Troubled Times

Chapter 10

I decided to add a few more chapters after this one! I want a holiday one! WOOt!

Disclaimer- I don't own The Outsiders!

Next morning

Darry's Pov

I woke up later then usual. It was eight. I was suprised I hadn't been wake by has a fit when he wants out of his crib. Ponyboy's outbursts in the morning. I get out of bed and go check on him. He was still asleep. So I leave and take a shower.

I'm glad for the day off. After my shower I went to make breakfast for the boys. But there were no eggs or milk. Or much other for that fact. So I was glad when Dallas walked in. "Dal will you please keep an eye on Pony while I go to the store. I got to get breakfast food,'' I say.

He looks at me. Please say yes. I really didn't want to wake Pony so he could go. "Yeah but pick me up a pack of cancer sticks,'' he bargained. "Done. Pony's asleep. He should be waking up soon. I'll be back soon,'' I say grabbing the keys and heading to the door.

It took ten minutes to get to the store. At the store I grabbed some white and chocolate milk. Then I grabbed some eggs and bread. I grabbed some ingredients for cake. Then I grabbed other food. My last stop was the baby aisle.

I had to get some more formula for Shayne for one. Then I had to get diapers. I got three packs of diapers for each Pony and Shayne. Then I grabbed some baby food for Pony. Then after an hour I was ready to go. Or so I thought. I had almost forgotten to get more apple juice. Pony drinks allot of it.

I run back and grab three jugs of apple juice. I knew we still had one but now we'll be good for some time. Finally I got the cancer sticks and paid. When I got there Dallas was holding Pony in his arms. A half empty bottle of juice next to them. "Hey guys,'' I say carrying the groceries into the kitchen.

I started putting them away. "Darry Pony has a fever,'' Dally said scaring me a little. I put the can in my hand down. "Hold on,'' I say. I go into the bathroom. I grab some of the chewable children Tylenol. Two to be exact.

I then go back to the kitchen. "Let me see him,'' I say to Dally. He handed Pony over. "Hey bubba I need you to eat this,'' I say. He took the Tylenol but when he ate it he made a sour face. I laughed. "Its not good is it,'' I say.

He looked sad. He was pink in the face. "Hey baby I think your due for a change. Then I think you should go and sleep so you'll feel better,'' I tell him. I walk into the front room and grab his juice bottle.

"Dal will ya feel this back up,'' I ask tossing him the bottle. I carried Pony into his room. I changed his diaper and laid him in his crib. Just then Dal walked in handed me the bottle and walked back out.

"Here ya go baby,'' I say handing him his bottle. I kissed his head. "Now baby I need you to go to sleep,'' I tell him. He just looked at me with his big greenish gray eyes. I gave him one kiss and stared leaving. He stood up.

I sigh. I walk over to him. "Pony I need you to sleep so you can get better,'' I say laying him back down. He looked up at me. "Now I want you to go to sleep,'' I say. I then head towards the door. I look up and Pony is standing up against the side of his crib.

I decided to see if he's would go to sleep if I left. I shut off his light and shut the door. Then he started crying and screaming. I tried to ignore it. Maybe it wouldn't last long. I then go into the kitchen and finished putting groceries away.

Pony was still at it. I knew he was going to wake the guys up. Just as right on cue they all came trooping out. Soda was starting to go into Pony's room. "Don't Soda. I want him to sleep. He's sick,'' I tell him. He glanced at the door then came into the kitchen.

I started fixing the eggs. Once we were all eating Dally blew up on me. "Damn it Darry he's still at it. The kids still crying. Its gonna make him more sick. Maybe he wants to be with people. He's sick and wants his brother. If you don't get him I will,'' Darry came angrily. It took me a minute. But I knew he was right.

I get up and walk into Pony's room. I flip his light on. His face was stained with tears. I walk over to him. "Come here baby. I'm sorry.'' I say. I really felt bad looking at my brothers tear stained face. I lift him into my arms.

I reach down and grab his bottle too. "I'm sorry. Come on and we'll lay in the front room.'' I say carrying him into our living room. When I tried cradling him he kept getting upset and hugging onto my neck. I didn't sit down because it's hard to hold him like that.

"I'm going for a walk,'' I call. I carry Pony outside. I was thinking that if I held him the way he wanted and walked around he might go to sleep. It worked. By time I made it around the block he was asleep. But I walked around three times because it felt good outside.

When I came back in Soda had already done the dishes and Steve was feeding Shayne. Johnny and Dallas were sitting on the couch. I sat in my armchair and cradled Pony in my arms. Before I knew it I was being awoken.

"Darry you fell asleep with Pony. Sorry to wake you but everyone left and I got my handful with Shayne. But Pony's awake,'' he tells him. I open my eyes and sure enough Pony was lying down in my arms still. He was looking at me.

"Come on Pony I bet your hungry.'' I say. I carry him into the kitchen. I grab his spoon and a jar of food. Then we go back into the living room. I open the food for Pony. I feed him some food. He only ate about 2 thirds of the food. But that's not abnormal when your sick.

After he ate I gave him more Tylenol. He hated it. He did drink a little bit of juice. "Darry?'' Soda's voice asked. "Yeah?'' I ask. "I need a ride to the movies. Do you mind baby-sitting?'' he asked. I smile at my brother. "I'll take you and I'll watch Shayne.'' I say. He smiles. "But also we need to pick Larissa up to. She knows about Shayne. You'll like her Darry. She's wonderful,'' Soda said.

I smile. "Yeah when?'' I ask. "Well we need to leave in about an hour,'' he said. "All right,'' I answer. He then scurried of to get ready. Pony fell asleep in my arms. I let him sleep till it was time to leave. I noticed he was sweating.

His shirt was soaked. Also he needed a change. Gosh was I not looking forward to potty training. I Put a fresh shirt on Pony and let him go with his diaper and shirt. Soda was ready now. I grabbed one of Pony's little blankets to cover up with.

Pony's car seat was still in the back of the truck. Soda grabbed Shayne's. We sat his next to Pony's in the back seat. Each one had a bottle. One formula and the other apple juice. I climbed into the front seat and Soda got in the passenger seat.

Soda gave me directions to Larissa's house. When we got there Soda got out and went to the door. He was up there for a few minutes and I could see another figure in the shadow. Then Soda came walking over with a girl. She had wavy long brown hair. She was pretty.

Soda opened the door for her. "Larissa that's Darry. Darry this is Larissa,'' Soda introduced us. "Hi,'' she said sweetly. "Hey,'' I say. She scooted in and sat between Soda and me. Soda got in behind her and closed the door.

"Who are they?'' she asked looking at Shayne and Pony. Soda smiled at here. "Well the smallest one is my son Shayne,'' he said proudly. She smiled. "He looks just like you. Who is the other kid?'' she asked. "Well that's my little brother I was telling you about. His names Ponyboy,'' Soda said with pride.

"He's so cute too,'' she exclaimed. Soda smiled at her. "Can I hold Shayne?'' She asked. "Once we get to the movies,'' Soda said. After ten minutes we pulled into the theaters. Soda got out and held his arm out to Larissa. Once she got out he stepped back in and got Shayne out.

"Here you go,'' he said placing his son in Larissa's hands. She looks ate him in awe. I sit in the car ten minutes. "Soda,'' I say. He looks ate Larissa. "Hey Liz we need to be getting and Darry needs to get Pony home he's been sick today,'' He tells her.

" Okay,'' she says. Soda takes his son and places him back into his car seat. Just at that time Pony started crying. I turned around and looked at my brother. Soda unfastened Pony and handed him to me. " Please come pick me up in about to hours. We'll eat dinner at our house if you don't mind,'' Soda said. "No problem,'' I say holding Pony.

He was still warm. "Oh poor baby. You still feel bad. Well honey you got to sit in your car seat. So I can drive home.'' I say. I kiss him on his head. I place him back in his car seat and I drive directly home. He was still crying the whole time.

Once Home I carry Shayne in his car seat in one hand and Pony in the other. Once in the house I sat Shayne on the couch. "Pony baby you thirsty?" I ask. He shakes his head. I can't give him more medicine yet.

"Here,'' I say. I sit down on the armchair with him. "Bubba's little Pony is sitting in his lap. He was sad and sick. Bubba walked his little brother hoping to make him feel better. Pony still not happy so bubba starts singing. Bubba sings about how much he loves his little brother,'' I half sing and half talk. I made it up. It helped though. Pony had stopped crying. I don't think he cares what I'm saying as long as I'm singing to him.

Once he calms down I go and decide to get out his playpen. I sat it up in the front room. I had to cook dinner. I put a few toys in there. Then I put Pony in. He sat down and looked at me.

"Play while I go cook,'' I tell him. I then go walk to the kitchen. I turn back and look at Pony who was standing against the side of the playpen looking at me. He looked as though he was about to cry again.

I got an idea. I didn't know if would work or not. I sat Pony in my armchair. I moved the playpen into the door of the kitchen so he could still see me. After I moved the pen I sat my little brother back in the playpen.

He looked at me warily and I went and started cooking. I guess he found out I wasn't going to leave he sat down and played a little with his toy. By time I was done with dinner he was a sleep. I stifle a laugh.

I left the food on low to keep heated. By time everything was ready for dinner it was time to pick them up. I loaded the kids into there car seats. Then I took off. When I got there they were both standing outside waiting.

"Hey Darry we decided to go to the little restraunt for dinner. I know you probably good that's why I told Steve who was here with the gang to go on and eat. That way we could go out to eat. That includes you,'' he said.

"Okay,'' I agree. I was angered for two seconds. But I didn't mind too much. We drove the little local diner. I carried Pony in and Soda took his son. I grabbed our diaper bag that we keep in the truck. It contains a sippy cup and two bottles. Extra clothes, diapers, formula, and wipes.

Once inside we sat in a booth seat. I looked at the menu. Pony was sitting in one of the high chairs. He was looking every where. I started having second thoughts about coming since he was sick.

We all ordered our drinks and I ordered Pony apple juice. It took the waiter five minutes to return back with our drinks. When he did I poured Pony's juice into his sippy cup. I sat it his cup on his tray. He pushed it off.

I picked it up and looked at him. "Pony no more of that. Leave it on your tray,'' I tell him. He didn't push it off again. The waiter took our food orders and disappeared again. "I'll be back,'' I say. I went to the rest room and came back.

I found Soda and his girlfriend making out. I cleared my throat. They pulled apart. I sat back down. We talked for twenty minutes before the waiter was back with our food. I got chicken breast.

We all started to eat. While I was eating Pony started to have one of his throwing fit. By time we get him he'll be able to have more medicine. I pick him up. I start quietly singing him. He calmed down. He reached out for his sippy cup. I grabbed it and handed it to him.

I had him cradled in my arms so he might go to sleep. His drink was spilling some. So I took it and poured it into his bottle carefully. I handed it to him. I took his shirt off him since it was wet and grabbed one out of the bag. I slid it over his head.

He was satisfied with his juice. I held him in one hand and ate with the other. After dinner we all had a sundae. Then we paid. I left the tip. Pony still wasn't asleep but he wasn't upset either.

I carried him and the bag out. "Larissa your welcome to come hang out with us at the house. Soda you drive,'' I said tossing him the keys. He helped Larissa in and got in. I held Pony all the way home.

Larissa stayed over until two in the morning. Then Soda drove her home. I had work the next day and so did Soda. Johnny was going to baby sit for me. I was glad about that.