Sodapop's Mistake
Disclaimer: Sadly, I must once again admit that I do not own The Outsiders, but if I did Johnny and Dally would have lived.
"I'll be back later," Sodapop Curtis called as he headed out the door, stuffing the list of things Darry wanted him to get at store into the front pocket of his warn out jeans.
"Hey, Soda, don't forget to take my tools out of the back of the truck before you go," Darry yelled from his younger brothers' room where he was trying to sort between the clean and dirty laundry.
"Ok," Soda yelled back as he climbed into the driver's seat.
Like his father, Soda drove fast and reckless. He lived his live in the same way. That's how he liked it.
Soda was at the store in less than five minutes, and that's when he made a startling discovery. Darry's tools were still in the back of the truck. Soda had forgotten to take them out. What if someone stole them while he was shopping? They couldn't afford to replace the tools, and Darry used them everyday at work. He was starting to panic.
"Ok," Sodapop told himself. "I'll just grab the things on the list, and pay. That shouldn't take too long, and I'll pray to God that nothing gets stolen. It will be all right. Ponyboy still went to church, didn't he?"
Soda took a deep breath. He felt better until he realized that he had been talking to himself. He decided to go with his original plan that had already been thought out.
Entering the store, Soda zoomed through the isles. He got what he had come for and quickly proceeded to the checkout counter.
When he walked outside with his bags in hand, Soda noticed that all of Darry's tools were still where they had been left. Soda couldn't help feeling relieved. He got into the truck, and drove home.
Once inside, he began to put away all the groceries. Soda was almost finished when Ponyboy walked in the door, followed by Johnny.
"Hey, guys," Soda greeted them.
"Hey Soda," Pony greeted back. "You know me and Johnny were walking back from the theater today, and well, we saw the truck parked there at the store."
"Really?" Soda asked in alarm. "Was anyone else with you two?"
"No, just me and Johnny."
"Good," Soda replied in relief.
"But I wanted to tell you that Darry usually takes his tools out of the truck if he plans on going somewhere where he doesn't need them," Ponyboy told his older brother.
"Shh," Soda put his finger to his lips. "I know that. Darry told me to take them out, but I forgot.
Ponyboy's eyes went wide. He knew that all of Darry's tools were expensive to replace if they ever got broken or stolen. He couldn't believe Soda had taken that chance. Darry would not be happy when he found out about this.
"Not a word of this to Darry," said Soda as if hearing Pony's thoughts. "You understand me? Not a word, or I'll let it slip about what was playing at the theater," Soda threatened.
"Soda, we didn't go see that," Ponyboy protested.
"We went to see "Gone with the Wind," said Johnny.
"Besides, it's not like any of Darry's tools were stolen," Pony continued.
"I don't care. Not a word from either of you; got it? This will be our little secret."
Ok," Ponyboy and Johnny both agreed. "Not a word." They both pretended to zip up their mouths and throw away the key.
AN: Please read and review.