With You In Your Dreams

If I'm gone when you wake up

Please don't cry

If I'm gone when you wake up

It's not goodbye

Don't look back at this time

As a time of heartbreak and distress

Remember me

Remember me

Cause I'll be with you in your dreams…

He was gone. Sodapop Curtis was dead. He was drafted into the Vietnam War just like every other 18 year-old boy in the United States was at the time. His brother Darrel got his draft notice too but stayed in Tulsa, Oklahoma to take care of their youngest brother, Ponyboy. It was 2 days ago that Darry, which was Darrel's nickname, and Ponyboy got the horrific call that would change their lives forever.

"Hello?" answered Darry when he picked up the phone.

"Is this Darrel Curtis?" asked Lt. Rice

"Yes, this is him."

"I'm afraid I have some bad news."

"Is it about Soda?"

"Corporal Sodapop Curtis is dead, Darrel."

Darry dropped the phone. Soda, his little brother, was dead.

Tears came to his eyes. Time stood still. It's highly unlikely for a Greaser to cry, but Darry had seen Soda, Ponyboy and their old friend Johnny cry before. Suddenly Ponyboy came into the house dirty and greasy as always.

"Darry, you okay?" asked Ponyboy, with a concerned look on his face.

"Pony, go to your room. Now."

"What did I do now?"

"Just go!"

Pony walked away and went to his room. Darry quickly took the phone and hung it up without even checking to see if Lt. Rice was still on the line. He rushed into Pony's room, sat on his bed and started to whimper. Pony put his arm around Darry's shoulders.

"What happened? Why did you send me to my room?"

Darry didn't answer him.

"Darry, what's going on?"

"Pony, just shut up and give me some time to think."

Finally Darry answered Ponyboy's question.

"Soda's dead, Pony."

Pony gasped in shock as tears stung his eyes.

"What? No way!"

"Deal with it Pony."

Pony abruptly ran out of the room. Darry made no move to follow him. Pony walked out of his house wondering where he would go. Johnny and Dally were gone forever just like Soda was now. Pony didn't feel like bother Two-Bit and Steve was drafted in the war too.

Pony decided to go to the lot. He sat there bent over with his head in his hands. He couldn't believe it. He lost his parents, Johnny, Dally and now Sodapop. He started to cry. Why? It was the only question and word that came to his head.

Song Credit

With You In Your Dreams by Hanson