The Power of Love

September 19, 1975

September 19, 1975

"C'mon, we gotta tell everyone," I said frantically as I slipped my arms through my cardigan and picked up KJ from his spot on the couch.

"It's weird bein' the first to know for once," Keith said as he turned off the lights in the house, "It'll be easier to call everyone from the hospital."

We had gotten a phone call around twelve in the afternoon from Soda. He said that Candy and him were at the hospital. He was all anxious and excited and could barely explain why they were there, at least in an understandable way. Being the first ones to be called was exciting but it was also nerve-wracking due to the fact that the responsibility of calling everyone is then placed on your shoulders. It wasn't so bad, but Candy had a large family, so that would've made it difficult. When we asked over the phone about it, Soda said that we only had to call her parents and that they would tell everyone the next day.

Keith and I decided that we'd call everyone form the hospital. That way, we could use two phones at the same time instead of only one house number, so then we could get to everyone quicker and easier.

It took about ten minutes to get to the hospital. When we got there, we went straight to the payphones right outside the front entrance doors. Keith would be calling Darry and Marilyn, Ponyboy and Cherry, and Steve and Evie. I would be calling Danny and Sandy and Candy's parents, Mr. and Mrs. Ramos.

Ponyboy and Cherry had managed a long distance relationship very well. By now, they were back at the University of Tulsa. Ponyboy was able to graduate a bit early cause of the class schedule he chose to take and the fact that he got all his college credits and even more than he needed to graduate. Cherry was graduating the upcoming year due to the fact that she was working toward her doctorate, considering she was aiming to be a pediatrician instead of her original plan to become a full time cosmetologist. She had still gotten her diploma for that, but she decided after that to become a doctor.

"It really is weird to be the first ones, huh?" I asked a bit restlessly as we got into the elevator.

Keith nodded and looked at KJ, who was asleep on my shoulder since it was the time he'd usually be taking a nap. "I think I speak for all of us here," he said, "It sure is more tiring than it seems."

"I can agree with that."

"You doin' ok?" he asked me unsurely.

"Yeah, I'm fine. And you can't ask that when we're with everyone, so remember that. I'll tell you if I'm not ok."

"So we're still not telling them all yet, right?"

I shook my head. "Not yet," I answered, "In at least a week or two. Cause by then, everything will be calm."

He nodded in understanding. "So the only people who know is the doctor, my mom, Keilah, me and you?" he asked and I nodded.

The elevator bell rang and the doors opened on the floor we were told Candy was on. We asked one of the nurses at the nurse's station where her room was and which number room she was in. She told us the room number and how to get there. We thanked her quickly and then went in the direction she told us in search of the number room she had told us.

As we turned the corner of the hallway, we saw Soda talking with a doctor. By the time we got to the room, the doctor had walked away and Soda stood waiting for us. "Hey," Keith greeted when we reached Soda.

"Everything goin' alright?" I asked quietly so I didn't wake up KJ, who was still asleep on my shoulder.

"Yeah, yeah, she's fine," Soda answered, "I mean, as fine as she can be right now, ya know? Anyway, you guys called everyone? And her parents?"