Thanks to all reviewers!
Melody: Thanks for the suggestion. I will elaborate on the characters' feelings when the story picks up more.
Rocky: You will find out what is wrong with Pony in the next couple of chapters!
Karlei Shaynner: Thanks for your review. I'm glad you think it's good.
Hallelujah89: I'm glad you like my story. I will update as much as I can! BTW I love your screen name.
Koujaku: I think you're right. It is missing something, and descriptions are a good idea. My writing will get more creative as the story goes.
Two-Bit Gortez: Thanks! I'm glad you want to read more.
(I forgot this last time) Disclaimer: I do not own the Outsiders.
BTW In this story, Pony is about to turn 15, so he will have his birthday soon.
Steve's POV
I was walking down the sidewalk on the way to the Curtis house when I saw what looked like somebody who had been jumped. I looked closely, and I saw it was Pony. What happened to him now? I thought. He was always worrying Darry and Soda sick. I went up to him, and tried to wake him up.
"Pony. Come on, kid, wake up."
His eyes opened, and he looked up at me.
"Steve?"
"Yeah. It's me. Did you get jumped?"
"No, I passed out. Suddenly, everything just went to spinning, and I blacked out. I don't know what's wrong with me." He said groggily.
He looked scared, and now that I thought about it, aside from all the bruises he had on his arms he sure didn't look like he had been beaten up by a Soc. He only looked sick. He was always sick, always wanting attention.
"Can you stand up, so you can get home?" I asked.
Pony nodded and got up. He was a little unsteady at first, but regained his balance.
"It's a good thing my head landed on the grass when I fell and not the sidewalk. The last thing I need is another concussion."
He sounded so tired and worn out, and I have to admit, he didn't look too good either. We were silent the rest of the way to the Curtis house, and I couldn't help but think about why things were always happening to Pony. Yeah, I'm not crazy about the kid, but he was still my best friend's brother. Everything that's happened in the past couple years has put Soda through a lot. He didn't need anything else to worry about.
Darry's POV
When Pony and Steve walked through the front door, I was sitting in the living room reading the paper, and Twobit and Soda were playing poker. I saw Pony, and he looked sad and sick. He really worries me sometimes. Steve just looked annoyed.
"What's going on?" I asked.
"I was walking over here and found Pony out cold. I woke him up, and he said he passed out." Steve said carelessly.
"What? Are you okay, Pony? Maybe you should go lie down." I said.
"I'm okay, Darry. I've just been achy all over and tired, and my throat is really sore."
Soda turned around and looked at Pony.
"Pony, you're pale as a ghost, and your arms are covered in bruises." He said.
Twobit seemed to be completely oblivious to what was going on until he turned and looked at Pony.
"Glory, kid! Even I think a doctor needs to take a look at you."
I agreed with him.
"You're going to the doctor tomorrow morning, but right now you are going to get some rest." I said.
Pony went right to bed. He didn't even protest. He must have felt as bad as he looked.
Pony's POV
I did as Darry told me, and went to get some rest. I fell asleep as soon as I hit the pillow. Gosh, I was tired. I woke up later, and I looked to see what time it was. It was 9:00. It had only been about 4:00 when I went to sleep! You would think I had stayed up to all hours the night before.
Just then, Soda came in to check up on me.
"How you feeling, little buddy?" He asked concerned.
"I still don't feel well, but I sure could use some food."
He grinned. That's good because we saved you some chicken. I didn't want to wake you up earlier at dinner."
I got up and followed Soda to the kitchen as a wave of dizziness came over me, but I shook it off and enjoyed my dinner. I probably just had the flu or something. Oh, well. I thought. At least I had not lost my appetite.
Soda's POV
Pony went back to bed at 10:00 immediately after dinner. That was strange for him. He usually stayed up reading a book until Darry made him go to bed, and I told him to turn the light off, so I could get some sleep. Pony was sleeping peacefully, and I climbed in next to him and drifted off to sleep.
************
I woke up later on in the middle of the night because I could see that the bathroom light was on. When I realized Pony wasn't next to me, I wondered what was going on. Except for nightmares once in a while, he always slept through the night. He came back into the room with his head tilted back holding a bundle of toilet paper against his nose.
"What's wrong, Pony? I asked.
"I woke up, and my nose was bleeding." He said.
I then looked next to me at his pillow and saw a huge blood stain on it.
"I guess you need a new pillow." I got up, and walked to our closet to get a clean pillow.
"I'm sorry for waking you up, Soda. I didn't mean to." Pony said.
"It's okay. You know I don't mind." I answered.
Darry walked in and asked what was going on. I guess he had heard us talking.
"I just have a nosebleed." Pony said. "It's no big deal. You can go back to bed."
"All right, little buddy. Good night." He said before he walked back to his room. He didn't show it much, but I knew he was worried. I could see it in his eyes. I felt the same way. What was going on with our baby brother?
"Did it stop bleeding yet?" I asked.
"No, it's still going. I can't help but think how weird it is that I had that dream last night. Did it mean something is about to happen after I go to the doctor tomorrow or is this just a coincidence?"
I didn't want him to worry. He was probably fine and just had something a little medicine would cure.
"I'm sure it was just a coincidence, and the doctor will fix you right up." I said trying to hide my concern.
"I hope so. My nose quit bleeding, so I guess I'll go back to sleep now."
Pony got back in bed, and fell asleep quickly. I did too, but I looked at him and again I thought of how my brother didn't need anything else to happen to him.
Darry's POV
It was the next day, and I was sitting in the doctor's office with Pony. He was sleeping soundly on my shoulder. I was trying to convince myself that he was fine, but I still had a bad feeling that he was really sick. I mean people don't just pass out and get a bunch of bruises for nothing. Then there was that nosebleed he had. Soda had told me this morning that it lasted for a long time. I'm no doctor, but I knew none of this was normal. The doctor walked in and introduced himself as Dr. White. He got Pony to wake up and asked him what had been wrong lately. Pony told him about his fatigue, lightheadedness, and his sore throat and aching arms and legs. I told him about how he had passed out yesterday. The doctor poked and prodded at him saying how his lymph nodes and spleen were enlarged, and then he asked about the bruises. He eyed me suspiciously when Pony told him he had no idea where they had come from. I knew what he was thinking. He was thinking Pony was being abused. Doctors always jump to these conclusions.
"Mr. Curtis, do you know where these bruises came from?" Dr. White asked.
"Honestly, sir, I have no idea." I said looking into his eyes.
He nodded and seemed to believe me. He better. I love Pony and Soda, and I could never hurt either of them like that.
"I'm going to need to do some bloodwork and maybe other tests depending on those results."
Pony looked horrified. He hated needles and hospitals. I put my arm around him as the doctor left and told him it would be okay. A nurse came in a little while later to take some blood. As the needle went into Pony's arm, I could tell he was trying not to cry. He already felt bad enough. After it was over, the nurse left, and Pony went back to sleep.
Pony's POV
When Dr. White came back into the room, I knew by the look on his face that something was wrong. He sat down in a chair and started talking about my bloodwork results.
"I'm very concerned about the results of your bloodwork."
"Why is that, Doctor?" Darry asked. He looked worried too.
"Well, Ponyboy's platelets and red blood cells are extremely low. He's very anemic."
Anemia, I knew what that was; all I needed was iron pills, but the doctor wasn't finish yet.
"Besides that, his white blood count is over 150,000. Normal is about 10,000."
Wow, I was way above normal.
"Given these results and all of his symptoms, it is best to check him in to the hospital for more tests."
"When?" I wanted to know.
"This afternoon." He answered and left the room.
"Darry, I'm scared. What does he think is wrong with me? It must be bad if I have to go to the hospital for testing." I said with my voice quavering.
Darry just hugged me. He didn't say everything would be fine or try to reassure me. He knew this was bad too.
Melody: Thanks for the suggestion. I will elaborate on the characters' feelings when the story picks up more.
Rocky: You will find out what is wrong with Pony in the next couple of chapters!
Karlei Shaynner: Thanks for your review. I'm glad you think it's good.
Hallelujah89: I'm glad you like my story. I will update as much as I can! BTW I love your screen name.
Koujaku: I think you're right. It is missing something, and descriptions are a good idea. My writing will get more creative as the story goes.
Two-Bit Gortez: Thanks! I'm glad you want to read more.
(I forgot this last time) Disclaimer: I do not own the Outsiders.
BTW In this story, Pony is about to turn 15, so he will have his birthday soon.
Steve's POV
I was walking down the sidewalk on the way to the Curtis house when I saw what looked like somebody who had been jumped. I looked closely, and I saw it was Pony. What happened to him now? I thought. He was always worrying Darry and Soda sick. I went up to him, and tried to wake him up.
"Pony. Come on, kid, wake up."
His eyes opened, and he looked up at me.
"Steve?"
"Yeah. It's me. Did you get jumped?"
"No, I passed out. Suddenly, everything just went to spinning, and I blacked out. I don't know what's wrong with me." He said groggily.
He looked scared, and now that I thought about it, aside from all the bruises he had on his arms he sure didn't look like he had been beaten up by a Soc. He only looked sick. He was always sick, always wanting attention.
"Can you stand up, so you can get home?" I asked.
Pony nodded and got up. He was a little unsteady at first, but regained his balance.
"It's a good thing my head landed on the grass when I fell and not the sidewalk. The last thing I need is another concussion."
He sounded so tired and worn out, and I have to admit, he didn't look too good either. We were silent the rest of the way to the Curtis house, and I couldn't help but think about why things were always happening to Pony. Yeah, I'm not crazy about the kid, but he was still my best friend's brother. Everything that's happened in the past couple years has put Soda through a lot. He didn't need anything else to worry about.
Darry's POV
When Pony and Steve walked through the front door, I was sitting in the living room reading the paper, and Twobit and Soda were playing poker. I saw Pony, and he looked sad and sick. He really worries me sometimes. Steve just looked annoyed.
"What's going on?" I asked.
"I was walking over here and found Pony out cold. I woke him up, and he said he passed out." Steve said carelessly.
"What? Are you okay, Pony? Maybe you should go lie down." I said.
"I'm okay, Darry. I've just been achy all over and tired, and my throat is really sore."
Soda turned around and looked at Pony.
"Pony, you're pale as a ghost, and your arms are covered in bruises." He said.
Twobit seemed to be completely oblivious to what was going on until he turned and looked at Pony.
"Glory, kid! Even I think a doctor needs to take a look at you."
I agreed with him.
"You're going to the doctor tomorrow morning, but right now you are going to get some rest." I said.
Pony went right to bed. He didn't even protest. He must have felt as bad as he looked.
Pony's POV
I did as Darry told me, and went to get some rest. I fell asleep as soon as I hit the pillow. Gosh, I was tired. I woke up later, and I looked to see what time it was. It was 9:00. It had only been about 4:00 when I went to sleep! You would think I had stayed up to all hours the night before.
Just then, Soda came in to check up on me.
"How you feeling, little buddy?" He asked concerned.
"I still don't feel well, but I sure could use some food."
He grinned. That's good because we saved you some chicken. I didn't want to wake you up earlier at dinner."
I got up and followed Soda to the kitchen as a wave of dizziness came over me, but I shook it off and enjoyed my dinner. I probably just had the flu or something. Oh, well. I thought. At least I had not lost my appetite.
Soda's POV
Pony went back to bed at 10:00 immediately after dinner. That was strange for him. He usually stayed up reading a book until Darry made him go to bed, and I told him to turn the light off, so I could get some sleep. Pony was sleeping peacefully, and I climbed in next to him and drifted off to sleep.
************
I woke up later on in the middle of the night because I could see that the bathroom light was on. When I realized Pony wasn't next to me, I wondered what was going on. Except for nightmares once in a while, he always slept through the night. He came back into the room with his head tilted back holding a bundle of toilet paper against his nose.
"What's wrong, Pony? I asked.
"I woke up, and my nose was bleeding." He said.
I then looked next to me at his pillow and saw a huge blood stain on it.
"I guess you need a new pillow." I got up, and walked to our closet to get a clean pillow.
"I'm sorry for waking you up, Soda. I didn't mean to." Pony said.
"It's okay. You know I don't mind." I answered.
Darry walked in and asked what was going on. I guess he had heard us talking.
"I just have a nosebleed." Pony said. "It's no big deal. You can go back to bed."
"All right, little buddy. Good night." He said before he walked back to his room. He didn't show it much, but I knew he was worried. I could see it in his eyes. I felt the same way. What was going on with our baby brother?
"Did it stop bleeding yet?" I asked.
"No, it's still going. I can't help but think how weird it is that I had that dream last night. Did it mean something is about to happen after I go to the doctor tomorrow or is this just a coincidence?"
I didn't want him to worry. He was probably fine and just had something a little medicine would cure.
"I'm sure it was just a coincidence, and the doctor will fix you right up." I said trying to hide my concern.
"I hope so. My nose quit bleeding, so I guess I'll go back to sleep now."
Pony got back in bed, and fell asleep quickly. I did too, but I looked at him and again I thought of how my brother didn't need anything else to happen to him.
Darry's POV
It was the next day, and I was sitting in the doctor's office with Pony. He was sleeping soundly on my shoulder. I was trying to convince myself that he was fine, but I still had a bad feeling that he was really sick. I mean people don't just pass out and get a bunch of bruises for nothing. Then there was that nosebleed he had. Soda had told me this morning that it lasted for a long time. I'm no doctor, but I knew none of this was normal. The doctor walked in and introduced himself as Dr. White. He got Pony to wake up and asked him what had been wrong lately. Pony told him about his fatigue, lightheadedness, and his sore throat and aching arms and legs. I told him about how he had passed out yesterday. The doctor poked and prodded at him saying how his lymph nodes and spleen were enlarged, and then he asked about the bruises. He eyed me suspiciously when Pony told him he had no idea where they had come from. I knew what he was thinking. He was thinking Pony was being abused. Doctors always jump to these conclusions.
"Mr. Curtis, do you know where these bruises came from?" Dr. White asked.
"Honestly, sir, I have no idea." I said looking into his eyes.
He nodded and seemed to believe me. He better. I love Pony and Soda, and I could never hurt either of them like that.
"I'm going to need to do some bloodwork and maybe other tests depending on those results."
Pony looked horrified. He hated needles and hospitals. I put my arm around him as the doctor left and told him it would be okay. A nurse came in a little while later to take some blood. As the needle went into Pony's arm, I could tell he was trying not to cry. He already felt bad enough. After it was over, the nurse left, and Pony went back to sleep.
Pony's POV
When Dr. White came back into the room, I knew by the look on his face that something was wrong. He sat down in a chair and started talking about my bloodwork results.
"I'm very concerned about the results of your bloodwork."
"Why is that, Doctor?" Darry asked. He looked worried too.
"Well, Ponyboy's platelets and red blood cells are extremely low. He's very anemic."
Anemia, I knew what that was; all I needed was iron pills, but the doctor wasn't finish yet.
"Besides that, his white blood count is over 150,000. Normal is about 10,000."
Wow, I was way above normal.
"Given these results and all of his symptoms, it is best to check him in to the hospital for more tests."
"When?" I wanted to know.
"This afternoon." He answered and left the room.
"Darry, I'm scared. What does he think is wrong with me? It must be bad if I have to go to the hospital for testing." I said with my voice quavering.
Darry just hugged me. He didn't say everything would be fine or try to reassure me. He knew this was bad too.