One of those days
Disclaimer: I don't own The Outsiders
summary: Mostly Darry and Ponyboy story. This story Ponyboy is in Kindergarten instead of 14. It's about a bad day with bonding in it!
Note: I have not written any sort of thing in what seems forever and I love to read and write. This story is to get me started. It hopefully will not be the last thing or best thing I post. I'm just trying to get my mind going to write once again after not having access to a laptop or computer! Thanks for checking out the story!
Note: I have had issues with the upload and it changing things. I have reedited this chapter to fix some if it! So here is to hoping it looks better then my original upload. If you have suggestions to keep my uploads from messing up let me know. This time I did copy and paste and tried fixing it a little.
"Come on Ponyboy you have to let go of me and finish getting ready," Sodapop told his baby brother who was clinging to leg as he tried to get ready. Ponyboy refused to let go. Ponyboy was in a mood and did not want anyone to go to school or work.
"You asked for you little punk," Soda tells him playfully unwrapping the boy's arms and throwing him on the bed and begins to tickle him. Ponyboy can never stay annoyed, angry, or upset when Soda brought out his tickle monster.
"Here comes the tickle monster," Soda taunted his abnormally annoyed little brother. Ponyboy glared at him kicking his hand away and refusing to laugh when tickled. He did not enjoy it or want to be tickled today.
"Stop tickling me you big meanie," Ponyboy shouts as Soda. Sodapop looked hurt as he withdrew his attack on Ponyboy. His brother loved the tickle monster and it slightly hurt his feelings that he did not want the monster today. His dislike for the tickling told Soda instantly today was going to be a long day with Ponyboy. He is the easiest going kid normally but when he is not then it's like ten tons of attitude and sass hitting you all at once. Darry does good with Ponyboy but it's going to be challenging today!
"Ok Ponyboy why don't you go get dressed. I'm gonna take a shower and when I get out we will eat breakfast and if we have time I'll read ya a book before school," Soda tells Pony giving him an offer this kid never refuses. This kid will listen to books all day and night!
"I'm not getting dressed and I'm not going to school!" the young boy declares turning his back to Sodapop.
"C'mon Ponyboy," Soda pleads. Ponyboy ignores his brother and just lays facing his wall.
"Soda go get in the shower before your late. I'll deal with the knuckle head," Darry says as he enters thru the door way. Soda gets up and heads to the bathroom glancing back at his baby brother one last time. He knew Darry was not going to tolerate his behavior but right now Soda has no leg to stand on to be able to intervene with his brother taking over this morning.
"Ponyboy you sit up this minute and talk to me," Darry tells the boy refusing to talk to his back. Ponyboy knew it was not wise to push Darry's buttons but he was bound and determined not to go to school.
"Ponyboy Michael I suggest you change this attitude and get up here right now. "Darry tells him in a tone that his brother knew he meant business. The boy still laid there. "One…..two…" Darry counted before grabbing the boy up and given him one solid smack to his backside. Darry never made it to three. You're lucky if he counts to two.
Ponyboy started crying but he looked up at his brother who grabbed his chin lightly so he was looking up at him. "Ponyboy you are not going to sit here and give us attitude all morning. I will not tolerate the flat out disobedience and I will not tolerate any kind of sass or back talk. You need to get dressed right this minute and get into that kitchen for breakfast. DO I make myself clear?" Darry asked in a tone that anyone would obey. Ponyboy contemplated disobeying but thought better of it. He did not want a spanking from his brother. He has been swatted a time or two in the past few months much like he just was and that was it. He didn't want a real spanking and he knew if he got out of hand his brother would do it.
"Yes sir. Will you help me?" Ponyboy asked just wanting his brothers to stay close by even though the young greaser was capable of getting ready on his own.
Darry really wanted to sit down and drink his coffee but he could not tell his brother no. Besides he never asks them to help him and it was obvious he was having a hard morning. "Alright little brother lets grab you some clean clothes," Darry said going to the boy's dresser and pulling out a fresh pairs or undies and jeans.
Ponyboy went to the closet and picked out his black t-shirt to match his brothers' plain black shirt he was wearing. He carried them over to his oldest brother. Darry helped Ponyboy get his pajamas off and into his clean shirt. He smiled in spite of himself when he realized Ponyboy picked out a shirt to match his.
"Ok little colt all ready. Now Soda should be out of the shower so why don't you go to the bathroom and have him do up your hair for ya." Darry told him ruffling his hair. Pony smiled running off to his favorite brother knowing he would give him a cool hair style instead of the nerdy ones Darry always did.
"Soda will you please do my hair?" Ponyboy asked his brother. Soda smiles sweetly at his brother.
"Of course. I got to make sure you look good since you're such a babe magnet," Soda joked with half honesty. Anytime Ponyboy was with him the girl all seemed to melt even more. There is something women just love about a kid.
Soda greased his hair back. "Now Ponyboy you better not going breaking all those little girls' hearts ya dig?" Soda asked swooping down and throwing Ponyboy over his shoulder like a sack of taters carrying him off to the front room.
"Here," Darry tells them setting plates before each boy. Soda deposits Ponyboy into his chair and goes off to pour chocolate milk for himself and Ponyboy. He sits a cup in front of Ponyboy before sitting down digging into his food. Ponyboys foul mood returns and he don't much care to eat his eggs. He didn't much care to do anything today.
"Eat up Ponyboy," Soda tells Pony shoveling another bite of food into his mouth. Pony scowled and just pushed his food around his plate. Darry snatches his plate away.
"Since you're not hungry there is a corner in the living room with you name in it. Go find it," Darry tells his brother. Ponyboy obeys. He goes and stands in the corner.
"I don't know what has gotten into him today but he better snap out of it for his best interest," Darry tells Soda.
"I think something is bothering but I don't know what. He doesn't typically give this much attitude and you already popped him on the butt and that normally straightens him right up. This is not like him at all. I just hope his mood gets better at school," Soda tells Darry. Darry nods agreeing with Soda.
After Soda finished his breakfast he threw on the rest of his clothes and grabbed a book. They had just under ten minutes but he wanted to read to his brother. He sits down on the couch."Come here Pony," he calls. Ponyboy walks over to his brother and climbs into his lap and rests his head on his chest. Listening to Sodas heartbeat as he read The Three Little Pigs to him! After the story was over Soda wrapped his brother into a tight hug and kisses his head. Soda loved this boy more than he would ever know.
"Alright kid brothers off we go," Darry comes shooing them out the door. In the truck Ponyboy snuggles up to Soda as they head over to the DX and to drop the middle brother off at work. Once there Ponyboy receives a kiss on his head from his older brother before Soda headed into the gas station to meet up with Steve.
Darry drove to the school. "Ponyboy you better not give your teacher any problems or else I will bust your bottom when I get home is that understood?" Darry asks his little brother.
"Yes sir," Ponyboy answers him. He didn't want to be in trouble today, but he couldn't help himself either. Once to the school Darry let his brother out at the front door.
"Have a good day kiddo and stay out trouble," He called after him. Pony simply waved bye to his brother and walked into the building.
"Good morning Ponyboy," Mrs. Smith greeted him as he walked down the hallway. He looked at her for a moment and kept going. Honestly Ponyboy had a very nice teacher and he loved her. He just did not want to be in school even If it was with her. Ponyboy decided to hide in the bathroom and not go to class. He would show his brothers he meant it when he said he did not want to go to class.
As the bell rang Ponyboy knew his teacher would search for him soon. As he sat on a stall hiding out he did not feel any better. Ponyboy knew something was wrong with him but he didn't know what it was. He just felt off, but not sick. Ponyboy held his breath. He saw his teacher's shoes. She opened the stall he sat in.
"Ponyboy what are you doing in here? Your supposed to be in class," she told him gently. Mrs. Smith loved Ponyboy. He was so sweet, kind, and very well mannered.
"I'm not going," he tells her. Ponyboy hoped she would leave him alone, but he knew she would not. Why won't people just leave him alone?
"Ponyboy you have to come to class. C'mon I'll walk with you," she offered trying to grab the child's hand. Ponyboy pulled his hand away and kicked at her to try and get her to leave him alone.
"PONYBOY you know better than to kick at me. You know that is not ok. "she tells him. Ponyboy felt bad. He had not meant to actually kick his teacher he just wanted to be left alone. Tear welled up in the his eyes as he knew he was going to be in big big big trouble when he got home.
His teacher took this moment to lift the small boy into her arms. Ponyboy clung to her neck. He felt afraid. Not afraid of anyone or anything just afraid. His teacher made a move to leave the bathroom Ponyboy freaked out and grabbed a hold of the stall door.
"Leave me alone and put me down! I don't wanna go to class," Pony screamed thrashing to get away. A minute later the door opened up and in walked Mr. Brown the vice principle with the reputation to be super strict. He owned a paddle in his office and Ponyboy did not want it used on him. He heard stories about it.
"What is going on here?" Mr. Brown asked eyeing Ponyboy who had stopped struggling with his teacher. Mrs. Smith held the boy close as she could sense his fear. She explained to the principle what was going on.
"Hey Ponyboy! How about we head to my office. Will you walk like a big boy or am I going to have to carry you?" he asked Ponyboy. Ponyboy knew he had no choice in the matter now. He let his teacher stand him on the ground.
Ponyboy reached up to grab the man's hand. He didn't want him to think he was not coming. Ponyboy always held his brother's hands anytime they were somewhere so they knew where he was. So since he did not know how it worked with the principle he grabbed his hand to keep from upsetting him.
Mr. Brown was slightly amused since most kids would just follow him. Even a kindergartner like Ponyboy. Ponyboy walked with him to the office without any defiance. He climbed into the chair Mr. Brown pointed to in his office. Mr. Brown pulled out a binder and found a page he was seeming to be looking for before he picked up the phone and dialed a number.
"Hello May I speak Mr. Darrell Curtis," he spoke into the phone. Pony's heart fell knowing them calling his brother was not good. The principle waited for a few moments. "Hello Mr. Curtis. I was calling on behalf of your brother Ponyboy. Well he has been having an extremely hard morning. He was hiding in the bathroom instead of going to class. When his teacher tried getting him to class he kicked her. When she was finally able to get ahold of him he was good until she tried leaving the bathroom. That's when he started screaming and acting crazy. That's when I heard them from the hallway. At this point I need you to come pick him up for the day. We are not considering it a suspension this time.," The principle told him. The principle finished up the conversation before hanging up. Ponyboy could here his brother in the background and could tell he was mad. After he hung up with Darry the principle went out to talk to the receptionist. After a few minutes he returned to the office where Ponyboy still waited.
"Ponyboy I hope you can have a much better day come Monday. Your brother will be here shortly. Until then you need to stay in here," Mr. Brown said to the young child. He did not think the kid need any more punishment from the school as you can tell the kid was remorseful and he had a feeling from talking to his brother that this particular kid did not act like this often or ever without consequence. That and he had never been in trouble at school before.
The principle sat working for ten minutes before Darry was seen entering the main office. The receptionist handed him a packet and talked to him for a moment. Ponyboy could tell Darry was mad, and he kinda wished the school would have called Sodapop, but at the same time he felt scared. He was scared of how he felt, and he just wanted his eldest brother to help him. He knew he would be in trouble, but he knew Darry could help him.
Mr. Brown went out to talk to Darry. After five minute they both entered the room. "Bye Ponyboy we will see you Monday and it better not be in my office," Mr. Brown said bidding the boys good bye. Ponyboy looked at Darry and got up making his way over to him before Darry could even tell him to. Ponyboy grabbed his brothers hand before they headed out of the hall and towards the school exit. Darry was pulling Ponyboy along when Ponyboy suddenly stopped.
Darry spun around so fast anger flashing thru his eyes. He swooped down to his brothers' level getting ready to whisper a threat, or promise he didn't know which into his brother's ear when suddenly Ponyboy wrapped his arms around Darry and clung on tight. Darry was caught by surprise and his anger faded as he lifted his brother up into his arms. Ponyboy started bawling. He didn't know why. He was not crying because he was in trouble. He felt alone and scared.
Darry rubbed the young boys back in attempt to console him. Darry knew better then to think Ponyboy was trying to get out of trouble. Ponyboy was a good kid. He knew that his brother was truly upset. Once to the truck Darry put his brother in the truck and helped buckle him in. When he climbed in his brother leaned over and clutched onto his brother for dear life.
Darry let his mind ponder his brothers' behavior the whole way home. He really did not know what to think. When they got home his brother unbuckled and wrapped his arms around his brother again. Darry picked the boy up before carrying him inside. Once inside he carried Ponyboy to his bed,
"Ok little buddy I think after this morning a nap is very much needed," Darry tell him laying him down and covering him up. Ponyboy was fine with the nap ,but not at the idea of being left alone. Darry started to head out of the room. He had planned to go pee and come back and lay with his brother ,but Ponyboy did not realize his plan.
"Darry," he cried as Darry was walking out. Darry stopped in his tracks and turned around.
"Baby I'm going pee and I'll be right back," Darry told him to ease the youngsters mind before heading towards the bathroom. As soon as Darry started to relieve himself he felt arms wrap around him. Darry was thinking about how awkward it was, but he did not say a thing to the boy. Darry finished up in the bathroom before gathering his brother in his arms.
He carried him to bed and snuggled up with his brother. Ponyboy felt secure in his brother's arms and drifted off to sleep.
Two and a half hours later Ponyboy woke up and noticed Darry had stayed asleep with him. He snuggled closer to his brother who was still sleeping beside him. Pony's movements woke his brother.
"Take a good nap baby?" Darry asked his brother. Darry was beside himself on the fact Ponyboy seemed to want him, and had yet to ask for Soda. Pony and him never bonded like this. Ponyboy nodded into Darry. Pony rubbed his eyes to get the sleepy feeling out of them.
"Ponyboy what been bothering you today?" Darry asked gently hugging his brother closer to him so he would feel safe talking to him.
"I don't know. I don't feel right," Pony answered the best he could.
"Do you feel sick?" Darry asked alarmed.
"No," Ponyboy answered. He didn't know how to explain it.
"Are you mad at someone or did some make you mad?" Darry asked.
"No. I felt angry for no reason. I dunno scared too," Ponyboy answered him sheepishly.
"Why were you scared?" Darry asked.
"I dunno why I'm scared," he answered truthfully.
"Do you still feel scared?" he asked his brother. Ponyboy shakes his head no, but tightened his hold on his brother.
"What made the scared feeling go away?" Darry asked him. Maybe the nap was more useful then he thought. Ponyboy pointed to Darry. Darry smiled big. Did he make his brother feel safe?
"Is your anger gone now?'' He asked Ponyboy. Ponyboy nodded.
"I felt angry. And I could not make it go away! My head felt funny and not right. I just didn't want to go to school today, and I really didn't want to be bad, but I couldn't stop it," Ponyboy said sobbing again. Darry held the boy tight. He could understand what he meant. Darry being 20 knew how to handle it when he was in a bad mood better ,but he still had a hard time.
"Well Ponyboy next time your angry like that come tell your brother or me and we can try and help you. We don't want you in trouble more then you want to be in trouble. If your scared baby both of us are here for you," Darry told him.
"But I been bad," Ponyboy cried into his brother's chest.
"Baby no matter how bad you been we will always love you. Just like when we mess up you will always love us." Darry explains to his brother. Ponyboy felt better knowing he had the best brother even on a bad day.
"Darry can you help me write a sorry note to my teacher?'' Pony asked his brother. Darry laughs. Leave it to his brother to punish himself in a way.
"Of course baby. I'm proud of you for wanting to correct your actions all on your own. That makes my heart very happy. I'm very lucky to have 2 awesome kid brothers," Darry tells Ponyboy. Ponyboy smiled at his brother happy that he was pleased with him.
"Darry are you going to spank me?" Pony asked nervously. He did not want a spanking, but his brother had warned him before school that he would.
"No baby I'm not. I think you have learned a lesson. Being mad or sad don't excuse that behavior, but I think you know to ask for help earlier when you're feeling that way right? "Darry asks him. Ponyboy nods. He rather be hugged then in trouble.
"Well then I guess we will say no movies with the gang this weekend. I think that will be a good consequence. "Darry tells him. Ponyboy lays close to his brother. He was more than ok with that.