Soul Survivor
Hey everyone here is my new story. I would like to thank
kitkat244 for the idea for this story. Hope you like it. Please read and review. I would love to know how I did with it.
Darry pulled into the parking lot at the Dingo. He hadn't seen the boys or his parents in a few weeks, because he went on a ski trip with his friends. As usual, the Dingo was crowded with greasers and a few socs. Darry spotted his brothers in a corner booth. He wasn't surprised to see the gang there to. As he neared the table, he heard the good natured teasing and saw the smiles on the guy's faces.
Soda caught sight of his oldest brother and even though his eyes were cold and hard, Sodapop knew the real Darry. Few people knew of the older man's gentleness or his sense of protectiveness for those he loved. Soda felt lucky that he was one of the few. Soda stood and embraced Darry, an act repeated by Darry and Pony. Then they sat back down, the gang having left after saying hi to Darry.
"How the heck are you, man?" Soda asked.
"Great, glad to be back home. The skiing was incredible," Darry told them.
Pony leaned against him.
"I missed you Dare," the little boy said.
Wrapping an arm around him, Darry smiled.
"I missed you to Pony."
The waitress came to take their order. They sat back talking and catching each other up on the last few weeks.
"I stopped by the house and Mama said for us to be home early tonight. There is supposed to be a storm and she doesn't want us in it."
"Okay. Steve is supposed to come by anyway."
An hour later the brothers were ready to go. Sara fixed a special dinner since it was Darry's first night back. The gang came over and a football game was a must, by the time dinner was ready they were starving.
After Darrel said a short prayer, the crowd began filling their plates. There was fried chicken, mashed potatoes, rich, dark gravy, fluffy rolls and Darry's favorite chocolate cake for dessert.
When dinner was over, the two oldest Curtis boys began clearing the table and Pony ran water in the sink. Soon the kitchen was clean again. Darrel came in to tell them that they were going to take a ride, for Darry to keep an eye on things.
Soda, Steve, Two-Bit, Dally, and Darry stood on the porch watching the storm come in. Johnny was in the house with Ponyboy, who laid down for a while. Steve and Soda were wrestling, then Two-Bit joined in.
"Guys, try to keep it down. Ponyboy's trying to sleep," Darry said from the porch swing. Soda immediately quieted down. It had started to rain and Steve got shoved off the porch into the down pour, he pulled Soda with him, who in turn dragged Two-Bit too. They howled with laughter. A bolt of lightening lit up the dark sky. The door opened, Pony and Johnny joined them on the porch.
Pony's eyes were wide at the thunder crashing and lightening strikes.
"Come here Little colt," Darry held out his hand to the frightened child. Pony leaned against Darry, who lifted him to sit on his lap. Johnny and Dally soon ended up in the rain too. Ponyboy sat on Darry's lap and hid his face, jumping when thunder ripped through the air.
"Look at the baby," Steve teased. Soda ran up to the swing noticing how upset Pony was.
"Randall, shut up," Dally snapped.
Darry set Pony on his feet and stood up. Looking Steve in the eye.
"Steve, keep your smart-ass comments to yourself. It doesn't matter to me if you are Soda's best friend, I will set you on your ass if you keep running your mouth."
"Whatever," Steve didn't want to fight with Darry or Soda.
"Johnny, come in and change. Soda, I suggest you do the same. Pony, come on you should be in bed," the young boy whispered in he is ear. Darry nodded and looked at the gang.
"I think everyone should go home and change."
As they were walking away, he called "Steve, if you need to come back, you're more than welcome."
Steve nodded and they left.
When their parents came back a few hours later, Pony was sleeping quietly in Darry's room. Then Soda slipped in.
"Darry," he called. "Darry."
"Come on Little Buddy," The older boy made room for him and closed his eyes again as the storm played outside the window. They slept on not noticing when their father checked on them.
The next few days flew by. It was the day of Darry's 19th birthday. The Curtis's had planned a big party to celebrate the day. Mrs. Mathews came over to help. Mr. Curtis joked that the women invited most of the neighborhood. The backyard was transformed into a makeshift dining room. Of course Mr. Curtis and Darry manned the grill. There were huge platters of chicken, hot dogs, hamburgers, baked potatoes. In addition to cole slaw, sliced onions, tomatoes, fresh lettuce and cucumbers. There was also a big chocolate cake, chocolate pie and plenty of soft drinks for everyone. The festivities went on until around 10, when Darry noticed Pony was missing.
"Johnny, have you seen Ponyboy?" he asked.
"I think he's on the front porch."
"Thanks," he walked around the yard. The little boy was on the swing. Darry sat by him.
"Hey Little Brother, I wondered where you wondered off to."
Pony shrugged and looked at the sky.
"Thank you for my present. I love it."
Pony had mad him a drawing of the Curtis family watching Darry make a winning touch down.
"Your welcome," they sat quietly a few minutes then Pony got up to go get ready for bed. He said he didn't feel well. Darry promised to check on him later before he went back to the party, which was beginning to break up.
"Mom, Pony went to bed. He's feeling sick."
"Okay honey, I'll see about him in a few minutes," she said before excusing herself to go in the house.
"Mama, can Steve spend the night?" Soda asked.
"I don't know. Your little brother is sick."
"Please, we'll be quiet."
"All right. He can sleep on the couch."
"Thanks Mrs. Curtis," Steve called as they ran back outside while she checked on Pony and found him asleep.
Sodapop jerked awake to the sound of his little brother coughing. He was sweaty to the touch and obviously didn't feel good. After making sure Pony was covered up, he went to get their mom.
"Mama," he called softly. Sara sat up.
"Soda, are you okay?"
"Pony's sick," she told him to go lay down in the living room so he could get some rest and went to Ponyboy.
"Pony, what's wrong?" she felt his head when she sat beside him. He was shivering and ran to the bathroom where he was sick. Sara rubbed his back and had a cool cloth ready for him.
"Come on Sweetie, let's get you to bed," once in the bedroom she grabbed a blanket and pulled him to her lap where he was wrapped up and held tight, finally falling asleep listening to her singing to him softly.
When the alarm went off Pony was sleeping restlessly and Sara was now laying bedside him gently rubbing his back.
Darrel got dressed and went in search of his wife.
"Good morning Sara."
"Good morning Honey," she whispered quietly.
"Pony okay? How long you been up?" he asked glancing at their child.
"He was sick earlier. We've been up since about one, but Pony fell asleep a few hours ago. Poor baby. I'll go get breakfast started now."
By the time the rest of the family was up, the food was on the table.
"How's Pony?" Soda asked.
"Ill. I'm going to keep him home today. You eat your breakfast and get on to school. He'll be fine."
Pony slept most of the day and sipped 7-up when he was awake. Darry came in and spent time with his sick little brother. By Friday morning, three days later, Pony was feeling better. Sara kept him home another day to be safe. Darrel and Sara had plans to go away that weekend leaving Pony and Soda with Darry. It was a trip they had taken every year since Darry was a baby.
Sara sighed and sat beside her youngest son. He was still pale and she stroked his hair from his face smiling at him.
"Mama, stay with me," her little boy pleaded tearfully.
"I'm right here sweetheart. Close your eyes and rest now," she softly soothed him. Once Ponyboy was asleep Sara tiptoed from the room.
"Darrel, Pony needs me here. I couldn't possibly go to Jenny's now."
"Mom, I can take care of Pony," Darry told her.
"Sara, the boys will be fine," Darrel said.
"Mama," Pony cried out.
"Coming Baby," she went into the bedroom followed by her husband and oldest son.
"It's only for two days. He just has a cold, and Darry can handle it."
"Maybe, but how can I leave him? How can you expect me to leave my child when he 's sick?" Pony had fallen asleep against her.
"Mom, Pony will be okay," Darry told her again.
"I need to call Jenny and tell her we won't be able to come," Sara said.
"Don't do that. Sara, honey, you've been looking forward to this trip all year. If you don't want to leave him, we can always take him with us," Darrel stated.
Sara's eyes lit up and she grinned.
"Why didn't I think of that?" After lying the sleeping child down, she quickly and quietly packed him a bag. When they were ready, Darry carried him to the car. Goodbyes were said and the three were off for the weekend.
Once they arrived at her friend's, Pony seemed to get worse. He spent Friday night throwing up. The adults took him to the ER and were told it was the flu. On Saturday afternoon there was a parade in town, but Pony wanted to stay at the house. Jenny, Sara, and a few other friends went leaving Darrel home with Pony. When she got back, he was lying down again.
"Pony, how are you?" she asked.
"Mama, can we go home? I want Soda. Please Mama, please," he begged her. She nodded and went to talk to Darrel and Jenny.
"Darrel, I think we should go back. Pony wants to go home. I'm sorry Jenny," she told her friend.
"If you're sure Sara."
"It's all right. Pony is like anyone who is sick. He wants to be home in his own bed. I understand."
"I'll call the boys and let them know," he dialed the phone.
"Hello?"
"Darry?"
"Hey Dad, how's the trip going?" Darry asked.
"We're gonna head home. Ponyboy is getting worse and you know your Mama. We should be home later tonight."
"Poor little guy, be careful."
"We will. See you son."
After Darry told Soda and the guys, they went to straighten up the house. Steve was mad because now Soda prolly wouldn't go with him and Two-Bit tonight.
"Does the kid have to mess everything up?" he said bitterly.
"That's not fair Steve, Pony didn't get sick on purpose," Soda said.
Darry gave the greaser a sharp look and he shut up.
"Soda, don't take off. Dad said Pony was calling for you. You know how he is."
"I won't."
Pony told his parents he was fine and that he wanted to stay, but two hours later the Curtis' family was on the way home.
The roads were wet when Darrel pulled onto the main highway to Tulsa. They were 35 miles from home now and rain was pouring down. He didn't see the stop sign until he was on it. A loud truck horn made his blood freeze. A huge 18 wheeler was barreling down the high way. The Curtis' car wasn't going fast enough to beat the mammoth vehicle across the road and he doubted he would be able to stop at all.
Hearing his wife and son cry out, Darrel hit the brakes praying God helped them. The tiny car went into a spin, the squeal of tires breaking the stillness of the night. His face froze in terror as he lost control and the world went around and around. The car turned over several times as the three passengers were tossed around screaming, finally coming to rest in a deep ditch leaning sideways.
"Sara!" Darrel called, his voice hoarse and pain-filled. "Pony!"
Silence answered him.