"I don't want to stay with Steve," Pony pouted. Darry had just informed his brother that Steve was staying with him for the day. Pony hated when Steve baby sat. Steve was a meanie.
"Ponyboy he will be here any minute and you little brother better be on your best behavior," Darry warns him sternly.
"Can't I just go to work with Soda?" Pony tried giving his eldest brother his best puppy dog eyes.
"You know you can't. You behave today and tonight we can camp out in the living room with a movie." Darry bargains with his brother. Darry knew that Steve and Pony did bit get along well but everyone else was busy today. Darry hoped to sweeten his brother up to the idea of Steve being there.
"Okay I'll try my best, " Pony tells his brother as he climbs into his brothers' lap getting in his morning cuddles.
"Hey Dar, where is my jeans?" Soda calls walking inro the living room towel wrapped around his waist.
"My closet. Don't forget to dry off your getting water all over the floor," Darry answers. Soda shoots Darry his innocent smile walking out of the room.
"Pony your brother is nuts," Darry tells Pony ruffling his hair.
"Yes, you are," Pony tells him cheeky. Darry lets out a laugh. Sometimes Pony can shock them with his witty come backs.
"See there Dar! That one smart boy," Soda chimes reentering the room.
"Soda! Soda! Will you camp out with Darry and me? Pretty please with a cherry on top," Pony begs his older brother wanting all three to hang out tonight. Soda shoots Darry a look not wanting to agree to something if Darry was not onboard.
"I told this little terror if he behaves then we can have a camp out," Darry explains.
"Count me in little bro! I'll stop and get the cokes," Soda tells him. Soda knows how much Pony loves coke, but they limit him to special treats only.
"That sounds tuff," Pony tells him. As Steve comes walking in.
"Hey Steve! Thanks for watching the kid," Darry greets putting Pony down so he could get up to leave for work.
"Bye kiddo! Be good," Darry tells his youngest brother as all the boys bid each other farewell.
After his brothers left Pony stood staring at Steve who was occupying the couch. Pony had decided he would be extra good today.
"Steve, can we walk over to the car show they are having in town? " Pony asked trying to break the awkward silence. Pony was hoping Steve would accept because he loved car shows and it would make his brothers best friend happy.
Steve pondered the idea. He knew it would have some sick cars. He was debating on whether he wanted to drag the kid to a show. Though Steve would never admit it out loud, but Pony minded well much of the time and was easy to take out.
"Fine. Go get your shoes on," Steve tells him. Pony rushes off to get ready to leave. He was back in a matter of minutes.
"Pony your shoes are on the wrong foot," Steve tells him letting out a small grin. When Pony did silly stuff like shoes on the wrong feet it reminded him so much of Soda, Pony quickly sits down and changes his shoed around.
It did not take long before the two were headed towards main street. Pony made sure to keep close to Steve by following close behind. It took them about forty minutes to arrive. Pony did good to keep up, but a 2-mile walk was still a lot for a little kid.
Once at the show Pony was mesmerized by how many tuff cars were there. They had every color you could imagine. Pony decided though that the red cars were the toughest. Though Pony thought cars looked cool he did not understand Steve's excitement and desire to look under the hood of every car.
"This baby has a v8 engine. Man, I bet she purrs like a kitten," Steve tells Pony as checks out yet another engine.
"Why would a car purr? " Pony asks. Pony was a very literal kid and had never heard a car purr like a cat.
Steve shakes his head. "It's just a saying. It means it sounds good," Steve tells him.
"that's silly. Only cats and kittens purr like a cat. They also say meow," Ponyboy tells him a matter of fact. Steve shakes his head once again deciding not to respond. If Pony gets going, he is exhausting with all his questions.
After they had been at the show for three hours Pony wanted to go home. His stomach had been hurting for a short while, but the pain was starting to intensify.
"Steve," Pony cries pitifully,
"What's up?" Steve quizzes turning away from the car he is looking at to look at the younger greaser.
"I don't feel good," Pony yells him. The words alerted Steve's brain to start working fast.
"Um…let's get you home," Steve tells him. "Can you walk?"
Steve noticed the way Pony was partially hunched over holding his stomach. Steve could tell Pony was on the verge of tears. Steve's only issue is he is not good with kids nor is he good at comforting very many people.
"No," Pony answered honestly wishing for his brothers. His brothers always new how to make him feel better.
Steve walked over to the youngster and picked up the youngster. Holding Pony was very awkward to Steve. He only did things for the kid as a favor for Soda. He never coddled him like the rest would.
Pony felt the awkwardness when Steve picked him up. Usually, he hated the idea of needing anything from Steve but currently he was thankful Steve was there. On top of being present Pony was happy that Steve was trying to help him.
Steve held tight to the kid as Pony wrapped his arms around Steve's neck resting his head on Steve's shoulder. Steve would never admit it, but kid is a sweet kid. Steve began the two mile walk back towards the Curtis house.
"Steve," Pony shouts his head shooting up. Steve stops in his tracks just in time for Steve to get hit puke. Pony wailed as he got sick all over Steve and the ground. Pony was crying at the pain in his stomach and throat. Steve sat Pony Down on the ground holding on to the boy's shoulder with one hand and rubbing his back with the other. Pony emptied out all the contents of his stomach over the next five minutes.
"You ready to head home?" Steve asks lifting the boy into his arms again before the boy answered.
"I'm sorry Steve," Pony mumbles feeling bad for throwing up on him. Pony was glad he was being nice to him. Steve just rubbed the boys back to soothe him like he had seen the boys' older brothers do.
"Steve, I have to go potty," Pony tells Steve urgently.
"Bub you have to hold it for a little while longer. We are half a mile away" Steve tells him.
Pony tried his best to hold it. His stomach was knotting up again. He felt like he was going to puke and poop. Pony did not have time to react before he started puking all over again. Pony threw up water and was dry heaving. As Pony threw up, he felt a warm liquid filling his pants. Pony was mortified not being able to control his bowels.
Steve was trying his best not to get sick himself. The smell of puke was really getting to him. He hurried Pony home. Steve took the boy straight into the bathroom. He carefully sat the boy on the ground starting him a shower before stripping off his own soiled shirt.
Steve set to undressing the boy. He had not realized that he had soiled his pants and as soon as he started helping peel his pants off Steve's arms was covered in shit. Pony laid on the floor being no assistance to Steve. Once he was stripped Steve helped the boy into the shower.
Pony could not deny that the warm water felt good. Pony stood under the water letting Steve wash him, Pony was too tired to help or to fight it. Once Steve felt the kid was good and clean, he shut the water off and grabbed a towel wrapping Pony in it.
Steve carried the young boy to Soda's and his room sitting him on the bed. Steve rummaged through the closet grabbing himself a clean shirt of Soda's and finding Pony a t-shirt and his underwear. Steve quickly dresses Pony and himself before going to the living room with the kid.
Steve carries Pony to the couch and lay himself down letting Pony lay on top of him. Pony snuggles his head on Steve's chest clutching his shirt and one hand and a handful of Steve's hair in the other. Steve slowly rubs circles on the kids back quickly putting the exhausted boy to sleep before falling asleep himself.
Not even an hour later Steve jolted awake to the feel of something warm splashing all over him before hearing the kid cry out. It took a second before Steve realized Pony had just covered him in puke yet again. Steve darted up keeping a tight hold on the now crying boy as he hauled him off to the bathroom. Steve held Pony over the toilet as the boy hurled every bit of fluid, he had him. Pony cried harder when his body soon started convulsing heavily with dry heaves. Pony found this to be more painful than having something to throw up. Steve tried whispering comforting words to the young boy as he had seen his best friend due many times before.
Much to Steve's surprise his words seemed to trigger Pony's body to start relaxing some. After a few minutes Pony was able to stop his tears and his head fell back into Steve's chest in pure exhaustion.
Steve decided to hold the boy so he could rest his head on his shoulder. Steve figures nothing worse could happen. Steve held the helpless boys slightly rocking him back and forth. Steven knew they looked ridiculous standing there both covered in puke, but now he didn't care as he seemed to be able to comfort the smallest of the group.
"Hey, Pony I'm going to put you down, okay? I'm going to go grab a pair of sweats from Soda's room to change. Then ill come in here and clean you up again," Steve tells him.
Pony lets out a whimper grabbing a death hold of Steve's neck. Pony didn't want to be put down. Steve sighs before carrying the kid with him to the boy's room. Steve quickly one handily grabbed a pair of Sodas sweatpants and a pair of the kid's boxers.
Steve pries Pony's arms from his neck sitting him on the bed while he quickly changed into his borrowed clothes. After he was dressed, he quickly stripped Pony putting him in fresh boxers deciding that was all the kid needed.
"My tummy hurts." Pony whimpered as he lifted the boy back into his arms. Pony his face in n the nook of Steve's neck.
"I know kiddo, I wish I could make it all better. "Steve tells him truthfully. Steve headed into the kitchen looking for the water bottle Darry had bought for Pony to take to places like the park. Steve found it in the cabinet behind the cups. He fills it full of water.
"Alright dude. Let's go see what is on the tube," Steve tells him headed to the front room. All Steve found was an old western. Steve sits down on the couch and Pony naturally repositions himself on Steve.
"Hey, I need you to take a few sips of water," Steve tells him handing him the water. Steve knew enough that hydration was important. Pony did ask he asked and took two if the smallest sips possible. Steve didn't say a word just happy he drank any at all. Pony wrapped his fingers in Steve's hair drawing a small amount of comfort. Steve knew this meant the kid may be easy to get to take another nap. Steve absentmindedly rubbed Pony's back causing the kid to rub his face tiredly against Steve before nodding off again.
Steve held Pony for half an hour before transition the sleeping boy onto the couch. Steve sat back watching Pony start becoming restless before his eyes shot open before letting out a whimper. Half asleep Pony crawled back into Steve's lap crashing as soon his head hit the old boy's shoulders. Steve himself couldn't hold back a chuckle. He had forgotten how clingy the boy was when he was sick. He stayed away as much as possible when the kid was sick.
An hour later Darry walked in shocked to see Pony and Steve together, Steve had drifted off to sleep by this time, but he awoke as he heard the front door shut.
"Hey Dar! Kids sick. He has been throwing up and have diarrhea today. Sorry I have not cleaned up." Steve explains to the eldest.
"Oh shit, Sorry I'll handle clean up. I would have come home, "Darry tells him his worrying mode now kicking in.
"You need the hours. I handled it. He was taken care of, "Steve tells Darry. Darry knew Steve was right. They always need the money.
"Thanks, I appreciate it. Do you mind keeping him for a few And ill go through and do a quick clean up and start some laundry?" Darry questions. Steve nods.
Darry spends the next half hour cleaning up the house. He was mighty thankful for the group of friends he had. As soon as Darry started the laundry, he could hear his little brother.
"Darry," Pony calls seeing his brother walk into the room holding his hands out to his brother. Darry obliges scooping his youngest brother into his arms. Pony wrapped his arms around his brother's neck. Pony was still feeling crappy, but he was feeling better than before.
"Hey, Pony, will you drink some water?" Darry ass handing him the water bottle. Pony puts his lip out pouting shaking his head no. He did not want to drink anything. He just knew it would make him sick.
"Pony I want you to take a drink now. You have to stay hydrated," Darry tells him with a slight sternness. Ponyboy instantly tears up not wanting a drink. Darry holds the bottle up to the boy's mouth. Pony takes a small drink as tears leaked down his face.
"Hush now. You're not in trouble. I don't want your sicker baby," Darry tells him in a gentle voice planting a kiss on top of his head. Pony gripped onto his brother's shirt as he calmed himself down.
"Darry?" Pony whispers to his brother.
"Yes, baby boy?" Darry questions.
"Can Steve sleep over with all of us?" Pony asks. Darry shot Steve a look. Steve shrugs turning back to the tv.
"Okay," Darry answers. Darry never thought he would see the day the four of them would have a camp out.