Chapter 21: Last Day Of Summer

Sodapop POV

After Ponyboy had decided to play jackass of the month, we were pretty silent. He sat glowering at me and I just ignored him. Pretty soon it was getting dark out and a guard came to the bars.

"Your ride's here. Both of you are out." He unlocked the door and stepped back, allowing us space to leave. Finally. Michael nodded for me to go first and followed me out. I had seen my mom earlier that day and she had looked way pissed. Now, though, she just looked tired. I don't know how she managed to get Michael out. She turned to us as we approached. Her attention directly went to Michael

"Oh Michael dear, I wasn't able to see you earlier. Are you doing okay dear?" She asked. I was a bit angry she was paying attention to him more than her own son.

"I'm doing fine mom." I said loudly. Mom frowned at me.

"Not for long Sodapop Patrick Curtis. I and your father are both going to have a long with you when we get home. Get to the car." She demanded, pointing. I caught Michael's smirk on the way out and the fir of anger grew bigger.

The ride home was quiet. Extremely quiet. I could practically see the anger waves radiating off my mother so I just decided to keep my mouth shut. Michael sat in the shotgun, while I was stuck in the back. Once or twice Michael would say something to my mom and mom would smile at him and talk nicely. All she was giving me was glares. What was with that? The more time I spent with this kid the more I hated him. We arrived home to a noisy house, which instantly quieted when we walked in through the door. They obviously knew what was coming. Steve, Johnny, and Two-bit beat feet out there pretty quick. Dad was waiting in his chair, and Darry was on the couch. Looks like this would be a family affair. It wasn't this bad when I had been arrested for doin' handstands in public. Then again, I hadn't been drunk or breaking into places. I sat down next to Darry and Michael was excused upstairs. Hopefully to pack up his things. My mom stood behind my dad as he began.

"Sodapop, you do realize why we are having this family meeting, right?"

"Because I got arrested."

"Yes. Do you realize how much trouble you have cost everyone? You're mom might be fired from her job because people think she can't raise you right. Now we have to pay a large amount of money to the store you broke into-"

"I never broke into anything! It was Michael fault." I interrupted. Darry snorted next to me. What was with him?

"No it wasn't. You're the one who jumped Michael, causing both of you to fall through. In fact, none of this was Michael's fault. He was just victim to your anger toward mom." Darry said in his know-it-all voice. How the hell did he know that? He hadn't been there. Was he? I couldn't remember. All I remembered was being drunk and pissed. Then I had run into Michael.

"How the hell do you know that?" I asked incredulously.

"I was there but wasn't able to get to you to stop you in time. I left after the sirens sounded to warn mom and dad what was happening." What a kissee. I glared at him. What happened to sticking up for our gang members?

"Thankfully he got to us before the police came. What were you thinking Sodapop? Getting drunk? Going to Buck's? Attacking a member of your household?" That one pushed me passed my off the edge I had been dangling on.

"He just a house guest, mom. Nuthin' more! Why do you keep treatin' him like he's your son or somthin'?" To my surprise, her scowl was replaced with a glowing grin. What was with this woman? She could change her mood faster than a hormone ridden teenage girl.

"Boys, there's something me and our father want to talk to you about." Dad smiled to. What ever happened to yelling at me?

"Earlier today we received a call about Ponyboy. A boy had similar fingerprints to his. Here, in Tulsa." This had my attention. Ponyboy had been found?
"Where? How?" Darry asked excitedly.

"He got arrested when he got caught fighting with a drunk."This wiped the grin off my face. She was looking straight at me. A thought dawned on me. Earlier today Michael had said they had confused his prints with Ponyboy's. I didn't know that meant it was so close a match they had even told my parents. Then that would mean I had, no. I suddenly felt like crap. I had attacked my own brother. Darry was looking t me in pure shock. He was about to say something when a voice interrupted him. We all turned to see Michael...er, Ponyboy standing there on the steps.

"Um, do you mind if I go see my aunt. I'd figure I'd see her, let her know I'm okay." Mom gave him a warm smile.

"Of course deary. Give our best."

"Of course. Thanks." Darry got up and plucked his keys off the table by the door.

"I'll take him."

'"Uh Darryl, before you go, I would like it if you didn't mention anything we discussed just now to Michael." Mom asked, smiling. How could she ct so calm. Darry just nodded, confused. Michael looked like he couldn't care less. Darry left behind Michael and my parents turned back to me.

"Now you young man. Me and your father are extremely disappointed in you. You will be grounded until we say you're not. Now, school's tomorrow, so go get washed up and get straight to bed." My mother said before getting up and going to the kitchen to cook who knows what. My dad just gave me a look before I climbed the stairs and went into the room. A few of Michaels-Ponyboy's possessions were stacked on a chair next to the bed. I lay down on my bed instead of showering and looked up at the ceiling. My little brother was back. Ponyboy was back! But why didn't I feel excited. Actually, felt bad, but I knew why I felt that way. I had been nothing but mean to my younger brother and now he would be stuck with me until I left home. This wouldn't be comfortable for either of us.

Darry POV.

I had been about to admonish Soda for attacking Michael when he himself interrupted us. He wanted to o see his aunt in the hospital. I had completely forgotten about her. I volunteered myself to take him when mm gave him a cherry yes. Now I couldn't stop looking at him. I mean, now that I really looked at him, he did look a little like Pony. He noticed me looking at him and turned to face me.

"What're you looking at."

"Uh, nothing. So tell a little about your family." I asked. It sounded stupid, but I wanted to know about his kidnappers.

"You can drop the can Darryl. I already know about the Ponyboy ordeal." He interrupted. Was it that obvious. Had he been eaves dropping or something?

"How?"

"They told me when I got thrown into Protective Custody."

"You got thrown into Protective Custody?" My he had had busy day.

"Yup. Then I got interrogated by a stupid investigator."

"So they aren't you still there?" I asked.

"Because, the fingerprints didn't match perfectly. Mine were smudged a bit. I'm surprised that they didn't make me do it again." I shrugged too. We arrived at the hospital then and Pony got out of the car before I had even put the car into park.

Ponyboy-Michael POV.

I had known they were talking about me when I got sent upstairs, so I sat on the top step and waited. First they yelled at Soda a bit about his getting drunk and all. Then they go to me. After the mom told them all about the call she had received, they seemed pretty happy. I hated to ruin it, but I knew if I didn't go visit my aunt tonight, I wouldn't get to with school and all. I had to interrupt them and when I asked to go, Mrs. Curtis gladly let me go. Darryl said he would even take me. Great, they were going to be all nice and stuff. Sodapop was just staring at me so I went to the door. Before we left, Mrs. Curtis told Darry not to tell me anything about being his brother. Whatever. My older brother stared at me for the whole way before I finally looked at him and asked what? He came with some excuse to ask about my family and I told him the truth about me knowing. After that we talked about Protective Custody, which was pretty uncomfortable, so I pretty much got out of the car before he had even packed. I ran into the lit hospital and up to a pretty nurse behind a desk.

"How may I help you?"

"I'm looking for Miss. Henderson's room." I said politely.

"What is she in for."

"Stroke." The nurse rifled through some papers and nodded down one hallway to her left.

"Room 221."
"Thank you." I walked quietly down the hall. Hospitals had always scared me. All the death and sickness just didn't sit too well. I peeked into room 221 and knocked on the door. My old Aunt looked especially old in her bed and was surrounded by other old people, talking animatedly. Hm, she usually didn't get along with people. She looked up when I knocked.
"Michael! I was just talking to the guys and dolls about ya." She gave me a warm smile and I was sure the entire world had stopped spinning. My Aunt actually smiled at me in a nice way.

"Um, hi Aunt Hattie." I said nervously. All the other old people were looking at me now.

"Well come in, come in. What have you been up to nephew?" Nephew?

"I'm fine." Understatement of the year. "Are you okay?"

"Never felt better. Hey guys, did you know Michael will be starting his freshman year soon. And he's only twelve." There was a murmur of admiration from the old people.

"Auntie, are you sure your feeling okay?" I asked. My aunt had never said anything nice about me since I've known her.

"Of course, of course." There was a knock on the door which drew Aunt Hattie's attention from me to the door. It was if that stroke had made her a happy old lady instead of cantankerous.

"Darryl Jr.!" Aunt Hattie sang. I turned to see Darryl standing behind me. Of course he had followed me in.

"Everyone, this is Darryl Curtis Jr. He lives across the street from me. He and Michael are good friends." At the last bit, everyone nodded and smiled at Darryl. What, if I liked a person he was suddenly okay. Darryl was ushered into the room and he sent me a confused look. I shrugged and sat in an unoccupied chair near Aunt Hattie's bed. Darryl just stood there awkwardly as the old people n the room began o chat and eventually forget about us. A while later, as I as slowly zoning off, Darryl cleared his throat, snapping all attention to him.

"Michael, we need to get going. School's tomorrow and mom will kill me if we're any later."

"You start school tomorrow?" Auntie asked me.

"Yes."

"Oh, well good luck deary. Not that you'll need it."She winked at me. I got up to leave but Auntie grabbed my arm, pulling me down.

"And remember, don't quickly judge those who've done you wrong dear." She let me go, but I stared at her in shock and confusion. Where had she gotten that from? She was still as Batty as ever, for sure. I followed Darryl out to his truck and stayed silent on the ride home. Something about how Auntie had told me that piece of advice had surprised me. It was as if she knew I would need it later. But what could she have meant? Mrs. Curtis was waiting up for us and she demanded that go to bed immediately. I walked upstairs to the room I had to share with Sodapop and saw he was already asleep. I quietly walked inside and grabbed some sweatpants off the chair next to his bead. I changed in the bathroom and washed my face. By the time I was done, the downstairs had been evacuated so I took refuge on the couch. I fell asleep still thinking about what my aunt had said.