Thurs. March 7, 1968

I had to wake up at seven o' clock and left the house at eight o' clock. Ugh, it was so early. I didn't eat breakfast or do much to my hair or put on my best clothes. But why should I when I would cry all my make-up off and wipe it off on my shirt and pull my hair out.

I invited myself inside and sat on the couch. I could hear moving bodies back in the bedroom. The boys were packing up and getting ready. Steve walked in all dressed in his uniform and had a few small bags with him. He dropped his stuff on the couch and sat next to me. I gave him a long look. I wouldn't see that face for a long time, what was I going to do without him for six months? There was a knock on the door. The knock was firm and loud. I could tell it was the lieutenant or someone like that.

I went to open the door because Steve sat awestruck on the couch. I don't think he could believe he was doing this either. This was not Steve's area of expertise. I was right about the person at the door.

"I'm looking for Cadet Steve Randle and Cadet Sodapop Curtis."

"Right here. Soda c'mon." Steve said.

"You have two minutes." Two minutes to say good-bye.

"I'm comin'." As Soda came out, I looked him in the eye. Then everything started to move in slow motion. He came toward me slowly. It felt like days. Soda and Steve said good-bye to the other boys first. Steve came up to me and I gave him the biggest hug ever. I would miss him like crazy. I was crying. What if something happened? No! I can't think like that. Both Steve and Soda will be back. I didn't want to let go but Steve kinda let go first. He play punched me in the arm and said, "We'll be back kid. No need to worry." He gave me a reassuring smile.

Soda was with Ponyboy. They were about to cry but didn't. I watched Soda move forward in the line. It felt like more days passing just waiting for him to approach me. It was like he was out of reach, a figment of my imagination, or I was dreaming his presence and now I am realizing that he isn't there to say what I want to hear. Surely enough he made his way to me and we both broke out in tears.

He took my face into his hands and gave me a kiss that led to a hug. I buried my face in his neck and bawled like a baby. The solider guy came back and announced it was time for them to leave. I could hear pain in his voice because he saw the pain me and Soda were both feeling.

"I promise to come back. I love you." Soda kissed my cheek and went off. I leaned on Pony for support. He held me close.

Fri. March 8, 1968

Today was Cherry's birthday. She had been planning this day for months. It was her twenty-first birthday. She didn't know if she wanted to have a big party or just have dinner with her parents. She decided on a dinner with her parents and she invited Casey and me. Cherry's sister, Valerie, didn't come because she was at her friend's house and Jimmy, her older brother, lived out-of-state. I agreed to go because I thought it would take my mind off Soda. Cherry's parents were paying for dinner so my pockets were empty. I dressed as nice and lady-like as I could. I hitched a ride with Casey to the restaurant. She looked a lot better than me. She could pull off the fancy look.

Cherry and her parents met us outside. We were led to the table and sat around a circle table. Things were going smoothly until Diana and Drew started asking me questions.

"So, Typhani how's school for you?" Diana asked me.

"Uh, you mean like college?" I was nervous that Diana and Drew would think that I was a bad person or something. I didn't want Cherry to have bad friends either.

"Well, yes, I didn't think you would be in high school." Diana laughed.

"I'm not in college." I was sort of embarrassed.

"Do you have other plans?"

"Uh, no not really. I had a job a couple of years ago but after I moved, I just didn't get around to it, I guess."

"Oh." She moved on to Casey. Of course Casey had much more to say because she's in college. I mouthed the words, "I'm sorry" to Cherry because I thought that I might be embarrassing her too. She said back, "It's okay."

Casey kept talking for awhile so I was okay with not saying anything. Then out of nowhere, Diana asked, "Do you have someone special in your life?" She only asked because Cherry had just mentioned the boy she'd been seeing. I almost choked on my salad.

"Mom… not now." Cherry whispered to her mom.

"Oh, how 'bout you Casey?"

"Mother!" Cherry snapped.

"Okay, I'm sorry." Diana gave in.

Luckily the food arrived, so Diana stopped asking questions to eat her food. Drew hardly talked at all. Thankfully dinner went peacefully for the rest of the time. When the end came, we said good-bye and a last "Happy Birthday" to Cherry.

"What were you so nervous for?" Casey asked as we drove back home.

"I was just worried that her parents wouldn't like me anymore." Diana and Drew had always liked me as a kid but times have changed and so have I.

"Diana and Drew love you. Honestly, who wouldn't?" Casey was making excuses.

"Shut up." I said playfully and laughed. Casey took a shortcut through Dallas' neighborhood. Of course I thought of Dallas. Before I knew it, we were home.

Sat. March 9, 1968

I normally looked forward to Saturday's at the end of long week. But today felt like any other day because I wasn't in school and didn't have a job. I had considered getting my job again but was too lazy to try and get it back. I'm sure Bill gave my job to a much better and more experienced writer. Oh well.

Casey and Cherry's school schedule was weird so I saw them at different times every day. They stayed the night last night and were still here. I slept 'til ten and didn't get out 'til twelve. They were gone by then.

I rolled out of bed and lugged my body to the couch. The fridge felt like it was a mile away and I wasn't up for that trek. I stared at it. It was calling my name but moving farther and farther away like some sort of dream.

"Uhhh…" I groaned aloud. I got up and made my way to the fridge for something to eat. My stomach was so empty. I got to the point of starvation where I was so hungry food sounded repulsive and I wanted to hurl. There was hardly anything in the fridge which was disappointing. I grabbed the first thing that grabbed my attention: just plain yogurt. I dove in the moment I grabbed a spoon.

I sat on the couch again and turned on the TV. It was turned onto the news. Boring! I changed it to cartoons. When I finished my yogurt, I placed the empty carton on the couch next to me and fell back asleep.

"Hey, wake up!" there was a pounding on the couch and yelling. I couldn't block it out so, I had to wake up. It was Two-Bit. I gave him a violent look and he stepped back. "Are you doing anything tonight?"

"No why?" I hesitated to answer

"Me and Pony are going on a double date tonight and we need you to take care of Darry."

"Darry's a big boy; I think he can take care of himself." I snapped back

"He's sick with the flu, stupid." I rolled my eyes and agreed to take care of Darry.

"Typh, can you make me some soup?" Darry asked. I had just sat down and he had kept ordering me around.

"Uhhh! If I have to." I got up again and walked to the kitchen. I searched through the cupboards for a can of soup. When I found one, I made it and Darry yelled out another request, "Get me some juice too."

"A punch in the face is what you're gonna get." I mumbled to myself. I brought out the soup and some juice and placed it on a TV tray. I sat next to him on the couch and watched him for a moment.

"Just wait 'til I have the flu." I warned him.

Tues. March 12, 1968

Much to my surprise, I was sick with the flu. Of course, the boys waited on me hand and foot. I ordered them around; Darry got the most work to do.

"Doesn't feel too good to be ordered around, does it?" I asked Darry with a hint of sarcasm. He didn't laugh. "Can you make me some soup?"

"Yes." He kept back the anger. I laughed.

All day long, I was treated like a princess. I didn't mind the attention. Two-Bit played along and spoke with a British accent and pretended to be my butler. Around five my dad came to visit.

"I heard you were sick." I looked at Darry and he said, "I thought he should know."

"You boys can go home now. I'll watch her." I rolled my eyes. I got to spend the rest of the evening with my dad. Yeah! He gave me a few blankets and

cleaned the house a bit. Later he helped me to bed and left.