Chapter 26

Sara was sitting on her bed looking at Myrtle Turtle, another one of her favorite books, when sleep started to take over her body. She could still hear the boys out in the living room playing their card game or whatever they might be up to by now. Though the past 10 minutes or so Sara was pretty sure she had heard doors closing and she could not recognize Soda's or Darry's voice anymore. Wondering why they were being so quiet. No one had come in after she stomped off after hearing confirmation that she would be getting a haircut. Sara was wondering if she should venture back out to the living room, but decided against it seeing she didn't want to hear any more about her hair. Sara was going to put her book back on the bookcase when the sight of her book bag had caught her attention. Darry must have dropped this off in her room today when he was puttering around the house earlier. She knew what was waiting in that bag and tomorrow was the big day. She still had the same feelings about that card, that she had yesterday and the day before. But she knew she needed to do something with it. So she crept over to her bag and opened it and shuffled through the contents inside of the bag and came across the blue card. There on the outside was a picture of a red truck and tools, the outside read "Happy Brother's Day." Sara had to come up with a solution to this card. She remembered something that she always hears Darry telling her when she wants something he tells her, "I'll sleep on it." So Sara took the card and put it under her pillow. "I'll sleep on it." She said. As she was getting ready to put herself to bed, she heard the door creak some, and then there was a shadow coming through to her room from the hallway. Soon she connected who the shadow belong to, Darry was standing in the door. He slowly moved over to Sara's bed and sat down on the bed next to her. Sara crooked he head to get a good look at Darry. He looked so serious and sad and tired all wrapped up in one facial expression.

"Sara, I know you're not happy with me because I would like for you to get your haircut." Sara tried to interrupt, but Darry put his hand up to stop her." But you need to understand that I am going to make decisions for you, that you will probably not like, and I know this is one of them. But you need to understand that I am older and there are things that are going to upset you, but I have my reason for them. So this haircut."

"Darry, Soda already told all of this to me earlier today." Sara tried to tell Darry that she understood, but he just continued on with his speech.

"Sara, it will make this a lot easier if you just give us your support with it. It is something we need to do. See this summer you are going to be with Pony for most of the time. And he cannot do your hair like Sodapop can. Plus it is going to be summer here soon, and with the heat, it will be so much cooler for you if it is shorter." Darry stopped for a second and was giving Sara the o.k. to speak now.

"But Darry, what would Momma say? She loved my hair. She told me so all the time." Sara quietly confessed to Darry.

Darry took a long, deep breath before saying anything, when he finally did it was hard for him to answer her. "You are absolutely right, Kiddo. Mom loved your hair. The color, the length, the smell, everything about it. But she isn't here to help keep it in line. And I am sure that she wants me to do what is best for everyone, and right now, Sara that is cutting it so we can all manage it better. I promise you that when you are a little older and you can manage it all by yourself, you can wear it however you like. But for now, I think it is best if we cut it." It was kind ironic to Sara because as Darry was giving her this speech the very last thing he did when it was over was he pushed a strand of her hair back behind her ear.

"Are you sure that she won't be mad because we are going to cut it?" Sara was still stuck on what her Mother would think.

Darry smiled down at Sara, "No, honey, she won't be mad. She is probably looking down at you now wishing we didn't have to, but probably knows that it is best." Right then it looked to Darry that Sara was trying to picture her Mother looking down at her from heaven.

"Ok." Sara said. "When are you going to do it? Can we do it tomorrow?" This caught Darry of guard. That she was now agreeing totally about this, and thinking that he was going to be the one to do it.

"Oh, no, BabyGirl. This will be a treat for you! If I am asking you to do this, then I think we should make it special. I will ask Sodapop to ask Sandy who she goes to too get her hair cut. Then we will make an appointment there. How does that sound?" Sara's eyes grew so wide.

"You mean it?" She was so delighted.

"Yup, I am asking you to do this, so why not try to make it fun, and exciting. You can even look through the magazines there to see what you would like. As long as we approve." Darry had to add that of course.

During this whole conversation Sodapop had been leaning in the doorway. He had come thinking he would need to be reinforcements for Darry. But to his surprise his little sister did very well with it. And Soda was very proud of his big brother, Soda thought he handled it just as well as their Mother would have. Soda heard Darry getting Sara ready for bed.

"Now, lie back down and get ready for bed. It's late, little lady." Darry was trying to tuck her in.

"I love you, Darry." Sara's voice traveled over to where Soda was still standing. He had a huge smile on his face. Darry bent down to kiss Sara on the forehead.

"And, I love you, SaraGirl." Sara had stopped wiggling around to get comfortable and just stared at Darry. Even Sodapop that was still in the doorway froze in his stance.

"SaraGirl." That was her nickname from their Father. No one had called her that since the day that there Father was here in this house. Darry always called her BabyGirl, but never SaraGirl. Darry just smiled down and tucked at the covers again before turning towards the door.

"Music, please?" Sara's voiced asked. Darry stopped and moved back towards Sara's little radio. He turned the switch on, "I Can't Help Falling in Love." By Elvis Presley was on.

"Perfect." Sara said. Darry not knowing what that really meant walked over to the door where he was greeted by Sodapop.

"Just coming in to say good night too." Soda didn't want Darry knowing that he had been standing there the whole time.

"Not too long, Soda, it's late for her." Darry warned but had a smile on his face still.

"Me? Never." Soda shot back at Darry while moving into Sara's room.

"I am just coming in to say goodnight. Are you o.k?" Soda pushed at Sara to slide over so that he could lye beside her. She welcomingly did so.

"I'm ok. I'm going to get my hair cut at a saloon." Sara said.

Soda let out a chuckle, "It's a salon Sara, not a saloon." Soda couldn't help but laughing. The guys would have had a field day with that one, Soda thought.

"Yah, a salon. Darry said he would ask you to ask Sandy where she goes and he would take me there." Sara was starting to get comfortable by snuggling up against Soda. Soda gladly put his arm around her and pulled her in close.

"That sounds pretty exciting. I will let you know what Sandy says."

"When are you going to see or talk with her?" Sara needed to know the details, but after his date with her last night he wasn't even sure when that was himself.

"Soon, Kiddo. Soon."

"I love you Soda." Sara's voice was sounding sleepy and Soda planted a kiss on her temple. Her eyes were starting to close so he knew he needed to get it said before it was too late.

"I love you too, Sara. Sleep tight and sweet dreams." Soda laid there holding her for a few minutes. As he laid there listening to the end of The King, singing "I Can't Help Falling in Love", and he couldn't help but think he wouldn't want things any other way.