"Need a hair cut greaser?"
The snarling call echoed through out the night. I tried to run. The next thing I knew I was face down on the ground. There was a knife sticking out of my back. I was screaming my head off, kicking in every direction. Every thing went black.
"Pony..."
I heard a voice calling as if at a distance.
"Pony..."
I was shaking uncontrollably.
"Pony, come on, wake up!"
I woke up in the kitchen; head on my English theme, Soda was bending over me, looking concerned. Steve was behind him, a wicked grin spread across his face.
I knew he would tease me for this later. He always did.
"I had that dream again," I said, almost in a whisper that even I could barely hear. Soda turned around. "Steve, could you leave, just for a minute?" he said. It was more of a command than a request, judging be the controlling tone in his voice. I was a little surprised, but my hands and fore- arms were still shaking violently. Steve gave me one of his looks and walked out the door. Soda went to the phone.
"Darry? Hey, its Soda, you need to come home."
This was about the fifth time I have had this dream since Johnny and Dally died. Soda and Darry have taken me to a mental doctor a few times, since I woke up screaming three times in a row. Last night I stayed up all night working on my theme that was actually due today. My English teacher Mr. Syme gave me this report to bring up my grade and now I was not going to hand it in because of a stupid dream that just won't go away.
I stood up so fast that my chair flipped over and one of the legs broke off.
I grabbed the milk carton off the table and hurled it into the wall right by Darry's head as he walked into the door.
"What the, Pony where are you going?"
I heard Soda and Darry calling down the hall after me as I ran into my room and slammed the door. Five minutes later, Soda came in and closed the door softly. I knew he just wanted to talk about what happened. And for some reason, I didn't care.
"Pony?"
I turned around and looked at him, tears forming in my eyes.
"Pony what's wrong?"
"Nothing."
"Look don't tell me nothing is wrong when first you wake up screaming then you break a chair, one of our good ones by the way, and then you almost give Darry a shower of milk, which I really don't think he needs right now. You can't fool me Pony. I mean, we sleep in the same bed for god's sake. Oh Pony please don't cry. Come on, tell me what's wrong."
Soda gave me one of his looks just then and I couldn't help myself but to spill my guts.
"Sorry, Soda. It's just that lately, I have been getting a lot of grief at school and I sort of just lost it, and don't look at me like that."
"Don't worry we'll get through this. You just have to trust us." He waited a minute to let me knaw over what he said before continuing, "Now, how 'bout coming into the kitchen and telling superman and my handsome self about that nasty dream of yours." I knew that he was trying to cheer me up, and it was working. Everyone says that he's handsome, but he really doesn't play it to his ability too often. Except when he's picking up girls with Steve.
I grinned and shook my head as I walked out of the room, managing to smack him playfully on the back of the head.
"Okay, Pony, let's hear it. What's going on," Darry asked as soon as I came into the kitchen.
"Well," I started, "I had the dream again."
"Yeah I know Soda already told me that part I want to know why you tried to break my head open."
I could tell Darry was not in the mood for funny stuff, having to come home from work when we really needed the money.
"Look, I'm sorry you had to come home, but there's no need the yell at me. I'm not the one who called you Soda is."
"I know. I'm sorry, Pony, I was just a little upset at something someone said at work today, so tell me about that dream."
While I was still in the middle of talking Darry looked at the clock then cut me off.
"Look, Pony, I know you had a really rough day and all, but we are going to have to finish this later. You have school."
Soda looked at the clock, wondering why Darry had to leave so soon. Well, 'soon' as far as Soda was concerned. He looked at me and said, "Pony get all of your stuff together I'll drive you. It's almost 7:30. You're gonna be late."