Darling

The Funeral

They entered the sad, grey building. It smelled of bleach and other chemicals. The lights buzzed and people were wheeled by. Darlene always thought the hospital was such a depressing and scary place. So many people dying, screaming. So much fear and pain in one place. Each room was bland and eerie, all holding someone.

They went up to the front desk. Darlene and Ponyboy let Two-Bit do the talking. They didn't know if it was because he was older (because he's not any more mature) but he felt like their safety right now. The person they could hide behind.

"We're here to visit."

"Okay sir, can I have the first and last name of the patient?" The woman asked.

"Johnny Cade."

The woman's face seemed to twitch a little. Her face softened a bit.

"Yes. Room 121." She smiled.

They walked down the long hallway. When they got to the door, Two paused for a moment before opening the it. The sight wasn't pretty. He was laying on his stomach on something that kind of looked like a bed, but was made to touch him as little as possible as to not hurt his burns. Johnny's entire back and hands were burnt, his back also visibly bruised. Darlene stood slightly behind Two-Bit. She wasn't scared of Johnny. Not at all. But it hurt to see him like that. It didn't even seem real. They slowly walked to the side of the bed. There was a mirror below his face so they could see each other.

"How they treating you, kid?"

He didn't answer, and his breathing was labored. Two bit opened up the newspaper with the article about him.

"Look, uh, you got your picture in the paper here for, uh, being a hero. Look at that." He put the paper in front of Johnny's face so he could look at it.

"Yeah, that's tough enough, huh?" Johnny's voice was hoarse and weak.

"Guess you can look at it later. You want anything?" Two asked him.

"A book, man. Can yall get me another one?"

"I think he wants a copy of Gone With The Wind, so I can read it to him." Pony said. "Would you mind going downstairs and gettin' one?"

Two nodded. "I think they got a gift shop downstairs, I'll go get it."

He left and there was no one for Darlene to stand behind. She took a deep breath and stepped forward so she could see Johnny's face. Pony looked at her.

"So...I guess Dal's gonna be okay." He started. "Me and Darry, we're getting along real good now."

Johnny flinched. His breathing became squeaky and his eyes watered.

Darlene got closer. "Are you okay?" She asked, alarmed.

Johnny closed his eyes. "Oh yeah, it just hurts sometimes. Not usually because I can't feel anything below the middle of my back."

Ponyboy tried hard not to cry. His eyes flooded with tears, but he couldn't let them fall. Darlene placed her face in her hands and quietly sobbed, holding it in best she could.

"Pretty bad off, ain't I?"

"No, you're gonna be alright, kid." Pony said quickly. He was choking up. "You gotta be."

Darlene sniffled and removed her hands from her face. "We couldn't get along without you." Her voice broke into a whisper at the end.

Johnny looked at her face. It was damp from tears and her nose was red. He took a long, deep breath.

"I won't be able to walk again."

So this is what you get for helping people...

"Not even on crutches. Doc says I busted my back."