It took us ten minutes to talk to Johnny because we were arguing with the nurse. The doctor came up behind her putting his hand on her shoulder.
" He's been asking for you all morning, it couldn't hurt."
We walked into the quiet room. There in the middle of the room was Johnny laying in a hospital bed. I took a good look at both of his arms, covered in burns.
" Hey Johnny Cakes."
" Hey."
His voice was quiet but audible in this quiet room. Two-Bit took the newspaper out of his leather jacket and showed it to Johnny.
" That's tuff enough."Johnny smiled.
" I guess you can read it later."
Two-Bit placed the newspaper on the side table.
" Can you get another book?"
Two-Bit and I looked at Pony.
" He wants another copy of Gone With The WInd so I can read it to him."
" There's a gift shop down staries. I'll go get him one."
He left and I pulled up a chair next to the bed.
" Me and Darry are getting along well."
I could tell that Johnny understood what Pony was saying.
" Oh yeah. I found out today that I am Pony's sister."
" I knew you probably were when you said that your real last name was Curtis."
" That was probably a red light."
The nurse walked in.
" Johnny your mother's here to see you."
He had a surprised look on his face that turned to anger.
" I don't want to see her."
" But she's your mother."
I wanted to tell her if he didn't want to see her he didn't want to see her but Johnny beat me to it.
" I said I didn't want to see her. She probably her to tell me about all the trouble I'm causing her. Well just tell her to leave me alone!"
The nurse turned to us and told us to get out. Two-Bit came back, told Johnny that he left the book on the side table and we left.
As we started to walk to Dallas's room, we saw Johnny's mom.
" He wants to see these no good hoods than his own mother."
Two-Bit told her off so good we had to lead him to Dally's room. He looked like he was going to cry. When we walked into his room, Dally was arguing with the nurse.
" Where's your gown?"
" I threw it away. Get out of here you're making my stomach sick."
Pony and I sat down on the bed on the other side of the room listening to Dally and Two-Bit.
" So how's the kid doing."
" He's fine except for a couple of burns on his arms."
I kept looking down at my beat up old converse because honestly I don't like to see people not fully dressed. It gets kinda awkward.
" Hey Val! You don't like looking at a tough greaser like me."
I looked him straight in the eye. I knew he was testing me so I said
" NO! I just don't like seeing you with nothing on."
He left it at that and asked Two-Bit for his switchblade. He handed it to him.
" We're going to win this rumble for Johnny!"
We walked out of the hospital and headed for the bus stop. We know better to hang around Dally when he gets like that. I sat down on the bench and watched all the cars go by. Two-Bit put his hand on Pony's forehead.
" You're kinda hot. I would hate to be the one to tell Darry and get my head kicked in.
" Don't tell him. I'll take a couple aspirins before the rumble."
The bus came and Two-Bit gave us the money we need to get on.
" The only thing that's keeping Darry from becoming a soc is us."
" Yeah I know."
We were walking up the hill when we saw Cherry get out of her little old Stingray.
" Hey Two-Bit, Valley, Ponyboy."
" What you need?"
" They play your way. No chains or blades."
" Thanks."
We were almost down the hill when Cherry called for Pony. I watched as they talked, Pony almost walking back towards us then turning around, saying a little something, and then walking down the hill towards us to go home.