Chapter 4
"You ok Ponyboy?" Soda asked me. I was right, they were shocked. Ah well, I am still the same as I used to be.
"I'm fine, this is how I usually am," I shrug, "It's really not a big deal. I wake up, eat, make breakfast, take my pills, wake up Cassie, get her bathed and ready, wake up Rosa, do bills, and got work my two jobs…." I finished. Everyone's eyes were wide and their mouths were dropped open to their pants.
I tried to turn my head and ignore them but finally I got fed up.
"Will you guys quit staring at me?" I whispered. Why? Cassie was in her car seat asleep and dead to the world. Thing is, she's a light sleeper.
"Why are you whispering?" Steve questioned.
"Because Cassie is a very light sleeper and she really needs her sleep," I replied.
"Wh…" I cut Two-bit off.
"I'll tell you guys when we get to the apartment," I said
"No need Pony, we're here," we heard Darry say. As perfect as a perfectionist like Darry can get, we parked in the driveway. This looked like Darry and Soda's but it's actually a nice green. Nice? Well this is on a nicer part of greaser territory.
"Nice place you have here," Darry exclaimed. I took a breath and nodded, trying to surpass the pain in my chest.
However, then I clicked… "Oh no…." I whined.
"What sweetie?" Rosa asked.
"I forgot to take my heart pills…" I said gasping for air in more pain.
"Alright, where is the baggy?" She asked.
"In the black suitcase, front pocket," I replied. She got the medicine and in a hurry, I swallowed it without any liquid besides my own saliva. In about 10 minutes of waiting, the medicine worked its magic finally, and I got up to help bring in the suitcases. Darry objected but I held up my hand and picked up Rosa's, mine, and Cassie's suitcases.
Our furniture was already set as we wanted within the hour and we all sat down tiredly. We have Cass' bed all set and she has been sleeping in it. Since everyone was finished with this, I decided to tell them.
"I guess I should tell you what's wrong with my baby girl…." I huffed.
"Yea, I think so…" Darry said.
Taking a deep breath, I ran my hands through my hair. "She has a case of Leukemia…" Everyone, even Darry looked at me confused because they never heard of this word.
"She has Cancer…" I repeated. Laura rested her hand up to her mouth, Soda had his mouth clenched, Darry's hands were resting against his head, Steve was looking down, Evie was crying, Kathy was frozen, and Two-bit wasn't comical but serious.
"When?" Soda asked.
"Last Monday… we told her and she didn't cry. She's a smart little girl you know? She understands everything too. Last night though… she said 'Daddy, I'm really not scared. Just remember that if I do die, I won't be gone,'…." I then busted out in tears in front of everyone. Can you guess that? Though, in my hands.
Within 3 minutes, I regained my posture.
"She has lymphocytic leukemia. It's more common in children. The hospital in Brooklyn already sent her information to Saint Francis Hospital. They are going to do more testing tomorrow morning and then they will find a room for her so they can start treatment. It's called chemotherapy…"
"My lord Pony, anything we can do?" I turned my head to Steve, surprised, but shook my head anyway.
"No, just be there for her. She needs her sleep since she's been kind of weak and she has to wake up at 6 tomorrow for these stupid tests. I have to go to Will Rogers in 20 minutes," I told them.
"Alright, little buddy. Is Cassie going to be staying in the hospital all day tomorrow?" Darry asked.
"Yea, she starts treatment depending on the test results. The only thing Cassie is mostly upset about is the fact of losing her hair…" Rosa smiled at me.
"She's going to lose her hair?" Soda asked.
"Yep…. The poor thing… I know this will be hard but don't take pity to her, she told me that she wants to be liked because of her, not the cancer and she's gonna be like any other little kid, going to kindergarten," everyone nodded.
"I have to go, I'll see you guys later…" the gang said bye, as I walked out, I grabbed my wallet, and keys. I took our car they sent over, and drove the familiar streets to my old high school.
I pulled into the parking lot and shut the car off and put the keys into my pocket. I looked down at my clothes and nodded alright, and stepped out.
It's about 2PM so the school is just about to let out. I'm actually pretty excited; I want to see Mr. Syme. I walked into my old high school and went into the office to get my visitors pass.
When I got it, I left to my old English teacher's classroom. I peeked in and saw him sitting in his front desk, older looking, reading a newspaper in a deserted classroom.
"You have got to be bored…" I said, making him jump in surprise. He looked up at me and grinned.
"Is that you Ponyboy?" he asked.
"Yup, it is. I'm starting here next week so I had to take one last interview…" I replied. He stood up and shook my hand.
"Sit, sit, take a seat!" he exclaimed so I did.
"How are you Ponyboy?" he asked.
"I've been better actually. The past four years have been really hard," I told him Mr. Syme.
"How so?"
"The whole thing?" I asked.
"Yes…" I always listened to Mr. Syme, after mom and dad died, besides Darry; he was a father figure to me.
"My girlfriend and I got drunk at a party, about 11 months later a baby is at my door. I raised my daughter for two years until my graduation week, my brother Sodapop was shot by a Soc, I came up but I got angry with someone and went back to Brooklyn. When Soda could walk which, he was fine after a couple days with a cast, he showed up at my doorstep at like, 4 AM. Then, I had a severe heart attack, was revived because my heart stopped. Now, my daughter was just diagnosed with Leukemia…"
"How old is your daughter?"
"She's four, Cassie, that's her name, she's starting treatment soon and is going to be hospitalized starting tomorrow…" I could feel a smile tug on my lips and turned around to see the face of Rosa.
"Who is this young lady?" Mr. Syme asked.
I could feel my ears getting red, "This is my girlfriend of two years and best friend of five…" I said. Rosa walked up and extended her arm to the man I have said so much about. Good things.
"Hi, I'm Rosa," She introduced.
"Michael Syme,"
"Another one on the way?"
"Yes…. We have a picture of this one," Rosa pointed to her stomach, "and Cassie. Pone has them in his wallet if you want to see them," Mr. Syme nodded with a smile so I reached into my back pocket and pulled out a brown leather wallet that Jayson got for me 3 years ago. I handed it to him with all of the different pictures.
The first one was of mom and dad.
The second is of me and my brothers and the whole gang.
The third is of Cassie when she was 7 months old.
Fourth is her pre-school picture. Then there are some others of her, me or Rosa.
And last is of Rosa and my baby.
"Cassie is adorable and the baby looks healthy. Very nice pictures…"
"Thank you. Oh! Do you still have my theme I wrote in ninth grade? I never got it back…."
"Actually, I do!" he went into his front drawer and picked out the composition book I wrote my heart out into nine years ago.
"Here you go…" he handed it to me.
"Thanks, I was thinking about publishing it…" I said. His smile widened.
"That story deserves it. Go for it…" I looked at the clock and sighed.
"Well Mr. Syme, we have to get going now…" we both, Rosa and I, gave our hugs and walked out of the room…
A/N- please R&R! Twisties are good and yurmmy.