Chapter 5:
About a week went by, and Johnny was recuperating at an astonishing rate. His arm was still in a cast, and the cuts from the whiskey had gotten infected something horrible, but still not too major and they were getting much better. The only thing that wouldn't heal was the hole on his leg. I was getting worried about that, no one else was though. I actually was about to lose mind. Johnny is my best friend, I had seen him beat too many times to count, and I had almost lost him before when he ran into that fire to save those children. He did it to be gallant, to try to be important to somebody but me. Anyway, he had almost got killed. This time his stupid Mother and Father about killed the poor boy.
I think that's when it hit me. Johnny's parents almost killed him. I couldn't let him go back home, I just couldn't! Who knows, if he did go back home then they might beat him again and actually kill him! No. I couldn't let that happen. There was only one choice, and I had to be the one to enforce it. So while Johnny and Soda were asleep one night, and the rest of the guys weren't lying around our house, I got out of bed quietly, careful not to wake Johnny, and walked into Darry's room. I then tapped him on the shoulder." What on Earth do you want Ponyboy! It's nearly midnight and I have to be to work at 4:30 A.M.
" I'm sorry Darry. I just need to talk to you."
" OK, So go ahead and say what you need to say. Then let me go back to sleep, you got that."
" Well, Darry, I was hoping you and I could talk in private."
" Its midnight, Pony, The guys are outta the house and Soda and Johnny are asleep."
" Darry, Please." He hesitated a moment and then said in a tone of voice that said something like- Oh Ponyboy this better be important. He said " OK Pony give me a sec to get dresses."
"OK" I said. About three minutes later Darry came out in a flannel shirt and jeans. The two of us walked a little ways around the block, until he said, " Ok Pony, what's so important that you had to wake me in the middle of the night and make me get dresses and walk around the block at midnight for?"
" Darry… You and I talked about taking Johnny in earlier. You remember that?
" Yeah" He said and his voice trailed off.
" Well, I just wanted to ask…Ok beg you to take him in. I don't care, Darry what you have to do just take him in! Call the court, file custody against his parents, and sign all those papers like you had to do with Soda and I! I don't care what you do or how you do it! Just adopt poor Johnny!" I was screaming and bawling at the same time.
" Pony, like I said, it's going to be hard"
" DARRY! I DON'T CARE!" I guess for once he understood how I was feeling, because he took me in his arms immediately and hugged me.
" OK, Ponyboy. I'll take Johnny in. Now listen its OK, everything's fine. You're fine. Johnny's fine. Everything's good. Let's go back to the house.
"OK." I muttered through tears. The two of us went back home, and it was a quiet walk. When we got back Darry asked me to sleep with him that night. He knew that I was still crying. "OK Darry" I said. I realized something that night, arry, his big, tall, muscular body, was my brother. He loves me and I can say whatever I want and degrade him to no end. But no matter Darry lovesome and there is nothing he wouldn't do for me. He knew it would be hard to get Johnny, and it would mean giving up more of his life to raise a third kid. But Darry knew that I wanted Johnny to stay with us, and Darry loves me and only wants the best for me. Even if it meant giving up another slice of his life, Darry would take Johnny in because he loves me and only wants me to be happy.