Easter At The Curtis House
On Easter Morning under a rose and golden dawning sky, young children in the most blighted sections of town awoke to find brightly colored baskets full of marshmallow eggs, giant chocolate bunnies, and brand-new elaborate picture books about the most important aspect of Easter. More baskets of "Easter Bunny deliveries" plus Resurrection poems "turned up" at the homes of the Curtis brothers' neighbors, particularly at the Matthews and at the Randles. Finally, on a lawn not too far away, a drove of congregants were gathered at the sunrise service singing praises, until at last came the moment that the Curtises had been waiting for, especially Soda and Ponyboy-the free breakfast that followed. As they all feasted on omelets, coffee and pastries, Darry reminded them about the importance of giving Easter blessings, as many "friends of the Easter Bunny" had just done, and not just receiving.
Unexpectedly, an older gentleman by the name of Mr. Hazel said he wanted to see the 3 of them in the church parlor. Much to their astonishment, Mr. Hazel presented them with 3 wrapped packages, complete with bows. Inside were 3 morning suits, each exactly matching their sizes.
"For the main service inside the sanctuary later today," Mr. Hazel stated.
"Wow!" exclaimed Soda, bewildered.
"Thank you sir!" Ponyboy uttered in awe.
"You bought all this for us?" Darry said, clearly amazed.
Mr. Hazel nodded. He had seen, without commenting, how the 3 Curtis brothers had had to come to church on earlier Sundays in old dress slacks and shirts, worsened for wear (even though Darry made certain they were always clean), and sans jackets.
He had noticed how Darry would often put his hands in his pockets to hide the frayed ends of his shirts, how Soda's dress shirts had a button or 2 missing from them, and how Ponyboy's attire seldom fitted correctly to his growing frame-trousers either up too high above the ankles or the opposite extreme of threatening to drag the ground, shirts either too tight for his growing chest in recent weeks or so large on him they looked like they might fall off.
Consequently, Mr. Hazel had casually asked Darry on an earlier date what the brothers' correct clothing sizes were and had secretly written them down and then made his purchase.
Today, this Easter Sunday, the secret was finally out. The three brothers at the later service that day all looked radiant in their new garb, Darry in white, Soda and Ponyboy in respective light and royal blue.
Then, when the morning was done the 3 of them gathered at their home with the Matthews and the Randles and ate a specially donated Easter ham with huge decorated chocolate Easter eggs from See's Candies and lemonade.