2. A quite ordinary morning
"Ponyboy, you must get up, otherwise you gonna be too late for school again!" Darry yelled from the kitchen to his kid brother, who opened his eyes grumpily, made a face and then really got up. Then Pony looked at the bed of his other brother Sodapop. This one was already gotten up. With a yawn he turned to the kitchen.
"Mornin', Ponyboy!" Darry greeted him and turned to the breakfast again.
"Mornin'..." Ponyboy growled to himself and sat down bored on the table.
Actually, he wouldn't get up and go to school today at all. He'd rather stay in bed for ever. Besides, he had very strong stomachache already for few days and that was why he actually wouldn't eat anything.
"Hey Darry, have ya seen my DX-shirt?" Sodapop shouted.
"Superman washed it too hot. So it shrank and he changed it into a cleanin' rag!" sounded from the living room.
"Haha, Two-Bit, very funny!" Sodapop replied and leaned against the door-case.
Two-Bit grinned and turned to his beer, his cake and the TV again, where 'Mickey Mouse' ran, as usual.
Steve sat next to him. He looked now at Sodapop and meant grinning, "Well, you really can go to work like that for a change. There the girls wanna come in a crowd all the more! But could ya perhaps hurry up now?"
"I'll do, but I only search for my shirt. And if I would know now, where it is, we would be 'way long ago." With that Sodapop turned to Darry.
This one only answered, "Well, if it's not in your room, then it'll be still in the dryer."
"Ok, I'll check it." Sodapop replied and turned again in the direction of the bath.
"Mornin', Kid!" he greeted his kid brother and ruffled Pony's still 'ungreased' hair.
"Hey!" this one complained. "You know I hate when I'm called 'Kid' and I don't like people touchin' my hair!" Ponyboy said mad.
"What has spoiled your mood, buddy? What's the matter?" Sodapop asked worried and looked at his kid brother.
"Soda, we must go..." Steve shouted to him and rolled his eyes.
He still didn't like Ponyboy better than before.
"Steve's right. Otherwise you'll come too late! And Ponyboy should hurry up himself too. Otherwise he gonna be too late again!" Darry said and put a plate in front of Pony.
"Ok." Soda said and went into the bath and then into his room, where he shortly after that returned with his shirt. "We can go." he said grinning to Steve, who rose up.
"Goodbye, guys!" Steve said to the others.
"Bye, see ya later!" Soda said, too. "Bye Ponyboy!" he said to his brother. This one didn't reply anything, but only sat in front of his plate and picked listless at his breakfast. Sodapop looked at him disappointed and left also the house.
"So, the both were 'way. Ponyboy, please hurry up a bit!" Darry turned now to Ponyboy. This one pushed his plate from him. "What's up? Doesn't it taste? You must eat somethin'..."
"I'm not hungry, don't like to eat anythin'!" this one replied and got up.
"Wait, buddy! At first, you tell me what it is, before you get up and go 'way!" Darry grabbed him by the arm and watched him piercingly.
"There's nothin'! And now let me go!" Pony hissed.
Darry slowly boiled with rage. What was gotten into this kid? But then Darry only growled and let Ponyboy really go. This one turned around and walked into his room to get his things for school.
Then he walked to the front door and put on his jacket while he walked. "Pony!" Darry yelled behind him.
"What?" he asked and turned around.
"Here, buy yourself somethin' to eat!" Darry answered and pressed him some money into his hand.
"Yeah..." Pony replied and put the money unnoticed into his pocket.
"Two-Bit? Wouldn't you go along with Pony now?" Darry asked.
"Nope, sorry, Pony. I'll come later. Just have to watch Mickey till the end! But go on already..." Two-Bit answered, while he stared further spellbound at the TV.
"I don't need anybody, who accompany me and take care of me!" Pony murmured and then he turned to the front door. And before Darry could say something to him, he was gone without saying anything else. With a shake of the head Darry looked behind him.