Soda left for Vietnam the next morning. Only Darry and Ponyboy went with to see him go. But Pony told me about it that afternoon.

"It was hard seeing him leave, Chris." Pony said. "I've always been closer to him than I am with Darry. Now, he's going to the other side of the world. He promised he'd come back when he could."

I looked at Pony and he looked back at me.

"He is going to come back, right?" Pony asked. "I mean, he'll come back the way he left. Alive and grinning, won't he?"

I sighed. "I hope so. But sadly, war doesn't promise that. But if he doesn't make it, he'll go to a better place."

"I want him to come back here." Pony mumbled. "I don't think Darry and I could handle losing another family member."

"I don't think Steve could handle losing his best friend." I added remembering how Steve and Soda had gone to Jay's one last time the night before. "He's having a hard time with this, too."

"I know, Soda told me last night. Said Steve still wants to be drafted." Pony paused. "Steve's not going to make the decision that you and Soda made, is he?"

I shrugged. "I don't know. What about you? Would you make the decision?"

Pony thought for a minute. "Well, you and Soda both seem okay with it. Maybe I would."

"What about Darry?" I asked.

"You'd need to convince him of the facts." Pony replied. "I hope you and Soda made the right decision."

"So, far, I haven't found anything wrong with it." I told him.

We sat in silence for a while. Pony laid on his back, watching the clouds. It was one of those nice days with the clouds that look like huge piles of cotton. I sat and drew pictures in the dust with my finger, not caring that I was getting dirty.

"Do you think Steve will still come around even though Soda's away?" Pony asked suddenly.

I thought for a moment. "I don't see why not."

"I know Soda would like Steve to stick around." Pony said thoughtfully. "But, Steve might decide not to. He's always been closer to Soda and may not want to come around since Soda's not here."

"You never know. He might still come around. Don't forget, he lives next door to me." I pointed out.

"True." Pony admitted. Then added, "Soda hasn't even been gone a day and I already miss him."

I nodded and wondered if Soda was feeling the same way. If he missed us like we missed him. And I wondered how long he'd have to be away because things just wouldn't be the same without him.