Today Decides Tomorrow- Chapter One-
I feel so lonely. Soda received his draft notice. I knew he wished for it so much since Darry did not want him join the army. He left a couple of months ago and seemed pretty happy. Happy to leave his caring family and friends? Happy to leave so that his family can be driven into poverty while he goes off and plays solider boy? Darry truly needed Sodapop's check from the DX. Now we can't even spend money on new shoes, or new anything. The gang stopped coming over so much and never ate any of our food so that helped. But Darry had to sell the TV and I a few of my books just to keep us out of debt this month. At least Darry will not have to pay so much on the electricity bill anymore. I wish I could have a job. But I am to young. I'm only 12. My birthday is coming up on July 22 but even then I still will be too young. My parents did not want any of their kids working till age 16 and Darry plans to keep it that way. So here I am useless 12 year old, Ponyboy Curtis, laying on my bed doing nothing.
Darry left for work a hours ago and the gang never comes by anymore, so I am alone. Not that I mind being alone or anything. I entirely cool with it. I usually was since Johnny and Dally's death. Man, I miss them a lot. I would do anything to see them again. Even my end own life. But I wont do that right now because I don't want to leave Darry, unlike some people. Maybe I should go out and do something. 'Better than doing nothing around here' I thought and I headed out. Perhaps one of the gang is near and I will run into them. But I didn't so I settled for sitting in the lot watching the sunset. At least it is more amusing than sitting around, doing nothing, in a room that probably has mold growing somewhere. I couldn't help but think of Johnny and how I never accomplished his last wish. Soon I noticed Tears streaming down my face like little rivers. I wiped the tears off with my probably dirty sleeve and headed home. Now I minded being alone. I finally realized how alone I was. No friends... Barely any family left... I wondered if anyone would care if I died. I think Darry might. Soda most likely would die before me in the war so I did not count him. One. Only one person would care. I noticed that the sky had darkened so I started to run home. Darry's truck was in the driveway when I got home. Had I really been that long? I hope he is not mad. I hate it when he is mad. Silently slip in to see that Darry with an angry, yet sad for some reason, look on his face on the poor excuse of a couch holding a official-looking paper. I made a note of to ask him about it later.
" Where the hell were you Ponyboy!" Darry yelled throwing the paper down, His blue-green eyes blazing with anger.
" Um... J-just out the lot. I am s-sorry Darry I did not notice the time." I scaredly said. His face shows the same expression that it did last time he slapped me. I wished that Soda was here to save me. Darry stares at me for a moment and upon seeing my fear, his expression softens.
" Don't let it happen again." He sits back down studying the paper again.
" What is that Darry?"I say as I sit down next to him.
" Nothing." He quickly answers stuffing it in his pocket.
"Do you want me to start cooking something for dinner?"
"No..." He smiles, " I got a raise today so I was planning on us going out to eat."
" A raise? Thats great Darry!"
"Now instead of getting ordered around, I get to tell people to do. I don't have to go up on the roof anymore. I now have to order and figure out how much and when we need to get more supplies, but thats easy." He sighed and smiled, but that seemed fake. I bet that paper is what is upsetting him, who wouldn't be happy about a raise?