The world is a dark and bitter place, especially if you were born different from most. It was especially terrible for Ponyboy. If his name alone wasn't so terrible, the wings on his back made him stand out so much more. Most consider him a freak, a weirdo. Only few have sympathy.
Being caged up in travelling circuses has been the only life Ponyboy knew. He's used to seeing the people laugh and stare. He's used to being constantly ridiculed. He's used to being whipped everyday and forced to spread his wings for all to see. He wants something else for his life. He wants to speak up and ask for help, or yell at his abusers, or scream and escape. But he can't. He doesn't have a voice. Another odd thing about him. He's a mute. Never talks, doesn't know how. So he takes it all in silence and lives life caged up for all to see.
Johnny Cade was the same way. Being a musician was not the easiest occupation to be in. Especially when he, too, was mute. Never speaking a word in his life, but practically glued to his piano. Never in his life has he gone a day without playing. He mouths the words to his songs, but has never gotten the joy of singing them. He's only heard others singing them. And they never sing the words right, despite his protests. His music is stuck inside him with no way to be played how it should be.
Both of them lived miserable lives, wishing for an escape. One Sunday afternoon Johnny decides to take a trip to the carnival in town. Not aware that he'd meet his escape.
That Sunday was one of Ponyboy's best and worst days. He felt more caged than ever. His wings being constantly twisted and bashed, his body dishevelled, his dreams crushed. Eventually moving to his corner to recollect his thoughts. He's pushed back into the center by his master. Silently crying out, he flies up and around the small cage. However his wings couldn't hold him up today, they were too weak. Falling to the ground he was met with a pair of big brown eyes, reminding him a lot of the eyes of one of the dogs the master brought around. However these eyes were calm, yet also sad. Sad at how they treated the poor creature.
Eventually the boy with the mysterious eyes was pushed out of the tent by one of the master's men.
Even more disheartened than before, Johnny left the carnival with only the thought of the poor angel boy on his mind.
Ponyboy thought of those eyes all day. They never seemed to leave his brain, even when night fell and Ponyboy was left to sleep on the ground. There was something about them that was just so, so mesmerizing. And Ponyboy fell asleep with the image of the boys eyes on his mind.
That became a common occurance. The boy with the strange eyes would show up almost daily from now on to see the angel-boy. And everyday he wished that the creature would be freed from his misery.
That's when he thought of a plan. Or, a fragment of a plan so to say. He could find a way to help him escape. He just needed to figure out how, and when. He especially needed to know when the carnival left town. So he went and researched.
He eventually found out the carnival ended in exactly a week, so he had to work quickly. He would give himself one day to form a plan, two days to do the test work, and one day to execute. Then spend the next three days hiding until they left town. Simple, and should hopefully go as planned. If all fails, there's another reason he gave himself three days to hide after.
Day One: Plan
The next day, Johnny didnt go to the carnival. He decided to take a day and figure out a plan.
Ponyboy was a little disappointed that he didn't get to see the boy with beautiful eyes that day, but little did he know he'd be seeing a lot of him in the near future.
