It had been a few months since the passing of Mr. and Mrs. Curtis. The three brothers were doing what they could to move on. They had no choice, but to move on with life as best they could. Darry had pulled an extra job while Soda dropped out of high school to get a job at the DX gas station. All Ponyboy had to do was keep up with his schoolwork and stay out of trouble. It wasn't that simple though. The three brothers always felt mentally or emotionally drained from everything. Soda and Pony could still technically get taken by the state if they felt Darry wasn't a good fit of a guardian. It was like the brothers were on a probation period where the state was really going to see if they could stay together and take care of one another. That made it more difficult to move on with life when you don't even know if you're permanently set where you are. A court hearing was set in six months though to look at the case. Ponyboy couldn't get an official answer out of Darry if this was the only trial they'd have to do or if they would continuously be checking on them. He guessed it could depend on a number of things. The unknown result was a scary thing for Pony, and even Soda, to think about.
It was hard to tell how Darry was truly feeling with all of this too. He stayed mostly to himself. He didn't seem to want his little brothers to worry about anything, but there was tension from his not being so honest with them. All the extra weight Darry was carrying was putting eggshells all around the house. No one could upset him in the least without getting a raised voice over it. Sure, Ponyboy was young and didn't need to worry about things like a job or bills, but he hated walking on those eggshells in his own home.
Soda and Ponyboy talked to each other plenty. More or so Pony to Soda. He didn't bother try talking to Darry, because he just wasn't as approachable as he used to be. Pony probably couldn't tell anyone how Soda was doing all the time, because Soda was also in the boat of not wanting to worry him. Thankfully the brothers had their gang to be there for them to vent in private: Two-Bit, Steve, Dally and Johnny. Pony just wished his brothers didn't think he was too young to be honest with.
It was now the beginning of summer vacation and Pony was relieved. Normally he didn't mind school, but he was clearly too distracted to focus and put as much effort into his work. Now he could just relax.
Waiting outside was his closest friend, Johnny Cade.
"Hey Ponyboy," he greeted as they began to walk down the road.
"Hey Johnny, what are you up to?" Johnny didn't always go to school, and Pony highly doubted he was there at all on the last day of school. But it was nice to hang out with someone right out of school. He hated being home alone. It was starting to really get to Pony how often he'd end up alone. Some messed up thoughts got in his head sometimes.
"Not much, just been around. What were you up to last night?"
Pony shrugged, "Nothing. Darry and Soda both worked pretty late."
"Having the house to yourself though must've been nice."
"Yeah, I guess. I kind of needed someone to talk to," Pony admitted.
"Why didn't you call me? I would've come over and hung out with you."
"I didn't want to be a bother," Ponyboy said as he kicked some rocks down the sidewalk.
"Oh like I was just dying to be home and dealing with my parents," Johnny pointed out sarcastically. Johnny probably had the worst home life of the whole gang. His parents didn't realize he existed most of the time, and when they did it was to take out some of their anger. He sure could have an optimistic approach considering that much.
Ponyboy was silent for a while as they got closer to his house.
"Are you okay?" Johnny asked.
"Yeah, I guess so. I don't know, Darry and Soda have been gone a lot lately and it's getting harder and harder to keep stuff in until they have time for me. Sometimes I just sit at home and talk to myself, you know? The one venting and the one listening to myself," Pony admitted, "Probably sounds insane."
"Nah," Johnny shook his head, "I'm sure as you talk out loud you start realizing things and helping yourself in a way, you know?"
"Yeah, I feel a little better afterwards. I suppose it's better than holding it in altogether. Still, I wish they could be home more. I know we need as much money possible, but I don't know if it's worth it being this way."
"Oh Pony, you know it's not a personal thing. You guys need to survive and Darry wants to show the courts how he can take care of you and Soda," Johnny explained, "You know we should go out tonight. Let's get you out of the house."
Pony agreed, "What do you want to do?"
"Anything you want to do? We can see what's playing at the drive in?"
"Okay, let's do it."