Chapter Two

Exert from Ponyboy's Memory

It was just a year ago, Aurora and I were both thirteen. I was watching Aurora and two other people practice their dance for an upcoming competition. The two other people were twin boys named Fritz and Fyedka; their parents were from Russia. Their mother had been an excellent dancer; their father, a gymnast. The twins had been taking both dance and gymnastics since they were three and, remarkably, they were both straight.

The dance they were doing was to a song I didn't recognize, but I could tell it was punk. Fritz and Fyedka were, like Aurora, big fans of punk rock.

"More energy, Aurora, more energy!" The dance teacher yelled.

"Fyedka! You're off!"

"Fritz, too much energy!"

Could this woman not stop nit-picking? She needed a new hobby.

Although I had to agree with her, Aurora hadn't been as energetic as usual. She'd seemed tired, and she looked skinnier. I was worried about her. I decided I'd talk to her after her dance class.

"Fyedka! More energy!"

Did this woman not know how to shut up?

After her class, Aurora was talking to Fritz and Fyedka. I only caught little pieces of their conversation.

"Really, Aurora, you're not," Fyedka said.

"My mom's making me, she thinks I need to," Aurora said.

"So, just tell her to go fuck herself," Fritz said.

"Yeah, man," Fyedka said.

"If you want to live, you won't mess with my mom," Aurora said.

"Whatever," Fritz said.

"Fritz!" Fyedka said, "We're her friends, we have to help her."

"Hey, ya'll," I said as I walked up to Fritz, Fyedka, and Aurora.

"Hey, Pony," Fyedka said. Fyedka and I were pretty close friends, but Fritz hated me.

"Rory, can I talk to you?" I asked Aurora.

"Sure," Aurora said.

"Tomorrow, right Aurora?" Fyedka said. "We need to work on our dance."

"I'll be here at three," Aurora said.

Aurora and I walked out of the dance studio and went to the park. Once we were sitting on our usual bench, I asked Aurora:

"Are you OK, Aurora?"

"Yeah," she replied. "Never better."

I knew she was lying.

"You can tell me, Aurora," I said.

"I'm fine," Aurora insisted.

I thought of something to say; something that might maker her talk. "I heard you talking with Fritz and Fyedka," I said. "I know."

"You do?" Aurora said. "Damn, Pony, don't call the cops on my mom. I know that it's bad that she's starving me, but…"

I cut her off there, "She's starving you?"

"Yeah," she replied. "But plenty of dancers are anorexic. I think I'll be OK."

"Come on," I said; grabbing her arm and pulling her off the bench.

"Where?" Aurora asked.

"Just come," I said.

Aurora followed.

Once we got to my house, I gave Aurora some toast and got her to tell mom what her mother was doing to her. Mom was really upset.

"Honey, she doesn't deserve a kid like you." Mom said. "We'd take you if we could, but we don't have the money. But if there is anything you need, we're right here."

"Thanks," Aurora said.

I remember Aurora was eating at our place for a long time.

Dr. Murphy's sessions with Ponyboy Curtis. Tape continued, note pauses.

Dr. Murphy: Hello, Ponyboy. Are you feeling better today?

Ponyboy Curtis: Yes, I am.

DM: What would you like to talk about today?

PC: Um…I had a really weird dream last night.

DM: You did?

PC: Yes, it was about Aurora.

DM: Would you like to tell me about it?

PC: Sure.

PC: It started off and Aurora and I were sitting in the park. Aurora was telling me about the musical she was in. She said that she hated the musical, and her part in it, but she had to get famous or else her mom would kill her. So, then it was opening night, and the play was a flop. I went to Aurora's the next day to talk to her because I knew she'd be really upset about the play. When I got to her house, her mom was sitting on the couch with a bloody knife, and Aurora was on the floor, dead. Her mom started chasing me, and she was about to get me, but I woke up.

DM: The dream frightened you, Ponyboy?

PC: Yeah, it did. That's why I woke up screaming.

DM: Yes, the nurses told me about that.

PC: It really spooked me.

DM: It should have. What do you think the dream meant, Ponyboy?

PC: I think it meant Aurora's mom wanted Aurora to have the life she never had. That was why she didn't kill Aurora. Her mom hated me, so I think that was why she wanted to kill me in the dream.

PC: I'm really afraid Aurora is dead.

Here there is a long pause.

DM: Are you all right, Ponyboy?

PC: No.

Here Ponyboy starts crying.

DM: Let's change the subject.

PC: All Right.

DM: What would you like to talk about?

PC: I don't care.

Here there is a long pause

PC: Got any pets, doc?

DM: Why, yes. My wife and I have a rabbit.

PC: Aurora liked rabbits.

DM: Did she?

PC: Yeah. She liked them to the point of obsession. The only thing she ever wanted was a rabbit. She would always drag me into the pet store, and we'd look at the rabbits. She loved those things.

DM: Did you like the rabbits, Ponyboy?

PC: Their eyes scared me, and they're too quiet. But I thought it was cute that Aurora liked them so much.

PC: I like to think that she has a rabbit now, wherever she is.

DM: You really loved her, didn't you, Ponyboy?

PC: She was like my sister.

End tape

Now

I'm hopelessly bored.

I have some books that I could read, but I'm not in the mood for reading. I'm depressed, and bored. I can't stop thinking about Darry, and how I'm killing him. They're visiting tomorrow. I'm going to talk to him, and I won't wimp out.

I'm so bored.

I'll tell Darry that I'm sorry I'm killing him. None of this is his fault, and I'm going to get better. Then I'll ask him how everyone is. I won't wimp out. I can't wimp out; I need to talk to Darry. I'll talk to Soda also. It could be like nothing ever happened. Like their baby brother (that being me) wasn't insane. Maybe I'd get to go home soon.

I need something to do before I die of boredom.