Darry arrived home from work earlier than usual. He got as much work done as he could in a short amount of time to get home to his little brother. His mind was distracted all day, and he wondered what the doctor had to say. He wished he could have been there, as he started hoping Soda didn't forget anything the doctor may have said. Sometimes Soda could forget things, but Darry hoped this was bothering Soda's mind enough to pay attention. He also wondered if mom and dad always had them on their minds when someone was sick, no matter how little or big it was. It was certainly a stressful thing to think about and want desperate answers for. At home, Soda was in the kitchen heating up more soup, leaving Darry unsure the severity of Pony's condition.
"Hey," Darry greeted in the kitchen, "How was the doctor?"
Soda shrugged, "He didn't know what was really wrong. Just said to keep him warm until his temperature is better. He was a little baffled too, but not freaking out about it, you know?"
"What was the temperature there?"
"Ninety-six," Soda said pouring the soup into a bowl, "Doctor didn't seem too worried about it though. He said it's only two degrees below normal, so to just keep warming him up."
"Where is he now?" Darry asked, slightly frustrated they didn't get an answer past what they were already doing, "Did he say anything about medicine?"
"No. There isn't anything to give medicine to. There's no such thing as a freezing-reliever. He's in the bathtub right now. You realize I change that water a lot more than I should have to," Soda commented.
"What do you mean?" Darry asked, confused.
"It seems to get cold way too quick, even faster than last night. I don't know, maybe it's just me, but it does seem weird. Maybe I just don't remember what it's like to take a bath," Soda said, trying to convince himself more than anything.
Darry shrugged it off, unsure of how to answer, and left the kitchen. He went upstairs to check on Ponyboy. Walking into the bathroom, he saw Pony in the same position as the day before. He was hunched over and hugging his knees to himself.
"How are you feeling?" Darry asked, hating to see him like that. It made him feel sick to his stomach.
"Cold," Pony said through slight quivering lips. Darry leaned down and felt the water, instantly pulling it back.
"Damnit, that is freezing. Pony come out of there!" Darry snapped. He grabbed Pony by his arms and helped him out. He wrapped a towel around his little brother. "Go get some clothes on right now." Pony let his head hang as he began walking. Darry felt bad, he didn't mean to snap towards Pony just because he was frustrated. "Hey Pony, do you need help?"
"No," Pony said pulling the towel tighter, "I'll be okay."
"Okay, Soda has soup ready for you downstairs." When Pony left the bathroom, Darry leaned back over to pull the bathtub plug. His arm almost twitched back again, as he was expecting the freezing temperature, but was greeted by a warm, decent temperature instead. "Huh," Darry said to himself as he ran his hand all around the water, "That's...kind of odd." He pulled the plug and tried shaking the situation off. It seemed more questions were being added to his list as he got no answers to previous ones.
As Darry got halfway down the stairs, Soda met with him. "There is something else I haven't told you yet. Well, I really just forgot to, I didn't try to hide it. Anyway, I brought it up to the doctor as I remembered it, but it didn't turn into anything. You should know though."
"What is it?" Darry asked.
"Pony was messing with some mixing and chemicals in his science class yesterday, he was whiffing at them and everything. He told the doctor what was mixed and everything, but the doctor said that has nothing to do with his symptoms. He said maybe it'd give him a headache or make him a little dizzy at that moment, but nothing to this extent," Soda explained.
Darry slowly nodded, "Do you think we should let him sleep in the bed tonight and you take the couch? Or I'll even take the couch."
Soda shrugged, "It doesn't matter to me. You can ask if he wants the bed or likes the couch."
The brothers began going down the rest of the stairs as Darry asked, "Has he thrown up or anything?"
Soda shook his head, "He isn't even congested or have a sore throat. Nothing. He's just cold...literally just cold."
"It just seems so weird," Darry said, "Doesn't it?"
Soda shrugged as they entered the living room. Pony was wrapped in a blanket and in Darry's hoodie again. Darry sat next to him, wrapping his arms around his little brother, hoping his body heat would help even just a little. Soda took a seat in the armchair, not moving his eyes from them. The three brothers sat in silence, just listening to the cartoons run across the TV, when Steve Randle and Two-Bit Mathews walked in.
"Hello Curtis family!" Two-Bit belted, as usual.
"Hey, hey, hey," Darry said, "Calm down there boys."
"What's wrong with him?" Two-Bit asked.
"Pony's really sick," Soda said.
"We don't really know what's wrong, but he's definitely sick," Darry added in.
"Well then why don't you come out with us Soda?" Steve offered.
Soda shrugged, "I don't know. I should probably help out here."
"Soda you took care of him all day and took him to the doctor's. You've helped enough. I'll get him ready for bed." Soda looked at his little brother. He had a gaunt look on his face He was pale, his eyes were dark, and he just had this blank stare.
"I don't know Dar. It'd be one thing if he had a cold or some bug that we know about, but we have no idea what is going on and that's worrying me."
"It worries me too, little buddy, but as of right now I don't think we're getting any answers. We just have to get him rest," Darry said, "I'll be fine helping him out. You would just be spending tonight in that chair anyway."
"Alright," Soda gave in, "I won't be gone long."
"Have a good night," Steve said as the three boys turned to walk out the door.
"Feel better Pony," Two-Bit said.
The three boys walked down the driveway and got into Steve's car.
"Just let us know when you want to come back home," Steve said starting his car, "We know you'll worry."
"He looks really off," Two-Bit commented.
"Yeah he really does, what's up with him?" Steve asked.
Soda sighed, "We really don't know. He doesn't have a cold or anything like that. He is just freezing."
"What do you mean?" Two-Bit asked, "Like the chills?"
"No, like literally freezing. His skin is so cold and nothing is warming him up. It is the weirdest thing. The doctor couldn't give us any answers."
"Well," Two-Bit began unsure of what to say, "Let's just go out for some fun. Get your mind off everything tonight."
"Sounds good," Soda agreed. As much as he wanted to be by Pony's side, he'd try to take advantage of a few hours away.
After a while of watching TV, Darry began cleaning the kitchen. He got the dishes washed, the table cleaned off, and everything wiped up. He moved upstairs and washed out the tub and sink, not wanting anyone else to get sick. He vacuumed upstairs and the living room. Darry spent a lot of time cleaning, feeling a little on edge of this mystery virus Pony had and how ugly it could get. After getting as much of the house as clean as he could, Darry took out the thermometer and placed it in Pony's mouth. Pony looked exhausted and Darry wanted to get him to sleep soon. Once the thermometer was finished, Darry removed it. He groaned out loud, just wanting something to make sense.
"This can't be right," Darry mumbled.
"What?" Pony asked quietly.
"Ninety-five," Darry sighed walking back into the kitchen. Even though he wasn't uncomfortable, Darry turned up the heater in the house.
"Darry," Pony said watching his brother, "It's too expensive to use the heater."
"A doctor's visit is expensive. A hospital trip is expensive. Antibiotics are expensive. Everything will be, but I don't care. There is something really wrong and I'll do whatever to fix it," Darry answered.
"But..."
"No buts. Now where are you comfortable sleeping? In bed or the couch?"
Pony yawned, "I really don't want to move. I just want to stay here."
Darry nodded, "I'll turn the TV off so you can sleep then."
"No," Pony said, "It helps to fall asleep to sound."
"Alright," Darry took a seat in the armchair, "I'll wait until you fall asleep then." Darry was tired from the cleaning he had done. He propped his feet on the coffee table and leaned his head back, closing his eyes.
A few hours passed and Steve drove Soda back home. Two-Bit decided to stay in town and would find his own way home. Steve glanced at his best friend during the ride. He felt himself get nervous at Soda's silence.
"You sure are worried, huh?" Steve asked.
Soda nodded as he stared out the passenger window. "We just have no idea what this is. We take him to an expert, someone who is suppose to tell you what is wrong, and he couldn't."
"Was the doctor worried?"
Soda shook his head, "Not terribly worried. He just said keep Pony warm."
"Well, if the doctor ain't rushing him to the hospital, then maybe there isn't anything to worry about, you know?"
"Its hard not to worry though. Pony is obviously not himself. He feels off. We have no way to fight it either. There's no medicine to bother giving him, because he doesn't have any of that stuff wrong with him. I just don't know what to do, Steve. I don't know how to not worry," Soda ran his hand through his hair.
"I know bud. The kid is tough. He'll be just fine." Steve pulled up to the sidewalk by the Curtis house. "Just keep your head up, alright? I'll come in with you to check on him."
"You don't have to," Soda said, "I don't want to risk you catching anything."
"I ain't worried about it," Steve opened the driver's door and followed Soda towards the house. As they walked inside, they found Pony asleep on the couch and Darry asleep in the armchair. "Damn that can't be comfortable," Steve commented towards Darry, "Want me to bring Pony upstairs?"
"No, I'd rather let him just sleep," Soda said beginning to shake Darry, "Darry, wake up."
Darry stirred slightly and slowly lifted his head, "Oh shit. My neck."
"I'm home Darry," Soda said, "Here, I'll rub your neck."
Darry groaned as Soda began his massage, "How was it tonight?"
"Fine," Soda said putting pressure against Darry's stiff neck, "We just grabbed a bite to eat and walked around."
"Nice. Well, I'm ready to get to bed," Darry slowly stood up from the armchair, cracking every part of his body.
"Me too," Soda agreed, "You want to crash here Steve?"
Steve shook his head, "I'll head home. I'll try to check in tomorrow."
"Alright, thanks Steve," Soda waved as Steve left the house, "Is he sleeping down here?"
"He wants to," Darry yawned and turned off the TV, "Let's get upstairs."
Soda took a seat on the edge of the couch and caressed Pony's hair, "Feel better little buddy. I love you."