"Hun, were back!"Yelled the mother of three children, hoping her son would respond, and maybe here her over his blaring music. The music stopped, there was shuffling, and Mrs. Curtis was glade to here the thumping of her eldest child's footsteps. Now she loved all her children, yes, but she had favored Darrell the most. Despite his sometimes ruthless, much less careless, attitude he was never the less her most dependable. She loved him dearly, and guessed it for him being the first of the three children. . . and if, she smiled amused, her husband had his way-out of four.

"Wha-Oh hi mom!" he chirped happily. He was in a overly good mood, she could tell, as for if he hadn't been then he would of said the usually, "Hi ma." and been on his way-music soon being up full blast.

"Can you please take these bag's to the kitchen? I have to clean Ponyboy up," she nodded to the bag's in her arms and then the teary eyed boy who was sniffling, running a muddy arm under his nose only succeeding in making his face more dirty.

"Aaaa little buddy," said Darry, he might have the tuff act around his friends, or be like any other teen, but he was quite the older brother. "What happen to you?"

Ponyboy, who had been sniffling half hart looking to his mother who was looking at him sadly while going to the kitchen to do the choir that she had assigned her son, looked up into the calm eyes of his eldest brother.

"He fell, "Said Soda. He had been standing there, he too quit muddy that surprised Darry, but the guilty look on Soda's face said it all. Soda probably had done something.

"How?" inquired Darryl, his big brother act showing. Soda flinched slightly and looked over to Ponyboy, half hart looking begging to be saved. But the youth only sniveled and wiped his eyes.

Sodapop muttered something forcing Darry to ask," Sorry, didn't here you. Can you repeat that. "in a tone that said, "You are to tell me right now mister."

"I pushed 'im."

Darry crossed his arms and was about to inquire more on the subject when his father's voice, lined thickly with the tone that told of a spanking, said, "And you're mother happened to of told me just, why, you pushed him. Now, Sodapop Lee Curtis, You are to tell me why in the world would you push you're younger brother into the lake?! He could of drowned! Thank god that boy saw him! What's his name? Mathers? Something like that? If Mathers out their hadn't saved him, he could be dead right now!"

Soda flinched and muttered a quite apology. His father, now calmed, kneeled down and whispered, "I'm sorry son, but you just don't do that. No matter what. Now you come on over here, I am quite sorry but I do have to punish you."

Soda looked teary eyed to his mother who nodded him over to the door. She then, seeing her son go up the stairs to a small room, about big enough to be a mini bedroom, in which they dubbed the punishing room. A child, when in time out, would normally go their, or to his room, Mrs. Curtis made her way over to the open door, stuck her head out and called,"All right, you can come in."

A boy, a grin spread across his face and a carefree attitude about him, steeped in. He was tall, dark haired and skinned, his eyes bright and laughing at all of the world.

"Call me Two-Bit mama. All of my friends do."

"Only, "she said, the same twinkle in her eye, "if you address me as Anabel. Or Bell."

Two-Bit grinned even wider if possible, and nodded, "Right, Bell."He watched as she picked up a sniveling Ponyboy and said, looking to the shivering child, "you ok kid?"

The youth looked at him and nodded, quite less sullen all of a sudden, a shaky grin spreading across his face.

"You're one cool kid, yeah dig? You're Tuff," Ponyboy's face lit up quickly and Mrs. Curtis laughed.

"Two bit, I'll be back, pleas can you stay with Darry. Call your mother if you need, the phones right in the living room."

Two-Bit nodded politely and turned to Darry.

"So what's your name?"

"Darry, you're . . .?"

"Two-Bit, "Two-Bit grinned widely, "I have a feeling were going to be reeely good friends. Especially since I'm oldest. I've gotta friend, Steve, that I think should meet Soda. I have a feeling they would hit it off pretty well."

Darry grind," Let's see if you can stay for dinner!"

Ponyboy, like always, woke in the early hours of the morning, sleepy eyed and dazed. But, noticing it was morning, he jumped excitedly out of his small bed and made his way down the stairs, and out the door.

He was clad in boxer's, covered up by a large shirt that was his older brother's, Soda, that traveled it's way to his shins', one side slipping of his shoulder, while he had messy hair and glassy eyes from the previous sleep. But a smile lit up his face as he stepped outside, catching a part of the morning sun rise. In all honesty Ponyboy, despite his age, love sunrise's and sun sets.

He couldn't help but be moved by the wading colors, creasing the sky as the kiss of dawn made its way slowly upon the morning dew grass, and the grate dark hills, filling them all with a golden light.

After about a hour of sitting, thinking, and mainly just relaxing he retired back inside, he got up. He was a child, and even though sitting still and watching a sunrise was very un-child like, staying there after beginning to fidget was even more un-child like. Though it could be blamed on the fact that he always wanted to be grown up. In his mind there really was nothing else to look forward to but grow up, buy a farm where him, his mom, dad, brothers and best friends would live, and have tons of animals and a large garden with three cars of his own, and an airplane in the back yard for flying.

Of course he didn't think these dreams were too far from reality, he always saved his money as much as he could, sometimes slipping up to buy some candy or a toy, but quickly reminding himself that he –must- get this place.

Grinning he walked over to the currently occupied bed of his older brother. Soda was always a nosy sleeper. He snored, drool going down the side of his face, a goofy grin playing on his features as he dreamt of all his wild fantasies.

Laughing, Pony ran over, jumped on the bed, shouting a good morning. Soda was up within minutes and, from what Pony could tell, so was his parents. Not stopping to let Soda clock him over the head he ran to the other room that used to be the study, but now was Darrys room. He jumped on the bed as his brother groaned and rolled over. Giggling he jumped up and down.

"Get up Darry come on get up!" Darry rolled over a scowl on his features-he was 'not' a morning person.

"I'm up," he grumbled and Pony boy laughed. Knowing that his brother was not to happy with him, he bent down, hugged him tightly, and kissed him on the cheek," Morning Darry," he repeated, voice muffled by his brothers neck. Darry sighed, not being able to stay mad at his younger brother. Smiling he put a well toned arm around the younger boy, pulling him forward to kiss him on the head.

"Morning bug."

"Aaw isn't that cute!" came a snigger from the doorway. Darryl groaned, just remembering that they let Two Bit stay for dinner.

A laugh and," Don't worry, if you pay me well enough I won't tell the press!" Darry laughed putting Pony on the ground.

"All right you wise crack," he said grinning," Lemme convince you otherwise."

And that was how the morning started at the Curtis house. Ending with Darryl being told not to run in the house, and all the boys being sent off to school. Everything was good, a perfect heaven on earth one could say, for now.

Later on, once the mess from that mornings breakfast had been cleaned, there was the problem of getting the kids to school on time.

Mainly, to put it all, it was hectic.

"Hurry Darry! You're going to be late for school!"

"What do you mean you don't know where you're special sock is Soda!? You don't 'have one!"

"Well I'm gonna have one now!"

"Is it always like this here?"

"Hurry up young man!"

"Were is Pony's back pack?!"

"Pretty much,"

"Since Darry got a friend over, can I have Jonny over on a school night?"

"Hurry!"

"No, or else this will happen more often, now hurry Pony."

"The car is waiting!"

"Car's can wait? I didn't know that one!"

"Yeah, but it's always like this dad."

"What is his problem?"

"Well now yeah do!"

"I donno..."

"sigh you're right, but do it for my sake OK? Your mom makes the rules. . ."

"Today is the first day back to school, Two bit, I must insisted you where this lovely tie."

"Aaaa! Mom!"

"Hush Darry"

"But I thought you were, I donno, the 'man' of the house. What are you suppose to do if you don't make rules"

"Fear them son. You will understand when you're older and have a wife."
"Mom Soda threw my tooth Brush in the toilet!"

"Hush Darry! Clean it and brush your teeth with it!"

"I can't, coz he's pretending to be a dog and is drinking toilet water!"

"SODA POP CURTIS! GET READY FOR SCHOOL, AND DRINK TOILET WATER LATER!"

"Yeah! Thank's mom!"

"Hun, I thought we were going to stop that habit of his . . ."

"I can ground him."

"My tooth brush . . ."

And, mainly, that is how their morning went. Not to mention, breaking the law by speeding, going down wrong lanes, and practically running over an old lady walking her dog, who shook her Cain yelling after them.

"Finely were at school."Breathed Darry. Then looking to Two Bit he said, "Sorry about my parents craziness. First day back to school is always crazy."

"Sorry? What for? Their cool!"Shouted Two Bit.

"mommy, my mouth taste icky, "whined Soda.

'Don't drink toilet water then."

"But I taste fine. It's just water."

"Then there's no reason for your mouth to taste icky."

"..."

"Now Pony, don't start fights, and listen to the teacher, that means no more daydreaming," his father was saying. Pony boy meanwhile was staring off at the classrooms, as their made their way to the office."Don't listen to bullies, remember just give 'em something to cry about if they bother you, listen to the teachers, listen to what they say, listen to the rules, and, by gal, how about trying to listen to me!"

Finally all the boys were dropped off at the classes, and before dropping pony off his mother reminded him," Remember to meet you're brother at the gate, ok? I don't want you wondering around. Wait for us to pick you up there, it might take a while since mommy has some extra work to do. I love you"

And Pony was now in the classroom, getting ready to run over to Johnny.

Turning around his parents left, feeling no worries about their son's safty.

Hitomi: Well I did a lot of editing from the original. Its still not all that grate though, but I'll be putting more into the next chapter. So please, R+R I LIVE FOR REVIEWS!!!!!