Coming Home
Soda's POV
I heard Darry's heavy footsteps in the hallway as he approached Pony and I's room. He knocked and I yelled,
"Come in!"
I grabbed a plaid shirt off the hanger and shoved it in the old duffle bag.
"Hey Little Buddy. How's the packing going?"
Darry looked into my bag from over my shoulder. Steve and I were going camping with some other Greaser boys. It was only a four day trip but Darry seemed to be really worried.
"The packing is going good. Stop worrying so much. I'll be fine."
He sighed and sat down on the bed.
"I know…Soda can I ask you something?"
He looked beat and sad. I sat beside him and waited for him to speak.
"It's just I'm worried about how I am going to take care of Pony. You're the one who does all the hard stuff like putting him to bed and comforting him. I don't want him to lay in bed awake for four days waiting for you to come home. I want to be able to handle his nightmares like you do but I don't even know where to start."
I was silent for a minute as I thought about what he'd said. I left at about five tomorrow morning. I guess it was 'How to care for you baby brother for four days' crash course time.
"It's ok Darry, I'll teach you. We still have a couple of hours before I leave and Pony won't be home from the movies for another half hour."
I jumped up and grabbed his hand. My packing could wait I had more pressing matters. I drug him into his room and looked at his bed. It was made perfectly. Just like Darry. I smiled,
"Ok lesson number one, he should sleep with you while I'm gone just in case he has nightmares. It will be a little awkward but just try your best. He should go lay down without a problem but getting him to actually sleep is always a challenge."
I got to work preparing his bed. I completely ruined his perfect arrangement. I put one pillow against the wall and two horizontally across the top.
"Ok so here is how this works, the pillow against the wall is a wedge pillow. It makes him feel safer somehow. Don't ask me why but the idea is that he likes to have his back to something and putting a wedge pillow allows him to flip around."
Darry's eyes got really big. I guess he never knew the science of pillow arrangement.
"You got that Darry? That is very important he won't sleep if he doesn't feel safe."
"Yeah I got it, Soda"
I looked around the room there were a couple of pictures of mom and dad and of Pony and I around. I went to each picture a turned them slightly so they didn't directly face the bed. Darry look at me like I was crazy. Maybe I was.
"Pony gets creeped out if the pictures face him because he thinks they're staring at him."
"Ok…"
Once I had arranged all the pictures and inspected Darry's room again I approved of how it looked then dragged Darry to the living room and we sat on the couch.
"Ok so to put him to bed it's best to make him bathe right before bed because the warm water makes him sleepy and he tends to get really clingy when he's tired so be gentle. There's been times I've practically had to carry him from the bathroom to bed."
I smiled slightly, suddenly wishing he was here so I could spend my last night here with him. We had never been apart for four days before.
"Make sure he doesn't read while in bed because he will tell you he is going to finish his page and go to sleep then you wake up at four in the morning to him still reading. Then he is really grouchy the next day."
Darry seemed to be listening carefully and taking everything in. I couldn't think of anything else Darry needed to know and that was good because we heard Pony yell,
"Night Johnny!"
"See you tomorrow Ponyboy!"
His shoes pounded up the porch stairs and he threw the door open. I smiled at his dramatic entrance.
"Hey Little Buddy! How was the movie?"
By this time he was trying to get his shoe off by hopping on one foot. I laughed at him.
"It was great Soda! Paul Newman is so tuff!"
He went on to tell me every detail about the movie. I looked over at Darry who hadn't moved from the couch. I shot him a questioning look to which he shrugged. I guess he was just observing Pony and I's relationship.
I followed Pony into the kitchen after he successfully removed both his shoes. He rummaged through the cabinets and fridge absentmindedly. I don't even think he was hungry.
He walked back into the living room where Darry still resided on the couch and flopped down beside him. Darry looked down at him as he told Darry all about his day since this is the first time he's seen him since this morning.
I glanced at the clock and noticed it was almost eleven. Now Pony didn't really have a 'bed time' but he did have a 'calm down time'. It didn't mean he had to be asleep or even in bed just getting ready for bed and calming down. He normally read or watched TV after he had bathed and brushed his teeth and all that. He didn't need a bed time. The kid was asleep before midnight every day.
"Pony time to calm down and go get ready for bed."
"Ok Soda."
Most people wouldn't guess it but I had more authority with Pony than you would think I just didn't enforce it often.
Pony ran off to the bathroom to get in the bath.
I looked at Darry whose face was fearful again.
"You'll do fine Darry. Maybe you and Pony can really bond."
We smiled at each other before I went to check on Pony.
Pony's POV
I lay in bed with Soda trying and failing to get any sleep. The idea that he leaves tomorrow and I won't see him for four days haunts me. We have never been apart for four days before, I was scared.
I knew Soda wasn't asleep because he never went to sleep before me and I could feel him lightly running his fingers through my hair.
"Go to sleep Pony. It's alright."
His voice was soft and comforting but at the same time made me sad because I knew it would be over 96 hours before I heard it again. Against my will my eyes teared up and I sniffled.
"Pony don't cry. It's only four days and you'll have Darry to look after you while I'm gone."
His hand was now stroking my hair and pulling me into his chest.
"I've never been away from you for four days Soda. What if something happens? What if I have a nightmare? I'm scared Soda."
His hands gently turned me over so I was looking him in the eyes.
"Pony everything will be fine. Nothing will happen. If you have a nightmare you have Darry. I want you to sleep with him while I'm gone in case you do. Ok?"
I nodded and sniffled one last time. He smiled warmly at me and grabbed my hand as I flipped over a nestled into his embrace. His thumb stroked the back of my hand and very soon I was already half asleep.
"Go to sleep Little Colt. Everything will be fine."
The Next Day (Still Pony's POV)
At 4:45 Soda got me up to say goodbye. I didn't even change out of my pajamas just stood on the porch as Soda hugged Darry and they whispered to each other. No doubt about me.
When Soda came to hug me he cupped my face and brought me into a warm hug. I promised myself I wouldn't but I guess I didn't have a choice because a sob escaped my throat. I know a fourteen year old should cry over not seeing his brother for four days but I was just so worried he would disappear like mom and dad.
"Shhhh. None of that Little Colt. It'll be fine. Four days I promise and when I get back you'll feel silly because you barely even missed me!"
He was trying to be enthusiastic for my sake and I appreciated it. He pulled me out of the hug and smiled at me. Then he kind of pushed me into Darry's embrace.
"Four days guys. I promise. Pony you be good. You hear?"
I nodded from Darry's chest and Soda smiled one more time before throwing his bag in the bed of Steve's truck and driving away. I watched the truck grow smaller until I couldn't see it anymore.
Hey guys! I'm back and its summer! This was going to be a one-shot but then I realized 1500 words and I wasn't even half way done was way too much! So it will be a two or three shot. I know it was kind of dragged out but it gets better I promise! Review or message for ideas, encouragement, constructive criticism or to just talk! Have a great one!