Chapter 16: Respect
I woke up to see a light in my face. I had to squint my eyes because it was so bright. Then I realized. I had seen this in TV shows. I was in a hospital. I tried to sit up but a pain hit me in my body. I just gave up. I was already propped up anyway.
"How are you feeling?"
I turned my head to see Les' next to me. I guess she had been waiting for me. Then I remembered, some socs jumped me. And Rick and Tyler didn't bother to help me.
"I'm fine," I said to Les'.
"That's good. I got worried when it was eleven o' clock and you didn't show up. I called your friends and they said they hadn't seen you. Then one of Steve's friends had brought you here. He let me know."
"What was the guy's name?"
"I forgot. You gave me a little scare."
"Sorry."
"It's alright kiddo. Just as long as you're living."
I looked at Les'. It seemed like no one could bring this lady down. She still had her little happiness in her voice. She was the exact opposite of my mom. Mom was always quiet and focused on her job. How could these two be related?
"I can come and pick you up later on. The doctor recommended that you stay here. Darry said that he'll pick you up."
"What damages do I have?"
"You have cracked ribs and had a couple cuts on your head."
Cuts. Did they cut my head with a switchblade?
"The doctor said it must have been from the street."
Oh. Okay, so they didn't have a blade.
"I've got to go to church right now. Then I'll go to work. Your friends said that they were on the way."
"Okay. See you later Les'."
"Bye, Dean."
I just laid there and thought. I couldn't believe that Rick and Tyler didn't even bother to help me. That settles it. I had no hope of ever talking to them again. I guess it was plain and simple. They were socs and I was a greaser. We were enemies. Why couldn't they be like Cherry…Cherry! Oh, man. She must be worried sick. She probably feels even guiltier that I got jumped on her territory.
I looked over to the side. There was a phone on the counter. I reached over; it hurt a little, and grabbed the phone. I dialed Cherry's number.
"Hello."
It sounded like Cherry. But it sounded like she was tired.
"Cherry?"
"Dean!"
She seemed to wake up then.
"Are you okay?" she continued. "I heard what happened."
"I'm fine. Just some cracked ribs. I thought you go to church?"
"My mom let me stay home. I wasn't feeling well. Because of what I happened to you."
"Oh. Well you don't have to worry."
We continued to talk more. It wasn't long. I noticed a sign that said I could only use the phone for ten minutes. After I hung up, I saw Soda stick his head in the door.
"Hellooooo."
He looked at my smiling face and walked on it. Darry, Ponyboy, Steve, and Two-Bit followed him in.
"How are you feeling?" asked Ponyboy.
"I'm fine," I answered. "Steve. Who was it that dropped me off here?"
Steve smiled.
"You wouldn't believe it," said Steve.
"I wouldn't."
"Nope," said Two-Bit with a chessy cat grin. "It was Tim Shepard."
"Him?" I said about to sit up but the pain reminded me.
"Yup," answered Steve. "It seems that the kid you saved was his little brother. Curly Shepard. He ran and got Tim. Tim came back and put you into his car and drove you here. The socs were gone. Like they left you for dead or something."
I couldn't believe. Tim saved me. Just yesterday he was going to kill me or something. Now he helps me out.
We left pretty soon. Darry asked if I wanted Ponyboy and Two-Bit to stay at the house to help out. Why not?
I rode with Two-Bit and Ponyboy to my house. Darry had to drop Soda and Steve off at the DX.
Two-Bit and Ponyboy helped me into my room and I collapsed on my bed. I just laid there to let my ribs heal. I should be able to move around more when by tomorrow. So I still had to go to school.
Pretty soon, someone knocked on the door. Ponyboy went to answer it. He walked back into my room, and Tim Shepard was behind him. I kept my cool. Hopefully he still wasn't ticked at me.
"What's up?" I asked.
"You do know that I was planning on jumping you good at one point."
"Yeah."
"But. It seems that you happened to help out my family. So I'll be grateful. I try to be nice."
I knew he was just fooling around. But it was clear that we were straight. Whenever I needed something, he would help me out.
