FOREVER CHANGED
CHAPTER 30
EPILOGUE 7
JOHNNY CADE
You cant help but be inspired by the story of Johnny Cade….born into a poor family, raised by abusive and neglectful parents. A small, timid, baby-faced boy , who's only source of affection came from a group of six boys from the same part of town.
Johnny was the only one in the group without siblings, so he became everybody's younger brother and Ponyboy's best friend. What Johnny lacked in self-confidence and physical strength.…he more than made up for, with his huge heart.
He loved life and he loved his friends and that's what got him through the most difficult time in his life….the aftermath of the church fire. Johnny's will to live was remarkable; he not only survived disfiguring burns and a debilitating back injury, but he helped make the world a better place, for so many people.
With the help of his tutor Wes, Johnny became a B student…doing so well, he was able to return to Will Rogers high school in the latter part of his senior year, for two of his six classes…after some renovations were made to the building. He graduated in June of 1970, receiving his diploma right before his best friend Ponyboy.
In the fall of that same year, he enrolled in correspondence courses at the University of Oklahoma, majoring in social work. Johnny saw how hard Darry was working to start his own business, so halfway through his freshman year, Johnny picked up some business courses. In late 1973, Darry, Soda, Pony and Johnny pooled their money together to start Curtis and Cade construction company.
After graduating in 1974, Ponyboy came back home, where he got a job at the local newspaper. Johnny worked closely with Darry as his business partner. The shed in the backyard was turned into a home office, so Johnny could work from the house. He also worked at the community center three nights a week, counseling children who were victims of abuse. Johnny, who had always been quiet and shy.…and still was, found it easier to talk to small children. They didn't judge him or pity him, they were calmed by his soft, caring voice and comforted, knowing he understood what they were going through.
Unfortunately, Johnny's health issues continued to hold him back. He was hospitalized five times for pneumonia and other infections, which wasn't uncommon, given his lung and other physical issues, but took it's toll on his already fragile body.….and there were two more failed surgical attempts to improve the movement in his left hand.
Johnny once again prevailed, but was saddened at how his medical conditions were affecting his 'family'. Darry and Pony were busy with the company, Soda had his own family to take care of and Maggie was super busy with her job and caring for three young children and Johnny.
Johnny felt guilty, so in early 1978, when Dr. Franklin told Johnny he needed another back surgery, on that would be very painful and require a long recovery time, Johnny agreed, and decided to move to an assisted living facility after the surgery. The gang half-heartedly agreed, but only after Johnny promised to move back home, once he was well enough. That turned out to be one of the best decisions, Johnny had ever made.
While at Hill House, Johnny met a petite, twenty year-old Occupational therapy student named, Rachel. She took an immediate liking to him, spending most of her free time talking with him, and they became very good friends.
It was over a year and a half before Johnny could come home, Christmas of 1979. Rachel became a familiar face around the Curtis house, and Johnny found himself falling in love. That made him nervous, he had never been in love before and he was still quite shy around her. Johnny convinced himself it would never work; she was eight years younger than him and came from a large, middle class family.…how could someone like her, be in love with him?
But Rachel was in love too, so on Valentine's day 1980, she turned the tables and proposed to Johnny. He protested, bringing up his physical limitations, his need for constant care, his inability to father children. Rachel didn't care, she wanted to be with him.…finally, Johnny accepted and four months later, to the day, the couple was married.
Johnny and Rachel lived with the Curtis' until there own, fully accessible home, was finished. In 1981, Johnny and Rachel decided to try to adopt a baby, but they were met with much resistance. No agencies would even consider placing a child in a home with a disabled parent.
Heartbroken, the couple tried fostering a child, but they were declined as well….until one day at work, Rachel was talking to a colleague about an orphaned boy who brought to the center. His name was David, he was six years old and walked with leg braces and crutches, the result of a neurological birth defect.
Rachel and Johnny instantly fell in love with the boy, and with help from a few outside sources, David was allowed to live with the Cade's; he was accepted immediately, by all of his 'cousins', as one of the gang. In the fall of 1982, his adoption was finalized.
A few years later, at a visit to Dr. Franklin, Rachel asked if there was any way the couple could try a new procedure she had read about….to try to have a baby of their own.
The couple endured four years of fertility treatments, before they got the results they were looking for….positive. At 2:04pm on August 28, 1990, Abigail(Abigail means fathers joy) Faith Cade was born; weighing in at 8lbs. 2oz, black hair, dark brown eyes.…the spitting image of her father.
Darry and Johnny still work side by side, every day, as business partners. Cade and Curtis construction specialize in building affordable, accessible housing and renovating old structures. Rachel and Carrie run the Cade Rehabilitation center downtown, where David works in administration. He's happily married to his high school sweetheart, who is pregnant with their first child.
The group is all gathered, at the Cade house, to celebrate Abbey's sixteenth birthday. Johnny cant remember ever feeling so proud as he watches his little girl walk into the backyard of her surprise party.
Her eyes twinkle as she finds her parents. She runs up and thanks them, hugging her mother tightly. She gently sits on her fathers lap and lays her head on his shoulder.…"I love you Daddy", she whispers into his ear. Johnny smiles…..and those four words make everything he's ever been through, all worth it.
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AUTHOR'S NOTE: There it is(sobs). See, Johnny ends up happy...I hope it was worth the wait.
I want to personally thank all of my loyal readers and especially my reviewers for making this story so special: Beth Pryor, Kawaii-Chibi-Kai, iheartponyboy33, Maddiecake, TheBee'sKnees, WhoaaReally53, outsiderslover93, Megan(welcome), and SamSammySamantha...I really appreciate all of the support and wonder comments you have given me...I will miss you guys (until the next story)...thank you all, very much!