From "F" to "Hot Water!"
Chapter # 1: Telling Darry
Disclaimer: I do not own The Outsiders, just the experience of this story.
Ponyboy sighed as his math teacher instructed the class to take out their homework from the night before, and switch papers.
Darry had been working very late nights these last few weeks, and Ponyboy had therefore forgotten to ask his older brother to check over his work, again. He was sure that Darry would ground him for a month if he knew how poorly he was doing in Math.
Bringing his thoughts back to reality, Ponyboy started to focus on the task at hand. He graded the paper in front of him carefully, put the grade on it with a red pencil, and handed it back to its owner.
Ponyboy looked across the table at the boy who was grading his paper. He seemed to be having some trouble.
"I'll know what I'll do for you Ponyboy. I'm just going to give you an "F."
The others laughed. This was what he was doomed to endure on a day to day bases for being a smart greaser in a room, full of soces.
Ponyboy took his paper back, and started to grade it as he tried hard not to look at the giant red "F" printed on it.
The teacher clasped her hands together loudly to get the class's attention. "Class, please tell me the grade that you made on last night's homework." She began reading off a list of names from the attendance sheet. "Ponyboy Curtis," she called.
"Um…I'm still grading it," he answered numbly. He tried to work quicker knowing that the class was waiting. Finally, he was finished. "75," he answered. He had made a 75 on his homework. Ponyboy slumped down a little in his seat. He felt miserable.
Add this to Friday's test that he had failed and had to get signed and Darry would surely kill him.
The walk home that afternoon had never seen so short. Ponyboy's mind was racing. Maybe he could forge his brother's signature, but Ponyboy's penmanship was completely different. Surely his teacher would notice. Ponyboy thought again.
Steve had been jailed once for selling false documents with forged signatures. He had done the signatures himself, and he might be able to help. No, Pony shook his head. That wouldn't work. Steve would love nothing better than to get Pony creamed by Darry.
Maybe he could pretend that he forgot. That was an even worse idea. They'd call Darry and then he would be in even worse trouble than he was now.
"Deep in thought," Sodapop asked after Ponyboy had stood inside the front doorway of the house for several moments unmoving and silent.
"Where's Darry?" Pony asked.
"He's still at work. Why?"
Ponyboy showed him his math test and homework. "Darry's going to be really mad," he said. "I forgot to ask him to check over my work."
"Ponyboy! An "F"?
"It's not really an "F" Soda," Pony pleaded. "It's really a "C."
"Barely," Sodapop replied firmly.
Ponyboy began to explain what had happened very quickly. He ended it by explaining that he would be allowed to make up the test and correct his homework, but only to a "C."
"Did you tell your teacher?" Soda asked after his baby brother had finished.
"Yes, I did."
"What did she say?"
"She said 'Ok. I'll take that into consideration."
Soda gave Ponyboy a puzzling look. "What does that mean?" he asked.
"It means that she's not going to do anything about it," a deep voice said from behind them.
Both brothers jumped at the sound of Darry's voice. Neither of them had noticed him come in from work.
"You're home early," were the first words out of Ponyboy's mouth.
"Hello to you to," Darry said.
"How long have you been standing there?" Soda asked a little timidly.
"Long enough to hear Pony's story. Did you know about this?" he asked turning towards Sodapop.
"No, no. I'm innocent," Soda exclaimed.
Darry looked at him straight in the eye. He studied his brother with a hard glare for a while. Soda stared back, and Darry nodded knowing that his brother was telling him the truth.
Sodapop felt relieved. It was a good thing he hadn't known about Ponyboy's trouble in Math. He couldn't lie to Darry. Darry could read through him like an eye exam.
"Ponyboy, get your test for me. I'll sign it right now. You're grounded for the weekend. Nothing but studding, homework, and correcting your Math."
"Will you help me?" Pony asked in a small voice.
Darry nodded. "We'll start on it tonight. Soda, you can make dinner tonight, and try to make something as close to normal as possible," Darry stated.
"Normal is vastly overrated," Sodapop replied cheerfully.
Ponyboy stared at him. "Wow, when did you learn such a big word like 'vastly'?" Pony teased.
"He can sometimes be smarter than he looks," Darry replied handing Ponyboy back his signed test.