Just Another Normal Day..............

Disclaimer: All that you recognize belongs to SE Hinton



*Darry*

I woke up to the smell of something burning.
Soda. I told you the cake was ready, Pony yelled
Yeah, you could've taken it out of the oven Pony
I was cooking the eggs, they were about to burn
I groaned inwardly and sat up in bed
Morning guys, what's going on? I asked when I walked into the kitchen.
Nothing, just some slight cooking problems Pony said innocently
I made a cake since we ate the last one and it burned, Soda said sheepishly
How'd that happen? I asked
He just shrugged
Only the bottom is burned really anyway,
Pony grinned
And the top and sides,
Soda laughed
Yeah well, you did burn the eggs
They're not burned, they're overheated Pony retorted
I could see laughter in his eyes though
Ok, then I overheated the cake
Does this mean no breakfast? I asked
They both stared at me with wide disbelieving eyes.
Then Soda started to laugh. I could see Pony's shoulders relax then he joined in.
I guess not, you'll just have to go to work hungry Soda teased
Maybe he won't have enough energy to carry more than one bundle of roofing up Pony said
I looked at them.
You two sure this wasn't all some scheme to get me to stop doing that?
Nope, just worked out that way, Soda said
I shook my head and tried to salvage what I could of the cake and eggs.
Its not too bad, I said after swallowing a fork full of the cake
Judging by that look on your face I'd say it is Soda said
I finished the cake quickly then managed to get some eggs down.
I'd better go, don't want to be late for work,
You two should get ready too, you've got places to be
Oh come on Darry, only school and work, Soda said
Sodapop.....
I know, my DX shirt is in the living room right?
Its wherever you put it, I told him.
You need a ride to work? I asked him
No, Steve' ll come by in a few minutes then head over to school,
Ok...Pony?
He shook his head
No thanks, I'll walk,
All right, you two behave yourselves today, I said and opened the door to step outside
You know we're always perfect little angels, Soda said
I know you are....it better stay that way
It will, Soda called as I shut the door
What am I going to do with those two. I thought

This morning had been more like the mornings when our parents were still alive. All the laughing and joking. I almost felt more like their older brother and not their guardian. It was a feeling that I missed having.
Curtis....
That was my boss Mr. Santoni. He has his own roofing business Santoni and Sons, but he doesn't have any sons only two daughters. I guess that just sounded like a good name to him.
I'm not late Mr. Santoni,
Cutting it close there Curtis
I know, what's on the menu today?
There's a new house being built over on Montgomery Street, they need the roof put in today
Is that all? I asked
He rubbed his big, leathery hands on his jeans.
Nothing else has come up, I told them we'd have someone over by 9:00
What time is it?
What do I look like, your personal clock?
Then his features softened and he told me it was 8:35.
As soon as he said that he become my tough talking boss Mr. Santoni again.
What the hell are you standing around for, get moving! he cried when I didn't do anything
Yes sir, I said
I got the address from him then set up all the equipment in my truck.
Did they say who lived in the house? I asked
What does it matter, you'll be on the roof
Some lady and her kid, he told me
Ok, I'll see you tonight
You won't see me again ever if you don't go now
I'm going Mr. Santoni
Good, he mumbled
I had to smile at that. He may act like he could care less about all of us, but I know the guy has a soft spot. His oldest daughter is 22 and she just had a little boy. Mr. Santoni boasted about his new grandson for about a week.
3021, 3023....here it is 3025 Montgomery Street, I said to myself as I pulled into the driveway.
It was a pretty nice neighborhood. Somewhere in the middle class with the line drawn closer to the Socy areas of town. In fact, it was a little like the one we'd lived in when we were much younger. Except that one was only a hop, skip and a jump away from being in the Greaser neighborhoods.
You the guy from Santoni and Sons?
I turned around and found myself face to face with a guy that looked about thirty or so.
Yeah, Darrel Curtis, and you are...?
Rick Miller, head of construction on this baby,
Its a nice one
It was too, the house looked like some of the houses in magazines.
Thanks, the girl that's gonna be living here likes it too,
I figured I could talk for a few minutes then really get down to work so I asked
What's she like?
Her? She's nice, not too much of a priss, she has a mouth bigger and louder than some of my men actually, he said and smirked
I heard she has a kid,
Yeah, a little boy...about a year or so old, his name is Phoenix but she calls him Phi,
I suddenly remembered my ex Liana and her love for the mythical birds of flame.
Darry, if I ever have a little boy I'm gonna name him Phoenix, so that way whenever anything bad happens to him he can rise above it all she had told me once when we were laying together.
Nice to meet you Rick, I'd better get started
Yeah, oh by the way she's not married, he said
I have to take care of my brothers..... I said dumbly
Fine, but she's a real looker
Why don't you? I asked
He shook his head and held up a hand to reveal a simple gold wedding ring.
Can't I've got a wife pregnant with a twins and a four year old daughter at home, they're too important to me, but that's just the way family can be you know
Yeah, I know I said and set up the ladder.
A white car pulled up.
That's her now, the girl that's gonna be living here I mean. She comes around everyday and pitches in a little, brings her kid too
What's her name? I asked
Her name? Oh... Liana Thompson
As soon as he said that a woman stepped out of the car. The she went around to the other side and took a little boy out of a car seat. The hair was a little longer, the skin a little tanner, everything was different in some small way. But I recognized her just as I would recognize my own reflection.
Liana, I whispered
I almost fell off the ladder.


That was Darry at work... please r/r.