.
Somehow, it was sad seeing her go..but no, it didn't matter. Not to the tough Ponyboy Curtis I had become.
I fell into a deep slumber as soon as my head touch the pillow.
This time the dream wasn't about my parents. Or at least I didn't think so. Dr. Brawling was there and she needed me.
It was raining.just like the night my parents had died, shivers ran up my spine. The good doctor was calling out for me, trying and trying to get to me. Just like in real life, I realized. I reached for her stretching for the woman.but my legs wouldn't move. They were stuck to the floor.
"I'm coming!" I yelled, "I promise.." Then a rumbling noise distracted me. And the wavy clouds began to fog up my vision. Water was coming and it would wash Dr. B away from me, I could feel it in my whole being. I tried my hardest to get to her but I couldn't. I couldn't even see her in the flash of water that took her away from me. She was gone but her screams echoed in my mind, ' "Pony!!"'
"No!!!" I screamed and sat up in bed. I rolled unto Soda who stirred and switched on the light.
"What's wrong?" He looked nervous and sleepy.
"Dr. B., in my dream she drowned." It sounded stupid and babyish coming from me.
Soda tried to look reassuring and failed, "She only left a few hours ago, Ponyboy. She's probably sleeping right now."
And..in a way Soda was right.
The next day after Darry called her office, he looked real worried.
"They said she's not in this morning. But Autumn couldn't be sick thought, she was fine last night.." Darry frowned and hustled me out of the house. On the way to school we barely said a word to eachother-both of us knew something was wrong. And I could sense his still simmering anger.
At school I couldn't concentrate. My teachers were frowning at me but I ignored them. Could I help it if my doctor had gone missing? Wait. Since when was she my doctor?!
Since I began to respect her..that's when.
"ponyboy Curtis." The teacher called my name and handed me a hall pass, "office. Now." Her look clearly said no questions. I packed up my stuff and fled the classroom. Darry waited for me in the office. The gut wrenching feeling of wrongness hit me full on. My brother looked like hell. And maybe if I had looked closer I'd have realized I'd seen the pained look on his face before . When I'd been sent to the hospital after the burning church incident. I'd seen the worried pale look again and again.
"Pony." He dragged me to the car.
"It's Dr. Brawning isn't it?" I asked, dreading the answer. A knot twisted itself in my throat.
Darry nodded sadly, "her car was found just a few miles from our house and Autumn wasn't far from her vehicle."
His hands were clenching the steering wheel so tightly I was afraid he would break it.
"Is she." I couldn't finish, "I mean she couldn't be..she isn't.." All 3 unsuccessful attempts.
"She's hurt real bad, Ponyboy." Darry said. "I found out what I could from the doctors, but tonight I think we should go see her." That was funny, I could've sworn that my brother had taken me out of school strictly to go see Autumn.
"So then where are we going?" I asked, my voice trembling. My brother didn't answer. Darry's car was turning on roads that looked vaguely familiar but I couldn't quite place them. I knew we were heading towards the country, though.
When we approached our destination, my heart thudded in my chest. Grass blew freely in the wind as Darry parked the car.
I was already out the door- dry heaving with sickness. I felt Darry's hand on my back- gently patting.
"It's been a long time, I understand." My brother said, his voice lost in the wind. Grave stones answered him, standing tall in the breeze- descending up and down the hills.
"Welcome to the cemetery." I could almost hear the spirits in my mind, "welcome."
Autumn's POV
blinking lights and beeping machine all around me. A sharp pain in my skill and sharp needles sticking into my arms and legs.
"It's time to go back to sleep, Doctor." Someone muttered not unkindly in the distant fogginess that was the room.
Maybe I would have protested if I didn't feel so tired just then. The blackness closed in around me again, surrounding me until I could see and hear no more.
Pony's POV (cont.)
I fled from Darry, running up the grassy hills that were littered with grave markers.
He chased me but I was faster, "How could you do this to me? Bring me here?" I hollered back.
My brother answered with huffs and puffs. And because I was watching him so intently, I fell. Stumbled, really-over some loose rocks and went down hard.
I turned swiftly, rubbing my aching back. But my blood froze and I couldn't move. The breath came quickly to my chest and I felt like it was being sucked from my body like a vacuum.
"Darryl Curtis Senior" One gravestone read, and I sank to my knees before it. Another read my mother's name, plus "loving mother of three."
When Darry reached me, my breathing was far louder than his.
"I'm sorry!" I said to my mom and dad's grave stones, "I'm so sorry."
Darry sat down next to me and squeezed my shoulder, "They don't blame you, Pony."
"I know." I pressed the heels of my hands to my eyes, "but..I blame myself." That caused a rumble of disapproval from my brother and I'm sure the spirits of my parents wouldn't have been too happy either.
"It was my 13th birthday and even though mom and pop were at work..I wanted them to get through the storm. To me. I wanted them with me. I.I called them- on the phone." I choked reliving the scene in my mind. Memories hit me like nothing I'd ever felt before.
Blackness in the night sky and my desperate call to my parents. My selfish call.
And for once.I decided to tell someone else about it. ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
"Dad! Mom!" You can't be stuck at the airport, it's my birthday!" I yelled into the receiver of the phone.
"I know, tiger." Dad had coaxed, "We're trying our best..mom left a cake for you in the fridge."
"I don't wanna eat it." I said defiantly. Silently adding, "without you."
"Listen, we love you. We'll be home as soon as we can." I heard Dad strainging his voice to be heard over the distant thunder. But I was young then..and I couldn't take it. I slammed the phone down and went back to sleep, wallowing in bitterness.
That night police officers came in the darkness to tell us that in the storm my mother and father had passed away. A dreadful accident, ending in death for all.
I think Darry thought I didn't know..Soda too. But I did know, and I blamed myself.
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
This time when I told Darry, I didn't cry. But, he did. Tears slipped easily down his cheeks and he held me so tight that I had trouble breathing.
"Don't you think like that anymore, Ponyboy Curtis." He growled urgently, "Mom and Dad loved you and still do. They forgave you long ago."
He rose, patting my cheek with finality, "I'll get the flowers. I left them in the car."
Slowly he walked off, leaving me alone in front of mom and dad. I somehow felt naked and vulnerable in front of them, even if they weren't really there.
For some reason my soul felt lighter, as if everything would be okay now.
I asked the sky, "Have you really forgiven me?" there weren't any swirls or flashed of stars and almighty light..but somehow, I knew my parents were there with me.
The breeze touched my cheek tenderly, carresed my face. They forgave me, I gathered.I swore I could almost hear my mother's lighthearted laugh and my dad's big hand ruffling my hair saying, "Good job, Tiger."
I laughed too, a half choked-half jubilant laugh with tears running freely down my cheeks.
Then Darry returned with the flowers and we left. I left behind in that little cemetery, my grief, my guilt and my pain. My heart felt lighter than it had been in years.
Autumn's POV
Nurses and Doctors were taking my temperature when Soda came into my room. He looked uncomfortable and only just managed to keep the door from slamming behind him.
"Curtis?" I asked, opening my eyes.
Soda froze, "I thought you were resting, Doctor." He sighed, "It's a jungle out there."
I grinned, weakly, protesting, "I am resting!"
He frowned at me, looking more like Darry than ever, "You're sure popular. Reporters have swamped the hospital."
I ignored his comment, "How'd you get in then?"
Soda tapped his head, "By usin' my noggin, course. By the way I'm not your illegtimate love child." With a wink at me he sat down in a corner chair.
I laughed, clutching my side to stop the pain.
"You look like hell." Soda pointed out to me as I ran my hands through my hair.
"Peachy." I rolled my eyes, "Sorry I couldn't exactly brush my hair while I was unconscious."
Sodapop looked sad after that so I assured him I was only kidding.
My sarcasm seemed to convince Curtis that I was fine. And because I was fine he bagan to rain so many questions on me I almost drowned in them.
I held up a hand, stopping him mid-sentence, "Chill, Curtis. I have enough reporters waiting to give me the third degree. Except they are outside and you're in here. Just chill!"
Soda seemed to take this as a threat and he blushed and shut up.
"Now I'll tell you everything in good time, my friend. But now there's something more crucial going on than my pitiful troubles." I waved a hand for emphasis.
Soda frowned on me, seeming to think that I was underestimating my injuries.
This kid really would grow up to be like his older brother someday.
"c'mere and I'll tell you my plan." I whispered to Soda. Sitting up and talking loudly had quickly exhausted me.
Laying back on my hospital white bed, I whispered into Soda's ear my plans for Ponyboy Curtis.