Disclaimer: I do not own The Outsiders or The Star-Spangled Banner.
Sorry for the delay. Hope you enjoy. The next chapter is typed just needs edited. Happy Independence Day!
"Oh, say can you see, by the brawns early light,
What so proudly we hell at the tide light last gleaming,
Whose broad and bright stars through the parallel fight.
For the rampers we watch were so gently streaming,
And the rockets red gear, the bombs bursting in air,
Gave proof through the night that the flag was still there,
Oh, say does that star spangled banner yet wave.
For the land of the free and the home of the brave," Pony belts out the song the had been learning in school for the fourth of July.
"Good job Ponyboy but its dawn not brawn, "Soda tells his kid brother ruffling his hair.
"Oh, say can you see by the dawns early light," Pony sang trying out the new word.
"Good job. Now the next line is What so proudly we hail'd at the twilights last gleaming," Soda tells him.
"Twilight," Pony mumbles to himself. "What so proudly we hail'd at the twilights last gleaming,"
"Very good baby. Then its Whose broad stripes and bright stars through the perilous fight," Soda tells him.
"Okay! Whose broad stripes and bright stars through the perilous fight," Pony repeated.
"O'er the ramparts we watch'd were so gallantly streaming. And the rocket's red glare, the bomb bursting in air," Soda tells his brother slowly.
"O'er the ramparts we watch'd were so gallantly streaming. And the rocket's red glare, the bomb bursting in air," Pony sang back to his brother.
"Gave proof through the night that our flag was still there, O say does that star-spangles banner yet wave, o'er the land of the free and the home of the brave? "Soda sings slowly to his brother.
"Gave proof through the night that our flag was still there, O say does that star-spangles banner yet wave, o'er the land of the free and the home of the brave? "Pony finished the song incredibly pleased with himself.
"That's exceptionally good Ponyboy. "Soda says giving his brother a kiss on the head.
"Soda what's your favorite part of the fourth of July? "Pony asks his brother curious as always.
"I love the downtown parade," Soda tells him. Soda loved all the tuff cars and all the hot babes. There were always women decked out in their little tanks and booty shorts. Soda really was pleased with being a single man today.
"Who all is going with us today?" Pony quizzes his brother.
"Well, I think everyone. Superman is packing a picnic and we are going to the festival afterwards. I bet ya that Two-Bit enters the dang hot dog eating contest." Soda said shaking his head at the memories of last year's celebration. Two-Bit ended up sick afterwards but it never stopped him from hitting on babes with his puke-stained shirt.
"Hey Ponyboy come on and let's get you dressed," Darry tells his younger brother peeking into the living room. Pony follows his brother to his room. On his bed Pony saw some blue jean shorts, an American flag polo shirt and red pair of suspenders. Pony frowned but quickly changed his look not wanting trouble. Darry always tried to make him look what he considered presentable when they went out.
Pony quickly stripped down to his underwear. "Alright step in," Darry tells him holding his shorts out for him. Pony hold onto his older brother's legs while stepping into shorts so he would not loose his balance.
"Arms up," Darry tells him easily sliding the boy's shirt over his head. Once his shirt was on Darry quickly clipped the suspenders on before putting his brother on the bed. He put a plain paid of red socks and white tennis shoes on his brother.
"Your looking mighty handsome," Darry tells him before grabbing a comb and the gel beside the bed. Darry combed Pony's hair into a comb over. It was a look Pony did not like as much since it did not make him look tough, but he was not going to complain.
"Darry, do we get to watch fireworks tonight?" Pony asks weaseling his way into his brother's lap.
"Yes sir! If you are on your best behavior then we will be staying up late watching the fireworks," Darry tells him giving his brother a slight warning. Darry prayed today would be easy. He never knew when it was everyone together. Pony had woken up at 5 and that made the oldest a little nervous. Normally he would not be up until 8.
"I'll be so so so so so so Good!" Pony practically screams with excitement. Darry smiles at his brother giving his side a quick tickle making the boy squirm and giggle.
"Hey Greasers," Darry hears Two-bit shout before hearing the door slam behind them.
"Well kiddo lets go in there the trouble has arrived," Darry tells his kid brother carrying him into the living room where the rest of his friends now occupied.
"We'll leave in five," Darry tells everyone before dropping Pony on Soda's lap before walking off. Darry grabbed a bag feeling it with sunblock, a few band aids, a set of clothes for his youngest brother, and Pony's security blanket. Darry never knew what he would need but had learned the hard way to at least not try and be prepared.
"Soda grab you and Steve grab the lunch and let's go," Darry instructs leading the way out the door. They always walked to these events since they were not to far. Besides parking was always shitty.
Everyone walked for forty-five minutes before arriving downtown. They had about five minutes before the parade started. Soda dropped the lunches behind the guys while they all gathered around to watch the parade. When the parade started Darry hoisted Pony on his shoulder to make sure he could easily see.
Pony smiled as the police with the lights and sirens started down the street signaling the start of the parade. After the police, a marching band walked through playing the star-spangled banner followed closely by some army men carrying the Americana and Oklahoma flags. All the group stood still with left hands covering their hearts as the flags passed through.
"Oh, look at that horse," Soda speaks loudly admiring a Clydesdale horse sporting some red, white, and blue being rode by a gorgeous brown hair girl. Soda smiled at the girl as he caught her eyes. He gave her a slight wave earning him a wink. Soda could not decide if he was more impressed with the horse or the lady.
Steve elbows Soda bringing him from his admiring gaze. "What's that for?" he questions.
"We can't take you anywhere. You and girls," Steve tells him with a grin. Soda gave his famous smile back causing Steve to shake his head forcing himself to turn his attention to the parade.
"Damn," Dally slips admiring a corvette driving by. How he wished he had a car like that.
"Nah Dal! Those are a bitch to work on. I swear I see them at least once a week," Steve tells him internally hating that car.
"The owners are assholes too," Soda adds.
"That ain't no joke," Steve retorts thinking of the stupid Soc who was in the shop two days before. Boy that kid was dumber than dirt.
"Now that charger is sexy as hell," Soda points at a dark black charger in the line. It was on Soda's top ten list.
"I want one but maybe in red," Steve tells his best friend.
"Red would be pretty bada..." Soda starts.
"Mickey! Mickey," Two-bit yells interrupting Soda jumping up and down like a damn toddler pointing at Mickey and Minnie coming.
"Fucking idiot," Dally retorts as Two-bit runs over bear hugging the poor sucker dressed in a mickey suite. Darry glares. Of course, it had to be Two-Bit to act a fool.
Dally had to go over to Two-bit and literally drag him back to the group to save the poor mouse. Darry thumped Two-Bit as soon as he was with then reach.
"Act your age not your shoe size," Darry retorts. Two-Bit of course let it go in one ear and out the other so fixated on a man in a costume. Johnny puts his hand of Two-Bit's shoulder hoping to prevent him from bolting after the mouse. Damn Two-Bit was worse than as cat and a mouse together. After that, the parade was uneventful. The guys really enjoyed all the cars.
After the parade came to an end, they found themself a place to sit nearby in the grass to eat the lunch that was packed. Darry had packed turkey sandwiches, chips, watermelon, and cookies. Ponyboy decided to sit between Johnny and Two-Bit.
While they were eating Two-Bit decided that it would be funny to steal some of the kid's chips. Pony swatted his hand catching him first try. After Pony turned away from him Two-Bit snatched two chips popping them into his mouth. Pony glared at Two-Bit before reaching over and grabbing the older boy's cookie placing it in his mouth and biting down.
Two-Bit looked shocked as Pony stuck his tongue out at him between bites. "You little brat," Two-Bit tells him still shocked that his cookie had been stolen. "Darry you see what he did?" Two-Bit asks turning to the eldest brother.
"Serves you right. Don't mess with the boy's food next time," Soda tells him with a grin before Darry could answer. Two-bit could not help but smile. The kid sure was going places one day.
"Okay guys we aren't going to act fools walking around the festival. We are civilized people, and we are going to act like it. Now we can go walk around. "Darry tells them taking charge like always.
"I'm going to take Pony to the kids' section, Y'all guys stay out of trouble," Darry tells them before breaking apart. He knew that the guys would not want to hang out at the kid rides the whole time.
At the kids' corner Darry stood in line with his brother for him to ride the tornado. Darry sometimes hated this ride as he sometimes felt nauseated afterwards due to all the spinning. The tornado was Pony's favorite ride though. Since dad was not there to ride with him Darry was going to take his place. It was not long until they were seated in a car thing.
"Weeeeeeeewee," Pony yells as the ride starts and they start spinning round and round. Pony loved how the ride tickled his stomach. Darry on the other hand was ready to get off before it started but seeing his youngers brothers joy was worth it to him.
"That was fun," Pony tells Darry standing in front of him jumping up for Darry to lift him up. Darry did with little difficulty due to trying to find his balance. Darry never has handled spinning around.
"Glad you liked it," Darry tells the youngster walking towards another ride. This time Darry and Pony rode the Ferris wheel. This was Pony's first time as his parents always said he was too young. Pony was mesmerized by the sites he could see from the top of the Ferris wheel; most kids feared heights' but not this kid. Pony always soaked up nature's beauty.
"Look how close we are to the clouds," he points out looking at a particular cloud that resembled a bear. Darry could not help but smile as his brother was zoned out in his own little happy place. Pony was different than any other kids he had ever met. Pony enjoyed simple things. He loved books and watching the stars. He could sit there for hours doing either.
After the Ferris wheel Darry and Pony went through the mirror maze. Pony gripped Darry's shirt tight terrified of getting lost. After the maze they decided to take a restroom break,
On the other side of the festival Soda had found the young lady with the horse. She was there with her friend. "Hey cowgirl," Soda smiled at her walking up to her. She blushes smiling sweetly at him.
"Hi Handsome," She greets back stunned the handsome boy had found her. She was staring at him hard. He had carefree laughing eyes that could make your heart melt, but his smile. Oh, she could stare at him all day!
"What's your name Cowgirl?" Soda questions her.
"Brooke yours?" she smiles slyly.
"Names Sodapop. Sodapop Curtis," Soda replies.
Brooke was curious if he was joking with her. "This here is my friend Ashlynn," she tells him pointing to the red head next to her,
"This here is my best friend, Steve. We were just getting ready to go watch our friend Dallas ride the mechanical bull. Want to join us? "Soda invites.
"Sure. I like watching people ride," She grins. Soda takes her hand and smiles when she does not pull away. Steve and her friend follow behind talking as they head to the close by tent.
"Hey Soda. Steve," Johnny greets when Soda and they join him in the tent. "Dals up next,"
"Hey, Johnnycake, this here is Brooke and her friend Ashlynn," Soda introduces him. Johnny nods his hello before turning to watch Dally ride. Dally went on the hardest setting and stayed on two minutes. Johnny watched impressed wondering what Dally could not do,
"Hey who are these two fine looking babes? "Two-Bit questions joining his friend's beer in hand.
"Shut up Two-Bit," Steve glares at him. "This is Brooke and Ashlynn,"
"What are two fine looking babes doing hanging with ugly greasers like them?" Two-Bit asks clearly not on his first beer. The girls laugh at his antics.
"This is Keith, but we call him Two-Bit," Soda introduces him to the girls. They all make small talk until Dally joins in.
"Dally this is Brooke and Ashlynn," Soda introduces them. Dally acts as though he does not hear them.
"Let's go find your brothers," Dally tells Soda. Soda agreed and the group headed out to touch basis with the eldest. It did not take long for Soda to spot them walking out of the bathroom as always, the youngest Curtis was being carried.
"Dar." Soda calls catching his brother's attention. Darry walks over to join his brother and friends. It did not get past Darry that like usual Soda had the attention of yet another girl.
"Hey, Brooke, this is my brothers Darry and the spoiled one there is Ponyboy. Guys this is Brooke and Ashlynn," Soda introduced his brothers to the girls.
"I'm not spoiled," Pony tells his brother reaching over for Soda to take him.
"Sure, you're not," Soda tells him tickling him as he holds him in his arms. Its true his brother was spoiled but you never see the older brothers turning him down either. At least he was not a spoiled brat.
"Brooke, have you ridden the Ferris wheel?" Pony asks her not being shy whatsoever. Pony was not super shy when in his brother's arms.
"I sure did," she answers him smiling sweetly.
"Darry took me, and we were so close to the bear cloud we could almost touch it," Pony tells her.
"Your right. I saw the bear too," She lies. She did not pay any attention to the clouds, but the young boy was so excited about it she could not tell him otherwise.
"Y'all want snow cones and food before the fireworks?" Darry asks the group. All the guys gave him an affirmative, so he headed over to the food truck.
"May I help you?" a lady asked.
"Yes, can I get 8 Indian tacos, 9 tigers blood snow cone, one large coffee black, I need a large order of French fries, 4 funnel cakes, and a bag of cotton candy." Darry ordered.
"That's 17.25," she tells him taking the twenty-dollar bill he hands her. Darry had saved for this splurge. This was a family tradition. A few minutes later they lady starts handing out he orders, and everyone helped grab the food finding a picnic table nearby.
Darry passes out the food to everyone. Pony was the only one to get fries. The girls offered to pay him back for the food, but he refused Today he did not have to worry about it. Everyone pigged out on the Indian tacos. This was a once-a-year treat. Pony ate on his fries between bites of his big brother's Indian taco. Darry knew a taco was more food than his brother could eat so he figured fries were easy to share once his little was full. As predicted Pony only ate a quarter of his fries and the gang finished the rest. Darry was happy with the amount since the kid had been eating his food too.
Pony hated funnel cakes so instead he enjoyed cotton candy. Pony even fed some to everyone in the group and no one turned down his offer not even the toughest hood in Tulsa. After all the food was cleaned up Darry took his brother for one more restroom break before the fireworks began.
Once back everyone got situated to watch the night sky light up. Pony went over to the backpack taking his security blanket out. He would not admit it, but he was starting to get sleepy. Pony made himself comfortable in Darry's lap while Soda and Steve each cuddled up with the girls as the first firework lit up the sky. Pony gasped in excitement with every new one shot off. He admired every color that burst through the sky. Fireworks lit up the sky for twenty minutes as everyone sat back carefree for the time being soaking in the sites in the sky. Pony clapped as the finale shot up with several colors filling the sky one last time.
Once the show was over people all over clapped for the great display. Today was a day that they all had enjoyed greasers and Socs alike.
'Time to head home," Darry tells everyone.
"I'll meet you at the DX at one when I get off," Soda tells Brooke kissing her goodbye. Darry waited for a few minutes, but Soda was not letting go.
"Let's go Romeo," He tells his brother grabbing his shirt pulling him away.
"Hey Johnny and I are headed to Bucks," Dally tells the brothers.
"Door open if you need a place to crash," Darry reminds them bidding them bye. Two-Bit decided to join them since he wanted to continue to celebrate his freedom. Steve and Soda walk behind Darry discussing plans with the girls.
It did not take long before Pony crashed on his brother's shoulder clinging to his blanket in one hand and his other hand gripping his brother's hair.