The Outsiders Meet Katrina

Part 1

Traveling

PONYBOY

The idea of getting caught in the middle of a hurricane far from excites me. Actually, it's the exact opposite. The thought of it absolutely terrifies me.

After Darry had informed us that we were being told to evacuate, I started to get really scared. Soda had one hand on my shoulder trying to steady me, and the other was placed carefully around Alyssa's shoulder, trying his best to keep her calm as well. She looked more scared than I did.

Steve was trying to look tough, but I know that the thought of evacuation didn't exactly appeal to him either. Same with Two Bit. Soda was trying to be strong for Alyssa, but I could tell he was nervous too.

We were all sitting in complete darkness not saying a word. I don't know why we dared to say a word. Maybe because we were all too scared or shocked to think of anything.

Finally, Two Bit spoke up. "So, what do we do now?" He asked.

We all turned to Darry, hoping for guidance or reassurance, or maybe both.

"We do as they told us. We get out of here as quick as we can." Darry answered, looking blankly out the window.

"Where exactly are we supposed to go?" I asked.

"Yeah, we can't go home, and we don't know anyone here that we can stay with." Steve added.

"All of the people that can't go home are going to be put in the Superdome in the heart of New Orleans. They think it'll hold everyone. It's built to seat 10 000." Darry explained.

"When do we leave?" Alyssa asked.

"As soon as possible."

"How are we supposed to get to the Superdome? Are we supposed to walk or something?" Soda asked.

"I really don't know buddy. They'll let us know soon. Now, I think that it would be best if everyone went to pack their stuff. Just so we're ready when they tell us to leave." Darry said, standing up.

Everyone nodded, and left. Soda and Alyssa stayed of course, because up until that point, we were all inhabiting their room.

"I followed Darry back to our room, and took out my suitcase. I felt really stupid putting all my stuff back into my bag, when I had hardly taken anything out in the first place.

We both packed in silence, because truthfully, we didn't really know what to say. Everything had changed in an instant, and all my plans had turned upside down.

Sodapop came in a few minutes later, and stood in our doorway, watching us pack.

"I'm letting Alyssa pack for me, because I'd never be able to get everything back in the same way that it was originally. We'd be here all week." He joked.

I laughed, but Darry didn't. He looked at us with one of the most serious expressions that I had ever seen.

"You know that this is a serious situation, right?" He said.

"Oh come on Darry. We're just having a bit of fun." Soda said.

"This isn't supposed to be a funny part of this week. Things are going to happen in the next twenty four hours that you can't even imagine." Darry replied, his expression unchanged.

"Man Darry, you're depressing me. We gotta be laughing sometime, or else we're not gonna get through this." Soda said.

I knew that Soda would have no problem keeping us all smiling. Probably because he was always grinning so much himself. He always made Alyssa laugh.

"Darry, we're not going to get separated or anything, are we?" I asked, nervous.

Darry looked me straight in the face. "Not if I can help it Pony. I'll do everything and anything I can to keep us all together." He said, and I could tell that he meant it. That's the thing about Darry. He hardly ever makes promises, but when he does, he makes sure that he keeps them.

"Hey Pony, why don't you come back to my room for a bit?" Soda asked, heading back towards the hallway.

"Sure" I replied, and followed him down the hallway back to his room.

We reached the door, and Soda opened it.

"Honey, I'm home." He called, grinning crazily at Alyssa.

"I was wondering when you were coming back." Alyssa answered.

"Excuse me while I go comfort my paranoid girlfriend" He said, walking over to her.

"I laughed when he pretended to pat her on the head, and in return got a whack in the head with a rolled up newspaper.

I went over to look out the window. It was still raining really hard, and the wind was really starting to pick up. The trees were blowing like crazy every which way, and swaying something awful. Every once in awhile you'd hear this huge thunder clap, and it would shake the windows.

"Boy, this is going to be some storm." I said, whistling.

"Going to be? This is already huge compared to the stuff we usually get back in Tulsa." Alyssa said, joining me at the window, and looking outside nervously.

Soda called out from behind us. "Hey, storms can be fun." He said.

"Only when they don't kill people or destroy things, like this one is going to." Alyssa said, turning to him, and giving him a small sarcastic grin.

"Well…yeah, but I was being optimistic." Soda replied.

"I was being realistic." Alyssa retorted, going back to where Soda was standing.

"I think I'm going to go back to my room now. I'll leave you two alone…again." I said, and walked towards the door.

Just before I went out, I turned back in to look at them. "Be good." I said, and smiled.

"Ok, goodbye Pony." Soda said, almost shoving me out the door.

I left, and walked back down the hall. Suddenly, thunder roared above me, like someone was moving a huge object upstairs, and the lights flickered. I was getting scared. Alyssa had been right, people are going to die in this storm, and I could be one of them, or someone I know. I couldn't live with that.

I stopped myself from crying, but I was shaking. I opened the door to my room, and went inside, not saying a word.

Darry noticed my intense silence right away, and came to sit down next to me on the bed.

"Nervous kiddo?" He asked.

I could only nod, because I was afraid that if I said anything, I would start to bawl.

"Listen, I'm not going to let anything happen to you, or Soda, or anyone else. Understand?" He said, putting his arm around my shoulder, and giving me a brotherly hug.

I nodded again, but this time, it wasn't because I would start crying, it was because I felt safer now. I even cracked Darry a small smile. I felt better, and ready to face whatever may lie ahead.

Well, part one is over. I'll start part two soon. Please R&R

Jess