I'm sixteen now. Sandy and I are now going out. And Steve's going out with Evie. Sandy is really
something. Even Ponyboy likes her just fine and that's saying something. Darry had a girlfriend once.
But Pony and I didn't like her so we played a trick on the poor girl and scared her something awful.
Darry never had another girlfriend after that. Anyway, Steve and I were sitting in the living room
watching television with Ponyboy. The phone rang and Darry answered it. "Hello...yes...oh
my...really?...all right..." was all Darry said before he put the phone down. Then he turned off the
television and we all looked up at him. "That was the police. Our parents...well they...they were just
killed in a car accident," Darry told us. My body went cold. Ponyboy looked over at me then he ran
to me and started crying really hard. I started crying too. But Darry just stood there with a hard and
cold expression on his face. Pony and I hugged for a long while. Steve had his arm around me.
Steve was the only one of my friends that showed up for the funeral. That just goes to show how
we're always there for each other.
I'm sixteen-going-on-seventeen. I'll be seventeen real soon. Darry and Ponyboy are constantly
fighting. Why do I have to be the middle brother? And they want me to take sides. I just can't! I see
both sides. Anyway, one day, Steve came over after work. I brought the mail into the house and
noticed that there was a letter for me. We went into my room and I opened the letter. It read:
Dear Soda,
I'm sorry to say that this is the end. You're not the one, Soda. You're not the father of the child I'm
expecting. Don't get me wrong. You are a very nice boy. But it wasn't real love, Soda. It's just too
bad you didn't figure it out sooner. Before you got your heart broken. I am on my way to Florida
and I'm not coming back. Even if you try to write back to me, I will not answer. I'm going to forget
about you. I'm sorry this letter is so harsh. Farewell Sodapop.
Sandy
I read the letter over again five times. When Steve asked what was wrong, I handed him the letter.
He read it and then looked up at me sadly. I started bawling. I couldn't help it. Steve put his arm
around me. "It's okay, buddy. I know you loved her," Steve said quietly. I didn't say anything. I
couldn't. I was crying too hard. "You'll get through. I'll always be here for you, Soda."
I know it may sound a bit fluffy with Soda and Steve. But it's just friendship. The last chapter is really, really short. I hope you don't mind.