The Outsiders: Before My Time Part III

The Night After

September 1965
Goldie's POV

My leg bounced up and down uncontrollably as I sat in the uncomfortable black plastic chairs in the waiting room of the hospital. Candy kept anxiously tugging at her sleeve, and Red was asleep, his head on her lap. Dally was sitting beside me, his steady hand smoking a cigarette. He had thick bandages wrapped around his arms.

Dad and Darry were talking to some reporters who came by to take pictures, and the cops.

Uh-oh.

Mom, Dally, Johnny, and Pony were all found a few hours away in Windrixville, where Dally told me he had them hiding out. They were safe, and unharmed for the most part.

Darry was allowed to go in and sit with Mom for a bit since he told the doctors that he was her guardian. The rest of us weren't allowed to see either of them yet, but Darry told us what the doctors said. Mom's foot was smashed, her collar bone was bruised, and from her smoke inhalation it wasn't a good idea for her to talk for a bit. She had been dozing on and off. She was probably so exhausted. She also suffered minor burns to her skin. Pony also suffered from some minor burns, the smoke as well, and his back was in a lot of pain. It hurt my heart to know that they were in pain.

While we were waiting, Dad was all over the place. He was running around while mocking the police who were trying to conduct interviews, even stealing their hats and interviewing the nurses to make everyone laugh. The nurses were blushing, and even the cops were laughing when he was pretending to steal their guns right out of their belts. This kid has major charisma.

Mom and Uncle Pony thought it was a great idea to see a fire and run right in it. The church they were hiding in went up in flames the day Dally went over to check in on them, and they found out that six children were trapped inside. They did end up saving them all from being burnt to a crisp though, which is why the reporters are here. They're heroes.

I later learned that Mom almost didn't make it out of that church alive. I never knew that Mom was in a fire. She never talked about it, and now I understand why. She must have been so scared. She was trapped among the falling pieces of the roof but Dally went in to get her. He didn't even mention it, it was Ponyboy and Johnny who told us. If it wasn't for him, none of us would be here right now. I almost feel like I owe him my life.

Dally and Johnny were fine, they just needed to be checked out and put on fluids. Dally did since he had to go into the fire to get Mom out of there, and so did Johnny since he was dehydrated from his week in solitary. We were afraid that he was going to get arrested and spend the night in jail, but luckily they let him go home. They said they wouldn't put a warrant out for his arrest as long as he didn't leave town and he went to court. Darry vouched for him.

Candy started to shiver, failing to bring a jacket. I would have given her mine, if I brought a jacket. I was just wearing a long sleeve shirt. Dad noticed that she was cold so he gave her his over-shirt, a red and black plaid flannel.

Seconds later, I heard, "Darry!"

Darry and Dad turned around, and ran straight toward the noise. It was Uncle Pony. He ran to them as fast as they could, and they slammed into each other into the tightest hug imaginable. I nudged my elbow to Candy, who was also noticing the reunion. She gently shook Red awake and filled him in on how everyone was okay.

Darry was crying, but he didn't make a sound. Then I heard him say in a heartbreaking whisper, "I thought we lost you like we did Mom and Dad."