23. A goodbye can be a new beginning...
After an eternity Isabell said quietly, "It's over! Everythin' is over, Enrico's dead! This was our mark, wasn't it?
But why ain't we glad 'bout it?
'cause someone, the one who killed Enrico, risk his own life for us and lost it, too..."
The others were silent embarrassed.
"We should do the things Patrick wanted us to do.
Fulfill his last words; his last will...
Johnny returned with Pony and Dally into his previous life again.
He's gonna leave us and returned with his both friends to Tulsa again.
And I'm gonna take care of this group..." Isabell continued.
Everybody nodded.
Patrick would have had his good reasons to hand over Isabell such a great duty. He would have known that Isabell would keep it!
The others also agreed with that!
In the following time many tears flowed because of Patrick, but as you know time cures every wound! And so also in this case!
So Johnny packed his few things together and left just this day with his both friends the factory.
But before there was a big wrench, where even ran some tears as well, because they took Johnny into their heart and they didn't like to let him go again, but they all understood, that Johnny only would be in good hands with his friends; only there he would be happy.
But unfortunately they ain't these friends at all...
Johnny promised on parting that he still would visit them every now and then and he never ever would forget them.
So he went back into his previous life in Tulsa with Dally and Pony again.
Pony and Johnny climbed into Dally's car and Dally drove in the direction of Tulsa. They talked about few things during the long trip and after a while Ponyboy fell asleep exhausted.
Johnny couldn't sleep.
He thought about the events of the last days for a long time. He thought about Patrick, who died for his justice...
They drove through the whole night and arrived at Tulsa in the early hours of morning. Johnny was scared of going home and so they decided that he should come to the Curtis' at first.
When they arrived at the house Dally stopped in front of it.
"Hey, Ponyboy! Wake up, we're home!" Dally said and shook him.
"Aw, just 5 minutes, Soda..." Pony replied sleepily.
Dally grinned at him. "Johnny, have ya seen here a bucket of water?" Dally turned to Johnny.
"Aw, Dally, leave him. It's only my fault that Pony's so tired..."
"Aw Kid!" Dally meant with a shake of his head and ruffled Johnny's hair.
But at the word 'water' Pony startled and said mad, "Don't dare this!"
"Well, at least ya awake!" Dally said and turned towards the house.
Pony climbed sleepily out of the car and followed Dally and Johnny.
But Johnny stopped hesitated in front of the door.
"What's wrong?" Pony asked.
"What is... if... if they're mad at me and don't wanna have me here any longer?" Johnny asked nervous.
"Johnny, they're ya buddies! They missed ya just as bad as we both and now come on..." Pony meant and pulled Johnny through the door.
"Look what we found!" Ponyboy already shouted from a distance, before he entered the kitchen with Johnny and Dally.
The others couldn't believe their eyes.
"Johnny..." Steve said and got huge eyes.
"Gee, Johnny, where have ya been all the time? We all were worried 'bout ya..." Two-Bit shouted and rushed to Johnny to hug him.
At first Johnny was surprised, and then he hugged his buddy as well. Two-Bit grinned and ruffled, like Dally before, his hair.
"Well, I'm also glad to see y'all again, but don't ya think ya overdo this a little, Two-Bit?" Johnny asked.
"I? Nope, what makes ya think that?" Two-Bit kept on grinning and cocked an eyebrow.
"Welcome home, Johnny..." Darry meant and hugged him as well, when Two-Bit let him finally go.
"Thanks, Darry... thanks... I'm soo sorry..." Johnny sobbed now softly.
"It's ok, Johnnycake, it's ok..." Darry said gentle and stroked him loving over his back.
After everybody has welcomed Johnny the 3 had to tell their stories.
And when they finished they all ate something together as contented and happy as never before in the last time.
Then they also celebrated Johnny's birthday together.
And although they all lived so far away from each other Johnny, Pony and also the others visited the young ones in Oklahoma City!
Ponyboy said once lost in thoughts, "Friendship's just more important than the own happiness, 'cause only from friendship the own happiness can rise..."
"Oh, our poet!" Two-Bit said laughing.
"Hey!" Pony complained and rushed to Two-Bit.
What made Two-Bit to laugh more and he struggled for fun with his friend.
Johnny only looked at his both friends with a shake of his head.
Then he looked to Isabell and the both said at the same time, "Like Ricky and Thomas..."
And then both began to laugh.