Chapter 29

Soda was slowly driving, which was an unusual thing to see him doing, but he was looking for Pony around every bend. He was coming up to the lot and he slowed the truck down even more. The lot was a place that he and Johnny would hang out a lot in. Soda pulled up and came to a complete stop. He looked around but didn't see any sign of Pony. So he moved onto the next spot that he thought Pony might be at and that was the park. As he approached slowly he saw a figure sitting under one of the many big oaks that surrounded the park. He parked the truck on the side of the road. He moved with caution over to the figure that had his head down into his arms. His kneed pulled up to his chest. Pony hadn't looked up at all while Soda came up upon him. "Pony, what are you doing hanging out here by your lonesome?" Soda said kicking Pony's sneaker with his foot.

"Go away, Soda." Pony's muffled voice came through this hidden head in his knees.

"See, I can't really do that Pon." Soda was trying to joke around with him. "See, I promised our big brother that I would clean up his mess for him, by coming down here and bringing your ass home." Soda continued to kick Pony's sneaker with his foot. Soda was trying to get him to look up from his hands so that he could see his face. After another swift kick from Soda, Pony finally lifted his head and was looking at Soda.

"Cut it out, Soda." Pony said while looking up. As Sodapop took a closer look at his brother he noticed that he had tears welling up in his eyes.

"Ah, Pony." Soda said.

"Just go, Soda. I'll be home in a little bit." Pony was trying to hide his face again.

"Pony, Darry is sorry for snapping at you. He just got frustrated with that damn faucet. He didn't mean it." Soda was trying to cover for Darry, playing the middle man as usual.

"Why is he always on my case?" Ever since Mom and Dad died it is like he can't stand me. Everything I do drives him crazy. All I wanted to do was to ask him if we were all going with him and Sara." Soda decided to take a seat down on the ground next to Pony. Once he sat down he draped his arm around Pony.

"Darry has been under a lot of stress ever since Mom and Dad died, Pony. But he is trying, and is trying so hard to do it right. Sometimes he reacts before thinking first. You know, he probably thought you were there to give him bad news or something like that. I'm sure if he knew that it was just asking about going, he would have listened first." Soda started rubbing Pony's arm, trying to be of some comfort to him.

"I don't think so, Soda." Is all that Pony said.

"Let's go back. I'm sure Darry will apologize." But Pony didn't budge from his spot. "Come on, Pony. Please? If not for Darry, can you do it for me?" Soda was going to try to play this card with Pony, because he was pretty certain it would work. Pony still didn't show any intension of moving from that spot. "Please?" Soda asked again.

"For you, Soda, not for Darry." Pony swiped at a stay tear that was rolling down one of his cheeks. Soda reached down to offer Pony a hand to help him up. Pony took the help and let Sodapop pull him to his feet.

"Race you to the truck." Soda smiled.

"Go." Pony smiled back to Sodapop.

Sara was sitting in her room just listening to her music. Darry knew he had to go in and talk with her. As he made his way into her room he heard, "Runaround Sue" by Dion playing on the radio. Upon entrances he caught Sara singing and dancing around the room. He didn't want to embarrass her so he lightly knocked on the door and called her name, "Sara." Sara admittedly stopped dancing and sat down on her floor right where she was standing.

"Yah?" She answered, waiting for some sort of lecture.

"Time for lunch." Darry was thinking this would be a good start to rebuild the bridge between them. Sara stood right back up again and started towards the door thinking that her stomach was a little hungry after all.

"What are we having?" She asked passing him in her doorway.

"Grill cheese. That ok with you?" Darry was hoping this too was a good start, for he knew how much she liked them. Sara could already smell some cooking. Once she came around the corner though no one else was in the kitchen.

"Where is Soda and Pony?" Sara asked sliding into her chair at the table.

"They went for a drive. They will be right back." Darry was sure hoping that was the case. Sodapop has been gone for about 15 minutes already. Darry was reaching for a bag of chips to go with the sandwiches. Everyone liked theirs a different way. Darry liked his ham and cheese, Sara likes her with cheese and tomatoes, Pony liked his ham, cheese, tomatoes and Soda, well he would eat it any way someone would make it for him. Darry went to sit down when he heard Sodapop grinding the gears coming into the driveway. Darry prays that he has Pony with him. To his relief he heard the boys talking to one another on the way into the house. Soda was the first to enter.

"I smell grill cheese." Soda ran to the table, Pony was shuffling in right behind him. Pony's head was down and he caught Darry at the table and decided he would continue moving right past, but Darry stood up and stopped him with his arm.

"Pony, I am sorry. I shouldn't have snapped at you like I did. I am sorry." Darry was truly being sincere.

"Thanks, Dar." Pony turned around to join them at the table, deciding that he was hungry after all.

Sara quietly sat at the table eating salt and vinegar chips with her grilled cheese and tomato. She didn't dare to ask Darry about if he changed his mind or not. But every so often she would keep looking in his direction, hoping he would notice and say something to her. Darry might have not noticed Sara's glances but Sodapop who doesn't miss a beat took note.

"So, Dar, when are we leaving for the cemetery?" Darry was just biting down into his second sandwich didn't immediately respond to Sodapop's question.

"Right after we clean up from lunch." While Darry was answering Soda's questions his eyes were looking right at Sara.

"Really? You not mad at me anymore?" Sara looked so relieve to hear this news.

"What do you mean? What happened while I was gone?" Soda couldn't believe his ears. Did Darry and Sara get into it again, after he left to go search for Pony.

"Not important, Soda. And yes, Sara, we are really going. Now everyone finish up so we can head out." Sara shoved the rest of her sandwich in her mouth. She had gotten up from her chair and was trying to rush around placing her plate and cup in the sink.

"Slow down, there Kiddo. Go put your shoes on and get ready, why I do these dishes up." Darry knew that it would be better to give Sara something to try to keep her busy, and that Darry could quickly get the dishes up in the meantime. Darry finished up in less than 5 minutes, when he was walking towards the living room to put his sneakers on, the sight on the couch made him chuckle. Sara was sitting on the middle cushion, with Sodapop and Pony on each side of her. For the first time Darry could ever remember they were all ready to go. He couldn't let it be though, "Now, why can't you guys do this on a week morning?" He just shook his head at the three of them and slipped his sneakers on and was standing by the door. "Well, let's head out." Darry had his keys in his hands and was waiting for the kids to file out the door. Darry watched as Soda lead the others out the door, in order of Soda, followed by Pony then little Sara bringing up the end. Darry was just smirking at them.

"What?" Soda asked while heading out the door.

"Oh, nothing." Darry waited for little Sara to get out the door, than closed up the house behind him. It wasn't always the most comfortable going someplace together as a family. Darry's truck could only comfortably ride 3 in the front cab. On nice days sometimes the boys will ride in the bed of the truck, but Darry never let Sara, for he thought she was too small. Today all four squeezed in the front. Soda was holding Sara in his lap. The family was pretty quiet on the way to the cemetery, there was soft music playing on the radio, but no one was singing along today, like they normally did. As Darry was driving down the road Sara could see Wilson's field coming up on the right.

"Stop the truck, Darry." Sara yelled out to Darry. Darry started to slow down the truck and pull it off to the side of the road. Darry sometimes needed to make these emergency pit stops for Sara.

"You should have gone before we left the house, Sara." Darry had now brought the truck to a complete stop, but continued lecturing Sara. "Sara you are getting too old for this. Do I need to start reminding you ever time to go before leaving the house?" Darry was giving Sara a dirty look.

"It's not that!" Sara was fumbling for the door handle. Soda could tell she was having a hard time with it, so he helped her open it. Once Soda had it open she bolted down from the cab of the truck.

"What is she doing?" Darry now not liking the idea that his baby sister just bolted from the truck, was now getting out himself to check on her. As he moved from the cab of the truck to the tailgate, Sara was running into Wilson's filed. By this time Sodapop also hopped out of the truck just in case they needed to chase after her. But once he was out of the truck he realized she wasn't bolting anywhere at all. Soda watched as his sister was picking some wild flowers, some Carolina Anemone, some Brown eyed Susan's, some purple flower that he didn't remember the name of. Once Sara had a handful she ran back out of the field towards the truck. Darry and Soda were just looking at her.

"For Momma, Darry." Darry flashed Sara a genuine smile.

"Smart thinking, Kiddo." Soda said ruffling the top of her head. Soda sat back in the truck and helped Sara in and they were off again. Once everyone was set, Darry pulled back out onto the road. The cemetery was just a few minutes away from where they stopped at the field. When Darry pulled into the dirt road it had a sign arching over the road stating, "East Lawn Cemetery." Even though Darry had only been here a few times since the funeral, he knew right where his parents plot was. It was a little ways in. After taking a side road off the main road of the cemetery, Darry crept to the spot. Darry shut the truck off and sat there for a minute or so, no one was moving. Darry turned to see if his siblings were really ready for this. To his knowledge he didn't know if Pony or Sodapop had been here since the funeral. All this siblings no longer had smiles on their faces. They had very somber looks. Darry knew he needed to take the lead with this. He opened his door, with Sodapop soon opening his. Pony climbed out from Darry's side and Sara slid out with Sodapop. Soda and Sara waited beside the truck for Darry and Pony to come around to their side. While Sara was standing next to Soda she took her tiny, sweaty hand and slipped it into Sodapop's. Soda didn't say a word to her but clinched his big rough hand around hers and was holding on tight. Darry was slowly leading the group over to the gravesite. Darry didn't walk too far when he stopped. There was a little grayish granite headstone where there was an American flag posted next to the stone in honor of their Father who had served in the military, World War II. Other than the flag, the headstone was bare. The grass had started growing in where they had dug the hole for the coffins. Sara had let go of Sodapop's hand and walked over to the headstone. The boys heard her little, soft voice speak.

"Happy Mother's Day, Momma. I love you so much! I miss you all the time. I wish you were here today." Darry was watching his baby sister so closely; he couldn't believe how great she was doing with this whole thing. Maybe she was ready to come here today. But it was then he heard a noise other than Sara, he moved his head to see that both of his brothers were having a hard time keeping their emotions in check. Darry's attention was drawn back to Sara when he noticed that she was now placing the flowers down on the headstone. "Momma, these are for you. " Sara placed a kiss on her hand and then placed it on the headstone. "Hi, Dadda. Hope you made pancakes for Momma this morning, and bought her roses." It was at that moment Darry knew he was going to lose it. He felt the lump rising in his throat. He stood in complete awe of his sister. Darry wanted to believe the real reason that he didn't want to come was because Sara wouldn't be able to handle it, but that wasn't the case at all. It was that he and his brothers would not be able to handle it. "Dadda, I don't want you to feel left out, for it is Momma's day. But I will ask Darry to bring me back on Father's Day. I don't know when that is, but I'll ask him." Sara placed another kiss on the head stone, "That one is for you, Dadda. Now I will let the boys talk. Bye. I love you both." Sara backed up to return with standing next to Darry and Soda. When Sara looked up at her brothers to encourage them to say something no one spoke. Sara caught a tear rolling down Soda's check, so she moved closer and slipped her hand back into his. He grabbed on hold with a tight grip and it rocked the sobs out of him a little harder. Once he was crying a little hard he reached down and picked Sara up so he could hold her. He needed to hold someone, and she was always a willing target. "Don't cry, Soda. They are happy that we all came together as a family to say hi. They miss us too, just like we miss them." Sara reached over and was wiping some tears off of Soda's check. "Don't you want to say hi to them, Soda?" Sara was having a hard time understanding why her brothers were not saying anything to them. Soda placed Sara back down on the ground and slowly approached their parent's headstone.

In the quietest voice that Soda had he whispered, "Happy Mother's Day, Mom. I hoped it was everything you wanted it to be." Soda quickly wiped his tears. He needed to get himself back together for Sara and Pony, who he noticed was struggling next to him. Soda returned back to Sara's side and felt a rush of sadness run over him when Sara slipped her hand around his again.

"Darry?" Sara's voice called to him.

"I'm good, BabyGirl."

"No, you need to wish Momma a Happy Mother's Day, Darry. She would be so hurt if her oldest didn't wish her one." Sara now sounded like she was the guardian here.

"Ok. Happy Mother's Day, Mom. We are all doing well. No need to worry." Was all Darry was able to get out.

"Pony?" Sara pushed on his back. But Pony didn't move or respond. "Pony?" Sara asked again, still trying to push him forwards. Pony moved, but it wasn't forwards towards the headstone, instead it was backwards towards the truck.

"No, I am going back to the truck."

"Just wish her a Happy Mother's Day." Sara begged trying to catch up with Pony who was already three or four strides ahead of her.

"Sara, honey, just let him be." Darry stopped Sara from chasing after Pony.

"But Momma will be so sad, Darry. Pony has to wish her a Happy Mother's Day." Sara, who had held herself together so well, was now starting to cry.

"It is ok. Momma knows. He'll do it in his own time." Darry was trying to defend Pony's actions to her, but she just didn't understand it.

"But.. Darry..Momma.." Sara couldn't finish what she was trying to say for the tears and sobs were getting in the way of things.

Darry walked over up behind her and placed his hands softly on her shoulders hoping to start to get her moving back to the truck. "Let's go." Darry was still trying to push Sara towards the truck.

"Wait!" She yelled. Sara turned and ran back over to the headstone. "I love you! We'll come back soon. Don't forget us." Sara brushed her hand along their headstone one more time, then ran back and grabbed Soda's hand with her left hand and grabbed Darry's hand with her right. They took about 10 steps before Sara stopped again; she turned and looked over her shoulder back at the headstone. Just at that moment a ray of sunshine peeked through the clouds and shined down on the area of the headstone. "Do you see that?" Sara couldn't believe her eyes. The boys were in awe.

"Wow." They both said at the same time. But just as quick as the ray came down, it was gone again. Once they couldn't see it anymore they continued to walk back to the truck. Pony had stopped to catch a glimpse of the ray of sunlight as well. He waited for his brothers and sister to catch up to him. Once they had met up with him, Darry threw his arm around Pony's shoulder. Pony kind of leaned into Darry and let him keep his arm there. For a brief second or two, Pony even rested his head on Darry's shoulder. They had made it back to the truck and everyone started climbing back in the same way they were on the way there. Darry put the truck into 1st gear and started to slowly pull away when Pony's voice was heard by his siblings.

"Happy Mother's Day Mom."