Chapter five: Two weeks
Two weeks went by for Johnny very slowly. They whirled past me. It's like I had slept the whole two weeks away. Maybe I had, I'll never know.
"Boy, am I glad this whole crutches thing is over!" Johnny said, throwing his crutches into the closet.
"I'll bet you are." I said. Johnny was finally ready to walk like nothing had ever happened. He was ready to act that way, too. The only thing that was different about him was his hair. He, Dally, and Darry were the only ones of the gang that didn't have grease in their hair. He thought it was still too short to grease and I had to agree on his part.
"Geez, Pony, you really messed up my hair in Windrixville." He said.
"Yeah well, mine ain't all that great, either, buddy." I said in defense. Johnny laughed.
"What's so funny?" I asked.
"You." He said. I smiled back at him. Just then, Soda stuck his head in the door.
"Dally's here and he's askin' for you, Johnny." He said.
"What's he want?" Johnny asked. Soda shrugged.
"I dunno." He said and then he left for work.
"Let's go see what he wants." I said, getting off the bed where I had been sitting.
"Yeah." Johnny agreed. He and I made our way downstairs.
"Hey, Dal, what you want?" I asked.
"Nothin', just wanted to see if ya'll wanted to go see a movie or somethin'." Dallas said and I glanced at Johnny. His eyes were huge as he stared at Dally. I knew he was remembering what happened the last time we saw a movie. Johnny killed a Soc, that's what happened. And we ran away, resulting in the fire that had nearly cost Johnny not only his ability to walk, but his life, too. And I wasn't so sure I was ready to see a movie again, either.
"S-See a-a m-movie?" Johnny stuttered. Dal finally realized what he had just suggested. I guess things had gotten so back to normal, he had forgotten about the whole thing.
"Sorry, Johnny, I forgot." Dally said. Johnny shook his head and grinned.
"Don't be. Come on, let's go." He said and started for the door.
The movie wasn't all that great, but it wasn't all that bad, either. I guess it wasn't my thing. Johnny didn't like it that much either and neither did Dally. Finally, we got up and went home. I was glad we left. I thought I saw Cherry Valance and her friend Marcia at the concession stand. The last thing Johnny and I both wanted was Cherry and Marcia around. I mean, Cherry's my friend, but she hadn't seen Johnny since he got burned and he had been a little nervous about coming out today to the movies, but he had come anyway, knowing he had to get used to it sooner than later. I hoped this meant he was back to his old self. But then again, Johnny hadn't changed. He was still the gang's pet and still reminded us of a scared puppy. And when some Socs pointed to us and whispered, I knew he was really scared. He didn't have his switchblade on him; it was back at home. Dally had cursed under his breath and we high-tailed it. We were walking home when Dallas decided to head on over to Buck's to get the money Buck owed him. Johnny and I walked home in complete silence. There was nothing to talk about.
"Hey, you wanna go downtown?" I asked.
"Yeah, why not?" Johnny said, trying to grin.
"Lemme run and tell Darry." I said. "You gonna be OK?" I asked. Johnny shrugged.
"I'll be fine. Go tell Dar." Johnny said and I shrugged and ran of to tell Darry. I burst thought the front door.
"Darry, me and Johnny are gonna go uptown!" I screamed and got a "Fine" from Darry. I ran out the door, nearly crashing into Two-Bit and Steve.
"Were you goin', Ponyboy? Where's Johnny?" Two-Bit asked.
"We're goin' uptown. Ya'll lookin' for Soda or Darry?" I asked, looking at Steve.
"Naw, just wanted to come by and see what ya'll's up to. See ya later." Steve said and I shrugged and left. I walked past the lot, where I had left Johnny. Where was he? Then I heard a yell. I ran around the corner to Johnny's house and saw Johnny backed up against it, his father advancing towards him with a real big stick in one hand and he was cussing at Johnny.
"You little good for nothin'! What you come back for? You ain't wanted by nobody, boy, nobody! You's just a good for nothin' hood! What were you thinkin', killin' that kid? You idiot! I'll teach you!" He said and he brought the stick into the air. At that, I set out in a dead run like I was in a track meet. I jumped on Johnny's father's back and started to pound on him.
"Johnny, run!" I screamed at him, but Johnny just stood there, trembling and staring in fear. "Get outta here!" I said. Johnny's father bucked me off of his back and I fell to the ground with a thud. Johnny continued to stand there. I knew he hadn't run before since he learned he could walk, but I also knew that he was just down right scared of his father, like he used to be and like he always would be.
"You! This is all your fault! I'll teach both of you a lesson!" He said. I looked at Johnny and I saw his eyes widen in terror. Then, all at once, Johnny ran up to his father and kicked him in the back, taking the stick and flinging it out into the street.
"Run, Pony, run!" He said and I scrambled to my feet and we took off running. Johnny's father was fast, though. He was already up and had that stick again. I knew we wouldn't make it to the lot before he caught up with us. We were as good as in big trouble, possibly within an inch of our lives.
"Get back here, you hoods!" Johnny's father screamed at us. I looked at Johnny. He was breathing hard from terror, but I could tell that running was as easy for him as walking was. Then, all at once, I tripped and without meaning to, brought Johnny down with me.
"Oof!" Johnny grunted as he fell, and for a moment I was scared I had hurt his back, but was relived when he hauled me to my feet. By that time, though, Johnny's father had caught up with us.
"You little hoods!" He cussed at us and I knew we were in for it. Suddenly, out of nowhere, Steve and Two-Bit raced to the lot. They saw Johnny's father and how he had Johnny and me cornered and saw the stick. Two-Bit threw a punch at him and Steve took the stick and whacked it on the ground, breaking it.
"Hoods! You're all just a bunch of good for nothin' hoods!" Johnny's father screamed as he ran back to his house.
"And don't you even think about comin' back here again, boy! You do and I'll beat you so bad, you'll never walk again! And this time, there won't be no hope!" He said and Johnny cringed. He knew his father meant it and I did, too.
"Aw, shut up!" Two-Bit screamed and I knew he was about to cuss him out. Johnny was trembling and crying by then. I put my hand on his shoulder.
"It's alright, he's gone." I said.
"Ya'll alright?" It was Darry.
"Yeah. Johnny's dad…" I started.
"I know. I heard." Darry said.
"Who didn't?" Two-Bit asked under his breath.
"Johnny? Johnny, you OK?" Darry asked. Johnny nodded, but I knew he was as scared of his dad as he was of Socs. His dad was as good as a Soc. He didn't care about what happened to Johnny and he didn't care if he left him within in an inch of death when he beat him. It made me mad.
"C'mon. Let's go home." I said and we all walked back to the house in silence.
A/N- Well, that went…well. –Robin