Chapter 1

"Get up, kid, it's a school day." Darry called from the kitchen. I could smell the pancakes that Darry made every morning. Even though he was the only one who ate them, while Soda and I ate chocolate cake, he made about 5 stacks each morning. Boy, could he eat.

"Not today, please Darry, I think I'm sick." I said, disguising my voice. He wouldn't notice if I wasn't actually sick, unless he came into the room, and took my temperature. But he was so wrapped up in his pancakes and not being late for work, that he didn't.

"You sure? I thought you loved school." he replied.

"Yeah, but I ain't gonna waste my health on it."

"Well then watch out today, okay? Soda will be up in about half an hour and he'll be at work, too. Sure you'll be okay? You want me to call somebody?"

"I'll be fine. Wow, I wonder how your gonna act when I go off to college!" Darry stared at me. We had never talked about going to college. The only way I could go, is if I had a full scholarship. I regretted those words as soon as I said them. Darry had given up college to be at home with me and Soda. And I used it in a sentence…just like that!

"Okay then. I'll call up later." he said as he grabbed his tool belt and left out the door. Then, as if on cue, Sodapop walked in.

"Hey Soda, What's up?" I asked pouring myself a bowl of cereal.

"Whoa, buddy! Try notta gimme a heart attack!" Soda replied. "Ain't you supposed to be at school?"

"Nah, Darry said I could stay home today. I'm sick" I said, pretending not to notice how much I had scared him.

"Okay, Steve'll be here any second and I gotta go get ready. I'll call later." he said as he went into our room. I stayed in the living room, watching TV, eating cereal.

Soda left soon later, and I went to our room and tried to sleep.

As soon as I put my head to the pillow, the phone rang. I was a little dizzy getting up. I'm always like that if I get up really quickly.

"Hello, um, Pony-Boy Curtis? This is Dr. Jousa from the Tulsa Medical Hospital. Your brother, Darryl Curtis was admitted to us after he came back from a car accident. I think you'd better come down here."

My heart must have skipped at least 50 beats.