I do not own The Outsiders.
Note: I am rewriting my story. I will leave original up until I am done. I hope you enjoy!
All You Need is Love
"Get up kiddo," Soda tells his little brother gently. Ponyboy turns his back to Soda determined not to get up. Pony woke up feeling angry and did not want to go to school. He felt angry and sad.
Soda smiles towards his brother bringing out his secret weapon. "Here comes the tickle monster," Soda teases his little brother bringing his hands down tickling his baby brother. The tickle monster always makes Pony smile, but not today. Ponyboy hits at Soda trying to push him away while groaning inaudibly.
Soda immediately stops feeling defeated. "Alright kiddo get up and dressed," Soda tells his brother.
"No! I'm not going to school today," Pony yells at his brother. Pony was refusing to look at his brother. Pony wanted nothing more to be left alone, but at the same time he just wanted to curl up to his brother and cry.
"That's enough," Darry tells his brothers walking into the boy's room hearing the commotion. "Soda go take your shower. I got the little monster,"
Soda looks at Ponyboy and Darry before taking off. He knew his older brother would not tolerate the nonsense, but Soda still hated the idea of Pony getting himself in trouble. Admitting to himself that he cannot help his younger brother. Darry had every right to do as he saw fit when it came to the youngest bad attitude today.
Once Darry was satisfied hearing the shower going, he turned his attention to the youngest. "Okay kiddo turn over and lack to me. " Darry instructs. Darry silently counted to ten in his head as Pony made no attempt to follow his directions.
"I'm not saying it again. Turn over and talk to me right now," instructs sternly this time. "One...Two," Darry counted before scooping the littlest brother up and landing a hard smack on his back side. Darry had the habit of never making it to three, Pony was lucky to make it past one if he started counting. Darry stood a teary eyed Ponyboy on the ground before squatting down to his level.
"I don't know what you are thinking, but you know I don't tolerate flat out disobedience. When Soda or I tell you something we expect you to do it. Now I want you to get ready for school. Do you understand?" Darry asked the smaller sternly.
"Yes sir," Pony answers obediently. "Will you help me?"
Darry was really wanting to sit down and drink a cup of coffee. He had a million and one other things that he could be doing. Looking down at his brother Darry knew he could not say no. Besides his brother rarely asks for help.
"Okay kiddo you pick out your shirt and I'll grab you some jeans," Darry tells him. Pony gives just the smallest of smiles as he runs to his closet grabbing himself an all-black shirt that matched his eldest brother's shirt today. He happily scurried back over to his oldest brother who had a pair of his jeans in hand. Darry smiled seeing his brother's shirt choice. Darry quickly helps the youngster get dressed.
"Now Soda should be out of the shower, so you go on in and have him fix up your hair," Darry tells his brother giving his head a slight rub.
Pony gladly went to Soda. He preferred Soda doing his hair. Soda always made sure he looked tuff like he did, Darry tended to favor the more proper styling.
"Soda will you please fix my hair?" Pony asks his brother nicely.
"Sure, can do! Gotta make sure your looking good for the ladies now, don't we? " Soda said with his famous Hollywood grin. Sometimes Pony hated how much girls cooed all over Soda and himself when they went out. Soda greased his brother's hair back with a comb until he was completely satisfied.
"Let's go grab some breakfast now," Soda tells Pony taking his hand leading him into thew kitchen. Darry already had three plates of eggs out on the table when they walked in. Everyone sat at the table and began to eat. Well, everyone besides Pony who was pushing his food around his plate. His foul mood returning.
"Ponyboy there is a corner with your name on it. You better find it now!" Darry demands removing his brother's plate. Ponyboy hurries off to the corner in the living room. He knew better then to push his brothers' nerves. Darry has only ever given him one or two swats and he was not wanting to ever earn a real spanking. Pony knew his brother would deliver if he ever thought Pony needed one.
In the kitchen Darry quickly finished off his breakfast saying a silent prayer that his brother was able to get through his day at school without issues. Darry also prayed for patients to get him through his day. Darry smiled slightly when he heard Soda call Pony over and began reading him a story. Darry loved how much his brothers loved each other and how close they were despite the age differences.
"Let's go kid brothers!" Darry chimes corralling his brothers out the door. All the brothers get in the truck heading to the DX. Once at the Dx the boys say their good-byes before Darry heads to the school. Ponyboy was looking out the window with is arms crossed. He was hating how he was feeling. All he knew was he wanted to stay with his brothers and not be at school.
"You better behave. If you, do not I promise you I will bust your butt," Darry threatens his brother as he gets out at front of the school. Pony really wanted to be good, but he could not. He felt like he had not control over himself. He decided to go inside long enough to guarantee his brother was gone before he would leave himself.
Pony groaned to himself as his teacher and vice principal both were at the door greeting all the students and he knew his teacher saw him. Pony walked to his classroom door before stopping and heading back towards the main doors of the building. He was going to try and slip past his teacher.
Pony got close to the door and picked up his pace hurrying past his teacher. He hoped she did not notice. "Ponyboy get back inside. You're not allowed outside alone," Mrs. Darcy calls to him. Ponyboy pretended not to hear her and was walking towards the road to head home when he felt a hand grab his shoulder. Pony turned his head slightly to see his teacher standing right behind him.
"Come on Ponyboy we have to get to class," she tells him sweetly.
"I'm not going, and you can't make me," Pony screams trying to pull away. Mrs. Darcy loved Ponyboy, and he was easily her favorite student. She loved how well his brothers had been doing raising such a young boy. She was shocked by Pony's outburst. Typically, he is mannerly and soft spoken.
"Come on," she tells him deciding to lift the young boy up. Pony instantly lays his head on her shoulder while she stood there for a few minutes to let the boy calm down. Pony was content until she started towards the door. A switch flipped and Pony started screaming and hitting trying to get away. He did not want to be here. He needed his brother.
"Ponyboy," a deep loud voice cut in. Pony stopped instantly looking up and seeing the face of Mr. Adams. Mrs., Darcy sensing his fear held the boy close.
"Ponyboy, I need you to come with me. Can you walk like a big boy or do I need to carry you?" questions Pony. Pony knew he had no choice and did not want to make matters any worse.
"I'll walk," Pony tells him allowing himself to be put on the ground. Pony quickly walks over Mr. Adams and grabs his hand. Pony wanted him to know he was coming ad where he was always. That is the way he does with his brothers. Pony's actions shocked the man, but he kept a hold of the young boy's hand as they headed to the office.
Pony was terrified of the office. He had heard lots of stories about the paddle that hung on the wall. He was sure hoping it was not going to be used on him. Once they were in the office Mr. Adams pointed to a chair and pony went and sat in it. The man pulled out a binder and looked at a page before picking up the phone.
"Yes, may I speak to Darrell Curtis?" the man asked into the phone. Pony gulped as he realized what was happening. They were calling his eldest brother. Pony listened as the older man told his brother of his behaviors before telling him he had to come ger him.
Pony was secretly wishing they would have called Soda instead. He knew Darry was going to be mad and he was not keen on the idea of a spanking. However, Pony was relieved it was Darry. Even though he was in trouble he knew the oldest would be able to help him figure out what was wrong with him,
It took only ten minutes before Pony saw his brother walking in the office. Mr. Adams walked over and started talking to him. Pony wished he could hear what was being said. Once they were done talking Pony caught Darry looking at him. He could see the anger. As much as he hated his brother being mad, he was happy he was here. Pony was on the verge of tears and freaking out over this dreadful feeling he had.
"Let's go," Darry tells Pony. Pony hurries over grabbing his brother's hand. Mr. Adams bid them a farewell knowing based on reactions he would probably never see the boy in his office again. He knew this kid was not one of the troublemakers in the school.
In the hall Darry was practically dragging Ponyboy when it was becoming too much. Pony halted and started to pull away from his brother. He was not trying to stay away he just needed to be closer. Darry turned to his brother getting ready to whisper some threats or promised he was not sure into the small boy's ear, when suddenly the younger boy grabbed a tight hold around his brothers' neck. All the previous anger melted away. He knew Pony needed comfort if he was acting this way. When Darry stood up, he wrapped his arms around his brother before walking to the truck. Pony laid his head on Darry's shoulder grabbing a handful of his brother's hair trying to stick it up to his ear. Pony only did this when he was really upset. He hated Darry had shorter hair making it hard to do.
"Oh Pony," Darry tells his brother as he buckles him in. Darry quickly jumps in the truck and heads home. The whole ride home Pony kept a tight clutch on Darry's shirt. Darry kept going through his brother's behavior in his head trying to figure out the problem.
Once they arrived home Darry was barely unbuckled before he felt his brother clinging to his neck. Darry wrapped his arms around his brother before exiting the truck. Once inside Darry carries his brother to his bedroom.
"Alright little brother after this morning I think a nap is in order," Darry tells his brother laying him in his bed. Pony was fine with a nap as he was feeling tired, but he was not willing to be alone. Once Darry deposited his brother in his bed turned to head out to the restroom, Darry had every intention to lay with his brother.
"Darry," Pony cried as he watched his brother start walking out.
"I'm just going to the bathroom bub. "Darry reassures his brother before walking out. Darry was just relieving himself when he felt a set of arms wrap his legs. He sighed deciding it was best not to address it. Darry quickly finishes up and washed his hands before picking his brother up.
Darry walks back into the bedroom and sits his brother in the bed before laying down himself. Ponyboy snuggles close to his brother resting his head in his big brothers' chest. Pony reaches out grabbing a fistful of his brothers' hair immediately drawing comfort from it.
Darry barely holds in his amusement. Ponyboy always had a strange thing with hair. If your hair were long enough, he would stick it into his ear. Sadly, Darry kept his short so holding some was all his brother could manage. Hair brought the same comfort to Pony that a thumb or blanket brought to other kids.
Darry began to slowly rub his brothers back instantly sending the boy off to sleep. Once Darry was sure his brother was out, he closed his eyes drifting into a much-needed sleep.
A couple hours later Ponyboy started to wake up, He squirmed closer to his brother who was softly snoring beside him. Pony moving woke his older brother up. Both older boys were really in tune with the youngest and always seemed aware even when they were asleep,
"Good afternoon baby. How are you feeling?" Darry questioned. Pony scooted on top of his brother laying on top of him smiling. Darry wrapped his arms around the small child kissing the top of his head.
"I feel Better," Pony answers him truthfully. Pony was enjoying the security his brother made him feel.
"Can you yell me what was bothering you earlier?" Darry asks gently.
Pony thought about it. He did nit know how to explain it very well.
"I just wanted you or Sodapop," Pony answers after consideration.
"Well, are you made at someone? Is someone being mean? "Darry quizzes.
"No. I just feel so mad. I also feel safe and scared and its all for no reason. I just could not be good. My head and heart don't feel right," Pony tries to explain. Darry understood. He could only imagine being five and trying to deal with all the normal kid emotions plus all the ones brought on by tragedy.
"Baby next time you feel that way I really need you tell Soda or me. We do not want you in trouble anymore then you want to be in trouble. If you tell us we can try to help earlier. Do you understand what I'm saying" Darry questions?
"Yes sir. I love you!" Pony tells his brother,
"I love you too kiddo but remember next time you act this way I will bust tour bottom. "Darry tells his brother giving him another quick kiss to the head.
"Yes sir! Darry can you help me write a sorry letter to teacher?" Pony asks. Darry smiled leave it to his brother to give himself consequences. Darry was immensely proud of his two kid brothers. He was lucky.
"I suppose so. Now Pony I want you to know how happy you made my heart feel by wanting to correct your own behaviors. "Darry praises his little brother. Pony grinned so big at his brothers' words. He loved making them happy.
"But one last thing little brother. You're not going out the guys this weekend," Darry tells his brother, Pony did not care one bit. He was happy to spend some time alone with his brother. Sometimes he enjoyed the quietness when the gang was out.