![]() ![]() But I knew that was what he wanted, even as the lot echoed with the cracks of the shots, even as I begged silently – Please not him I knew he would be dead because Dallas Winston wanted to be dead and he always got what he wanted. Suicide Mission?First Dally robs a grocery store, then he waves an unloaded (Pony believes) gun at armed police officer, and goes down in blaze of gunfire. Pony deals with his grief over Johnny's death by pretending Johnny isn't dead, but Dally goes on an all-out suicide mission (or at least this is how Pony sees it). In fact, Johnny's life is so valuable to him that he doesn't think he can live without Johnny. But, he doesn't hesitate to try to save Johnny. Dally doesn't have any interest in saving the little kids from the fire. ![]() Pony never condones the things Dallas does, but he shows us another side as well. More Than A CriminalBut Dallas is much more than his criminal face, and Pony does a good job of expressing his friend's complexity. We were also a tad shocked when Dally got out of the hospital by holding a knife to a nurse's throat. Last we checked, riding in rodeos was no crime, but jumping little kids is pretty bad. I didn't like him, but I had to respect him" (1.48). Pony says, "he got drunk, he rode in rodeos, lied, cheated, stole, rolled drunks, jumped small kids – he did everything. He's been to jail and was even involved in serious gang activity in New York City. Pony makes it clear early on that Dally really is a criminal. His death is one of his reasons Pony's writing this piece in the first place. ![]() Pony no longer sketches Dally because Dally's already dead when Pony's writing. Notice the "used to." This is some subtle foreshadowing. Pony says, "I used to like to draw his picture when he was in a dangerous mood, for then, I could get his personality down in a few lines" (1.46). Dallas fascinates Pony, and even before Pony becomes an ace storyteller, Dallas acts as his muse, or inspiration. ![]()
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