I went to turn off the skillet that had been heating up on the stove, and shoved the uncooked chicken into the refrigerator. I wasn't sure
how long it would be before Two-Bit and Ponyboy roared up to the house, so I didn't bother to change my clothes. I probably should have,
since I'd wiped flour and everything on my shorts, but I just didn't care. I was outside waiting on the porch when I saw Two-Bit's car
coming up the street, Ponyboy in the passenger's seat.
He'd braked to a stop, and I ran to the car. Pony got out and I slid into the middle of the seat. Pony had barely put his
rear end in the seat again when Two-Bit began driving.
"What is it? What happened?" I asked immediately.
"Don't know," Pony said. He was popping his knuckles in nervous repetition.
"Somethin' at the job site?" I persisted. "Maybe it's his coughing? Maybe he finally decided it was bad enough for a
doctor?"
"Why would he go to the hospital for that?" Pony argued. "To the emergency room? That can't be it-"
"Well, what?" I asked, looking from Pony to Two-Bit.
Two-Bit shook his head, in an indication that he had no idea, and Pony just kept popping his knuckles and didn't answer.
A lump began to form in my throat. It would be hours before it went totally away.
Outsiders
When we got to the hospital, Two-Bit let Pony and I out, while he went to park the car. Pony and I went to the nurse's station,
where we were told where to go from there. Walking down a long hallway, I said, "Pony, I'm scared-"
"Darry'll be okay. He's Superman," Pony said.
We were at the end of the hallway, nearly, when we came upon another nurse's station, and then a room full of
couches and chairs. Soda was there, sitting in a chair, and leaning forward, with his hands folded. It made me even
more scared, seeing Soda like that. All vulnerable looking. When he looked up and saw us walking towards him,
he stood up fast.
He met us, wrapping an arm around each of our necks.
"What happened?" Pony demanded.
Soda leaned back, just a bit, still keeping hold of both of us. "There was an accident-Darry fell-"
"From a roof?" Pony asked, barely above a whisper.
"Yeah. The doctor's with him now."
"Well-have they said anything?" Pony asked.
"They're sure he's got some broke ribs. They're still lookin' him over-" Soda said. "They think he might have a broke arm, too."
Pony and I were staring at Soda, both of us horror-struck. Soda gave us both a shake.
"It's nothin' he can't heal from," Soda said, trying to sound reassuring.
"What made him fall?" I asked.
Pony gave me an astounded look. A disgusted look. "Maybe he was dancin'," Pony said, with sarcasm.
I stiffened, and clenched my fist. "Shut up, Pony!" I said, and not quietly.
"Well, that's a stupid thing to say!" Pony told me.
"You ought to know stupid-" I began.
"That's enough," Soda said, in a loud, furious whisper. It seemed that people in the room were watching us with interest.
At that furious tone, both Pony and I hushed up.
"Why ya takin' out after each other for?" Soda asked, quietly. "It's a time we need to stand strong together-not be tryin'
to hurt each other."
Pony nodded, and I hung my head, ashamed.
"Can we see him?" Pony asked.
"Not till they get him looked over-the doctor said he'd come back out and talk to us," Soda said.
So, we sat. We sat and waited. And waited some more. Pony stood up and began to pace. Back and forth. Two-Bit came, and he joined
us in the wait.
"What's takin' so damn long?" Pony complained.
"He must be hurt real bad," I said, in a near whisper.
Soda reached out and put an arm around my shoulders, pulling me into his side. "Doesn't mean that," he denied.
Finally, a doctor came out, his white coat flapping a bit. We all four stood up, in a row. A nervous row.
Since he'd spoken to Soda earlier, apparently, he knew him, and headed right towards us.
"More family?" he asked Soda, nodding to Pony and me and Two-Bit.
"Yeah. My brother and sister," Soda said. "And my buddy."
"Well, your brother's pretty banged up," the doctor said. "Multiple cuts and bruises, and some broken ribs. His left hand
is fractured. It's a small fracture, though, so that's a good thing. We've wrapped up his ribs, and casted his hand." He paused.
"He tells me he's right-handed?"
"Yeah," Soda said, with a nod. "He is."
"Well, it's his left hand, so he's fortunate in that regard, as well," the doctor talked on. "He's lucky there's not worse
injuries-internal bleeding, for example-"
"And there's none of that-you're sure?" Soda asked.
"I am," the doctor said. He gave the four of us a long look. "He took a high, hard fall. He's very lucky."
"Can he go home with us?" Soda asked.
"I'd like him to stay overnight, to make sure we have his pain under control, and make certain that knot he got on the head
isn't going to cause him any major problems-but, he says he's not spending the night here. He's a stubborn one."
"That he sure is," Soda said.
"I'd like him to stay for another hour or so at least," the doctor said. "I'll release him after that, if he seems to be
breathing alright, and his pain is manageable."
"Alright. What we gotta do, at home for him?" Soda asked.
"Well, he needs to rest-nothing strenuous, definitely no climbing on a roof anytime soon. Just try to keep him reeled in
for a bit. Have him take pain meds when he needs them. He'll do more as he can tolerate."
"How long before he works?" Soda asked.
"I'd like to see him take at least a couple of weeks off-but after meeting him, I don't know that he's going to follow
that advice," the doctor said.
"We'll see what we can do," Soda said.
"He had a bad cough when he came in here," Ponyboy spoke up to say. "Can ya see about that, too, while he's here?"
The doctor smiled a bit. "I'm glad you reminded me of that. We did hear the cough, and checked it out. He has a fairly severe
case of bronchitis. We'll write him up a script for antibiotics for that. Unfortunately, combining that cough with those broken
ribs-it's going to aggravate his pain considerably."
"Thanks," Soda said, and the doctor nodded.
"Is it alright-that we see him now?" Pony asked.
"Yes. Go on back. The nurse will direct you to the room he's in."
"Thanks," Soda told the doctor.
"You're welcome." The doctor turned and walked down the hallway.
"Want me to wait out here for ya all?" Two-Bit asked, looking unsure.
"Course not," Soda said.
"You're comin' back with us," Pony added.
The four of us made a fast trek to the double doors, leading to the rooms in the emergency section. A nurse told us
Darry's room number. When we got there, Soda went in first, and then Pony, then me, and then Two-Bit.
Darry was being tended to by a nurse with red hair, who was taking his blood pressure, while he sat on the edge of a hospital bed.
I was shocked at Darry's appearance. I knew the doctor had said 'multiple cuts and bruises', but seeing it was something
else, for sure.
One whole side of his face was all grazed up, and there was a noticeable lump on one side of his forehead. They'd lowered
his roofing coveralls so that the straps were hanging down. They'd taken off his t-shirt, and he had brown rolled bandages
wrapped around his entire middle. His left hand was in a cast, from mid-way down his forearm and over his hand, so
that only his fingers were sticking out.
"Hey," he said, in a general way, to all of us. Sounding, to me, as if it was difficult for him to speak.
"Hey, Superman," Soda said. "Did ya forget that ya can't really fly?"
"Guess so," Darry said. His voice sounded all raspy.
The nurse finished her task and said, "You just rest awhile now, and I'll be back later," to Darry. She smiled at all
of us, and went out, closing the door behind her.
"You kids-alright?" Darry asked, resting his right hand on his left ribcage, as if holding them in.
"We're fine," Pony said. "You're askin' us if we're okay-damn, Darry!"
Pony's voice faltered, and I knew he was really shook up, seeing Darry like that.
"I'm alright, little buddy," Darry said. Pony looked as though he was gonna bust out bawling, and I knew I
wouldn't be far behind if he did.
I'd just been standing there, sort of off to the side of Two-Bit, taking in the sight of Darry looking like he'd
been ran over. I still had that lump in my throat.
Darry motioned with his right hand, the unbroken one. "Junie. Comere."
I came over to stand close to him, finding that I was trembling. I guess Darry was 'in tune' or whatever, with me, and knew what
I was thinking, because he gave an attempt at a smile which didn't come off very well. "I'm okay," he told me.
"Ya don't look it," I denied, feeling, to my somewhat embarrassment, tears filling my eyes.
"Well, I am," Darry said. "Ya don't need to worry about me." He looked at Pony, too. "You, either, Pony. I'm gonna be
gettin' out of here in just a little while."
"They'd rather that ya stayed the night," Soda said.
"No need for that," Darry said, and pressed his hand against his side again.
"Ya oughta, Darry," Pony said.
"I'll be just as fine at home as I am here," Darry said. And, then, he coughed. And, when he did, he doubled over,
holding his side. It wrenched my insides, watching that.
All of us held our tongues, though, just staying quiet, and waiting for him to stop coughing.
"What happened? What caused ya to fall?" Pony asked.
"My own stupidity," Darry said, and grimaced as he held his side. "Just took a wrong step."
We all exchanged a look between us, thinking his explanation was sparse. The next hour or so consisted of us all just
sitting around mostly, watching Darry hold his side, and intermittently coughing. The same red-headed nurse bustled
in and out a couple of times. Once, when she left again, Two-Bit, true to form, gave a low whistle.
"She's a looker," he said.
The doctor made an appearance later, as well. He listened to Darry's lungs with his stethoscope, and then stepped back a bit,
looking serious.
"I can't convince you to stay at least tonight?" he asked, looking dubious.
Darry shook his head. "No."
"Alright. But, you have to rest for a few days. No climbing on ladders. And, take the pain medicine I'm prescribing. Don't
try to be a tough guy," the doctor said.
"We'll look after him," Soda said.
The doctor nodded. "I want to see you at my office, at the beginning of the week. Let's say-on Tuesday. To see how
you're doing. Alright?"
Darry nodded. "Yeah. Alright."
The doctor beckoned to Soda. "Come out here with me to the nurse's station, and I'll give you the prescriptions for
the pain meds and the antibiotics." To Darry, he added, "The nurse will get you ready for discharge. Take care."
Darry nodded in response and Soda followed the doctor from the room.
"Pony-" Darry said, and Pony stepped over closer.
"Yeah?"
"You and Junie go on with Two-Bit. Soda'll get me home-"
"I wanna stay," I said.
"I'll be right along," Darry said.
"We'll go then-" Pony said. "We'll cook ya up some supper-hamburgers, how's that?"
"Fried chicken," I interrupted.
"Anything'll be fine," Darry said.
"Pony can go with Two-Bit and start cookin'," I said. "I wanna ride with you and Soda."
"No. Ya go on with Pony and Two-Bit," Darry insisted.
That wasn't what I wanted. I was fixin' to argue but Darry looked so darn wrung out and hurt that I hesitated.
"Come on, Junie," Two-Bit said, quietly, from just behind me.
"Okay," I said, reluctantly.
Soda came to the door of the room, and motioned to Pony and me. Once we were standing beside him, he held
up the pieces of paper in his hand.
"These gotta be filled," he said. "Can ya stop at the drugstore, and do that on the way home? Once I get Darry in
my truck, I don't wanna have to leave him while I go in and get 'em."
"We'll stop and get 'em," Pony said.
"You have money with ya?" Soda asked.
"Not on me," Pony said.
"Okay." Soda pulled out his wallet, and took out some cash, handing it off to Ponyboy. "That oughta be enough to pay for
the medicine. If it's not, tell Mr. Bryer I'll come in tomorrow and pay him the rest of it."
"Okay," Pony said, putting the money in his pocket.
Soda stepped into the room a bit and said, "Two-Bit, comere."
When Two-Bit had joined us in the hallway, Soda discussed how to get Darry's truck home from the job site.
"One of the guys brought him here to the hospital," Soda said. "But he's not gonna want his truck left there overnight, and
he sure can't drive it home. Pony, ya think ya can drive it home if Two-Bit takes ya down there? Or do ya wanna wait
until I get Darry home and I do it?"
"I can do it," Pony said.
Pony's driving is still a somewhat new thing. He hasn't done much.
"Okay," Soda said. "Ya'll go on, and get that stuff done. We'll see ya at home."
We said okay, and stepped in, to tell Darry goodbye, and all that, but he'd sat back on the bed, against the pillows, and
he had his eyes shut, his right arm still wrapped around his left side, holding it.
"Go on," Soda said, softly.
Outsiders