"Danny."
His mother stuck his head into his messy room. Danny was listening to the radio. He cut it off when his mother entered. No matter, what he didn't have the heart to ignore his mother.
"What?"
"Listen. You're going to be okay over there. I was going to tell you something as a surprise, but I think now would be a better time to tell you."
Danny sat up.
"I'm listenin'"
"Your father's coming home from jail in two months. He's going by Tulsa first. He wants to see his brothers first. Sodapop already told him that you would be there. He wants to see how much you've grown."
Well that had to settle it. He really saw that he didn't have a choice. Plus it would be good for him to finally meet his dad. The true hood. Back in Tulsa. He could even meet the gang he was in. More positive ideas popped into Danny's head.
"Fine. I'll go," he said quietly.
"Okay. Pack all of your clothes and valuables. The plane leaves tomorrow."
"Mom."
"Yes."
"Can we leave early tomorrow. I want to stop somewhere first."
"Sure."
She closed the door. Danny just lied there for a second. Well, it's better than going to Boot Camp.
The next day his mother stopped in front of a house. It was an average little house in East Point. It was white with one story. It was his girlfriend, Jennifer's house.
Danny got out and went up to the door. He rang it. He hadn't talked to his girlfriend in a while. This was gonna make the situation worse. Jennifer answered the door. She was surprised.
"Danny! Came to apologize."
"No."
"Then what?"
Her facial expression changed when she looked at his. He was obviously nervous about this.
"Listen. I know we had a fight. But my mom's sending me to my uncle's house in Tulsa, Oklahoma. We-"
He didn't get to finish his sentence because Jennifer gave him a good slapped right across the cheek. She'd only slapped him twice before, but this was the hardest one.
"So you're just gonna run away huh? I hate you!"
She slammed the door in his face. Danny wanted to charge in there and beat her like a Tina Turner movie, but he held himself back and just yelled,
"Well forget you! Stupid broad!"
He went back to his car and sat down in his seat. His mother just rubbed his head. She knew that on the outside he was mad, but inside he was hurt deeply. They drove up to the airport. Some police officers there were eyeing him like he was gonna go through the metal detectors with it ringing off. He surprised them when the detectors didn't. He couldn't help but smile at the guards as he walked to his terminal.
When his plane finally arrived he gave his mother a long hug.
"You behave yourself okay."
"Alright."
He walked onto his plane and sat there. A brand new place. He wasn't gonna be like his dad and start over though. He would stay the same and be tough.
He arrived in Tulsa hours later. He had fallen asleep and slept the entire way. He was glad when he landed. He was kinda nervous that his ears would start hurting. He got off of the plane and walked out into the waiting area. His mom said Sodapop would pick him up. Soda would be wearing a red button shirt or a tank top and blue jeans.
Danny looked for him and saw Soda. The clothes description fitted him exactly. The button up shirt was a little dirty though. He walked up to him and Soda smiled.
"Danny?"
"Uncle Soda."
"Yup. C'mon let's get your bags."
Later on when they were in the car, Soda was asking Danny a few questions.
"How old are you?"
"Sixteen."
"So's your cousin, Rachel. She's your uncle Ponyboy's oldest. He also has a son named Houston. He's fifteen. I have a son named Jack, he's nineteen right now."
Danny looked Soda confused.
"Not to be nosy, but didn't your girlfriend move away from you because you made her pregnant when you two were sixteen."
Soda laughed.
"No. Everyone thought that was why she moved. Her parents didn't want me around her. That didn't stop us. We found each other eventually and did the pleasure of life."
"Pleasure of Life?"
"Yeah. Ever experienced it."
"Not yet."
"Good. You'll hate the child support."
Danny had a good laugh. He can see why his dad had a good time around this guy.
They finally reached the house and Soda helped Danny with his things. They entered the house and three teenagers were watching TV.
"Hey guys. Here's your cousin, Danny."
They all looked at him. The girl seemed to be sizing him up. Danny noticed this and spoke on it.
"What sizing me for? Plan on robbing me?"
She looked straight into his face.
"You don't look like you got anything worth robbing."
"Look who's talking."
"Whoa! Whoa!" said Soda trying to stop the argument before a fight breaks out. "Talk about getting off on the wrong foot."
At that point, a woman came walking in.
"What's going on here?" she asked and Soda answered her.
"Nothing. Everything's fine. Danny. This is your Aunt Cathy. Ponyboy's wife"
She turned to Danny.
"Well, hello."
"Hey."
"Your Uncle Ponyboy is at a book meeting right now. You'll see him later on this week. Make yourself at home. You'll be rooming with your cousin, Houston."
Because of The Outsiders, Ponyboy had enough money to add onto the house. He didn't want much, he just added on one room. Ponyboy and Cathy had Pony and Soda's old room, Rachel had Darry's room, Soda took the extra room while Houston and Jack shared a room. Jack would share a room with his dad. That way Danny could be in the room that his dad slept in. Darry was in college now, Pony paid for just about everything. They let him keep majority of the money. They said it was his story and money shouldn't try to screw up their lives.
"Tonight, you'll see the rest of the gang," said Soda. "We're all hitting the movies."