Chapter 2
I didn't have a ride, and frankly I didn't care. I ran all the way to the hospital. Maybe a little more then 5 miles, I didn't care. I'm a pretty good runner and I was in such a rush and the adrenaline in my body was rising so high that I thought I might pop.
I finally reached the hospital. There was something eerie about this certain one though. I had always hated hospitals, knowing the fact that I had been there so many times. Mom and Dad's death, Johnny and Dally's death, and Soda's broken arm. I remember vaguely another time being in another time when Darry had strained one of his muscles. Still, I hated hospitals.
"I got a phone call saying my brother was in the hospital? My name is Ponyboy Curtis"
"Ah, yes. Go down that hallway, make a left into ICU, and continue down into the waiting room. The nurse will call you in when the doctor is ready to see you." She smiled. I hated nurses like that. They try to make you happy, but they don't realize that they're at the death-house. I was about two seconds from crying. I kept my feelings inside me though. As I ran down the hallways, I couldn't take it anymore. I felt the soft tears drip down my face.
I couldn't go in, but I saw Darry from clear glass window. He didn't look like himself one bit. He was so cut up. I couldn't stand to see my older brother like this.
"Ponyboy, Hello. I am Dr. Derek Mattson. Would you like to come into my office?"
I silently nodded and followed him. I knew this would be bad.
"What's wrong, what happened to him!" I said, angrily. I wanted to know what was happening to him, now.
"Well at about Darryl came into the hospital at about 9:15, we examined him and found out that he had some minor injuries in his skull bone. There were some slight fractures in the lower skull. We aren't sure if this has affected the atlas, or first vertebra of the neck, but we're doing some tests and we should find out soon." the doctor sighed, "I'm sorry".
I looked at him as if he had just shot 70 bullets through me. I could never describe what I was feeling at that exact moment. It was like I was a little kid, staring at a big ice cream cone, knowing that I couldn't have it, and watching it slowly melt away in the sun.
"But does he have a chance?" I asked solemnly.
"Well it depends on the test results. If the test comes back positive, then there will be a little chance of survival. However, the test may come back negative, and we will work with Darryl into therapy, and he could be himself in about 3-6 months."
"And if he doesn't make it?"
"Then, there isn't anything more we can do."
But Dally had been fine this morning! It was only an hour ago that he was telling me I could stay home from school! And oh no, what about Soda! How is he gonna take this!
"May I call my brother?" I asked reaching for the phone on the doctor's desk.
"Yes, I'll leave you alone." he said.
I dialed home at first; my hands were shaking uncontrollably so it was hard to dial. Then I realized that Sodapop would be at work, so I dialed his work number.
"Hello?" a voice picked up.
"Hi, Soda?" I said.
"No its Steve. Whatta you want, 'aint you supposed to be at school?" he said, mean-tempered.
"Godammit Steve, put Soda on the freaking phone!"
"All right" he said. I could hear voices saying 'Someone got outta bed the wrong way today…'
"Hey Pony, what's happenin'?" Soda said. I calmed down. Soda's voice always made me calm down. I tried to think, but I was so absent-minded at that moment, that nothing came out of my mouth.
"DDarry's at tthe hosspittal, hhe wass in a ccarr crash". Those words were left bitter in my mind. They kept repeating themselves like a broken record player. Car Crash…Car Crash…Car Crash.
"What! Okay I'll be there soon. You're in the hospital? What room?" Soda sounded too worried. It reminded me of how I thought Darry had too much to worry for his age.
"The nnurse will ttell youu." I said as I kept trying to stop myself from shaking so much.
"Okay, hey pony, you okay?"
"Yeaa- well,…Soda justt gget down hhere, okay?"
"Okay, I'll be right there." He hung up.