I woke up and rolled over, reaching my hand to Soda's side of the bed. It was cold. I sat up quickly and then layed back down in a fit of tears. He was dead and he was never coming back. Darry must've heard me because he rushed into my room.
"Pony, you gotta get dressed," He said then softly added, "Today's the funeral."
"Today?" I asked. I had stayed in my room crying for 3 days.
"Come downstairs and eat something," Darry said. I got up and looked at myself. I was pale. I had lost weight, and a lot of it. My eyes were tear-stained. I was scared that if I took too deep of a breath, I would litterally fall to peices.
I followed Darry to the kitchen. I didn't realize how hungry I was until I started eating. I ate and ate and ate. Later, it made a reappearance.
I wore the same outfit I went to Johnny's funeral in. I didn't have anything else. I didn't take very long to get ready, so I went to check on Darry. He hadn't shown any emotion until then. Darry was crying. I had personally never seen him cry so hrad. It hits you at the worst moments. That was when it hit Darry. Soda's smile would never light up another room. His laughter would never make another heart sing. There was no going back to then.
It was too nice out to be going to a funeral. Soda would've wanted it that way though. I sat in the truck for a while, preparing myself before I entered. I wasn't prepared. And even if I sat in the car for 20 years, I wouldn't be ready. The first thing I saw when I walked in was pictures of him. I couldn't find any pictures of him frowning.
"He was great, huh?" Darry asked. I turned around and looked at him.
"Did you set this up?" I asked Darry crying. He nodded and hugged me. We walked up to the front of the funeral home beside the casket. Soda looked peaceful. He was wearing his favorite plad button up and Darry told me he was wearing jeans. His hair was greased and he looked perfect.
Most of the people there were girls who said they were friends. The only people I knew were Darry, Steve and Two-bit. Steve never left the side of the coffin. He wasn't crying though. I never seen Steve cry.
I listened to Darry eulogize Soda and I started to cry. I was crying so hard I had to leave.
"Anyone who knew Soda, knew he was a very happy person. So even though he has died his life goes on. Everyone he knew has a peice of him in them. So he hasn't really died yet. The happiness he brought to us can reach across eternity. I..." Darry said before I left. I never heard the rest of the eulogy.
So many people talked to me that day. I didn't know most of them. Soda probably didn't know most of these people, but that didn't matter. Soda was never coming home.