What Happened To Ponyboy's Parents

As Johnny and Ponyboy devour a big repast at the Dairy Queen, Dally explains that Cherry felt responsible for a state of affairs that resulted in Bob'southward stabbing, then she offered to watch monitor the Socs' preparations for the rumble and to bear witness that Johnny acted in self-defence force.

Ponyboy doesn't permit the superficial differences between him and Cherry determine his stance of her. Instead, he recognizes and admires Cherry'southward sensitivity and independence of thought and activity.

Johnny announces that he thinks he and Ponyboy should plough themselves in to the police. Dally tries to convince him otherwise, saying that he never wants Johnny to become hardened in the style that jail would harden him. Johnny responds that he thinks he has a skilful gamble in a trial since he acted in self-defense, and that he feels guilty for worrying Ponyboy's brothers. Dally agrees to drive the boys back to Tulsa.

The primary bulldoze behind Coquet'south care for Johnny is revealed hither: he wants to finish Johnny from growing up to be similar him. While Dally himself has lost his innocence and hope for a better life, in a way he tin can still access those feelings by protecting and preserving them in Johnny.

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Every bit they drive past the church where they had been hiding, they see that it's called-for. A crowd is standing outside, and a eyewitness tells them that a schoolhouse group was having a picnic there. A woman shouts that some of the children are missing inside the church. Suspecting that their discarded cigarette butts may have started the fire, Ponyboy and Johnny nuance into the called-for building. They notice the children and lift them 1-by-one out a window, continuing even after Dally runs in shouting that the roof is about to collapse. The roof collapses, just as they save the final child, and Johnny knocks Ponyboy through the window, saving him. Ponyboy hears Johnny scream behind him, but before he can become back Dally smacks him on the back and knocks him unconscious.

Though they are seen by gild as misfits and hoodlums for being greasers, Ponyboy and Johnny's first instinct is to take responsibility for the fire they may have caused. They exhibit nifty heroism past running into the burning building without a second thought. The human activity of saving the younger children besides seems representative of the boys' desire to protect and preserve the innocence of babyhood, which they feel slipping abroad in themselves.

Ponyboy wakes upward in an ambulance with Jerry Wood, a teacher and the bystander whom Ponyboy spoke with before rushing into the burning church. Jerry tells him what happened: Dally knocked Ponyboy out while smothering a fire that had caught on Ponyboy's back. Coquet then saved Johnny. He adds that Dally is burned but will be fine, while Johnny is in very bad condition. He praises the boys' courage. Ponyboy responds that they're greasers and that Johnny is wanted for murder. Jerry doesn't know the term "greaser" and is surprised by this news virtually Johnny, but he continues to try to comfort Ponyboy every bit they head toward the hospital.

Jerry'south praise for the boys' heroic acts and his complete ignorance about what a greaser is reveals the meaninglessness of the greaser identity to the world outside Tulsa. Jerry helps Ponyboy see that it is the boys' courageous acts that speak for them, non their hair, group affiliation, or social form. Notice that while Dally'due south deportment were likewise heroic, he acted just to salve the members of his gang, while Johnny and Ponyboy saved people they didn't even know.

Ponyboy suffered only minor burns, and is presently discharged from the hospital. He sits in the waiting room with Jerry, worrying virtually Dally and Johnny, and finds himself telling Jerry the story of Bob's murder. Jerry agrees that Johnny acted in self-defense and reassures him that the guess will also take into account the boys' actions at the fire.

Jerry continues to treat Ponyboy with respect and kindness, despite learning of the boys' role in Bob's death. His handling of Ponyboy is totally unaffected by the stereotypes that dominate the greasers' life on the streets.

Active Themes

Soon Sodapop and Darry arrive. Ponyboy and Soda hug. Darry stands apart, and Ponyboy sees that Darry is crying. Suddenly Ponyboy understands that Darry'due south harsh treatment of him results from his beloved and his concern for Ponyboy's welfare. Ponyboy hugs Darry and apologizes to him, and has the feeling that everything volition be okay one time he returns home.

Ponyboy is finally able to run into things from his brother's point of view, signaling the starting time of a resolution to the conflict in the Curtis family. Ponyboy's feeling that everything volition plow out all correct shows his continued hope and innocence.

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