I do not own The Outsiders.
The next few days passed in a flash. On Sunday afternoon, Darrel took the boys in a small forest some ten miles from Tulsa to choose a beautiful Christmas tree. Ponyboy had a clear idea of the one he was looking for, not too big and well bushy. He was eager to decorate it with garlands of popcorn he patiently made with Soda and Johnny. "Ok, guys! Darrel exclaimed by bringing the boys around him. So, this is how we will proceed .Darry, you leave at your side with Keith, okay .Takes a saw!" He handed him one of the two saw he held under his arm. "You will be responsible of the Matthews's tree ."
"Okay, Dad !"
"We'll make a killing ! Two Bits exclaimed trying to pull the saw from the hands of Darry." Oh ! It's me who'll take care! "Darry did away a few steps, the frozen soil cracking under his heavy boots.
"It's good, Dar ! I'm not a kid ."
"Yeah but sometimes we wonder," Darrel grabbed the saw from the hands of Darry.
"Well, guys, if I trust you, it's not for you to fight, okay ? Keith, let Darry deal with the saw. And maybe I'll will permit you to drive the truck to the road ." Two Bits nodded smiling. Darrel knew it meant a lot to the almost fifteen's young boy . Two Bits's father had left the house for a few months, leaving his wife and their two children. Darrel and Emma had been a great supports for Tess Matthews, who had to take a second job, too often they had kept for her Two Bits and his six years old's sister, Alice. Darrel had thought give to Two bits his first driving lesson would be a nice Christmas gift for the boy.
"Great, Mr Curtis ! Two Bits exclaimed. Let's go, Dar ." And he went in one direction followed by Darry who had to run to join him.
"Ha ! Darrel laughs in the next look. Looks like I've found the right formula to maintain peace ." Then he turned to the four remaining boys in front of him. "Well, we have three trees to find ..." he began before being interrupted.
"No, two ." Darrel turned to the pickup where was Dallas casually leaning against, and cast a puzzled look at the boy. "Two ?"
"Yeah. My old man wants us to spend Christmas with his new girl. She has two three or four years old's kids . Then she wanted a Christmas tree and all," he explained grimacing. Darrel nodded. Dallas's father was teamster and cared little for his son. He knew Mr Winston since he moved with Dallas in the neighborhood two years ago . Darrel knew that Dallas had already done a stint in a house of correction when he was ten at the time when he and his father lived in New York. Winston was not violent with his son, but he only showed him indifference, leaving him alone for weeks when he went on the road. How many times Darrel himself had been retrieved Dallas at the police station after a fight or other. Also, he was glad that the young boy for once have the chance to spend what would seem like a normal Christmas with family. Because even if him and Emma did what they could for he don't feel alone, Darrel knew from experience that every as child,Dallas needed the presence of his real family.
"Well ! he said. So we will search two !"
" Just go,Johnny ! Pony exclaimed pulling him by the arm. We'll find you a great tree ." Darrel smiled watching the little boy dragging his friend to the wood, but Johnny followed him without enthusiasm. Darrel had found adorable that Pony offers the young boy to join them in their quest for the perfect Christmas tree, but he knew that Johnny hadn't the heart to decorate a Christmas tree alone while his parents were in the process of arguing or drink as usual. Also, he had decided to "find" for Johnny a very small tree. Then, somehow, he knew that the boy would be home for Christmas morning. "Let's follow them!" Darrel said to Soda and Dallas who followed him without much enthusiasm.
"Hey ! Darry !" Pony exclamed one hour later, running in front of his older brother who was returning to the pick-up dragging a Christmas tree with the help of Two Bits. The little boy paused to catch his breath, his childish cheeks reddened even cold. "Look ! We have a great tree !" He pointed his finger to the beautiful leafy tree drawn by Dallas and Soda. "Hey, great !" Darry hissed smiling.
"Yeah, right ! It is I who have found it. And ... come see ." He grabbed Darry's arm and dragged with him. "Look! Dad found a small tree for Johnny." Darry looked at his father who was loading a semblance rather tiny tree in the back of pick-up. "Yeah,Johnny hastened to say. It's ... uh ... it's too small in my home to put a normal Christmas tree." Darry exchanged a knowing glance with his father and said :"Oh ... I don't find it so bad,me. He will be great among you, buddy ".
Darrel smiled. He was proud of how his eldest son knew tact and common sense. "Well ! he exclaimed, jumping from the back of the pickup, giving a pat on the shoulder of little Johnny. You are ready to go, guys ?"
"Uh... Mr Curtis ? Two Bits did while helping Darry to load his family's fir . You don't forget anything ?"
Darrel nodded. A few minutes later, he gave to Two Bits his first driving lesson, piled into the cab of the pickup between the teenage boy,behind the wheel,and Johnny and Pony tight on the passenger side. Darrel had to recognize that Two Bits was doing very well. "Looks like you did it all your life ..." he said to the boy who smiled proudly. At the rear, Dallas, Soda and Darry, them, nevertheless felt the stir of the pickup along the forest road leading to the road.
"Two Bits loses nothing by waiting when it will be my turn," Dallas muttered clinging as he could.
"And even ! Darry said. I was expecting worse !" Dallas nodded and watched Soda that clung like them but said nothing. "You got a problem or I don't know what, Sodapop ? Oh yeah ... you're bored Randle ! What he went cum in Texas with his old man, first ? "
"Spending Christmas in family! Soda said, finally. But, that's not what I think ."
"So what ? You have a girl in sight, kid ?" Soda shook his head, rolling his eyes. Why everyone wanted him to be concerned about a girl ? He knew that many girls in school find him cute, but for him, many of them were just stupid chickens.
"Leave him! Darry intervened . He thinks about a particular project ." He smiled gently at his brother and gave him a wink. Soda had explained to Darry his famous idea to catch up, and he found it excellent, although he thought it was practically infeasible. But Soda wanted try. And besides, if it had depended only on him, he would have escaped this walk in the woods to be applied to it completely .
"At last !" Dallas exclaimed by jumping over the tailgate of the truck while Darrel parked outside the home of Two Bits. "Five minutes more with those stupid trees and I would be dead ."
"Stop ! Darry laughs by imitating him. You too have found it nice ." He motioned to Soda for him to help unload the tree of the Matthews family.
"How it is beautiful! And it is great !" a little voice exclaimed behind him. He turned to find, wrapped in a thick Scottish coat, Alice,Two Bits's little sister .
"Ah! You're right, kiddo !" Two Bits exclaimed, slamming the door of the truck. He grabbed his little sister under the armpits and swung, exclaiming,while the little girl was screaming with laughter :"It is so big that Santa will get lost in it !"
"...Or being eaten by its branches, as us all the way back ," Dallas muttered loud enough to be heard.
"Do you need help to get the ...?" Darrel asked while Two Bits laid his little sister ground to regain her balance.
"No, Mr. Curtis !" Alice intervened by turning her face with mug red from the cold. " We'll make do ! We will decorate it to make a nice surprise to Mommy when she gets home from work!"
"Oh, all right, miss," Darrel smiled watching the little girl grab a branch she tried to pull into the yard.
"I'll help her," Two Bits said rolling his eyes before going to the rescue of his little sister. "Er ... Mr Curtis ! he hailed Darrel who regained the cab of the truck. Thanks for letting me was awesome !"
"You've managed as a leader ! Darrel said under Dallas's mocking laughters. I give you another lesson, when you want ." Two Bits proudly nodded.
" ,next time, I won't serve loading," Dallas grumbled before leaving his side without asking for his. Darrel knew that Dallas wouldn't return home immediately and surely would hang out and do some stupid things with others street kids, for example Tim Sheppard, but he also knew that to retain him would be like shackle a wild animal, and he didn't want to break the trust and respect that the rebel kid had for him and Emma, although he did his best to hide it .
"Here ! Darrel exclaimed, rubbing his hands. It remains a key or two and we will finally finish." Standing in front of the tree that sat near the living room window, he admired it while the boys still decorated in late hour . Emma had retired to the kitchen and made her famous cakes she had used the next day for breakfast. She knew she had to provide twice as much, friends of her sons would flow at home dice dawn to this famous breakfast of Christmas Eve. She even decided to prepare for the family of Two Bits, Mrs Matthews can not moonlight and fussing in the kitchen as she would like.
"Why" finally "Dad ? Pony asked, struggling with one of his long garlands of popcorn. I love doing that,me ."
"Yeah ! Darry retorted, from the sofa where he was seetting. But it's not you who stuck with this stuff. This time ... I let down ." He let fall on the coffee table the heap of fairy lights he tried to unravel for some time. "These damn stuff will get my skin ." Darrel laughed when he saw the scowling face of his eldest son and exchanged a glance with Ponyboy.
"Patience and him will always make two, right, son?"
"Oh yeah,that's for sure !" Pony smiles by defeating his garland. "I'm sure I'll get better than you ."
"Brilliant ! I let you take care of this bullshi ..."
"Darrel Shayne Curtis !" the voice of his mother suddenly interrupted. " Watch your language in front of your little brother,will you ." She settled near Darry and grabbed a small pile of garland, soon joined by Pony.
"It's easy,just find the right end and from there,she said softly. Look ." She had already finished to unravel a small wire node.
"Okay, Mom .Bravo ! But it doesn't make hours you are there ." Emma smiled and gave a slight twist of cloth she wore on the shoulder of his son, before returning to the task. "You know, she said to her two sons, we are fortunate that Dad's boss gave him those old fairy lights .We would never could buy it by ourselves ."
"It's true, Mom ! Pony nodded seriously. Only the Socs have got normally . Only them have the money for that ." Emma looked her youngest son, who had spoken without looking away from the pile he applied to unravel, and sighed sadly. She had always done her best for her sons don't lack anything, even when times were hard. But she was sorry that at his age, Pony was already involved in this pseudo war between the children of their neighborhood and those of the Western part of the city. She wanted that the little ten years old's boy think he could have a future regardless of the social environment to which he belonged.
"But you know, son,Darrel was coming to sit next to his wife and tenderly wrapping an arm around her shoulders. They don't necessarily have such a beautiful tree ." Pony looked up and gave him a big smile.
"Yes ! They are too lazy to go to the forest," he laughed before suddenly resume seriously. "And then there is another reason why we're lucky. "
"Oh yes ? Emma said with a careless tone. Which ?" Pony looked from his parents and Darry, always spirited struggle with his pile of tangled, and said, "It is that we are a real family, all together . We are lucky for that !" At this reply, Emma gave him a soft smile as Darrel tenderly ran his hand through his youngest son's hair .
"Hey ! By the way, where is Soda ?" he asked then.
"In the bedroom, Pony replied. He is in the process of repair ..."
"This time,I'm sick," Darry suddenly exclaimed voluntarily cutting him the word.
"I think you can give up, son! Darrel laughed. I will replace you ."
"Great ! he blew rising. Come on, kiddo, I have something to tell you ". And without asking Pony he seized him under the arms and dragged him, carrying him toward the hallway.
"Hey !Let me go! Are you crazy or what ? Pony then protested that he put him in the hallway away from the eyes of their parents. I have done nothing bad . "
"Listen to me, Darry said softly, stooping to be able to look him in the eyes. What does Soda is a secret, ok ? And you have failed to tell all to the parents . "Pony maintained the look of his big brother for a second and looked down. "Oh,he sheepishly. You mean, like a surprise.I didn't know." Darry smiled and ruffled his hair. "It's good, he says. It's okay. But watch out now, okay ?"
"Okay ! But,you know, you, why Soda isn't like before,he looks sad ."
"Don't worry, Darry assured. Everything will get better soon ."
Soda was sitting on the room floor, an indescribable mess of small elements and other mechanical parts littering the ground before him. For over an hour he was installed, he had heard on the radio playing softly a more or less dating hit song sets and a few Christmas songs. He was so focused that nothing and no one would could distract him from his work, and he was astonished.
The only time he had felt at that point forward was involved when riding his horse Mickey Mouse. But since his father had decided they couldn't longer keep him,Soda had the impression that he hadn't interest for nothing anymore, except when he hanging with his friends and mingled with some fight.
Mickey Mouse had first missed him terribly, but he had end-up to understand the motivations of his father. The money was missing and Mickey Mouse would certainly be better with someone who wouldn't ask every month how he was able to feed him. He was certainly mad at his father, he didn't remember well because at the same time, he realized that he had decided what would be best for Mickey Mouse, and Darrel had made sure to find a buyer who he had total confidence. Then Soda's tears of sadness at losing his beloved horse had turned into bitterness have had to abandon the only good thing he could do. Mickey Mouse was sold during the summer. And Soda had struggled with class and he hated school since the start of the school year.
"Soda ?" Pony gently pushed open the door and,quietly,walked to where his brother was installed and knelt beside him. " I can help you ?" Soda gently smiled at his little brother. He knew Pony cared to see him more concerned than usual and was worried about him . "No, Pony, it's cool, but I have to do this alone ."
"Okay . Uh,you'll come still tomorrow ?" Soda smiled. The next day, Darry, Pony and him had decided to out on the town all three to make the Christmas gift for their parents. Darry had some savings from his summer job and he was proposed that the bulk of the money, but Soda and Pony had absolutely wanted to complete the sum with their meager savings, barely a dollar between them, raised by some tasks for their parents, wash the car by Soda,and Pony helping diverse work from home.
"Of course, Pony ! I won't miss it!" he said cheerfully.
"So much the better ! Pony exclaimed sliding towards the middle of the room to get up to pick up the book and others books scattered on the floor.
"What are you doing? "Soda asked, looking him at the activate.
"I pick up my homework . It is to show to mom and dad," the little boy explained, sitting up, arms loaded.
"You've already made all your holiday homework," Soda was astonished disbelief.
"Well,yes ! Pony proudly answered. Tomorrow, it's Christmas Eve,so I'll be quiet for fun ". Soda looked at him to leave the room, and couldn't help but sigh. He felt so much more stupid than his little brother.
"Hey, buddy," he suddenly heard. Darry was leaning against the door jamb.
"What ?" he asked nervously,certain that Darry knew what he was thinking. Darry came into the room and dived face down on the bed seizing one of Pony's books that lay there and read mechanically.
"You know,Pony is still just a little kid, he said confirming that he could read his thoughts. I mean,we'll see if he is still interested in school when he will be older ".
"Are you kidding or what ?! Soda answered. I'm sure that yes ! On that side,he is just like you. While I ..."
Darry opened the book and flicked on the shoulder of his brother. "If you repeat that you suck, I'll guts you !"
"Oh yeah ? Try to see," Soda said with a mischievous smile. Darry only didn't repeat and firmly grabbed him by the shoulders before vigorously rub him over the skull. "Stop, Dar ! Watch out ! You're going to mix the pieces ." Balanced between the edge of the bed and the flor, Soda moved his legs in the hope to break free. Darry finally let go. "So ?You holding up ?" he asked, tilting his head to the floor to report on his brother's work .
"Not too bad, but I still haven't managed to repair the mechanism that triggers the music," Soda answered .
"You'll do fine! Darry said with certainty. It will be a big surprise ! Especially for Mom ."
"Yeah. Like to know that I lied to them,Soda sighed. Steve thinks I'm stupid to worry about what teachers say about me ."
"Steve thinks a lot of things . Like this brilliant idea to hide your report card to the parents ".
"You know that he wanted to help me," he reminded him with a half smile.
"Yeah, I know ,Darry replied. But if he wasn't set in Texas with his father,you can believe that I would kick his ass !"
"I wanted him to be with us today to get the firs,"Soda sighed with regret. "We would have laughed ." By keeping his eyes fixed on his delicate work, Soda smiled at the thought that his best friend and him would could invent like ingenious ideas during this output in the forest. They could, for example, might slip away quietly while his father sought their Christmas tree with Pony, Dallas and Johnny, and go surprise Darry and Two Bits in a memorable battle of snowballs.
"Yeah, but Dad thinks it's a good thing that his father took him to Texas for see his grandparents,Darry pointed out. It will be back soon anyway ."
"Yeah ."
"And you'll be able to start doing all the stupid crap both of you can invent ."
"Whether stupid shit ?" Soda asked innocently. Darry pretended to think.
"Um ... well ... like rust out the mechanism of this thing you're trying to fix, for example ," he replied airily.
"Ah, that's smart ," Soda replied falsely hurt. Darry ruffled his hair, laughing. Pony came into the room and looked at them suspiciously.
"You're always together both, right now ," he remarked. Darry sat on the bed and took a quick look of his little brother sullen face .
"You're jealous, little pony ?" he asked, smiling.
"No , Pony defended quickly. But ... With me Soda is always in the sulks . So you don't stop laughing and talking together ." Darry pinched the bridge of the nose, suddenly aware that Soda was much less available for Pony lately and was much given to him.
"Well, sure",he said crossing his arms, trying not to laugh. "And apart from that, you isn't jealous ."
"Stop, Darry ! You're not funny," Pony replied in a small voice.
"It's true, Dar ," Soda jumped up and walked to his little brother he realized have unintentionally neglected. "I'm sorry,Pony,he said by surrounding him with the arms. I always want to spend time with you. It's just that ... well ... I wasn't fine and Darry helped me, that's all ".
"Me too, I can help you,"Pony said seriously gently pat in the back of his brother.
"I know, Pony,"Soda smiled softly.
"In bed, boys ! It's a long day tomorrow !" Emma's voice sounded from the hallway. Pony gently freed from the embrace of his older brother and ran to put on his pajamas before going to brush the teeth. Soda sighed and struck his forehead with his fist.
"You'll feel free,when you shalt confess all to the parents, buddy," Darry assured with convictions.
"You're right,he approved with a decided tone. I ... I'll do it ."
"Yeah! Darry yawned taking based on the mattress to stand up. But ... it can wait until morning, no ?"
"Um,okay. I'll talk to them after breakfast," Soda decided firmly. Darry gave him a playful slap on the shoulder and walked through the door, eager to go to bed.
"Oh ... No ... Shit ! No ... It's not true," he heard and should return his steps.
"What's up ?" He noticed Soda, who didn't move, turned the pockets of his jeans and looked nervously on the floor around him. "Hey ! Darry said again. What happen, Soda ?"
Soda looked up after a few seconds, and he could see his alarmed look.
"I ... I don't find it .My report card .I can't find it ."