Two-Bit came over to see me. I finally convinced Pony to go home. I had to stay the night at the hospital, and that was it. I was even nice enough to let him drive the truck over to pick me up.

"So how you feelin', man?" Two-Bit said as he came into my room. He was nice enough to wait until Pony left to come in. He's changed a lot.

"Better now that I've got some medication in me." I said with a chuckle.

"Yeah. I know how that goes."

"So how's your mom? You guys doin' okay?"

"Gettin' by. Can't complain."

"Just take it day by day." I leaned my head back on the pillow.

"You scared Pony somethin' awful."

I looked at Two-Bit. "Oh, yeah? Was he okay?"

"Never seen him so scared. He looked less scared than that time he got jumped by those Socs. He looked like he was dangling on top of a cliff or somethin'."

Poor Pony. I knew the feeling. I hadn't expected him to get too worried. I just had an ulcer.

"You were there, though, right?"

"Didn't do much good. Poor kid wouldn't say a word. Just leaned his head back and cried. 'Bout made me cry. But you know me, I ain't the cryin' type." Two-Bit said with a grin.

"Yeah. You're tough enough." I said, smiling back at him.

"I was thought Pony was, too. I don't know. Seeing him like that, I thought maybe he'd want to be hanging off a cliff. Only, he'd let go."

I knew how that went. My poor brother. I never meant for him to have to go through what I went through. I was hoping life would ease up on him a little. But I guess that'll never happen.

"You hear anything from Steve lately?" I asked.

"Nope. He said he might not get to much. Apparently he's done training. Now comes the time to worry about him." He thought for a minute. "Well, you'd better not since you all ready got an ulcer."

"You're still sharp as ever, aren't you?"

"Yep. And I'm never gonna change!" Two-Bit said as he walked to the door.

"See you later, man!" I called.

"See ya!" He hollered back.

Good ole Two-Bit. Maybe he hadn't changed so much after all.

I drove the truck to pick up Darry the next morning. I was extatic. I couldn't believe he had actually let me drive! He never did, but I guess he figured it was that or we'd have to walk back home.

When I pulled up beside the doors, Darry was already waiting on me. He looked better than he had the day before. He had on his black t-shirt that showed off all his muscles, and I noticed how all the girls stopped to watch him go by. He had an appeal to him, that I don't think even he realized he had.

"How you feeling?" I asked as he came inside the truck.

"Better. How about you?"

"Not bad. I guess we're both pretty banged up, aren't we?"

He smiled a little, and I felt better just at seeing it.

I started driving out of town. When we reached the city limits, I saw Darry look at me from the corner of his eye.

"Where are we going?" He finally had to ask.

"The cemetery." I said, as though it were as normal as going home.

We were silent on the way there. I soon pulled into the gravel driveway and drove toward the back. I parked the car and hopped out. Darry followed.

It didn't take long to find Soda's grave. Since he was a soldier, he got a flag beside his. Darry and I didn't have to pay for funeral arrangements or anything.

I walked over to Soda's grave. Darry went back a few stones away, where Johnny and Dallas were buried: side by side. Mom and Dad were right behind Soda.

I remember how one of the men from the army wanted to bury Soda in Arlington. But Darry and I wouldn't hear of it. He was to be buried here, in Tulsa, where he's loved. And where he could be buried with Mom, Dad, Dallas, and Johnny.

I knelt at his grave, feeling the tears already begin to form. I read the words written on his gravestone: Sodapop Patrick Curtis October 8, 1948-September 24, 1967. A hero, a brother, and a friend.

"Hey, Soda. I still miss you. Every day. I can't stand life without you. But I do have Darry and it helps. But. . .why did you have to die? I needed you Soda! Why did it have to be you? You didn't deserve it. You didn't do anything wrong. I love you, Soda. I miss you so much. Darry and I have been getting along okay, I guess. He hit me a while back, but we haven't fought much since. We know how much it would hurt you. I'm sorry you died. Everyonedies. At least everyone I love, it seems. I'm afraid I'll lose Darry, too. Yesterday, he scared me to death. He passed out at home, and there was blood in his mouth. It turns out he had an ulcer. I knew he worried to much. But he never listens. I tried to get him to stop worrying, but you know Darry. He has to get his way." I broke down, starting to sob now.

"When will the pain end, Soda? When? Please, Soda. Make it stop. I'm tired of suffering."I broke down on the ground by Soda's grave, crying the hardest I had since he had died.

Darry rushed over to my side, worrying about me. He lifted my broken body up and hugged me close.

"Sh, sh. It's okay, baby. It's okay. I'm here. Sh." It didn't help. Because the pain was here. It was always here. I don't think the pain will ever end.