Chapter 10

I still couldn't get up, and when it got dark, I was worried that Soda would be worrying about me. I didn't really know how long it had been, but I was sure that Sodapop would be home by now. I attempted to get up almost a dozen times, but I couldn't. I finally heard Soda yelling out my name.

"Ponyboy! Where are you! PONYBOY!" Soda shouted

"Soda...Soda..." I echoed weakily.

"Ponyboy! What happened to you! Who did this!"

"Socs...5...Darry..." I couldn't make out full sentances.

Soda started crying. I felt so bad about this whole thing.

"Soda...I'm sorry" I was starting to talk normally again.

"No, baby, you didn't do anything. It wasn't your fault. Don't think like that. I'm going to go get help, you stay right here."

"Where am I going..." I replied sarcastically.

I don't remember much, but I do remember going to the hospital. Being loaded into an ambulence. The rest was just a blur, but Soda stayed there right by my side. I loved having him as a brother, and I couldn't remember anytime when he wasn't there by my side. It reminded me of how he was there (along with Darry) when I was sick during the night of the rumble. He was right by my side, and even if everything else changes, I really hope that doesn't.

I was asleep on and off in the last few days. I was still having nightmares, and they got to the point that the hospital almost forced me to see a phycologist. The next day Soda came in and took me home from the hospital. He said he would drop me off at the phycologist's office. The doctor was named Dr. Warner. Soda told me that he was specialized in Adolecence Therapy. He said that he would have loved to stay, but he didn't have anymore off-days. I could tell by the expression in his eyes that he really wanted to be there.

"It's ok Soda, I can take the bus home by myself. I've done it dozens of times." I said.

"Yeah, but you just got outta the hospital! I can't just leave you like this!"

"Soda...It's ok! Really."

Soda handed me some change and told me what bus to take. Steve came with his pick-up truck a couple of minutes later to pick him up. As I walked toward the phycologist's office, I thought about mom and dad. I don't really remember them. That sickens me.

When I got there, the lady at the front desk told me to sign out a sheet. I handed it back to her, and took my seat, and took a magazine out of the collapsing pile on the table next to me. It was filled with magazines with names like "Family" and "Children Weekly". It took me a while to find a good magazine, and when I did, I was called into the doctor's office.

The doctor's name was Dr. Warner. He was a tall man with brown hair. He looked to be in his early 30's, and he carried his clipboard wherever he went. He wouldn't put it down at all! For a second I wondered if he took his clipboard with him when he went to the bathroom! After making endless notes, he asked me some questions. How school was, what my brothers were like, who my friends were, etc. I really didn't see any point in this. Before I went, he told me that I should start keeping a journal. That it would tell me why I was having so many dreams and I would "understand my feelings better".

I took the bus home, and got home. I immediately collapsed on the couch. I missed our home. But it still wasn't the same without Darry there. Nothing would ever be the same again. I saw a pile of mail on the coffee table and curiously went through it. There was one letter from the hospital Darry was at. I opened it.

There was a bunch of information, but basically, it was a bill issued to Sodapop for $1,550. We would never be able to pay for that. And with Darry not working...And it occured to me, that this must be what Soda felt when mom & dad died. We couldn't pay for it without Darry, and for the first time in my life, I thought about quitting school to get a job.

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WANTED: Ideas for next chapters! Please help me out!