1

Stay Gold
By: Skyler Chun
WI NDRI XVI LLE, Okl ahoma -- I n
September 7, 1965 two greasers, Ponyboy
Curtis, fourteen years old, and Johnny Cade,
sixteen years old risked their own lives to save
the lives of young children. A class was on a
field trip at the Church on top of Jay Mountain
when the fire started. Ponyboy and Johnny
went into the window on the side of the church
without having to think about it. Ponyboy and
Johnny came outside just before the roof
collapsed behind them. Dallas Winston also
called Dally, one of their friends that were
with them at the time, tried to put the fire out
that had caught on Ponyboy. They saved all
the kids from the church but they are now in
the hospital and suffering from burns. Johnny
is in critical condition and could be at risk of
dying.
The teacher of the kids on this field trip
who witnessed this said, Those boys showed
lots of bravery by rescuing these students who
could have burned to death. Now they can be
known as heroes!
Curtis said, I didnt have to think about
it. I just knew that it was the right thing to do to
save the kids. Cade said, I followed Ponyboy
into the burning church and I felt like it was my
job to get all the kids out of that Church safely.
Winston said, I thought they were crazy
going into the burning church. I didnt want
them to risk their lives. I wanted them to be
safe but I guess they just had to save those
children.
Just a week earlier Ponyboy Curtis
and Johnny Cade had run away from the
murder of a Soc, Bob Sheldon. They will have
to go to trial in two weeks. Interviewers have
discovered that the brothers Ponyboy, Darry,
and Sodapop Curtis may have to go into a
home because their parents died in a car crash
when they were little.
Darry Curtis, Ponyboys oldest brother
said, I was so worried when they ran away. I
didnt know where they went.
One of the parents of a child that was
rescued from the burning church said, It is so
amazing that these boys are the same boys
who were wanted for murder. They saved my
child and many other lives that day.
An eight year old girl that was saved
from the church said, It was so smoky and hot.
Pieces of the roof were falling down and I didnt
think that I would make it out but then Ponyboy
and Johnny came. They saved my life.
Everyone, especially Ponyboy, Johnny, and
Dallys friends hope that everyone will be okay
and be back to normal as soon as possible.
Windrixville Times
September 10, 2014
Volume IV
2
Bibliography
"File:Former Church of The Resurrection, Eastleigh." Geograph. N.p., n.d.
Web.
"Fire on Church - Google Search." Fire on Church - Google Search. N.p., n.d.
Web. 10 Sept. 2014.
"The Beach Boys- 1960's Music." The Beach Boys- 1965. N.p., n.d. Web.