Disclaimer: I don't own The Outsiders but Susie Hinton does
The scorching fury of the sun beat down on Darry, as if it were tormenting him. He quickly snaked his fingers through his "soc like" dark brown hair as he tried to continue working hard at the task at hand. His muscular physique ached and his pale blue-green eyes started to wander, shifting his gaze to the beautiful blue sky. Darry's mind wasn't focusing on his job, but his past… his high school days.
Popular, cool and wise were just a few of the traits Darry happily possessed in high school. From playing a tough game of football to being quite skilled at gymnastics, he was a true athlete. Darry even recalled the day he had received a ticket out of Tulsa; a scholarship. Unfortunately though, the death of the their parents' kept him from taking this wonderful opportunity., Darry knew he was now not only the eldest Curtis brother, but a parental figure to his two kid brothers, Ponyboy and Sodapop.
Darry sighed bitterly as his high school memories faded away and reality hit him like a brick wall. The scholarship was in the past and he sadly realized it was never coming back. On that thought, he slowly turned back to the deteriorated shingles before him. As he stretched out his broad shoulders and swiped away the trickles of sweat along the back of his neck, his mind started to drift off again. He wasn't pondering over the past though, but about today and what he has become.
Since the accident, he had felt as if the weight of the world was now on his shoulders. Not only does he have to cook, clean and watch out for their gang –"the greasers" –, but he now has to worry more about Ponyboy and Sodapop as well. It was his responsibility to look after them, even if it did mean being perceived as cold and uncaring. Since his college dreams slipped out of his grasp, and Sodapop was a drop out, it was time for him to worry about Ponyboy's distant future. Darry always envisioned Pony as a successful college graduate, though; he noticed that no matter how hard he tried; Ponyboy still doesn't seem to use his head. He knew that he was as logical as Ponyboy was imaginative, and that's saying something.
Darry decided it was time for him to try to put his worries and thoughts to rest. He needed to finish up replacing the cracked shingles. They already have little money as it is so he justhad to keep this job. If he didn't keep this roofing job or his other job, their family wouldn't be able to afford their already run-down house. The weight on his shoulders seemed to get heavier at just the thought of it. More worries and "what-ifs" swept over him, but as quickly as they came, they left. It was time for him to channel all his energy on working, not day-dreaming.
After all his day-dreaming though, he came up with one last realization that makes his pursed lips give a little smirk.
"My college dreams may be over, but Pony's aren't. With my guidance and encouragement, Pony's dreams are still possible."