FOREVER CHANGED

CHAPTER 25

INTO THE SUNSET

"C'mon Johnny, just a few more feet to the door", Ponyboy coaxed his best friend, smiling as he did it.

"I don't think I can make it any farther Ponyboy", Johnny gasped, his aching arms, trembling with effort.

"For crissake Pon, he's trying so hard...give him a break", Soda exclaimed, running up behind Johnny, ready to help him. Johnny glanced up a little and smiled. "Don't you dare touch those handles Sodapop", Ponyboy scolded. "You can do it Johnny, I know you can".

"I got it Soda, thanks", Johnny whispered, pushing three more times, and finally arriving at the threshold. Johnny smiled proudly, looking up as he wiped his sweaty forehead with the back of his shakey hand.

Ponyboy smiled back and nodded. "See I told you", he bragged. "You nearly made it across the entire house this time Johnny".

Johnny nodded slightly, to pained to talk…but happy...very, very happy. Three weeks ago Johnny didn't even have enough strength to grasp the wheels, now he was pushing himself across the room. It was slow, difficult and very painful, each push caused shooting pains throughout his right hand and both of his shoulders, but it was worth it.

It was now late spring, about two months since the first anniversary of the fire and Dally's death. The progress Johnny made in therapy was remarkable, for how badly his hands were damaged, it was amazing he could even use them at all. Johnny had regained sixty percent use in his right hand and about thirty percent in his left hand. The doctors were pretty sure there was no more room for improvement, but Pony believed Johnny would recover more.…Johnny, on the other hand, was just happy to have come this far.

He was now able to feed himself, write, even pick a few things up; albeit a little messy and clumsy most of the time. The range of motion in his neck also improved, to about forty or so percent. There was also something else Johnny had, that wasn't there before.…a feeling of importance, like he mattered and maybe, just maybe...a little bit of self-confidence.

Some things that used to bother Johnny, just weren't important anymore. He had been through hell and back…and he not only survived, he became stronger because of it...and so did his relationships with his friends.

"What're you standin' there for, Ponyboy? C'mon, were gonna be late for your track meet", Johnny smirked, waiting for Pony to help him down the ramp. Ponyboy chuckled, and turned to take hold of the hadles.

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Ponyboy walked up the front steps a few days later, to find a large yellow envelope laying on the front porch.…it was addressed to him.

"Hey guys, I got something' in the mail", Pony yelled, walking into the house. "It's big".

Darry, Soda and Johnny came in from the kitchen, Pony held up the large envelope. "Who's it from Pon?", Soda asked inquisitively.

Ponyboy shrugged. "I don't know, it's from New York…..Park Pub. ?", he added, becoming more curious.

"Well, aren't ya gonna open it Kiddo?", Darry prodded. Johnny smiled slyly.

Ponyboy ripped open the package with the enthusiasm of a five-year old at Christmas time. He gasped as his old, familiar composition notebook fell out, along with a letter of publication consent.

"They wanna publish my homework?", Pony said confusedly. "What?", Soda asked, pulling the letter from Pony's hand.

"They want to print my story into a book", he reiterated. Darry looked at him oddly. "The composition I wrote for English class last year….about everything that happened that week we…", he couldn't bring himself to finish the sentence…not in front of Johnny.

"That's great Pony…but why didn't you tell us you submitted your story to be published?", Darry asked. Pony shrugged. " 'Cause I didn't", he replied honestly.

Johnny looked away and nervously scratched at his head. "Johnny?", Darry called in a fatherly way. "Huh, Dar?", he asked, not looking up.

Pony knelt down next to Johnny. "You did this?", he questioned. Johnny grinned. "I had a little help", he stated quietly. "Why?", Pony asked.

Johnny thought Ponyboy was mad at him, Pony noticed this and smiled before nodding for Johnny to continue. "I-I saw it a couple of months ago…on accident. It was the best thing I ever read…even better than 'Gone With the Wind'…so I had Two-bit send it in", he explained.

Pony moved closer and gave Johnny a gentle hug. "Thanks, man", he whispered.

The touching moment was interrupted by a gasp from Sodapop. "Ten thousand dollars", he screamed, still holding on to the letter. "And compensation for all books that are sold", he added.

Pony stood up. "Can I Darry, please?", he asked excitedly. Darry put both hands on his brothers shoulders. "If you promise me one thing…you'll use that money to go to college", he bargained.

Pony smiled. "You got yourself a deal", he declared, with a handshake as they headed to the table for supper.

"Hurry up guys, you'll miss it", Johnny called from the back porch.

They all hurried outside, still talking and reeling about the news of Ponyboys impending fame as an author. Johnny looked up at them as they stood close to him, silently looking forward, lost in their own thoughts.

There he was, sitting on the back porch, with his three 'brothers'….watching another beautiful, Oklahoma sunset. Sometimes it was for the better and sometimes it was for the worse…but Johnny Cade knew the actions of the last year had touched so many people.…leaving them all…..FOREVER CHANGED.

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AUTHOR'S NOTE: Okay folks.…that's all for the story, the epilogues will be about five chapters, and will be posted sometime next week. I hope you liked it, and judging from the HUGE amount of reviews, I'm pretty sure you did.

I know the very beginning of this chapter may have been a little misleading, but, as much as I would have liked to, miraculously curing Johnny would have been unrealistic….and I wanted to portray Johnny as a determined, strong character who loves life and just happens to be physically handicapped. I hope I did good.….I love my Johnnycake!

REVIEWER'S: Where do I begin? Nine, that's the most I've ever gotten for one chapter…so cool. To Beth Pryor (welcome to my story), Kawaii-Chibi-Kai, ivy45663, yegbb10(welcome as well), WhoaaReally53, Maddiecake, SamSammySamantha, iheartponyboy33, and outsiderslover93.….you guys mean so much to me, without you, this story wouldn't feel so important to me. Thank you all so much!