Chapter two- Surprise surprise!
I ran all the way in the rain. I didn't think about getting wet or what Darry might do to me; I had to tell the gang! I ran up to the front door and swung it open. Darry looked up from his newspaper.
"Ponyboy Curtis! You're soakin' wet!" Darry said and I knew he was mad, but that didn't stop me from telling him the news.
"Darry, where are the others?" I asked.
"Soda's sleepin', Dal's at the lot, Two-Bit's outside somewhere, Steve's at work and I'm right here talkin' to you." Darry said in a matter-of-factly voice. "Why?"
"Darry, it's Johnny!" I said in a rush.
"What is it, Pony, is he OK?" Darry asked.
"He's fine! But you gotta see this!" I said.
"What is it, Pony? For god's sake, what is wrong?" Darry asked me.
"Nothin's wrong, but you just gotta see this!" I said. Darry shrugged and followed me.
"We ain't goin' all the way to the hospital in the rain, Pony. We're takin' the truck." He said and we climbed in. I was soaked through, but I didn't care. Johnny could feel his feet! He would walk again! Darry pulled up into the hospital parking lot and we ran to Johnny's room. Johnny grinned when he saw us.
"Did Pony tell you?" He asked.
"No. Johnny, what is it?" Darry asked.
"Look!" Johnny said, pointing to his feet. Darry's eyes looked to where Johnny was pointing. Johnny moved his feet. Both of them at the same time.
"Oh my god." Darry said. His mouth was hanging open and he looked at Johnny.
"I can feel and move my feet again, Dar!" Johnny said happily. His big black eyes were dancing with excitement. He would be able to walk again! I was as happy as he was.
"Pony, I'm goin' to get the rest of the gang. You stay here with Johnny." Darry said and was gone.
"I hope he finds 'im all." I said, sitting back down.
"Why?" Johnny asked.
"Well, everyone's in a different place at the moment." I said.
"Just like us. We've never really stayed in one place too long." Johnny said and I had to agree. We were always moving around. From my house to the lot. From the lot to the movies. From the movies to the Dairy Queen. Suddenly, Dallas shot into the room. He was wet from head to toe and I could tell he had been running.
"Johnny!" Dallas said, huffing for breath.
"Hey, Dallas!" Johnny said, grinning. "Whatcha doin' here?" Johnny asked.
"What do you think I'm doin' here? I came to see you! Darry saw me on the side of the road while he was on his way to pick up the rest of the gang and he told me to get my butt over here so here I am." Dally said. "What's the big emergency? I thought you was hurt or somethin' had gone wrong."
"Look, Dal!" Johnny said and pointed to his feet. Dally watched with his mouth agape as Johnny moved his feet under the sheet.
"Johnny! You can move your feet again!" Dallas yelled and I thought he was going to cry from happiness, but Dallas Winston does not cry. Not in front of people at least.
"Yeah. I guess I'll walk again after all." Johnny said and he looked at me with a grin that told me everything was going to be back to normal. Suddenly, Soda, Steve, Two-Bit, and Darry burst through the door.
"Johnny! Johnny, Darry told us you can feel and move your feet again! How you doin' buddy?" Soda asked.
"I'm fine and yeah, I can feel and move my feet again. Look." Johnny said and showed everyone his feet. They were still badly burned and it would be a while before he was ready to wear and walk in shoes again, but at least he would walk again! I only hoped he didn't have to have rehab to learn how to walk again. I hoped it would still be instinct and natural. I knew, though, he would have to get used to walking on burned feet.
"Think you can walk now?" Steve asked. Johnny shrugged.
"I dunno. I could try." Johnny said.
"Oh no you don't. I'm goin' to get the doc and see what he thinks." Darry said and Johnny stayed put. I guess he wasn't sure whether or not to try and move yet. He sat up straighter and we all knew that he would walk again, because he then realized he still had burns on his back. He gasped in pain and sank back onto the bed.
"Easy, Johnny. Don't over do it now." Two-Bit said.
"Yeah. We can't have you gettin' hurt." Steve put in.
"Take it easy, buddy." I said and sat down again in my chair. Darry came back with the doctor.
"So, Mr. Cade, I hear you can move your feet again. Let's see." The doctor said in a voice that I knew meant he didn't believe us. I looked at Soda, who just shrugged. The doctor gently lifted Johnny's foot to examine it.
"Move your foot, Johnny." He commanded. Johnny looked at me and then he moved his foot. The doctor nearly dropped his foot in surprise.
"This is incredible! See if you can rotate your ankle, Johnny." I hoped that wouldn't hurt!
"Good! This is excellent! Johnny, can you move your legs?" The doc asked. Johnny nodded.
"Both of 'im." He said.
"Then let's see." Johnny carefully and painfully, I could tell, moved both of his legs.
"Excellent! Johnny Cade, at this rate and from what I'm seeing, you'll walk again after all!" The doctor said proudly. I had to hug Johnny. He was going to walk again!
"I'm not going to put in rehab because you can move your feet and legs, but you will have to have daily walking exercises until you don't hurt anymore. And no shoes for a little while. Not anything but slippers." At that, Steve laughed, but Darry shut him up with a slap on the back of the head. Steve glared at him and rubbed the back of his head. Johnny laughed.
"What's so funny?" Steve asked.
"Ya'll." Johnny laughed. I started to laugh too and pretty soon, everyone in the room was laughing.