"Hey sleepyhead." Soda pounded me on the back, "You aiite?"
"Sure am now," I looked around, "Where's Dr. B?"
Soda's eyes were sparkling, "On the couch. Darry carried her there; she's sleeping."
I raised my eyebrows hintingly and wiggled them.
"Dar thinks she only likes you!" Soda grinned widely, "But everybody knows you got the hots for Cherry!"
"Aw, shut yer trap." I punched him lightly.
"I come in here expectin to find my brothers, two tuff greasers.stead I finds 2 gossiping girls in here!" Darry said dryly from the doorway.
"shuttup!" Soda and I chorused, whapping him pillows from my bed.
"It's time for school!" Darry bellowed and grinned at me.
I groaned, but somewhere inside me I missed the normalcy of school and PE.
When I grabbed my stuff and something to eat, Soda volunteered to drop me off.
On my way to the door I spotted Dr. Brawning on the couch. She looked a lot younger when she was asleep. I guess everyone does, she sure was little thought. Dr. B was curled up in a ball and breathing softly like a cat.
"I ain't soft." I told Darry quietly as he caught me pulling a blanket over the woman.
"I know it." My oldest brother laughed, "get on now."
I ran outside to where Soda was starting up the car.
But I knew when I got home I'd have to face my problems once again.
Autumn's POV
When Pony left I whispered without opening my eyes, "That kids a good boy, ain't he?"
"He's sensitive." I heard Darry's response. I popped my eyes open, Darry didn't look the least bit surprised to find I wasn't asleep.
"He had to be strong for all his life." I said, "but he isn't like some of the other kids I've seen. Some of them.."
"They scare you." Darry affirmed. I nodded, he didn't know how much thos hoods terrified me.
My green eyes sparkled with energy, "I think I can help Ponyboy. But I need to know something."
Darry sat down beside me raising his eyebrows, "Anything."
"How did you parents die?" I asked, getting up, not because I didn't like his presence next to me.but because I liked it too much. Work and play never mix. I nudged the widow shades back and morning sunlight filled the room.
"Auto-wreck." Darry told me, "During a thunderstorm."
Pain momentarily flashed in his eyes, and shadows crossed his features with lightening speed.
"There's more to it, isn't there?" I inquired amiably. So far, I saw no need to rush.
Darry mumbled something and stared at his shoes.
"hm?" I pressed him gently, sensing Darry knew something important. The key, perhaps to Pony's vicious dreams.
"The.the day they died, it was Ponyboy who found out last." Darry said, blue eyes lost in memories. This was hard for him to say so I decided not to press him anymore. One of the hardest parts of my occupation is to see the toughest people break down right before your eyes. My parents had died when I was 10. They were my world and when I found them suddenly gone- I was lost. But, despite the pain and suffering I turned out okay.maybe even better than okay. However, there are always secrets lying in the darkness of my heart..secrets that I will share with no one.
Gooseflesh raced up my arms.
Darryl leaned against a white wall, eyes closed.
Why was Pony the last to find out? Why was this fact so important? I didn't understand.
My new friend looked at me,. "Soda and I waited to tell Ponyboy. He was the last to know about our parent's deaths because the night they..-he trailed off and breath deeply.the night that our parents died; it was well.it was Ponyboy's 13th birthday." Darry's voice was soft and halting. I didn't speak, only sat there beside Darry.my heart breaking for Sodapop, Darryl and Ponyboy Curtis. I was thinking how it would feel to have one of the happiest moments in your life turn into one of the most devastating.
Ponyboy's POV (cont.)
Math tests, Lit essays and track practice gave me the comfortable feeling of school life.
My birthday was in a week.pretty soon I'd be 16. That was a lot older than I felt just about now. Dad always said he'd let me drive when I was 16.
No! I pushed the thoughts away and walked home. I heard faint laughter as I opened the screen door and hollered, "I'm home!!"
Soda was wrong about the suspicion that Dr. Brawling only like me. I could tell because she seemed to be getting pretty friendly with my oldest brother in the kitchen.
She was cooking something on he stove that smelled like heaven. Or something close to it at least.lets face it, Darry's a pretty good cook but when you live in a house with only guys who'll eat anything.cooking skills tend to deteriorate. "Hey Ponyboy!" Darry called, grinning like a wild thing. It was the most resemblance I've seen between him and Soda for a long time.
"Hey." I said, slightly confused, "Dr. B?"
"Call me Autumn." Dr. Brawning looked different today. She has her hair down; beautiful tresses of brownish red glimmered in the light.
"Autumn." I admired, testing the word.
"Howbout fall?" Darry inquired with mock seriousness, picking the doctor up with ease.
Autumn squealed and nearly hit him over the head with the spoon she was using to stir the chili, "Let up Darryl Curtis. You hear me? Drop me and you'll be sorry!"
"Oh, will I now?" Darry let loose a wickedly charming smile.
He let her drop for a second then caught her, like one would a small chile. He was that strong.
In fact, they were acting like children. I couldn't only stare, mouth dropping in wonder.
This time Autumn did bonk Darry on the head with her wooking spoon. But the sparkled in her green eyes danced with merry laughter.
When Darry put her down she righted herself and threw one arm around my shoulders, "Now, don't you go taking lessons of life from that wild brother of yours." Autumn pointed to Darry and I nearly balked with laughter. Apparently she didn't know Soda was twice as bad as Darry ever could be. "You know how to treat a woman right."
I stuck my tongue out at Darry where he stood looking slightly amused.
"And here I thought Ponyboy only had it in for Cherry Valance!" Soda's teasing oive rang through the background of noice.
"Whoa there!" Dr. B stepped forward, between us, "lets eat."
And boy, did we. Autumn smiled as proudly as if she'd won the Nobel prize, when she watched up scarf her food. Her cooking was good.
Autumn's POV (cont.)
When Pony and I washed dishes I decided to tell him outright, "Pony you didn't kill your parents."
"What." Pony haled and froze, his hands clenching the dish towel too tightly.
"There was a storm, kid. Not your fault, the roads were wet and slippery that night." I elaborated, watching Ponyboy's face with concern.
"No. These dreams.I used to not know or remember what happened.but now I see all too clearly. I have to get away from them. It's an oman, my parents want me to join them." Ponyboy was scratching at some rice that had been stuck to the pan. Was this innocent boy contemplating suicide? Is that what he meant by joining his parents?
"Ponyboy.how could you think that?" Soda asked from the doorway. He'd been listeing.
"You told him!" Pony accused me with stunning venom.
"I did not." I said, "Soda was just list-
"I trusted you!" He whispered scornfully, "now."
"just hold on a god damn second, Ponyboy. Dr. Brawning here didn't tell me nothing! Now whats got you so exciteable?" Soda stepped into Pony's path, soothing him with a gently tone. He and Pony were closer than Darry and he were. But Darry loved Ponyboy just a much.
"I don't want to talk about it." Pony growled.
"Ok..Pony" Soda looked disappointed, crestfallen even.
"Kid, I think maybe Darry and Soda should know." I said quietly.
Darry came running to the kitchen, "What's going on?"
I looked at Ponyboy, hoping to reassure him.
"I killed mom and pa, aiite?!" was all Ponyboy could say with a vicious glare at me. He sank down into a chair and squeezed his hands until they turned white, and his short nails drew blood from his pals.
"Ponyboy that's not right." Darry looked into his face, shocked.
"You know as well as I do that they died on MY birthday." Pony said, his eyes wide and emotionless.
Soda mouth twitched as he pressed it into a thin line, "It was an accident.." His voice was soft and I wanted Ponyboy to believe his brother with all my heart. But I knew.it would take more hard work to heal Ponyboy Curtis.
"Sure am now," I looked around, "Where's Dr. B?"
Soda's eyes were sparkling, "On the couch. Darry carried her there; she's sleeping."
I raised my eyebrows hintingly and wiggled them.
"Dar thinks she only likes you!" Soda grinned widely, "But everybody knows you got the hots for Cherry!"
"Aw, shut yer trap." I punched him lightly.
"I come in here expectin to find my brothers, two tuff greasers.stead I finds 2 gossiping girls in here!" Darry said dryly from the doorway.
"shuttup!" Soda and I chorused, whapping him pillows from my bed.
"It's time for school!" Darry bellowed and grinned at me.
I groaned, but somewhere inside me I missed the normalcy of school and PE.
When I grabbed my stuff and something to eat, Soda volunteered to drop me off.
On my way to the door I spotted Dr. Brawning on the couch. She looked a lot younger when she was asleep. I guess everyone does, she sure was little thought. Dr. B was curled up in a ball and breathing softly like a cat.
"I ain't soft." I told Darry quietly as he caught me pulling a blanket over the woman.
"I know it." My oldest brother laughed, "get on now."
I ran outside to where Soda was starting up the car.
But I knew when I got home I'd have to face my problems once again.
Autumn's POV
When Pony left I whispered without opening my eyes, "That kids a good boy, ain't he?"
"He's sensitive." I heard Darry's response. I popped my eyes open, Darry didn't look the least bit surprised to find I wasn't asleep.
"He had to be strong for all his life." I said, "but he isn't like some of the other kids I've seen. Some of them.."
"They scare you." Darry affirmed. I nodded, he didn't know how much thos hoods terrified me.
My green eyes sparkled with energy, "I think I can help Ponyboy. But I need to know something."
Darry sat down beside me raising his eyebrows, "Anything."
"How did you parents die?" I asked, getting up, not because I didn't like his presence next to me.but because I liked it too much. Work and play never mix. I nudged the widow shades back and morning sunlight filled the room.
"Auto-wreck." Darry told me, "During a thunderstorm."
Pain momentarily flashed in his eyes, and shadows crossed his features with lightening speed.
"There's more to it, isn't there?" I inquired amiably. So far, I saw no need to rush.
Darry mumbled something and stared at his shoes.
"hm?" I pressed him gently, sensing Darry knew something important. The key, perhaps to Pony's vicious dreams.
"The.the day they died, it was Ponyboy who found out last." Darry said, blue eyes lost in memories. This was hard for him to say so I decided not to press him anymore. One of the hardest parts of my occupation is to see the toughest people break down right before your eyes. My parents had died when I was 10. They were my world and when I found them suddenly gone- I was lost. But, despite the pain and suffering I turned out okay.maybe even better than okay. However, there are always secrets lying in the darkness of my heart..secrets that I will share with no one.
Gooseflesh raced up my arms.
Darryl leaned against a white wall, eyes closed.
Why was Pony the last to find out? Why was this fact so important? I didn't understand.
My new friend looked at me,. "Soda and I waited to tell Ponyboy. He was the last to know about our parent's deaths because the night they..-he trailed off and breath deeply.the night that our parents died; it was well.it was Ponyboy's 13th birthday." Darry's voice was soft and halting. I didn't speak, only sat there beside Darry.my heart breaking for Sodapop, Darryl and Ponyboy Curtis. I was thinking how it would feel to have one of the happiest moments in your life turn into one of the most devastating.
Ponyboy's POV (cont.)
Math tests, Lit essays and track practice gave me the comfortable feeling of school life.
My birthday was in a week.pretty soon I'd be 16. That was a lot older than I felt just about now. Dad always said he'd let me drive when I was 16.
No! I pushed the thoughts away and walked home. I heard faint laughter as I opened the screen door and hollered, "I'm home!!"
Soda was wrong about the suspicion that Dr. Brawling only like me. I could tell because she seemed to be getting pretty friendly with my oldest brother in the kitchen.
She was cooking something on he stove that smelled like heaven. Or something close to it at least.lets face it, Darry's a pretty good cook but when you live in a house with only guys who'll eat anything.cooking skills tend to deteriorate. "Hey Ponyboy!" Darry called, grinning like a wild thing. It was the most resemblance I've seen between him and Soda for a long time.
"Hey." I said, slightly confused, "Dr. B?"
"Call me Autumn." Dr. Brawning looked different today. She has her hair down; beautiful tresses of brownish red glimmered in the light.
"Autumn." I admired, testing the word.
"Howbout fall?" Darry inquired with mock seriousness, picking the doctor up with ease.
Autumn squealed and nearly hit him over the head with the spoon she was using to stir the chili, "Let up Darryl Curtis. You hear me? Drop me and you'll be sorry!"
"Oh, will I now?" Darry let loose a wickedly charming smile.
He let her drop for a second then caught her, like one would a small chile. He was that strong.
In fact, they were acting like children. I couldn't only stare, mouth dropping in wonder.
This time Autumn did bonk Darry on the head with her wooking spoon. But the sparkled in her green eyes danced with merry laughter.
When Darry put her down she righted herself and threw one arm around my shoulders, "Now, don't you go taking lessons of life from that wild brother of yours." Autumn pointed to Darry and I nearly balked with laughter. Apparently she didn't know Soda was twice as bad as Darry ever could be. "You know how to treat a woman right."
I stuck my tongue out at Darry where he stood looking slightly amused.
"And here I thought Ponyboy only had it in for Cherry Valance!" Soda's teasing oive rang through the background of noice.
"Whoa there!" Dr. B stepped forward, between us, "lets eat."
And boy, did we. Autumn smiled as proudly as if she'd won the Nobel prize, when she watched up scarf her food. Her cooking was good.
Autumn's POV (cont.)
When Pony and I washed dishes I decided to tell him outright, "Pony you didn't kill your parents."
"What." Pony haled and froze, his hands clenching the dish towel too tightly.
"There was a storm, kid. Not your fault, the roads were wet and slippery that night." I elaborated, watching Ponyboy's face with concern.
"No. These dreams.I used to not know or remember what happened.but now I see all too clearly. I have to get away from them. It's an oman, my parents want me to join them." Ponyboy was scratching at some rice that had been stuck to the pan. Was this innocent boy contemplating suicide? Is that what he meant by joining his parents?
"Ponyboy.how could you think that?" Soda asked from the doorway. He'd been listeing.
"You told him!" Pony accused me with stunning venom.
"I did not." I said, "Soda was just list-
"I trusted you!" He whispered scornfully, "now."
"just hold on a god damn second, Ponyboy. Dr. Brawning here didn't tell me nothing! Now whats got you so exciteable?" Soda stepped into Pony's path, soothing him with a gently tone. He and Pony were closer than Darry and he were. But Darry loved Ponyboy just a much.
"I don't want to talk about it." Pony growled.
"Ok..Pony" Soda looked disappointed, crestfallen even.
"Kid, I think maybe Darry and Soda should know." I said quietly.
Darry came running to the kitchen, "What's going on?"
I looked at Ponyboy, hoping to reassure him.
"I killed mom and pa, aiite?!" was all Ponyboy could say with a vicious glare at me. He sank down into a chair and squeezed his hands until they turned white, and his short nails drew blood from his pals.
"Ponyboy that's not right." Darry looked into his face, shocked.
"You know as well as I do that they died on MY birthday." Pony said, his eyes wide and emotionless.
Soda mouth twitched as he pressed it into a thin line, "It was an accident.." His voice was soft and I wanted Ponyboy to believe his brother with all my heart. But I knew.it would take more hard work to heal Ponyboy Curtis.