The Rumble.

I was late getting home.   I could smell dinner as I opened the door.  Chicken I thought.  Darry had cooked for us tonight and I was right chicken and vegetables.  We all ate quietly and quickly.  We were all absorbed by our thoughts of what lay ahead of us that night.  When everyone left the room I walked over to the cupboard found the aspirins and downed five of them to help my headache.  I walked into the living room and Soda and Steve were playing cards and Darry was leaning against the door frame watching.

 Since no one was talking I decided to strike up conversation about fighting.  The words of Randy echoed in my head.  Fighting's dumb.  I really don't want to do it.  I wondered did Darry, Soda Pop and Steve really deep down inside feel that way too?  So I asked Soda "You like fights don't you?". He answered "yeah sure I like fights". Then I asked Steve.   He answered by saying "I want to beat those Socs heads in. When I get in a fight I want to stomp the other guys good. I like fighting too!" Then it was Darry's turn so I asked, "How come you like fights, Darry?" He gave me one of those looks that hid what he was really thinking.  Soda piped up for him and said he just liked to show off his muscles to which Darry said he'd show them off if we all get any mouthier.  We all laughed.

Darry suddenly became serious and looked at me funny.  "I don't think you ought to be in this rumble tonight.  You've been through a lot recently with that fire and all." I was shocked that was the last thing I thought I'd hear out of his mouth.  I puffed myself up and told them I was good and I've always been there.  There wasn't anyone going to stop me from being there.  He thought for a moment and shook his head.  They were already a couple of guys short so they needed all the manpower they could get.  I asked why he didn't worry about Soda like he did him?  He laughed and suggested that all Soda used his head for was to grow hair.  Other then that he could look after himself and he gave him a shot to the stomach.  They laughed and started wrestling with each other.

Suddenly Two-Bit appeared and said it was time.  The atomosphere went from being fun and light to quiet, sullen and tense.  When we arrived at the appointed rumble sight we found that the Shepherd gang was already there.  Darry grabbed Soda and I and made it real clear that if the "fuzz" showed up we were to disappear.  They all could do jail time but we would be put in a home, somewhere else.

Tim Shepherd walked to us and shook all our hands.  "We're gonna kick us some Soc's butts tonight fellows" he said.  We just hung around, quiet, nervous and acted like we weren't.  Finally the Socs arrived.  Piling out of four cars they all walked over and met us in the middle of the field.  I looked for Randy but didn't see him.  My search was interrupted by a guy yelling out the rules.  No weapons, just fists and the first gang to run loses.  Then we waited.  Who would start the rumble?

Darry was it.  He welcomed anyone to come and fight him.  A voice from within the Socs rang out that he'd take him.  Here before Darry was an ex-football team player.  They had never gotten along on the same team and now they had the chance to go head to head.  They started circling one another when a shout from behind us caught us and mostly Darry off guard.  It was Dally.  He had convinced the nurse to let him leave, Two-Bit's switchblade helping the process and he was there to fight.  This was just the distraction that Darry's opponent needed and he punched Darry in the gut.  The rumble was under way!

I searched the crowd for a guy who looked wimpy.  I found one and started punching.  He punched and fought back and before I knew it I was under him succombing to each punch more and more.  Darry must have seen my problem and ran over and knocked the Soc off of me.  I searched the crowd for Dally making sure he was okay.  I knew his one arm would be useless because of the burns.  I was right he needed help and over I ran.  I knocked the guy off but then he turned on me.  Dally came to my assistance and the two of us took that Soc down.

Before I could get solidly on my feet I was hit from behind.  The kicking started and that was all I remembered.  Next thing I knew Darry was pulling me to my feet jumping up and down yelling we had won, they had run.  I looked at Two-Bit and his face was bloody.  Dally came running towards us after meeting with a kid that had run up to him shouting we had to get to the hospital because Johnny wasn't doing well at all.  Buck jumped in behind the wheel and we squealed out of the park and down towards the hospital.  Suddenly the red flashing lights behind us brought us back to reality.  The "fuzz" now???  We all looked beat up, what would they do?  Two-Bit was quick to think.  He jabbed his thumb into my stomach making me suck air and gasp.  When the cop got to the window Buck wildly said I was choking and they had to get me to the hospital.  They jumped back into their car and escorted us to the hospital.  We all piled out of the car, waved and they acted like they helped me into the hospital.

We all piled into the elevator and hopped off at Johnney's floor.  We all flew down the hallway only to have the doctor step out to stop us.  You can't go in there he told us, Johnny was not doing well at all and could have no visitors.  Dally pulled out his switchblade and told the doctor to try and stop us.  He stepped aside and we all ran to his room.   Johnny lied on his bed.  He didn't move and all we heard was the beep of the machines attached to him.  Dally softly said "Johnnycake" you okay.  "Johnnycake, you there?" Surprisingly Johnny opened his eyes.  Turning his head slightly to see us we anxiously told him we had won the rumble for him.  He needed to get better so he could help us next time.  Johnny whispered Ponyboy.  I went forward to hear him better.  I got down real close to his face and I heard him say his final words, "stay gold Ponyboy, stay gold".    His eyes closed and the machine flat-lined, he was gone.  Before anyone said anything or moved, Dally hit the wall and bolted from the room.  This loss was way too costly!