Disclaimer: I do not own The Outsiders; all rights and characters go the talented S.E. Hinton.
Hello Everyone, so after finally getting the courage to write an Outsiders fic, I decided to post it and see if people think it is any good. I know this idea of Soda being drafted in Vietnam has been done before but I thought I would try it out and see where it goes, so please give this story a chance.
Darry's POV:
"Come off it buddy, it's only one Sunday." Steve exclaimed following Soda into the house, who grumbled kicking off his shoes and dumping his DX cap on the couch.
"What's his problem?" I asked from behind the newspaper.
"Schedule change, the guy that was supposed to work tomorrow morning said he had to leave town so Buck's got Soda working tomorrow eight to five, and you know how much Soda just loves getting up on a Sunday morning." Steve explained sliding down on the sofa. Soda grumbled plopping down next to him; I bit my tongue trying not to laugh. It took a miracle to wake Soda up in the mornings on weekends. Just then I glanced at the clock on the wall, it was a quarter till midnight, Soda seemed to follow my gaze.
"Relax Dar, he's not late yet." Soda piped up sticking up for Pony.
"Yet." Steve snorted next to me, Soda turned and glared at Steve. As if on cue, a few minutes later Ponyboy sauntered into the house with Two-Bit close behind him nursing a beer bottle. Pony glanced from me to the clock on the wall.
"And he's safe!" Two-Bit exclaimed waving his arm as if he were an umpire for a baseball game. He was right; Ponyboy was in before his curfew.
"Yea, I know. Where'd you guys go anyways?" I asked, Ponyboy shrugged.
"Movies." Pony answered then yawned and headed for the bathroom, a minute later the sound of the shower tab squeaking on could be heard. I never would understand what Pony found so fascinating about movies, Soda had tried explaining it to me once, but it still phased me. I had to admit after the year the kid has had I was happy to see him acting normal again…well normal for Ponyboy. He was going out to the movies again and spending a lot of the time in the library like he used to. It had been a little over a year now since Ponyboy had come back from Windrixville and it seemed finally things were starting to settle down around here, something I was grateful for.
Steve and Soda had moved to the floor, Steve dealing cards. After an hour with a steady losing streak Steve cursed and folded.
"You're a damn good cheater." He said throwing his cards at Soda who smirked.
"Don't blame me because you're a sore loser." Soda replied grinning at Steve who got up and tackled Soda, I rolled my eyes and got up, picking up empty beer and Pepsi bottles that had been scattered throughout the living room.
"Well, I'm calling it a night." Soda said standing up and stretching a few minutes later, he started walking towards the room he shared with Pony when he noticed that Ponyboy had fallen asleep on the couch, his head resting half on the cushion, half on the book he was reading.
"Want to move him?" Soda asked, I shook my head.
"No, one night on the couch won't kill him." I said tired, not feeling like moving him, instead I gently pulled his book out of his hands and pulled him down so he was laying down on the couch before throwing a blanket over him.
I sighed walking through the front door rubbing my shoulder painfully; it had been a long day. One of the roofs that had to be finished by today had to be re-shingled forcing us all to stay overtime. The extra hour of pay would be nice but the extra soreness wasn't so nice. Pony was sitting on the floor with Two-Bit playing cards while Mickey could be heard coming from the TV.
"Soda home yet?" I asked, I could use one of his famous back rubs right about now, Pony shook his head.
"No, but he should be soon, I started dinner." Pony said looking up from his cards.
"Thanks." I said walking into my room and dropping my tool belt in a chair then went into the bathroom to wash up. I heard the screen door open and bang shut and knew Soda was home.
"Hey." I said walking out into the living room and pulling on a clean shirt.
"Hey yourself." Soda said with a grin then handed me a stack of envelopes.
"I got the mail on my way in." Soda said I glanced down quickly flipping through them…bills…bills…more bills….To Mr. Sodapop Patrick Curtis…what was this I wondered, picking up the official looking envelope.
"You expecting any mail Soda?" I asked, something about the way that envelope looked so….official gave me a bad feeling.
"Hmm? No, why something for me?" Soda asked curious filling a glass with water, I nodded and walked into the kitchen and handed him the official-looking envelope. I sat down at the kitchen table and begin sorting through the bills with a sigh…electricity…water…rent…
Crash!
I looked up, Soda was frozen holding a piece of paper in his hand, the glass he had been holding had slipped from his hand and shattered all over the floor. I was on my feet in a second.
"Soda?" I said gently cautiously putting a hand on his shoulder; I then noticed that he had gone real pale all of the sudden.
"Soda, what's wrong?" I tried again after getting no reply.
"I…." He stammered then my eyes moved to the paper in his hands…Oh no, God no, please anything but that I thought to myself thinking of only one type of letter that would cause Soda to act like this. The sound of the glass breaking had gotten Two-Bit and Pony's attention, the pair came into the kitchen and stopped short at Soda's terrified expression and the broken glass.
"What happened?" Pony asked, I looked from Soda to him then gently took the letter from Soda and guided him backwards into the living room and onto the couch. Soda merely leaned forward closing his eyes, his hands pressed against his head as his elbows dug into his knees. I didn't want to know the contents of the letter, but swallowing the icy dread I felt I looked down and flipped over the paper in my hand so I could read it. I felt like the wind had been knocked out of me…not Soda please I thought knowing it was no use, I couldn't get past the first line of the letter…To Mr. Sodapop P. Curtis, on behalf of the state of Oklahoma and the United States Armed Forces we herby inform you have been inducted into the Armed Forces and are required to report for duty….. I didn't need to read anymore…Sodapop; my happy-go-lucky brother had been drafted into the war. A simple luck of the draw based on the day he was born and he had been drafted.
So, I know this chapter isn't very long, I'll try to make future chapters longer. Also, I tried to make everything historically accurate as possible. Of my understanding, the draft was based on a lottery that was pulled based on your birthday and if you got a low number you were drafted. If this is inaccurate I apologize.
As always, reviews are greatly appreciated, they make my day, so let me know what you think, good or bad? Should I continue? Creative criticism is always appreciated. I tried to make sure that I didn't take anyone out of character.
Thanks as always,
Fantasyforever1989