Yellow, Pink, and Orange

Chapter 10

I gagged from almost chocking and Pony looked like he was about to drop his Sundae.

"Cherry?" we both said at the same time. "The Soc?"

"Yeah," Dally said. "She came over to the vacant lot the night Two-Bit was jumped. Shepard and some of his outfit and us were hanging around there when she drives up in her little ol' Sting Ray. That took a lot of nerve. Some of us was for jumping her then and there, her bein' the dead kid's girl and all, but Two-Bit stopped us. Man, next time I want a broad I'll pick up my own kind."

"Yeah," I said slowly. When Dally said that, I could hear a tough and deep voice, saying: "Next time you want a broad, pick up your own kind...". It was Bobs voice. I got goosebumps down my spine.

Dally went on: "She said she felt that the whole mess was her fault, which it is, and that she'd keep up with what was comin' off with the Socs in the rumble and would testify that the Socs were drunk and looking for a fight and that you fought back in self-defense." He gave a grim laugh. "That little gal sure does hate me. I offered to take her over to The Dingo for a Coke and she said 'No, thank you' and told me where I could go in very polite terms."

"Man, this place is out of it. What do they do for kicks around here, play checkers?" Dally surveyed the scene without interest. "I ain't never been in the country before. Have you two?"

I shook my head, but Pony said, "Dad used to take us all huntin'. I've been in the country before. How'd you know about the church?"

"I got a cousin that lives around here somewhere. Tipped me off that it'd make a tuff hide-out in case of something. Hey, Ponyboy, I heard you was the best shot in the family."

"Yeah," He said. "Darry always got the most ducks, though. Him and Dad. Soda and I goofed around too much, scared most of our game away."

"That was a good idea, I mean cuttin' your hair and bleachin' it. They printed your descriptions in the paper but you sure wouldn't fit 'em now."

I listened to them while I ate my barbecue burger. None of this would have happened if I hadn't stabbed Bob. After everything that happened, I felt guilty. I shouldn't feel guilty because of what he had done to me. I got my revenge, but not in a way I had intended.

 'We're goin' back and turn ourselves in."

It was Dally's turn to gag. Then he swore awhile. He turned to me and demanded: "What?"

"I said we're goin' back and turn ourselves in," I repeated in a quiet voice.

"I got a good chance of bein' let off easy," I said desperately. All these nights I hoped a prayed to God that if I was caught or turned myself in, then I would be let off easy. Hopefully he would answer my prayer this time."I ain't got no record with the fuzz and it was self-defense. Ponyboy and Cherry can testify to that. And I don't aim to stay in that church all my life."

At this point I was desperate.

"We won't tell that you helped us, Dally, and we'll give you back the gun and what's left of the money and say we hitchhiked back so you won't get into trouble. Okay?"

Dally was chewing the corner of his fake ID. "You sure you want to go back? Us greasers get it worse than anyone else."

I nodded. "I'm sure. It ain't fair for Ponyboy to have to stay up in that church with Darry and Soda worryin' about him all the time. I don't guess..."--- I swallowed "I don't guess my parents are worried about me or anything?"

"The boys are worried," Dally said in a matter-of-fact voice. "Two-Bit was going to Texas to hunt for you."

"My parents," I repeated desperately, "did they ask about me?"