Church Crazy

That Soc, Bob, was dead, we were stuck in a church, and I don’t think I’ll ever look at a sandwhich the same way ever again. Johnny was laying on the bench in the back, I was sitting on a bench in the front. This week just kept dragging on and on and on and I was sick of this place. I was forced to change my hair - my hair, of all things! I looked like a white rat, with weird face tan lines.

I was sick of the place, “Johnny, I’m going out, I need some air.”

“Ponyboy, no,” he sat up and looked at me while I walked down the aisle, “We don't know if the coast is clear yet.”

“Look, I’ll be back, I won’t go far I just need to stretch my legs,” I kept walking to the door, Johnny didn’t even get up, just huffed a big sigh and laid back down.

“I’ll get some cigs while I’m out!” I called when I closed the door. The air was still cold, it couldn’t be any later than eight o’clock. The walk into town was long as I slugged along, I could see a few people wandering around already. I had to keep brushing off looks from the locals as I made my way to a shop. When I went in a little bell over the door jingled just loud enough to get the shop keep’s attention.

“G’mornin’ son, you new in town?” he asked.

“Uhh, not really, just passing through, Sir,” I told him. It wasn’t a lie, as soon as we could we were getting out of this town. I always thought I’d like the country, but I missed the city.

“Alright,” he nodded, “You with that other boy that came in earlier this week, he looked a little…” he trailed off.

“Yeah, he’s my friend,” I was looking through the magazines at this point to keep from looking too much at the man and if I held them up just right he wouldn’t be able to see my face too well either.

“Alright, well I hope you two enjoy ya’ stay,” he commented with a smile.

After reading through another magazine I thought I’d been there long enough and went to buy the cigarettes and get back to Johnny who was probably worried sick about where I was.

“Have a nice day,” said the shop keep.

“You too, Sir,” I left the little store and the sun had barely moved in the sky. I hurried on back to the church where I found Johnny pacing the floor just like I predicted, looking worried out of his mind.

“Where you been Ponyboy?” Johnny asked with worry in his face.

“Like I said I went to get some cigs,” I pulled the two new packs from my jacket.

That’s not what I meant, an’ you know it,” he said in a stern and yet somehow worried voice as he walked up to me and put his hands on my shoulders, “Pony, we’re wanted men, we gotta be more careful,” he paused and looked around a bit, like someone might jump out if he didn’t keep looking.

“I get it Johnny, I’m spooked about all this too, man,” I told him pushing his hands off my shoulders and sitting on