Pony's POV
Sunday morning was bright and windy and, according to Two-Bit, the perfect day to play football.
"It's way to windy to play football. You'd never be able to throw a straight pass." I objected, but went and retrieved the football from my closet anyway.
Steve leaned his elbow on Two-Bit's shoulder and grinned, "And you think he can throw a straight pass on a calm day?"
This provoked a few laughs before Soda added, "Yeah, maybe this will actually help. Come on, we're gonna need you."
I couldn't. I needed to stay and think, but my head already pounded from trying to figure things out and my stomach had more knots than I had thought was possible. I wanted to throw up, wanted to curl into a ball…..wanted Mom and Dad to be alive again.
"Well, are you coming or not?"
Dally stood by the door, waiting for my reply. I noticed that everyone else had already left. "No."
"Suit yourself."
As soon as he was gone I crossed over to my bookshelf and reached for my science book. It fell opened and I took out the envelope I had hid from Soda and Darry on Friday. The court summons began:
"Darrel Shayne Curtis is required to appear in court on April 15. Davis vs. Curtis in the case of custody regarding Ponyboy Michael Curtis."
The letter continued on. It sure looked like a real court summons. Not that I had seen one before, but it looked all proper and legal. There was even a return form that Darry was supposed to fill out.
I thought back to yesterday's conversation with Dally.
"Dally, what happens if you don't show up for court?"
"They can lock you up for a while, or charge you some outrageous fine."
"What if you can't pay the fine?"
"Then you get locked up. Why, are you in trouble or something?"
I sunk down to the floor and pulled my knees to my chest. I had two options. I could tell Darry and Soda, dragging them through court and probably spending every dime we had. Or, I could run away with Katelyn and not tell them anything. Then Darry would probably get jailed and Soda would get stuck in a home somewhere.
Neither option sounded too pleasant. If only Darry would let me get a job, that might help.
"I can get you a job." It was Rachel's voice again.
"You could make lots of money."
Shut up!
"They can't afford to keep you."
NO! NO WAY!
I wanted to rip the letter to shreds, then I could mail all the little pieces back to Rachel. But that wouldn't help.
Running wasn't going to help, and neither was hiding it from Darry and Soda. I'd have to tell them. I'd have to get yelled at for not telling them before. I'd have to disappoint Darry. Again.
"Show Darry you're useful for once. Let him get on with his life."
I flung my book across the room and watched it slam against the wall and pretended the wall was Rachel's face. She was making things so unfair.
It was late afternoon when the gang returned. They bounded in through the door, laughing and goofing off. When I saw Darry approach the couch where I was lying, my heart froze.
I wanted him to ask what was wrong. I wanted to have him tell me everything would be ok. That he would take care of me. That he wanted me, needed me.
But he just glared down at me and said, "You didn't lie there all day did you?"
Actually, I had. I had tried reading and watching TV to get my mind off the problem, but nothing had worked and I had ended up just lying here most of the afternoon.
"You could have picked up the house a little." I watched absently as he crossed his arms and glanced around the house. "Done the dishes maybe."
As Darry continued lecturing me, everyone else grew silent. "I bet you didn't even work on your homework did you?"
Soda stepped up next to Darry. "So maybe he wanted a day off. That's not a crime is it?"
"He has to start pulling his weight around here."
Suddenly all the fear and anxiety I'd had that afternoon turned into rage. Darry had no right to yell at me in front of everyone. If he didn't want me, then fine.
I stormed into my room and picked up the phone. "Hello Rachel? This is Ponyboy. When can you come get me?"