The Alternate Ending to The Outsiders - Weebly

[Pages:2]The Alternate Ending to The Outsiders By: Rachel Krams

It was still dark when Johnny died. It was silent outside, hot tears streaming down my numb face. They itched and burned, but I didn't bother to wipe them away. No one was around to see me cry. I remembered telling Johnny I wouldn't cry no more, but here I was outside the hospital silently sobbing. I reminded myself of Darry and how he cried, but this didn't feel like that. When Darry cried, he was worried. I wasn't worried. Johnny was gone, and I didn't need to worry about him and his back anymore. I wasn't sad either. Johnny would have been in terrible condition if he didn't die. With his parents and hurt back and all. But I still was crying. For no reason, but I was glad I was. I didn't feel like keeping my promise of not crying. I was fine. I figured Darry would be mad I was out this late, but he thought I was still with Dally. It was going to be alright. I was reassuring myself as the blue Mustang pulled into the lot. I knew there was no need to be scared this time. Randy hopped out and smiled.

"Ponyboy!" He said sheepishly. I backed away. "No, no! We won't do anything to you!" He said in a pleading voice. I was puzzled.

"We?" I asked him. He nodded. "Cherry too," I looked around. I didn't see any Cherry. "I ain't see her," I said lighting up a cigarette. He only smiled, then walked into the hospital. I was stunned. Where was Cherry ? I figured he was only fooling me, and he was probably drunk, so I began to walk home. I decided to take the long way, and pass the park since I figured Darry thought I was still with Dally. As I was I began to think about Dally, and how he couldn't take it, and I could. I had thought about it many times before, and it never seemed to bug me. Not the way Johnny being gone had been bugging me. As I was lighting up, I made a quick turned, and stepped into the park. I wanted to stay there a while, though I tried to forget the last time we were here. Twobit and Darry had both told me I needed to forget that Johnny was gone, and face the world without him. So I figured I might as well try and forget. Most times I visited the park I steered clear from the fountain. But now I was ready. As I made my way over, I saw a familiar face leaning on the fountain. There sat Cherry, silently , running her fingers along the thin lines in the cement. "Hey, Cherry!" I hollered, making my way over to her. She looked up. "Oh, hey Ponyboy" She seemed quiter than usual. She continued tracing her fingers along the cement. That's when I noticed the blood stain. It was crusty and brown, but I knew it was from when Johnny killed Bob. I tried to forget, but my eyes teared up at the blood. Then I remembered Johnny. I told you, I kept trying to forget, but I guess this was the exception because no matter what Cherry said I kept thinking about Johnny.

The fountain was running, and I shivered, trying to forget the time I was stuffed under it. I managed to forget about myself, but then I remembered Johnny and his switchblade. And Bob laying on the ground, a pool of thick red blood swarming around him. And even all the Socs screaming and running. Finally, Cherry spoke and I stopped thinking about Johnny.

"Oh, Ponyboy. I just miss Bob. I wish, I wish..." She trailed off, her voice trembling with anger and fear.

"Oh I don't know. I wish he were still with us. It was only an accident and.." she trailed off again. Then she pushed her hair out of her face and said cautiously, "Is he alright? Johnny I mean." I looked down. I could feel my throat closing, and the tears filling my eyes. Don't cry, don't cry not in front of Cherry please don't cry. I tell myself. "Well, I guess." I say shrugging. "He's gone" I wipe the tear that managed to slip down my face.

"Gone? As in dead, gone?" Cherry said surprised. Her bright green eyes suddenly darkened. I wondered if she regretted not seeing Johnny now that he's dead.

"Yes," I say softly. Cherry threw her arm around me and told me it was alright. He was in a better place, and I shouldn't worry. I told her I wasn't worried but she just laughed and said it was alright now. I didn't really know what she meant so I just went along with it.

Then she asked if Soda and Darry knew I was out this late. I shook my head. She just smiled, and stood up. I could tell she was feeling better already. And so was I.

She took me across the pond, and down to the playground. We crossed the bridge I had never been allowed to cross before. I knew perfectly well what it was. The bridge separating the West and the East. We walked for an hour or so, and then she brought me to a hill. It looked an awful lot like the hill the church caught fire on. She offered me a drink, but I shook my head. "Thanks though" I muttered.

She plopped down on the grass and laid down, her hair spread out in silky spirals. I laid down next to her and watched the sky turn from a pale pink, to a soft golden glow, the clouds parting in front of the shimmering sun. It was as though the clouds were the curtains opening for the grand act of the sun rising. The sun slowly steadily rose above the purple mountains, the streaks of orange tinted in the clouds fading out into a soft soothing blue. I blinked, and it was over. The sun was up, the sky was blue, and the clouds were gone. Then I realized so was Cherry.

I stamped on my cigarette and looked around. I couldn't see her. I could only see the faint outline of the socs neighborhood. I could hear the silence, and I was shivering. It was a bit chilly after all.Then I heard a faint cry. It was soft and sweet, as though a lullaby was put into words.

"Stay gold Ponyboy. Stay gold!" The voice echoed gently. I whirled around. There was Cherry waving, as she ran off down the hill towards the town. I beamed and began the long journey back home, and for the first time, I was sad. Sad to be leaving Cherry. Sad to be facing the gang without Johnny. I didn't want to go back home. I didn't have much of a choice though. I promised myself I was done crying. I told myself I would stop crying for Johnny the way Dally had in the hospital when Twobit gave him the switchblade. I knew how Dally had felt when he had said the same thing. It was time to be a greaser where I belonged.

 ................
................

In order to avoid copyright disputes, this page is only a partial summary.

Google Online Preview   Download