9. Babies change everything!

Two-Bit was the first to arrive at the hospital. He was carrying a huge teddy bear, which was almost as big as he was, and I had to smile at the sight of the tough greaser with a big soft toy!

"Where's Soda and the baby?" He demanded.

"We can't go in just yet." Darry said. "Why don't you find somewhere to put the bear?"

"Okay." Two-Bit said, dropping the bear on the floor. "So," He said, turning to me. "You ready for some sleepless nights with that baby crying all the time?"

"I am sure he won't cry all the time. He'll sleep a lot!" I argued.

"Whatever." Two-Bit raised his eyebrow in his habitual way.

It was then that Steve arrived. "Hey." He greeted Darry, ignoring me. "Boy or girl?"

"Boy." Darry replied.

Steve glanced at the huge teddy and shook his head. "Two-Bit?" He asked.

Two-Bit grinned embarrassed. "Well it was cute. Every kid should have a big soft toy!"

Steve shrugged, and then he asked Darry "Is the baby alright? I mean it is a few weeks early isn't it? I thought it wasn't due for another month or so."

"I guess it couldn't wait." Darry said, shrugging.

Steve frowned. There was clearly something on his mind, but he didn't say it then.

It was then that Soda appeared again. "Hey y'all ready to see my son?" He called.

"Damn straight I am." Two-Bit picked up the teddy bear, and Soda's eyes widened.

"Okay, well come on in. Mind you can't stay all that long. Sandy needs to rest." Soda said.

We followed him down the hall, and then into the room where Sandy lay in bed, a tiny bundle in her arms.

"Hi." She greeted us.

We all crowded round the bed looking at the baby, Two-Bit's teddy managing to get in the way, and earning a punch off Steve, and there were the usual comments about how cute he was.

"He don't look like you nor Soda." Steve commented, and Sandy was quiet. Then she changed the subject, by turning to me.

"Pony, what do you think of your new nephew?" She asked.

I shrugged. "As long as he doesn't keep me awake by crying all night we'll get along just fine!" I said. Sandy smiled at me. I think she saw that underneath my tough attitude I thought that the new baby was actually quite cute!

"When he gets old enough we can teach him to play ball." Soda commented proudly.

"And to be do flips." Two-Bit added, and he started to do flips around the small room. Soda joined in and we all started laughing.

"This looks like a circus! Okay, all visitors out now!" A nurse ordered appearing in the door.

We all trooped out, Two-Bit walking on his hands past the bemused nurse. Outside the room Soda told us he would be home later on-he just wanted to spend some time with his wife and new son!

"Baby looks big for a month premature." Steve commented on the way out.

Darry looked at him strangely, but didn't comment on it. Instead he asked, "How's the arm coming along?"

"Good yeah. They reckon I might be allowed to get the plaster off in another two weeks or so." Steve replied. "I can't wait to be able to get back to proper work at the garage!"

*****

When Sandy and the baby, who they had named Johnny after Johnny Cade, arrived home a few days later I was prepared for a little less sleep, but I had underestimated how much a baby cried.

"Hi Pony, you're up early a holiday." Soda greeted me one morning, a few days later. He was bleary eyed, and went straight for the coffee.

"Couldn't sleep." I replied, as bleary eyed as him.

Soda laughed. "Yeah, kids got a good set of lungs on him."

"Takes after his father!" I replied, yawning. "Anyway, sometimes I didn't sleep when we were sharing a room from your snoring, so it's not much different."

Soda took a gulp of his coffee. "He'll settle down soon enough Pony, don't worry."

"Who's worrying?" Darry asked, coming into the kitchen and stretching.

"We were talking about Johnny's crying." Soda explained. "And I was telling Pony he should settle down soon. He's just getting used to it all."

Darry nodded, and poured himself a coffee also.

"Well better get to work. Got a wife and son to support!" Soda said proudly.

"Mmm." Darry replied.

After Soda had left Darry and I sat in silence, and then a thought occurred to me. "Darry, what was Steve on about at the hospital?" I asked.

"On about?" Darry repeated, confused.

"Yeah, with that talk about the baby being early, and then he said it didn't look like Sandy or Soda!" I said.

"Who knows?" Darry replied, in a tone which implied he knew but wasn't going to say.

"He thinks it isn't Soda's doesn't he?" I asked.

"Leave it be Ponyboy." Darry said.

"Glory Darry I'm old enough to be told things round here!" I snapped.

"Okay, yes he thinks it isn't Soda's. He's always thought that." Darry replied.

"He never said!" I said shaking my head.

"No well he wouldn't would he? He doesn't want Soda to be hurt! He's his best friend Pony." Darry replied. "Do you want some bacon while I cook some for myself?"

"Sure." I agreed absently, but my mind was reeling. I'd never got the impression that Steve suspected Soda wasn't the father of Sandy's baby, but now it made me think. The baby was a month early, and Sandy had resisted Soda's offer to marry her and ran off to stay with her Grandmother. An apparent change of heart had made her return and then accept Soda's offer. Could Steve be right?

"Forget it Pony." Darry advised me, reading my thoughts. "Don't you say a word to nobody-especially Soda okay?"

I shook my head.

"I mean it Pony. You open your mouth and I'll kill you. Soda deserves some happiness in his life!" Darry warned me, his eyes cold.

"Don't we all?" I demanded.

Darry's expression softened. "That we do." He admitted. "I knew things would be tough after Mom and Dad died, but I had no idea of all we had to go through. Which reminds me Pony, I have to tell you that I don't know what you did at the hospital the other day, but it really seems to have worked!"

I nodded. "I know, you're right, it has. I guess I had to come to terms with it in my own way. Maybe after the whole thing when you thought I was better I was simply blocking it out, and then I had to deal with it when I was ready?"

Darry nodded. "You know what Pony-you should be a shrink when you're older."

I grinned. "Well I'd sure have a wealth of material living here wouldn't I?" I asked, and Darry laughed. He reached over and ruffled my hair, something I've already told you he hardly ever does.

"We're alright Pony. And we'll be alright. So long as we stick together!" Darry said. "By the way-think you could mow the lawns today seeing as how you've got nothing to do?"