It was a chilly November Monday morning. It was 7 a.m. the sun had not risen yet, and it was pretty dark outside. Johnny was sitting in a wheelchair by the kitchen table – a bowl of cereal in front of him. Pony was sitting next to him eating as well. He'd decided he didn't want to worry Johnny so he would eat. Needless to say Darry and Soda were really happy when they saw Pony eating. On Sunday Darry had gone to the mall and got a few t-shirts, a new jean jacket and a new backpack for school for Johnny, since whatever few belongings Johnny had, were left at his house.
The plan was for Pony to get Johnny to and from his classes at school. Johnny was able to wheel himself for a little while by turning the wheels with his arms, but his arms got tired quickly and it was really uncomfortable so Pony would help him. They were aware that in the cases of disability the state could send a guide to help Johnny at school. But both Johnny and Pony said it wasn't necessary, and Pony would do the job.
Both Pony and Johnny were really nervous, as Pony wheeled Johnny through the school entrance. Pony felt that the gossip about him and whispering behind his back had just died down, but now it was starting all over again. As Pony was wheeling Johnny through the hallway into his first class, people on both sides stepped aside, and there was dead silence. Everyone was staring, and the hallway seemed so long it was endless.
Johnny paled and looked down- "Maybe it wasn't a good idea," he croaked, "Maybe I oughtta drop out. It's not like I am getting anything out of my classes anyway." He said bitterly.
Pony frowned, "Don't say that Johnny, don't pay them no mind, they are just stupid."
"Maybe I am the stupid one," Johnny mumbled, and his voice quivered as he spoke. Pony bit his bottom lip and met Johnny's gaze - "you are not stupid Johnny, I know you much better than these idiots. They are the stupid ones. You even helped me understand that poem 'member I told you in Windrixville, even I couldn't get it, but you did. You are not stupid."
"I guess I did," Johnny gave Pony a small smile, and Pony smiled back and relaxed a little.
Johnny's first class was English. Pony helped Johnny settle behind the desk. "If someone says something just ignore them, don't let them get to you. I'll be right there to pick you up." He said walking away. Johnny sighed, but nodded. Pony took one last glance at Johnny, and went to his first class - social studies.
The bell rang, and Pony quickly grabbed his books, backpack and ran to Johnny's classroom. As he approached, he saw a small crowd by the door. Pony got a pang in his stomach. He ran up to see Johnny in his wheelchair by the door, and 3 huge socs towering over him, a crowd surrounding them. Where the fuck is the teacher, Pony thought, as he struggled to get through the crowd.
Pony recognized the 3 socs - they were Bob's friends – Evan, Tom and David. David grabbed the backpack Johnny had on his lap and threw it on the floor – "go get it, run," he laughed at Johnny, then the other one grabbed the wheelchair handles from the back and tilted the wheelchair backwards so Johnny's legs got loose and dangled in the air, Johnny grabbed the sides of the chair so he wouldn't fall, but the soc then tilted the chair forward abruptly, and Johnny fell on the floor face down, "get up bitch," the soc yelled, "what, your boyfriend is not here to help you?" "He is going to cry," the third soc laughed. What astonished Pony was not so much what the socs did, he expected it from them, but the crowd. There were all these people, and none of them stopped what was going on, instead they were entertained and laughing about it.
Pony finally made it through the crowd. He ran up to Johnny, "it's ok Johnny, don't listen to them." He helped Johnny up. Johnny's cheek was bleeding, but Johnny was not crying. Pony proceeded to help Johnny back into the wheelchair. At this moment David grabbed the wheelchair – "stay down pal." "You fucking son of a bitch," Pony yelled and charged at David with all his strength. The soc laughed "oh, how moving- standing up for your little friend, what he can't defend himself." Pony punched David in the gut, he doubled over in pain. "Oh this is how it is, I am not playing bitch." He grabbed Pony by the collar of his t-shirt, and started punching him in the stomach while Tom was holding Pony's back.
Pony swung his arm, and punched David in the eye. All of the sudden he felt the soc that was holding his back released his grip. Pony kept punching David. Then Pony heard the crowd go "Oh" and people started walking away. Pony turned around to see the principal - Mr. Jones standing right in front of him, arms crossed, the other 2 socs were nowhere to be found. "Curtis, Cade," Mr. Jones's voice roared, "My office, now!" Mr. Jones started walking ahead, and Pony trudged after him, wheeling Johnny. Mr. Jones turned around a few times – an annoyed look on his face, because Pony wasn't walking fast enough.
Once in the office, Mr. Jones plopped in a chair behind his desk, and Pointed for Pony to take a seat. Pony sat down and parked Johnny's chair next to him.
"So," the principal glared at Pony, "care to tell me why you were punching Mr. Stevens?"
"They started it," Pony said angrily, staring the principal right in the eyes, "there were three of them, and they were bothering Johnny." Mr. Jones fixed the glasses on his nose – "You expect me to believe this? I clearly saw there was only Mr. Stevens, and you were hitting him."
"Like I said, they were bothering Johnny, and it's not like he could defend himself." Pony scowled.
"Speaking of that, do you think it's a good idea for Mr. Cade to be in school in a wheelchair?" Pony glared at him, not saying anything. The principal continued, "it's not like he is going to have a career or anything with his… um, disability. I am sure he is getting money from the state for his disability so wouldn't it be wiser for him to just take the money and stay home?"
"That is preposterous," Pony yelled, and got up from his seat, "he can still have a career even in a wheelchair." Pony glanced at Johnny, and Johnny just looked down close to tears. The principal's face reddened – "suspended for three days, both of you, you can go now, just go," he waved his hand at them.
As Pony was wheeling Johnny out of the principal's office, he felt really bad about what the principal said about Johnny not having a career. He could still be someone, Pony thought bitterly. There are a lot of jobs where you just sit at a desk the whole day.
"So what do we do now?" Johnny asked, looking somewhat deflated. Pony was thoughtful for a minute, he thought of a way to cheer Johnny up. He was hesitant for a moment but then said, "Let's go for ice-cream." Johnny raised his eyebrows. "We got a three day vacation we might as well use it," Pony grinned. Johnny gave Pony a small smile, he then proceeded to flip the collar of his jacket up, "alright I am up for it."
As Pony was wheeling Johnny down the street, he glanced at him to see him really apprehensive. Thankfully the streets were pretty empty at this hour. They went down the narrow street, turning the corner and they reached Rita's - the ice-cream parlor in the neighborhood. They went inside - the little door bell ringing as the door shut behind them.
It was empty inside, everyone was at work or school at this hour. A woman walked out of the back room. The name tag read Rachael. "Hi," she greeted, "what can I get for ya'all?"
"Banana split chocolate sundae," Pony said, getting the change out of his pocket.
"And for you hon?" she looked at Johnny. Pony glanced at Johnny. Johnny clearly was self-conscious. He cleared his throat and said "The same please." Rachael proceeded to get the ice-cream, "and a free milkshake for you hon," she smiled at Johnny, "with an extra cherry on top."
"Thank you ma'am," Johnny cracked a smile.
Pony carried the tray with the ice cream to the booth, then got back and got Johnny.
As Pony parked Johnny's chair behind the table, he realized that the last time they had ice-cream was in Windrixville with Dally. He glanced at Johnny, and Johnny was really pale. Pony wondered if Johnny was thinking about Windrixville as well. Maybe I didn't think this through, Pony thought, as he took a seat across from Johnny.
Johnny picked at his ice-cream, then looked up at Pony - "Do you believe in afterlife?" He blurted out all of the sudden. Pony was caught off guard. "I am not sure," He said thoughtfully. "I mean, I used to go to church when my parents were around," he ran his fingers through his hair, "Why?"
Johnny was silent a moment. "I am just wondering," he stumbled over his words a little, "'bout Dally, you know. Do you think he'd make it to Heaven, if there is one?" Pony propped his head on his hand. "I dunno," he said – his eyes wide, "but I really hope so."
"Yeah, me too," Johnny said softly, then swallowed hard, "I think we should go visit him at the cemetery."
"Sure, we can go tomorrow," Pony replied, and then added quietly, "If Darry doesn't kill me by then for getting suspended."
"I'm not feeling this ice-cream," Johnny moved the bowl aside.
"Me neither, let's go home," Pony said, getting up from his seat.
Once home, Pony helped Johnny get out of the wheelchair and settle on the bed, while Pony took a seat by the desk.
"Did you mean it?" Johnny looked up at Pony.
"Mean what?"
"That I can still have a career." Pony bit his bottom lip, "Of course."
"Like what?" Johnny sounded hesitant.
"There are lots of jobs where you sit behind the desk all the time. You can be a billing clerk like at Darry's construction place. They sit by the desk the whole day writing bills and talking on the phone. Or you could be a librarian or work with computers." Johnny snorted – "me and computers I will never get that stuff." Then he added reluctantly, "I will be a useless good for nothing just as my parents said." Pony furrowed his eyebrows, "don't say that Johnny, you will not be a useless good for nothing."
"You know," Johnny was thoughtful for a moment, "sometimes I pretend."
"What are you talking about?" Pony said confused.
"Sometimes," Johnny continued, "my old man is not so drunk, and she is not hacked off, and talks somewhat nicely to him, and I pretend that everything is ok, that they are normal parents, that they care about me, that she will make pancakes for me, and he will walk up to me and ask how my day was. I know it's not true, but I just pretend and it makes me feel better." Pony was startled – "Oh Johnny, I'm sorry man, but you have us, you have the whole gang."
Jonny looked down, "thanks."
Johnny looked away – "do you mind reading the book again, I am really curious to know what happened next."
"Sure Johnny, let me get some drinks." Pony was back in a minute with 2 bottles of pepsi. They kept reading for the rest of the day, and Johnny seemed in a better mood, and that made Pony in a better mood as well.
At around 7 p.m. Pony and Johnny heard the door open, and Darry walk in. "Ponyboy," he yelled right away.
"That's new," Pony said, and went into the living room.
"So what a hell happened?" Darry looked furious, "I got a call that you got suspended."
"They were beating on Johnny," Pony looked Darry right in the eyes, "do you expect me to do nothing, and just let them beat Johnny up?"
"So what did you do, fight them?"
"I sure did, the bastards deserved it, they ran away like little dirt bags that they are, when the principal showed up. I am sure if you were in this situation, you would've done the same thing." Darry sighed tiredly –"alright I get it, but you know the school submits a report to our social worker, so they'll know you got suspended."
"I know," Pony hung his head, "but I had no choice."
"Which socs were they?" Darry asked to Pony's surprise.
"Bob's friends - Evan, Tom and David."
"We will take care of this, wait till I tell Steve and Soda, these bastards will be running five miles away from Johnny." Pony smiled, "thanks Dar." To Pony's surprise, Darry walked up to him and ruffled his hair – "anything to eat in this house?"
"Well, Soda is still not here so no one cooked."
"You mean you were home the whole day and you didn't cook?" Pony looked down, and Darry laughed, "I'm just messing with you. Let's order pizza."
After they ate, Pony felt a little better. Johnny seemed ok, and that made Pony ok, but as it was time to go to bed Pony was watching Johnny struggle changing into his pajamas, not able to use his legs. They were just dangling like 2 logs, totally useless. "You need help Johnny?" Pony offered. Johnny's face reddened - "no 'm ok." He was finally able to pull pajama bottoms onto his legs. "Good night Pony," he said. Pony swallowed hard –"'night Johnny." Pony lay on his back - his eyes closed, he couldn't sleep. Johnny is so helpless, Pony thought, if not for me he would still be able to walk. Pony got up and opened the drawer, he got his blade out and tiptoed to the washroom.