Chapter 15 (Darry's POV)
So 7:00 came, and I woke up to find Soda making breakfast. I couldn't believe this weird fortune. Soda only woke up first about one day in every ten, and he picks his last day at home to work. I felt that I owed it to Soda to tell him to stop working, but that would sound stupid. I didn't want to beat around the bush, so I just said, " Hi Soda. I got a call from the social worker last night. They said that you and Pony would be picked up to go to taken to foster homes at 9:00 this morning." What I was really thinking was All of your things are packed! How can you not notice something? You look too darn happy! These people are cheating us! They have no right! Soda, respond, Goddmnit! Soda didn't say anything. However, he obviously heard me, since he looked up at me with a complete deer-in-the-headlights look. It gave the impression of being full of either fear or shock or something. I never saw Soda give such a complex expression before. I was a little scared. But I knew that I needed to be brave. Or at least tuff. That seemed stupid now, though. Our petty gang wars. I had my muscles, that was it. This new battle would not require that. It would scorn my physical strength. Maybe they would even accuse me of beating Soda and Pony! Oh my goodness! I obviously was strong enough to pull shit off. But no, they wouldn't do that. Besides, I don't think that the social workers knew about Pony's recent stay in the hospital after Dally's death. That would give them no reason to accuse me of anything too bad, then. I took over making breakfast.
"Go wake up Pony, and dressed. You can't go to your new homes in pajamas." Soda obliged, but gave no sign of consciousness. At 8:00, we were all ready to do something, but had no idea what. We had an hour, and the only feeling in the room was, 'Come on, we don't want to waste this time, but what can we do? Come up with courtroom strategy?' So for an hour we participated in small talk that was so small you couldn't find it with an electron microscope. Then the cars came. TWO cars. Soda and Pony were not going to be together. Both of them were going to New Jersey; Pony to a town called Livingston, and Soda to a so-called Short Hills. I hear that they are pretty close, but still! Pony separated from Soda! Forget about me, but each other? Of course, I didn't think 'forget about me'. People are selfish, and I am no exception. But this made me incredibly angry. Soda seemed barely able to take this in, and walked into the car like he was going to Two- Bit's house. Pony stood there for a moment before getting in the car. A small choking noise came from his throat, and he quickly turned to face his back to me. I walked over to him, and still did not see his face. I stood behind him before he went into the car, and said, "Go. I will get you back soon enough." I wanted to make this very quick. I knew that Pony was trying to hold back tears. And I knew that pain, very well.
~Darry just stood there with his fists jammed in his pockets wearing that pleading expression~
Yeah, I knew that pain well enough. I waited outside until the cars were out of sight and earshot. I didn't know what on earth to do then. So I went inside and made some calls. I would need to get a move on my brothers' return.
So 7:00 came, and I woke up to find Soda making breakfast. I couldn't believe this weird fortune. Soda only woke up first about one day in every ten, and he picks his last day at home to work. I felt that I owed it to Soda to tell him to stop working, but that would sound stupid. I didn't want to beat around the bush, so I just said, " Hi Soda. I got a call from the social worker last night. They said that you and Pony would be picked up to go to taken to foster homes at 9:00 this morning." What I was really thinking was All of your things are packed! How can you not notice something? You look too darn happy! These people are cheating us! They have no right! Soda, respond, Goddmnit! Soda didn't say anything. However, he obviously heard me, since he looked up at me with a complete deer-in-the-headlights look. It gave the impression of being full of either fear or shock or something. I never saw Soda give such a complex expression before. I was a little scared. But I knew that I needed to be brave. Or at least tuff. That seemed stupid now, though. Our petty gang wars. I had my muscles, that was it. This new battle would not require that. It would scorn my physical strength. Maybe they would even accuse me of beating Soda and Pony! Oh my goodness! I obviously was strong enough to pull shit off. But no, they wouldn't do that. Besides, I don't think that the social workers knew about Pony's recent stay in the hospital after Dally's death. That would give them no reason to accuse me of anything too bad, then. I took over making breakfast.
"Go wake up Pony, and dressed. You can't go to your new homes in pajamas." Soda obliged, but gave no sign of consciousness. At 8:00, we were all ready to do something, but had no idea what. We had an hour, and the only feeling in the room was, 'Come on, we don't want to waste this time, but what can we do? Come up with courtroom strategy?' So for an hour we participated in small talk that was so small you couldn't find it with an electron microscope. Then the cars came. TWO cars. Soda and Pony were not going to be together. Both of them were going to New Jersey; Pony to a town called Livingston, and Soda to a so-called Short Hills. I hear that they are pretty close, but still! Pony separated from Soda! Forget about me, but each other? Of course, I didn't think 'forget about me'. People are selfish, and I am no exception. But this made me incredibly angry. Soda seemed barely able to take this in, and walked into the car like he was going to Two- Bit's house. Pony stood there for a moment before getting in the car. A small choking noise came from his throat, and he quickly turned to face his back to me. I walked over to him, and still did not see his face. I stood behind him before he went into the car, and said, "Go. I will get you back soon enough." I wanted to make this very quick. I knew that Pony was trying to hold back tears. And I knew that pain, very well.
~Darry just stood there with his fists jammed in his pockets wearing that pleading expression~
Yeah, I knew that pain well enough. I waited outside until the cars were out of sight and earshot. I didn't know what on earth to do then. So I went inside and made some calls. I would need to get a move on my brothers' return.