(Darry)

"I'm Sherry Valence," the red-head Soc smiled.

"Darrel Curtis," I shook her outstretched head.

She smiled as I stepped aside for her to come in. "Pony's told me about you."

"Hopefully that's good."

She nodded and glanced around our livingroom. I was kinda embarassed; it was awfully messy. We hadn't had time to clean. "Sorry about the mess."

"Don't worry about it. You've got more important things to take care of." She bit her lip and crossed her arms in front of her chest. "Ponyboy..........is he alright?"

I swallowed, hard. Apparently Two-Bit hadn't told her when he called. Everyone else had left for work, but I'd phoned in late to wait for her to arrive. She didn't mind missing the last few days of school; her exams were finished, and she'd wanted to help.

"No," I said softly. I couldn't bring myself to say any more than that. Sherry paled slightly, then swallowed, hard. Her green eyes clouded, then cleared. I'd admired her composure, had since the hearing.

"How much longer does he have?" she asked softly.

"A month at most. Doc thought closer to a few weeks. Maybe shorter."

"Oh, God..........I'm so sorry.........I'm so, so sorry.........."

"Darry?" Pony called from his room. Sherry shut her eyes and waved me off. "I'm sorry. I'll be fine. Go see if he's okay."

I obeyed, glancing at the clock---I only had about twenty minutes before I'd told the boss I'd be there---as I headed into my brothers' room.

"Is Cherry here?"

"Yeah, she's gonna stay with you. That alright?"

"I guess. It's a little weird."

"She wants to help."

Pony self-consciously pulled his hat down tighter over his bald scalp. "You'll call during the day?"

I slowly sat on the other side of the bed, closer to the door. He didn't look at me. "Yeah," I said softly. "Soda will too. You sure you're okay? I mean, I can stay."

"No you can't," Pony ended the argument easily. I sighed and rose.

"I gotta go, kid. I'll call you in a few hours."

"Darry."

I turned back to him. Pony met my gaze and held it. "It ain't nothin' personal, I just know we need the money."

"I know."

My brother fiddled with some loose threads on the bedspread. "Just.........I don't want us fightin' now or anything."

"We ain't fightin'."

Pony sighed and pulled his robe tighter. "Just wanted to say thanks, I guess."

I wanted to hug him, he looked so small and sad, but I resisted. "I know, little buddy. I gotta go, okay? I'll check in."

"Sure."

Sherry---Cherry---was tidying up the living-room.

"Hope it ain't rude," she said softly. "Just trying to help."

"It's fine." I really didn't care anymore. Pride was a thing of the past. She wasn't pitying us because we were poor, she just wanted to help and wasn't sure how. "He's in his room, but you can go say hi. Make him take it easy. Soda and I will call during the day." She nodded as I gathered my things. I turned half-way through the door and watched her for a minute, unsure of what to say.

"I---we really appreciate you helpin'. Last minute and everything."

She stared at me, her bright green eyes clouding again. They looked an awful lot like Pony's.

"It's nothing," she murmured. "I just wish I could do more."

Sure, I thought as I said goodbye and headed out the door, we all do.