Chapter 12, the final chapter of the book begins with the hearing, which would determine whether Ponyboy, Sodapop and Darry would be able to stay together. The hearing involved Darry, Sodapop, Ponyboy, Randy and his parents, Cherry and her parents and a few other Socs that were there when Johnny killed Bob. There was a general feeling of tension in the room because everyone was nervous as to how it was going to turn out. Before the hearing started the doctor that had been treating Ponyboy talked with the judge probably because Ponyboy was sick and had convinced himself that he was the one that had killed Bob. After that the hearing was pretty uneventful as everyone answered truthfully and the judge actually asked Ponyboy nothing about Bob getting …show more content…
Soda came in that night smoking a cigarette, which was something that he hardly does at all and meant that he had something on his mind and when Ponyboy asked him he wouldn’t say anything about it. After they had had dinner Darry and Ponyboy started to fight about Ponyboy’s school work, this had become a common occurrence lately and Soda was taking it really hard because he was always stuck in the middle but no one noticed this at the time. Eventually Soda got mad and ran out of the house and while he left an envelope slipped out of his pocket that he had sent to his girlfriend, Sandy (who had moved away) that had been returned unopened. Darry and Ponyboy realise that this was probably what had been bothering him and they chased Soda so they could talk to him. Ponyboy reached Soda first with Darry coming soon after and they asked what was wrong. Soda explained that it was really hard for him to hear them fight and he didn’t want to pick sides. Darry and Ponyboy realise how wrong they have been to act this way especially because they are all each other have and should work together instead of against each other. This brings the family back together in a way and makes them realise that they need to help each