It was raining the day they laid Johnny in the ground. We all tried our best to huddle under the small tent. His parents didn't show up for the burial. Don't ask me why, I don't know. Some of us had umbrellas but most of us just had wet clothes and rain in our faces blending with the tears. If Dallas would've been here I'm sure he would've cried. He didn't usually cry.
Darry was standing beside me with his hand on my shoulder not wanting me to cry. Soda didn't come. He had to work. I looked around at what was left of us. There was a sobbing Two-bit, Darry, Steve, Soda, and me. None of us will ever see Dally or Jonny again. That's when it hit me. My body started to shake as they lowered the coffin into the ground.
"Stay gold, Ponyboy, stay gold," Johnny's voice repeated in my head. I could see him sitting with me in the church or following me into save those kids. Sobs racked my body and I fell into Darry's arms. My face was buried in his chest as I continued to sob.
"Shh Don't start now," Darry whispered.
We were the first ones to leave. I couldn't see through my tears so Darry had to guide me to the car. Once I got to the car, Darry refused to move until I controlled my sobbing.
"I just... I'll never see them again... They were my buddies," I choked out. Darry was turned around looking at me.
"I know Pony but you gotta move on. Sometimes you lose good people," Darry said starting the truck. I stared out the window as we rolled on.
We stopped at a small diner for breakfast. I wasn't very hungry but I went in anyway. The waiter came up to take my order. He was tan and very small. He had black hair. Everything about him reminded me of Johnny.
"Hi my name's Johnny and I'll be your waiter can I start of with..." I didn't let him finished. I burst into another fit of tears. Darry looked at me before trying to dry my tears and apologizing to the waiter.
I stopped my tears and pushed around some eggs before we went home. There was no evidence on my face that I'd been crying. Soda came home a few minutes later and Darry filled him in on what happened. Soda looked at me for a minute but didn't say anything.
"Sodapop, I'm scheduled late tomorrow. You gotta stay home with Pony. He's shook up and I ain't leavin' him alone," Darry said.
"Yeah I'll watch him," Soda said sitting beside me. Steve was in the kitchen probably eating something.
The phone started to ring and I jumped. Darry answered the phone and I got up to leave the room. I didn't like listening to his conversations. It made me feel like I was eavesdropping.
"Pony!" Darry yelled. 'Great it must be my English teacher,' I thought as I headed back into the room. I was in trouble. I changed my mind when I walked into the room to see Darry still on the phone.
"It's for you," He said handing me the phone.
"Hello," I said.
"Hello, this is Howard Bleck. I was hoping to talk to you about a creative writing program. We read your first novel and loved it. We'd like you to write another in two months. It is due October 10th," The man answered.
"Okay," I said. He continued to tell me a mailing address and other details before we hung up.
"You have to do this Pony, It's a great opportunity," Darry told me. I really didn't want to though. I couldn't think of something to write about.
Two-bit hadn't been over since the funeral. I thought he might be trying to avoid anything to do with Johnny. Boy, was I wrong.