I usually didn't walk home alone anymore, but that day Darry couldn't pick me up. He had to work late and I was very open to the fresh air. Two-bit was gonna drive me home that day but he didn't show up for school. I was worried out of my mind. No one had seen him for 3 days. Since the burial. He had always protected Johnny. He was like a little brother to Two-bit.
I decided to detour. I never liked being alone and I knew Darry and Soda wouldn't be home until later. I would stop by Mom and Dad's gravesites and then Dally and Johnny's. There seemed to be only one other person there. It made me feel a little bit strange. Some things needed to be done alone. Visiting your parents grave was one of those things.
The other couple was at the end of the cemetery. They had a ncie car and I automatically knew they were Soc's. I would have to go that way to visit my parents graves and I wasn't in the mood for gettting jumped in a graveyard. I decided to walk over anyways.
I recognized the couple right when I saw them. It was Cherry and Randy. They were vistiting Bob's grave. That brought tears to my eyes. That boy was as much alive as Johnny or Dally or Mom and Dad. Cherry turned around and looked at me Randy did the same. They both smiled and walked over to me as I stood at my parents grave.
"Hi Ponyboy," Cherry was the first one to speak. Randy looked at my parents' stone and then at Cherry.
"Hi Cherry, Hi Randy," I said. I then read my parents' stone although I didn't need to. I had it memorized. Darrel Curtis January 2, 1925- February 5, 1965. Carol Curtis April 15, 1925 - February 5, 1925. God bless our parents.
"These were your parents?" Randy asked finally looking at me.
"Yeah," I said. There was an unconfortable silence between us. Cherry still held a little grudge against us. She had told Randy a couple days after Johnny and Dally died. After a couple minutes, they waved goodbye and drove off. I then started my short walk to Jonny's grave. I read the stone like I did Mom and Dad's Johnny Cade March 1, 1949- September 12, 1965.
"I knew you would be the first to show up Ponyboy," a slurred voice came frome behind the tombstone. I walk to the other side only to see Two-bit sitting behind the gravestone surrounded by beer cans. Some were unopened and others were empty.
"This is where you've been! While everyone has been worried sick about you, you've been sitting behind a gravestone!" I yelled. I wasn't angery with him but for some reson that's who I took all my fear, anger, and hurt out on. Drunk, Innocent Two-bit.
"Have a beer, It'll settle your nerves," Two-bit said. I started to think about the last time I had drank but I cleared the thought and pressed the beer to my lips. I crinkled my nose at the taste but contiuned to drink. I didn't know what Two- bit saw in the stuff. It tasted horrible and made you sick in the morning. I did admit though, It helped with the thoughts. I didn't think about Johnny or Dally. I passed out and didn't think about anything.
When Two- bit woke me up, the sun was setting. I stopped to remember where I was.
"Come on Ponyboy Darry's gonna kill me if he's home," Two-bit said. I looked at him as if trying to figure out who he was. I noted the vomit and beer cans. I still didn't remember.
"Darry?" I asked slurring the y. I started to fall backwards as I stood up but I caught myself.
Two-bit watched me with a concerned look on his face but I didn't notice at the time. He was probably worried about how Darry would react. I was grounded last time I came home drunk. Two- bit put his arm across my shoulder and started the walk home. My head was pounding and my throat was burning and I had to stop and throw up by the porch.
"Ponyboy! Two-bit?" Darry yelled and I knew I was in trouble.