The Outsiders Summer
Chapter 1: We've got issues
Warm June Summers… they always meant barbeques with our parents and the gang would come over. We'd toss around the football and I'd sit with Mom watching the guys when I was younger. Eventually, I was big enough to play and those are some of my fondest memories with Soda; even Darry. Things this summer, they just weren't the same without Johnny and Dally. In my mind, I liked to think they were in New York and I could imagine Dally starting trouble with a hotdog vendor.
I started to laugh to myself as I laid on the bed in my and Sodas room. "Hey Pone, what are you doing in here alone kiddo? Its nice outside, maybe you can read out there?" Soda suggested with a grin on his face. It was the first Sunday of the summer, Darry and Soda had the day off. They decided that during the summer, they'd take off Sundays, so we could have a family day. To be honest, I was enjoying it and Darry was in a good mood because I got all A's on my end of the year report card. I also turned all my work in so there were no calls from the school.
"Okay," I smiled getting up and followed Soda out the back door to our yard. We had an old clunker that Soda had been fixing up and a wooden picnic table that our Mom insisted she get a few summers ago. The weather thankfully was 80 degrees and lightly breezy with a touch of humidity. I sat on the picknick tables bench with my book, To Kill a Mockingbird, I was reading it again this summer.
As I looked out Darry was barbequing like Dad would have and Steve threw the football to Two-bit, who of course didn't catch it. Soda went to join them and they all laughed as Two-bit reached down grabbing the ball stumbling. I really wished Mom and Dad were here, but I immediately thought of something else or I knew I'd cry.
"Pony come here a minute buddy and leave the book on the table." Darry laughed amused
I heard him talking to himself, that I couldn't go anywhere without a book and it made me grin. I walked over as Soda talked to Steve and they started wrestling in the dirt. As I walked closer to the barbeque the smoke thankfully was blowing the opposite direction. Our little black barbeque had hamburgers sizzling on the grate. Darry put his arm around me and smiled.
"So, Pone, are you happy its summer?"
"Yeah, Dar, I'm happy I don't have all the school work, but you know it's different this summer," I mumbled, shrugging my shoulders.
He looked down at me and nodded. Last summer was the last where everyone was still together, and Dad had his arm around Darry the way he had his around me now. He let me go grabbing the metal spatula and shucking the burgers onto a plate. The table already had all the usual fix 'ins on it covered with plastic to keep the flies away.
"Alright, guys come and get them while they're hot." Darry laughed as he looked at Steve n Soda covered in dirt.
We all made our hamburgers sitting on the bench and laughing as beer shot out of Two-bits nose. I felt safe, maybe even happy for the first time in months and I didn't want it to end. Darry for once was relaxed just laughing with us if I could freeze this moment I would have and lived in it. I stopped laughing long enough just to finish my food. The guys started to help Darry clean up and we packed everything back into our small kitchen.
The afternoon was over and before I knew it we were sitting on the couch all together watching a football game. As I became bored I started to look for my book and couldn't figure out where I had set it down. Soda then came walking out of our room into the living room dressed and Steve stood up. I hadn't even noticed Soda had left because I was so focused trying to remember where I put my book.
"Hey ya'll, Steve and I are going to the Dingo with Two. So, don't wait up for us." Soda announced
Darry gave Soda a side glance. "You telling me, or asking little buddy?" His voice clearly annoyed. Since Soda turned 17, he had developed a habit of telling Darry what he was doing instead of asking. Darry tried to stop that behavior right away, he said since Soda lived under his roof he'd show him respect or else. We knew what the or else was, so I was surprised Soda still challenged Darry so much.
"Come on Dar," Soda whined, and Darry just gave him the look of death.
Soda looked down, his cheeks turning red and whispered, "I'm asking Dar."
"Mmmmhmmmm, then you can go Soda, just be home by curfew and I mean it, no drinking little man." Darry grinned
Steve grabbed Soda's shoulder and they bolted out the door. Two-bit lazily followed out the door saluting Darry and busting into a laughing fit. I jumped off the coach, "Shit!" I yelled running to the screen door. It was too late, they were gone and now I'd never find my book. I heard heavy footsteps behind me and my right elbow being grabbed.
"What did you just say Ponyboy?!" Darry screamed
I felt myself being jerked back and a stinging slap landed on the seat of my jeans. Darry's hands were big, rough and callused. I knew this was a warning slap to get my attention and I whimpered.