Chapter 1

Davanee Austin

Ponyboy's POV

'Just another boring night at the good ole' Curtis house' I thought to myself as I did my homework. It was a Friday night and I was doing Geometry. How sad is that? I decided that maybe I should give the homeworka restfor a little while and see whats going on outside of my room. Well, it wasn't really just my room. It was Soda's room too.

"What smells good?" I asked, coming into the kitchen.

"Chicken" replied Darry.

"Chicken? Again? Didn't we just have that last night?" I asked.

"Yeah but it's all we got left until I go to the store tomorrow " said Darry, "do me a favor and set the table will ya?"

"Yeah sure" I said, getting out the forks and knifes, "where's Soda?"

"He's still at work. He'll be home a little later" replied Darry.

I put out just enough silverware and plates for dinner that night. I was expecting everyone to show sooner or later since they always come over here to eat and watch TV. And I was right. Just as I set the last place at the table, Two-Bit, Johnny, and Dallas walked in. I figured Steve was working late with Soda.

"What's shakin', Ponyboy?" asked Two-Bit.

"Nothin' much. Just the same old stuff" I replied.

"You catch Mickey this morning?"

"No missed it. What happened?" I asked.

"It was my favorite episode. Mickey's trailer. You know, the one where Mickey, Donald, and Goofy go on a trip across the country" said Two-Bit.

"I know. I've seen it at least a dozen times before. Thanks to you, I've seen just about every Mickey Mouse show known to man" I said.

In about ten minutes or so, Darry was done cooking and we ate dinner. This was the first dinner that Soda had missed. He never misses dinner. Since Darry cooked, I did the dishes. I washed, dried, and put them away. By the time I was done it was already 8:30.

As we where sitting in the living room, watching the news for some reason, I heard a loud knock on the door. Before I could jump up to get it, Two-Bit answered.

"Is Ponyboy home?" asked some guy.

"Yeah hang on a sec. Ponyboy, it's for you" said Two-bit, jerking his thumb towards the door.

"I'm Ponyboy" I said, coming to the door. I hadn't seen that boy before. He looked older then me and he looked like he was from the middle class.

"These are for you" he said, handing me a note.

"Don't you mean this?" I asked.

"No these. The note and the baby" said the guy. I hadn't even noticed the baby lying in the baby carrier next to his feet. The baby was in a basket, wrapped tightly in a pink blanket. She was also wearing a tiny pink hat that had a purple and yellow flower on the edge.

The note was in a envelope that had my name scribbled on the front.

The note read:

Ponyboy,

I'm sorry I never told you about her sooner. I know it was wrong but I was scared. I'm leaving her with you as I am unable to take care of her anymore. Her name is Davanee Austin. She was born on April 22, 1967 in Tulsa General Hospital. If you are unable to take care of her please call the social services office. The number is 555-0967.

Sincerely yours,

Jamie Coryell.

P.S. Please take care of our little girl.

'Our little girl? How could I have a little girl? I never did anything' I thought to myself.

"You must have the wrong address. She can't be mine" I said, giving the guy the note back.

"How many Ponyboy's could there be out there?" asked the guy, "besides, Jamie walked here with us but she couldn't go up to the door. I'm her brother. I've got to go now" said Jamie's brother leaving. I watched as Jamie's brother disappeared down the street. I picked up the baby basket and brought it inside.

"Nice baby doll" said Two-Bit.

"This is no baby doll" I said. I set the baby basket down on the couch and took a seat next to it.

"Who's baby is it?" asked Darry. Just as I was about to answer, Soda and Steve came bursting through the door. Saved by Sodapop.

"The mail come yet?" asked Soda, even though it was 8:30 at night. Soda kicked off his shoes and threw them in the corner.

"So, we got this new customer down at the DX and boy is she" Soda began.

"Not now Soda. We're trying to figure out who's baby this is" interrupted Soda. Both Soda and Steve turned to see the baby sitting on the couch.

I took a deep breathe and began telling the guys what happened. It was all coming back to me now.

"I went to a party at the Shepard's house last September, October maybe. Anyways, I met this girl named Jamie Coryell through Curly. I remember having too many drinks that night. Jamie and I started dancing and once we where done dancing, we started making out on one of the couches. An hour and maybe 2 drinks later, we where up in one of the bedrooms and……." I got cut off.

"We know the rest from there" said Darry, "how could this happen?"

"I'm sorry, Dar, I wasn't using my head. I'm sorry" I said. I buried my face in my hands.

"I'm sorry? Is that all you can say? You're not even 15 yet! You can't take care of kid!" yelled Darry. Everybody else seemed to be completely silent.

"All I can say right now is I'm sorry, Darry! I don't know what to say" I said, close to tears. Darry was so mad, he couldn't even speak.

All he could manage to say was "just get to your room. I'm so mad right now I can't bare to look at you." I picked up the baby basket and went to my room.

I sat on my bed with the baby sitting in front of me. She looked to much like me for me to deny that she was mine. She even had the same color eyes.

"Davanee, huh?" I said through tears, "what a nice name. Davanee Austin." I picked the baby up and cradled her in my arms. I began walking around the room with her. She was so little, I was afraid I was going to break her if I held on too tight. I was so wrapped up in the moment, I didn't even hear Soda come in.

"Hey Pony" he said in almost a whisper.

"Hey" I said, not looking up.

"How ya feelin'?" asked Soda.

"A little better" I replied.

"You know Darry thinks you should have a test done or something, just to be sure."

"That's probably not a bad idea. She came with a note. It's on the bed if you wanna read it" I said. Soda looked over the note quickly. The note wasn't that long so it didn't take that long to read.

"Davanee" said Soda.

"Yep. Davanee. Not a name I would've picked but it's pretty" I said. I didn't want to let Davanee go for the rest of the night. Even though it wasn't absolutely certain that she was mine, I had a strong feeling she was.