Chapter 1
When the phone rang, I nearly jumped out of my skin. I had been trying to read the same article in the newspaper for over an hour now, but couldn't concentrate. I still couldn't believe I had hit Pony. I hoped this was him asking us to come get him or at least telling us where he was. "Hello?"
"Darrel Curtis?"
I set my jaw for the blow. There was something wrong. No one ever calls me Darrel anymore, unless it's something bad. "Yes, this is Darrel," I said in as calm of a tone as I could manage.
"Are you the legal guardian of Ponyboy Curtis?"
My heart sank and my stomach flopped. Not Pony. "Yes, I am. Is he ok?"
"We need you to come to the hospital. Ponyboy's here."
"Is he ok?" I demanded this time. I could sound older than I was sometimes and this was one of those times I needed it.
"I'm not allowed to discuss the condition of any of our patients over the telephone, Mr. Curtis. You will be fully informed of his condition upon your arrival."
"Thank you," I said and set down the telephone. I looked over at Soda, who was asleep on the couch. "Come on, little buddy, we have to go," I said as I shook his shoulder.
"It's too early for work," Soda mumbled.
"It's Pony."
Soda was fully awake then. "Where is he? Is he ok?"
"He's at the hospital and they wouldn't tell me how he was over the phone. Get your shoes on. We gotta go." I sounded calm even though I wasn't. Whatever had happened to him, however bad he was, it was my fault.
Soda didn't need anymore convincing. He was out the door and in the truck almost immediately. I grabbed our jackets. The night was still chilly. I couldn't blame Soda for forgetting though. I knew he was worried about Pony. I was worried about all of us.
We rode to the hospital in silence, both of us worried, neither wanting the other to know. But we did know. It didn't take long to get there. Part of me didn't want to go in. I could never forgive myself if something bad had happened to Pony. I was supposed to protect him.
Soda was out of the truck before I turned off the engine. His shoes were still in his hands. I guess he forgot them too. He was running at a dead sprint. I caught up with him at the registration desk.
"I'm his other brother," Soda whined.
"I'm Darrel Curtis. We got a call saying my brother, Ponyboy, was here."
"One moment, please," the nurse said flipping through papers. "I'll get the doctor." She walked away from us.
Soda let out a strangled sob. "Why won't they tell us anything?" He was so miserable.
"I don't know, little buddy," I said trying to reassure him. It didn't work, just like I knew it wouldn't.
A few minutes later, a man came walking towards us. He was wearing a white coat, so I figured he must be the doctor. Soda and I both jumped to our feet.
"Mr. Curtis?"
Both Soda and I said yes. I cleared my throat. "I'm Darrel Curtis," I said offering my hand.
The doctor shook my hand briefly. "If you would come with me," he said and turned to walk away from us. I followed him, with Soda right behind me. I hoped he was taking us to Pony. "How's my brother?" I asked breaking the silence.
The doctor sighed and indicated that we should go into a room. "Just Darrel, please," the doctor said.
"But..." Soda started to protest.
"I'll just be a minute, little buddy," I said. "I'll let you know as soon as I can." Soda looked at me pleadingly. "It'll be ok, little buddy," I assured again as I followed the doctor into the room.
The doctor closed the door and I heard Soda shift in front of it so he could hear to. The doctor opened a set of blinds along one wall. "Is that your brother?" he asked.
I didn't want to look. I could tell by the doc's tone it wasn't good. I had to look. I swallowed a lump in my throat and turned to look through the window. My little brother was laying there on a metal gurney. He looked asleep. He seemed so small just then. I looked for a long time, trying to figure it out.
"Mr. Curtis?" the doctor prompted. I could only nod my head. "I'm sorry, Mr. Curtis. There was nothing we could do for him."
I shut my eyes and felt the hot tears trickling down my face. "How..." I managed to squeek out.
"He was forcefully drowned."
My eyes shot open. "Murdered?" I could hardly believe I was asking this about my baby brother.
"That's what we believe at this time."
"Who..." I was shaking so hard. I would find whoever did this to my little brother and make him pay. First Mom and Dad and now Pony too? It all seemed like some kind of sick joke.
"We were hoping you could help us with that," the doctor said plainly.
"We?" I asked looking around. Then I heard Soda screaming in the hall. I flew open the door as quick as I could.
"I'm not going with you," Soda was screaming over and over. There was a well dressed lady standing near him.
"Yes, you are young man," she said sternly and reached out for him.
"Excuse me, what's going on here?" I asked in the most menacing voice I could muster right then.
"And you are?" the lady asked me coolly.
"I'm Darrel Curtis, his legal guardian."
"Not any longer. I have an emergency order to remove Sodapop from your custody immediately."
"What?" I was shocked and stunned. I could not lose both brothers in one night.
"The court felt that it would be in Sodapop's best interest to be some place safer until the investigation into your other brother's death is complete."
"Darry?" Soda screamed at me.
I hated this lady right now. I looked at my younger brother. His eyes were wild with grief, panic and fear. I looked at him steadily and just gave my head a slight nod. It was going to kill Soda, but he had to know.
"Ma'am," I said quietly, "we just lost our baby brother. I think it would be in Soda's best interest to stay with me."
"I'm sorry, Mr. Curtis, but the court doesn't agree. Once we can determine what your level of involvement with Ponyboy's death is, then we can re-evaluate the situation."
"My involvement? You think I am responsible for Pony's death?" I was practically screaming now too.
"Mr. Curtis, it is routine procedure. I do not know what part you played in this, but I will find out. Until that time, the court says Soda cannot stay with you."
"No" Soda screamed. I watched him sway on his feet. I thought he was going to faint.
"Easy, Soda," I said calmly and took a step towards him.
Soda just shook his head at me. There was fire in his eyes. I could see the hate. I knew he blamed me for all of this, and I knew he was right. I couldn't think about that now. I had to try and keep what was left of our family together.
The lady stepped in front of me. "It's time for us to go, Sodapop," she said. Soda looked at her with the same hate he had looked at me with. He just shook his head again.
Then he turned and ran. We still weren't very far from the emergency entrance. Soda was outside before the social services lady could catch up to him. I didn't even try.
I stood in that hall, feeling numb inside. Both brothers in one night. I couldn't take this. But I was Superman. I had to keep it together. I had to figure out what happened. But I guess I already knew at least part of what happened. I had hit my little brother and drove him out of our house and now he was dead and I couldn't fix it this time.
"Mr. Curtis." The social services lady's voice snapped me back to this moment. "Do you have any idea where your brother might be going?"
I looked her in the eyes. I had plenty of ideas, but none I planned to tell her. "I really don't know," I Said. "I've never seen him this upset."
"Once we find him, we will need to have a conversation about your involvement in all of this. Until that time, you are to have no contact with Soda at all"
I just nodded. What else could I do. I hoped she would leave soon. I needed to find my brother. I didn't care what she said. Soda was still my brother and still my responsibility. I watched as she gave me a curt nod and walked away.