Chapter 2

Soda sent Sara to her room, and Ponyboy off to start his homework, while he threw together one of his famous creations for dinner. As he was cooking he was thinking about what happened earlier at the DX station with Sara. To be completely honest with himself he was scared shitless. He is very thankful that Steve was so quick to react. One thing Soda can say is that Steve has some of the best reflexes around. He knows that Steve doesn't take very many things seriously, but his job was sure one of them. Steve was always careful when it came to his job and the garage. Steve was always paying attention to detail. Thank goodness for that, Soda thought to himself. Soda would of never been able to forgive himself if something had happened to Sara while at the garage. Soda knows that having her there every day is not ideal, but it is what they have to do for now. It was already the beginning of May, so they wouldn't have to do this much longer anyways. School will be out for the summer in about 6 weeks. But what worried Soda was the responsibility for Sara would now fall off his shoulders but onto Ponyboy's shoulders. Soda was wondering when Darry was going to sit the family down and talk about this new plan. Darry had spoken to Soda about this just last week. Knowing Ponyboy as well as Sodapop did, he knew this news was going to cause problems between him and Darry. Another battle that Soda would have to play the middle man in. Boy, he was really hating this new role of the middle man. Soda, started throwing together a salad when he heard Darry's truck pulling into the driveway. Soda only had a split second to decide what to do about Sara. He heard the storm door slam shut and the clinking of Darry's tool belt falling to the floor.

" Hey, Soda. What's for dinner? I hope nothing blue or purple?" Darry walked up behind Soda trying to take a peek at what it might be.

"Nope, not tonight Dar. It must be your lucky night." Soda looked over at Darry who was washing the sweat and dirt off his face at the kitchen sink.

"Good. Where is everyone? It is so quiet in here. Is everything alright? No one is sick or anything?" Darry asked why grabbing the dish towel off the counter to dry his hands and face.

" Nah. Pony's in his room working on his homework, and Sara should be in her room playing. If you want you can call them out for dinner. It should be ready in a few minutes."

" Sara! Pony! Come wash up for dinner." Darry yelled throughout the house.

"Well Jez, Darry, I could of done that myself." Soda chuckled as he placed the salad down on the table. Soda turned to the oven where he took out a casserole dish full of shake n bake chicken. Darry waited a few more seconds and when neither Sara or Pony arrived he decided to go check out what was keeping them. He arrived at the boy's room first. The door was slightly closed. Darry gave it a little push to open it the rest of the way, " Hey, Pon." Pony looked up from one of his text books and met Darry's eyes.

"Hi Darry." Pony's and Darry's relationship had become a little rocky since the passing of their parents. They were having a hard time understanding each other. Darry felt that Pony doesn't use his head. And Pony thought Darry was constantly riding his butt for every little thing that he did wrong these days.

" Time for dinner. You can finish that up after dinner." Darry paused for a second to see if Pony was going to listen or was he going to start giving him lip. But surprisingly, Pony just got up from his desk.

" Ok." Pony walked around the bed and over to the door where Darry was still standing. Pony didn't say anything else to Darry, but instead just pushed himself pass Darry and headed towards the kitchen where Soda was finishing up with everything for dinner. " Sure does smell good, Soda" Darry could hear Pony telling Soda. Darry needed to fetch Sara now. He walked down the hall to her tiny bedroom. Before Darry even got to her door he could hear the music coming from her room. Sara took after their Mother and that she loved music. Sara had music on every chance she could. When Darry got to her door the sight placed a smile on his face. There she was, on her bed with books spread out all around her. Golly, Darry thought, she could be a mini Ponyboy with all those books.

"Hi, BabyGirl." Darry walked over toward Sara on her bed. Sara smiled at Darry and his nickname he had for her. Ever since Sara could remember Darry has always called her "BabyGirl" Even though Sara was almost six, she is not a baby anymore. And when she tries to tell Darry that, Darry always responds with "You'll always be the baby to me".

"Hi, Darry" Sara started to get up from her bed.

"It's time for dinner. Come on and wash up. Soda and Pony are already waiting. If we don't hurry everything will be gone." Darry held his hand out to help Sara get down off the bed. Sara grabbed a hold and let Darry's strong muscles pull her up. Once Sara's feet were on the floor she started galloping off towards the kitchen.

"You snooze, you lose, Darry" Sara was teasing Darry. But Darry was quicker. He came up behind her and started tickling her in the ribs.

"Who's losing now?" Darry was smiling. Soda had noticed his brother and sister coming into the kitchen all smiles. He thought to himself I can't possible rat Sara out now?

Dinner conversation started off with the normal routine. Something that Darry decided should be carried on from when their parents where still here. They would always ask everyone about their day. Darry started first. "Pony, how was your day at school? Track practice?"

"School was fine" Pony answered while pushing his salad around on his plate. "Coach says he thinks if I run good at the meet this week that I might be able to qualify for States." Track was Pony's life right now. And Darry thought between that and his grades that it might just help pave his way to college. Darry was glad that Pony found a sport that he was excelling at. Darry found that it was easier to talk with Pony if they could talk about something that they both had in common.

"Pon, that is great!" Soda responded before Darry could. Pony started blushing alittle.

"When is your next meet? Darry asked glancing at his work schedule that was written on the calendar.

"Thursday at Bixsby." Darry looking at Thursday on the calendar letting out a groan.

"Ah, Pon, I am sorry, I don't think I can make it. Not in Bixsby. I am working in Muskgee Thursday. Sorry buddy. I am sure you'll do just fine though." Pony wasn't one bit surprised by this. It was hard to get Darry to come to one of his meets. And the last one Soda came to he brought Sara and the boys, and let's just say that didn't work out so well.

"Next time Pon. We'll all be there." Soda piped in. Soda could see the disappointment written all over Pony's face.

"Soda? How about you? Anything exciting happen today at work?" This stopped Soda from cutting up his chicken. Soda took one glance at Sara and noticed that she had started squirming in her chair. He had decide that he wasn't going to mention the little mishap that had happen, not yet anyways.

"Not much. Sara tell Darry what you were bragging to Two-Bit about earlier this afternoon." Soda was always so good at diverting the topic of conversation. Darry's head swiveled from Sodapop to Sara

"Well?" Darry was looking directly at Sara now.

"Darry, today I had P.E. we played kickball and I kicked it way out to the outfield. I made it all the way around all the bases before the ball got back to the teacher." Sara had some great athletic ability just like Darry. She was tough as nails. From time to time they would even let her join in the boy's neighborhood football games.

"Wow, Sara. That is great. Good for you."

"Good for who?" Steve asked walking into the kitchen with Two-Bit, Dally and Johnny.

" I see we are just in time!" Dally said taking a plate out of the cupboard for himself. Steve moved over and also grabbed a plate for himself but one for Two-Bit and Johnny as well. The Curtis family was always feeding these boys, but they were like family.

"Good for who?" Steve chimed in again while filling his plate up with left over chicken.

"Sara" Darry watched Steve filling up his plate.

"I am surprised you are saying good for Sara." Steve was now leaning against the counter.

At this point the Curtis family members all had different looks of their face. Darry had a look of what are you talking about? Soda had a look on his face like knock it off. Sara had the look of death and Pony well his look was just whatever. But Sara and Soda knew right there that Steve had let the cat out of the bag. Darry was now going to hear all about it. "What are you talking about Steve? Darry put down his fork and napkin. "Sara was just sharing with us her homerun she got in kickball today. That is a good thing. Why shouldn't it be?"

"Didn't Soda tell you what happened at the DX today with Sara?" Steve continued to shove chicken into his mouth. Sara was thinking too bad he wouldn't choke on that chicken.

" Oh, is this what you were talking about in the car this afternoon Soda?" Two-Bit now was adding to the conversation. Just great Sara thought. The whole gang is now going to get involved.

Now Darry's eye just darted back and forth between Soda and Sara. Sara was sitting totally still. Like she thought if she didn't move she wouldn't be noticed. She could not believe that this was unfolding at the dinner table in front of everyone. Soda started shifting in his chair. He could tell that Sara was starting to get nervous. Soda was trying to think of how to break the news to Darry. He wanted to choose his words carefully. But before he had much time to process what to exactly say, Darry was already all over him.

" Soda, you got something to say?"

" Darry, listen, I think this conversation should be saved for later." Sara approved whole heartily with this as well.

" Save it for later Soda? Are you out of your mind? The kid here almost got herself killed today, and you think this conversation needs to be saved for later?" Steve was not going to let this drop for one minute.

" What? Sara?!" Dally and Two-Bit almost spit out what they had in their mouths.

Steve took it upon himself to keep explaining the situation. " Yah. Darry, Soda told her to stay put in the break room, and not 10 minutes later I was bring a big ass Impala out of the bay. As I was pulling out the door Sara ran out the side door in front of the open bay. Lucky though I saw her shadow out of the corner of my eye." Soda knew he needed to jump in here and soon.

"But, Darry, Steve saw her and he slammed on the brakes. She isn't hurt. Not even a scratch on here." Soda was trying his hardest to defend Sara because if he didn't, Steve would of kept on yammering on and that would of just fueled the fire more with Darry. At this time the tension in the room was building between Steve, Soda, Darry and Sara. Everyone noticed. Dally had put his plate down and turned to the boys.

"Hey, Guys, let's go swing by the Dingo for awhile." Dally had a soft spot for Sara. Though he usually doesn't like kids, he has been around Sara ever since the first day Mr. and Mrs. Curtis brought her home. He also knew this was not looking to good for her right now. So anything he could do to help, he was going to sure try.

"Nah, I am still eating." Steve said with protest. Dally walked right over to Steve and smacked him upside the head.

"Your not eating anymore! Let's go!" He took Steve's plate and slide it across the counter. No one messes or argues with Dallas Winston, even Steve Randle knew that. " Catch you all later" Dally was pushing Steve and Two-Bit towards the door. Johnny had already made his way to the door the minute Dally said "Let's go" Johnny knew better.