Chapter 7: More Nighttime Teachings
Darry: 6
Sodapop: 3
Ponyboy: 3 months
Despite that Ponyboy had been alarmingly small when he was born, Ponyboy fit in well with the family. Sodapop loved playing with him a much as he was allowed, but both Curtis brothers were slightly annoyed at the fact that he couldn't sleep through one night without waking up and screeching. One night, Sodapop snuck into his older brother's room after his parents had calmed the baby down once again.
"Darry? Are you up?"
"Who isn't?"
"Why can't the baby sleep?"
"You couldn't." Soda pulled himself up on Darry's bed.
"I can now."
"Only because I taught you."
"Then can we teach Ponyboy?"
"I guess, but I should warn you the teachings take a while to go into effect. At least, it did with you." Soda nodded and led the way to Pony's room. He wasn't tall enough to see into the crib, but Darry was. Darry carefully lifted the small baby out of the crib and carried him to the nearby rocking chair. Soda joined him and they both looked at the baby. Ponyboy was awake, but staring at them with wide innocent eyes.
"Hi Ponyboy." Sodapop whispered. Ponyboy cooed in response.
"Look, I had to talk to Sodapop about this matter so I'm gonna have to talk to you. This whole 'waking up in the middle of the night for a bottle' act ain't gonna cut it. Nighttime is a time for sleep and as your older brothers; we would you slept like the rest of us. Understand?" Ponyboy just kept looking at them with his wide green eyes.
"Okay, now that we got out of the way, I think it's time we properly introduce ourselves. I'm Darrel but you can call me Darry. I'm your big brother and I'll do most of the rule making and I get to be in charge since I'm older. First rule is: No borrowing toys without permission. That goes for you too Soda."
"You can't tell me what to do."
"We just went over this. I can 'cause I'm older. Now introduce yourself to the baby." Sodapop frowned but complied.
"Hi Pony. I'm Soda, and I'm your other older brother. Unlike your mean older brother Darry, you can borrow my toys anytime. I'm not shellfish."
"It's selfish dummy."
"That's what I said."
"Is not."
"Is to."
"Is not and you know it. Now shush, we're here for Pony." Darry turned back to Pony, who was smiling at them both.
"You know, you're pretty cute Pony. I bet you get that from me." Pony just kept grinning. The only problem was he seemed to grinning at something beyond them.
"What are you grinning at?" Darry asked. Someone cleared their throat at the doorway. Both of the older Curtis boy's jumped up to see their mother and father there with smirks.
"What's going on here?" Darrel asked.
"We were just visiting Ponyboy. That's all."
"Well, you're both making quiet a ruckus. Give m the baby and get back to bd. I'm sure the baby screaming kept you up long enough."
"We don't mind mom." Darry said, half lying. Soda nodded next to him.
"Get to bed boys. Darry, you have school in the morning, so you need your sleep. And Sodapop, you get awful cranky if you don't get enough sleep, so I don't want any more arguments. Bed." Both boys left the room with a bit of grumbling. Darrel went over to his wife, who was holding Ponyboy.
"And you were worried they would hate the new baby."
"Okay, so I was wrong just this once. But I was right at first. Neither of them wanted a new brother when I told them I was pregnant."
"Oh, all siblings are like that. Hell, I'm sure I said the same thing when I was told I would be getting a new sister."
"Darrel, don't cuss in front of the baby. And let's just hope we don't have to go through this again. I don't think I can stand three boys saying they'd rather die than have a sibling."
"You're exaggerating. Darry and Soda did not say they would rather die than have a new brother."
"They came pretty close." Susan Curtis muttered, looking down at her child, who had fallen asleep.
"Isn't he just the cutest?"
"The most adorable baby known to man." Susan gave her husband a look and set her baby back into his crib before setting off back to her room with her husband.
A/N: Short chapter, I know, but more is to come. This will be my last chapter of the week probably, with school starting tomorrow. Ugh. Please Review!
