When Death opens the door

Chapter 5: Completely mute?

Ponyboy's P.O.V.

I came running into the living room and ended up tripping and falling flat on my face. "And that's my younger brother Ponyboy!" Soda said between his laughter. I sat up and stared at him in anger. "Has she said anything to you Soda?" Darry asked. "No. I was just about to ask the same thing." Soda said. Darry just stared at her. She snuggled next to Soda and he just held her in his arms. "Maybe she's deaf." I suggested. She glared at me from where she was. "She's definitely not deaf." Soda said. "Maybe she's a mute." Steve sugested. "Look kid. We need to know your name and get you back home." Darry said to her. Her jaw dropped. "She is a mute!" Steve yelled. We all gathered around her to see what made her a mute. She didn't have a tongue. I gasped. "It looks like it's been severed." Darry said. How could she say my name then? I thought. "Did you cut it yourself?" Soda asked. She shook her head. "Do you know who did it?" Two-bit asked. She hesitated for a bit then shook her head again. She got up to go outside. I followed her. I got out a weed and started smoking it. She was sitting on the porch. She looked at me when I came out the door. "You hesitated when Two asked if you knew who did this to ya." I said. She stared at me. "So tell me the truth. Who did this to ya." I said calmly. Her breath seemed to pick up a little bit. "I know you can talk. The question is how?" I asked. I saw tears form in her eyes. I stood there not knowing what to do. She got up and walked to me. In a swift movement she swiped the cigarette from my mouth and put it in her own. I stood there stunned. She took a short drag on it before catching her breath and handing the cigarette back to me. She let her breath out and doubled over in a coughing fit. I bent down and patted her back. "Ponyboy." She said between her hacking. "I knew you weren't a mute!" I yelled. She looked up at me with fear in her eyes. She lifted her finger up to her mouth as if to silence me. Then she stood up and walked back inside. What was that about? I was right. She may look like a mute, but she ain't a complete one somehow.