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I went downstairs to see the gang. To my surprise, only Steve were there. Soda was in the kitchen and I went to see him.

"I thought the entire gang was here?" I signed to him.

"They were. Before you came down, all of them left except Steve." He signed.

"Oh." I signed.

I walked around the kitchen. Our kitchen is small and cluttered. I don't think it has been cleaned since mom and dad died. Most of our house hasn't been cleaned since they died. Just then, somebody tapped me on the shoulder. I turned around and saw Darry standing there.

"Me, Soda and Steve have to go to work. Pony went to movies and should be back in two hours." Darry signed.

"Okay." I signed back.

"Are you going to be okay here alone?" He signed.

"Yes. I've stayed by myself before." I signed.

A few minutes later, the entire house was empty. It was kind of weird since our house is usually filled with people. I decided to go upstairs into my room. I wanted to go outside, but I wasn't allowed to go outside unless I was with somebody becuase I was deaf. I found it unfair. I was sixteen and I was still treated like I was five. I wondered what it would be like to not be deaf. To hear.

I laid down on my bed thinking about this...

The next thing I remember is somebody shaking me. I open my eyes and roll over to see Pony.

"What time is it?" I signed.

"Twelve thirty." He signed back.

Twelve thirty. I must've fallen asleep.

"Pony, can I talk to you?" I signed.

"Sure. What's up?" He signed and then then sitting on my bed.

I sat up in a sitting position and started signing. "Pony, I can't stand being deaf. It's so hard."

"What do you mean?" Pony signed.

"I can't go outside without somebody. And Darry treats me like I'm five instead of sixteen."

"He's just looking out for you." He signed.

I nodded and forced a smile for him.

"Thanks." I signed.

He hugged me and left.

I decided that I was going for a walk. I got out of bed and I went downstairs. Ponyboy was sitting on the couch. When he saw me he signed to me "Where are you going, Alex?"

"I think I'm going to take a walk. I'll be back in an hour or so. If Darry or Soda comes home, tell them I went out for a bit."

Pony nodded in agreement and I went out. I closed the door behind me and started for the vacent lot. The vacent lot is actually just a park. I don't know why the gang calls it a lot, they just do.

Anyway, to get to the park, I have to cross a somewhat busy street. I've been warned to watch where I'm going since I'm deaf. I didn't pay much attention to the street. When I was halfway across

the street I turned and say a Mustang coming at me. I froze and next thing I knew, I was laying on the pavement and my own blood was around me. The world went black...

SODA'S POV

I got home from work at 2:30. When I got there, Ponyboy said that Alexandra went for a walk hours ago and never returned.

"What do you mean she never returned?" Darry asked almost yelled when we told him when he came home from work at 3:00.

"She went for a walk and she never came back." I said.

Darry started pacing back and forth. "What if she got jumped? She's not safe out there. She's deaf. Anything coulda happened to her. She has no common sense, dammit!" Darry said.

The phone suddenly rang. I jumped at the loud sound of it. Darry picked it up.

"Yeah. Right. Alright, okay. Yeah we'll be right down there." Darry hung up the phone slowly. His face was pale. He had the same look on his face when we were told mom and dad were dead. Oh shit. Maybe that's what happened. Maybe Alex is dead. Maybe..

Darry finally said something. His voice was choked up but somehow he seemed calm.

"Dally found Alexandra." He said.

"What?" Pony asked.

"Where? Is she okay?"

Darry held up his hand to stop the flood of questions between me and Pony.

"He found her in the street by the park. She got hit by a car and Dally thinks it was the Socs. She's alive but just barely." Darry said.

I've never seen Darry so upset.

"We have to get to the hospital." Darry grabbed his keys and we all ran out the door wondering if we'd ever see my twin, Alexandra, alive again.

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