Hey people! We're back! Okay, here's an explanation to y'all about
well...everything, considering we forgot that last time.
About the whole Darry going to war thing...don't jump soo fast to conclusions. In the next few chapters it will all come together, it does make sense. At the current time it doesn't make sense, its not supposed to, but it will in due time, so relax. Give it a try and it all comes together.
About the going to war, I've sent people off to war, so don't talk to me about that one. No matter what the chances of someone coming back, it's still hard to send them off. War is brutal, unpredictable and dangerous, so no matter what, your first thought, thanks to lovely human nature, is that your loved one might come home in a box. Think about it, its war. And that whole thing was to Iraq, this is to Vietnam where the circumstances were a lot different. Trust me, they would feel this way.
Now to Review Responses!
Skye Renegarde: That's true! Thanks. We are going for original, meaning we haven't seen it here before. Here's more for you to read!
Kix: That's right, no more girls. That was a definite one timer, so deal with it. Just FYI, this story shall be very interesting. How many originals can you come up with in which they are all happy and together? This is one of the many stories that we will write, and one of the very few where they would be split up. But truthfully, haven't you ever wondered how Pony would take being split apart form his brothers? We sure have, and this is merely our view of it.
Tens – From Alli: You make me sooo happy! Us happy, that is. LOL. It is hypothetical, thank you, but people jump to conclusions too fast. You are sooo nice to me though, thanks. Thank you for helping me out, and no worries, we aren't changing the story line. So be happy. ( Well, see ya later. Here's your much anticipated chapter that I am putting up just for you.
Tens – From Keira: Hey girl! How's it shakin? We are soo lucky to have you reading this. You're opinion means the world to us. You know that too. I finally got Alli to finish this, nice huh? (No comment to that last sentence. LOL. I was slow. Can you believe her? HAHA) Now more waiting, hoorah! And I am itching to begin chapter three, so hopefully you wont have to wait much longer. (Yeah right! LOL. JK)
Cloudburst2000: We appreciate your support. This is story is just out of curiosity, but wait, there is a reason behind the whole Darry thing. Wait a few chapters before you jump too far on that one. Keep reading, we think you'll enjoy what we have in store. Thanks again!
Shyxshortiexbabe: Thank you soo much. Here is the second chapter. Keep reading. Thanks!
Jesso: Sweetheart, just PLEASE spell Vietnam right next time. It's NOT Viet Nam. Another thing, have you ever taken a US History, or did you just not pay attention in it? And if by chance you aren't from America, Im not sure you realize the full extent of what they went through. It's called a geurilla war, and many Americans died. That's why Vietnam veterans are heroes today, hun. And you do realize you contradicted yourself on that one? I sure hope so. If you are reading, you should have read the authors note, because we don't to reexplain it, if you havent, Im referring you to it now. Don't jump to conclusions after one chapter, it makes you look like an idiot. And how is it that you think Darry wouldn't let Pony swear? One, he lives with how many people that cuss every other word, and Two, how many times did Pony say in the book "I cussed" or "I swore"? Maybe he wouldn't have let him swear at the age of fourteen, but he's older now, and he cant stop him. Also considering the circumstances, I doubt that Darry is all that worried about lecturing Pony about a swear word. Overly melodramatic, Huh? Yeah, well, so was your review. I guarantee it wont be that bad, so eat it.
Oblivious Misconception: Heart wrenching? Yes. Over dramatic and disgustingly sad? No. Yes, they have a few rough weeks ahead of them, but they will make it okay. You'll see in this chapter just how things are thought of by dear Soda, and hopefully it won't make things worse in your minds eye. Thank you for reading. We do appreciate all your support.
JuliannaGrl: You thought of Vietnam too, huh? Sweet. You'd be surprised at how many people don't make such connections. We're happy to have a reader from another country, this is cool.
Sodapop02: Thanks for the complements. We are glad you like it. Keep reading, and we KNOW you will be glad you did! Ciao.
Now on to the story:
Chapter Two Soda's POV
The cold day had finally come to an end when the last old man pulled out before the newbie came on for his third shift. I gave him instructions and left quickly, my stomach growling at the thought of warm food in the oven at home.
I ran home, not having a car and not caring to feel the wintery wind blasting in my face any longer than necessary. It was nearly snowing outside, more like sleet I guess you could say, and too cold for my liking. I had a coat, but that hardly kept out the wind or the wet.
By the time I reached the door to our house, a frozen ice block, I could hardly open the door as my hands were tightened balls of grease, but somehow I was able to open it up eventually.
I walked into the door to see Darry slouching in his armchair talking on the phone. He seemed pretty frustrated, stress lines stretched across his forehead as he weaved a pen in and around his fingers the way only a good jock can do. He glanced up at me as I walked in, his expression changing very little in my presence. He stretched out his arm to the table next to him and picked up a letter, flinging it at me so it flew threw the air like an ax to a tree. I caught it, looking at the address. Great, it was not what I wanted. No wonder he wasn't happy. I wondered if he got one too, but decided to read first, he was busy.
I sat down on the couch opposite him, and he followed my every move with his eyes. He seemed apprehensive, but just a bit, like he was thinking, wandering how I would take this. He didn't seem too worried though, more interested and distracted with only one thing to follow, that thing being me. Apperently he had been put on hold by that time.
As he looked back down at the note pad in his lap, he sat up and started talking, well, more like arguing with the person on the line, "No, you don't understand..." he sighed, "Yes, I'm aware of that. What you don't seem to understand is that things have changed and there are other things to consider now. Namely..." He stopped suddenly, "Yes, but make it snappy, please!" he tried to keep his voice even, but it didn't work.
I tuned out about that time, leaving Darry to do whatever it was he was doing. Slowly I opened the letter and started reading. The more I read, the more real it became. I was going to war, to go kill people in a hot, humid jungle on the other side of the world.
My hands gradually started shaking, only slightly, but enough that the paper I was holding was trembling also. I stared at it coolly, set it down in my lap and continued staring more. It wasn't a surprise, really, I knew I would be drafted at one point or another, but now it was real. This was really going to happen, and as much as I thought I had been ready for it, the news hit me hard. I didn't want to go to war, I liked my life here and now, I didn't want it destroyed. It didn't matter how much I had prepared for the moment, there was nothing that cold have made it easier. It was like the brick had finally hit my head, after hovering above it for ages. I knew it would happen, but I couldn't prepare for it.
Focusing in on a black, greasy fingerprint left by one of my half frozen fingers on the paper in my lap, I stopped seeing all around me and crawled deeper into myself. I wondered if I would ever come back to this life, if it would ever be the same. Would I leave to never see my friends and family again? Or would I be like the many blue collars who I had known to come home in coffins to a grieving family and a little more than slightly remorseful nation? They were all questions I knew couldn't be answered yet. They would be answered when I came back home, whether in a wheelchair, broken and battered, in a coffin, or on my own two moving feet. I hoped the latter held true, but the nagging in my mind shot red flags into the air, telling me it might not be true and I should fear for it.
That was when the thought of Pony hit me. What about him? How would he take this? If Darry was called too, which sounded to be the case but in all likely-hood couldn't be, what would happen, where would he go? I suspected that he had heard by then. Darry had to have told him when he got home. The fact that he was no where to be seen told me I was right on that one, but then again, he could just be doing homework and avoiding the grumpy older brother in the house.
My stomach grumbled loudly, reminding me once again of my hunger. I thought it was Pony's day to make dinner, and I knew by the look, feel and smell of things that there wasn't a scrap of food cooking. So I was right, Darry had told Pony, and Pony was upset. If he hadn't been told, he would be making dinner, especially with Darry being like he was from what I could tell. Besides, he ate like the rest of us did, like a horse. He would be making dinner for himself if no one else. But Pony was probably lost in some book of his, avoiding the outside world for everything it was worth, and I couldn't blame him.
I was about to get up and go find him, but never made it out of my seat. I wasn't exactly over the shock of the whole thing myself, but Pon would take it hard, harder than me at least. One of his greatest fears was to lose us, for us to leave him. He feared everyday of his life the possibility of losing the only family he had left.
I would have made it to him had it not been for Darry's slightly distracting action of yelling a, "Fuck you too!" and slamming the phone down to the hook and continuing to throw the entire device to the floor with a bang, bringing me out of my trance of deep thought and shock.
Looking at Darry, who had dropped his pen to the floor, and was now tapping a clenched fist on the arm of his chair, I asked, "Who was that?"
He looked up to me, shaking his head in frustration. "No one that could help me. Idiots at the draftee's office, they're worthless."
I nodded my head. I knew then that he had been drafted, and apparently no one seemed to care about Ponyboy or the fact that Darry was his only guardian. Maybe they just thought it was an excuse, but you'd think they would look into it at least. I mean, this was just wrong, Darry had every right under the sun to stay home, and they wouldn't hear him out.
"So...you got drafted?" I was asking the obvious, I know. But I wanted to make sure I wasn't assuming the wrong.
"Yeah, and it doesn't make any sense, let me tell you right now. I went down to the office to see if I could get going on the exemption process, but they told me flat out that Im going. Apperently, it doesn't matter. I accepted it then, it seemed screwed up, but there wasn't anything I thought I could do about it. But ya know, the more I think on it, the more it seems to be wrong to me. It doesn't make sense, it can't be right. I'll even higher a lawyer, not that we have the money, but this is wrong. Flat out wrong."
"Well, yeah. I don't see how they can make you go, Dar. They have to have something on record about this, and they wont make you go." I was sure it would all get worked out, that he wouldn't end up going, and everything would be fine. At least for him and Pony. I hated to go myself, but at least the both of us wouldn't be shipped off to a foreign country. Pony had to have one of us home, for his sake and life.
"I'm going to let it go till tomorrow. I'll go down there and won't leave till it's taken care of. Or I have a plan to fight it. Tonight, I've got to finish up the bills. What do you want for dinner? I don't think Pony's going to come make it." Darry went back to doing the bills in his lap, listening for my answer. He didn't seem to really care that Pony wasn't making dinner even though it was his turn. He knew he would take it hard, and although he would normally be grumpy about something like that, he really didn't care at that point. I understood why, completely, but it almost miffed me because I was starving.
"Whatever, Darry. Anything'll do." I got up and started for my room. I had nothing more to say or ask. I didn't know what to do, other than go talk to Pony and jump in the shower if I couldn't eat.
I made my way back to our room, dragging my feet. I was tired, hungry, still cold, and overall, just drained. I had no idea what to think of this all, I was going to go to war and I couldn't kid myself anymore. I never thought it would be this hard, but it was just so....overwhelming to think about.
As I walked past the phone I thought about stopping and calling Steve, I wondered if he had been drafted that day to. I doubted it, but he would be going soon, we had both been waiting for this.
To my surprise, though, I didn't stop to call him. My feet kept moving in the direction of my room as I knew deep down that Pony was much more important. I could call Steve when I was done taking care of my little brother.
Pony was sitting with his back on the headboard of the bed, his legs stretched out. He was reading a book, one of his all time favorites. It was one of those books he got so into that he couldn't put it down, and it bugged the hell out of all of us when he read it because he got so caught up in it he rarely responded to you until you jumped on him.
I didn't say anything when I first walked in, just threw my dirty shirt to the floor on my side of the bed and sat down tearing off my shoes.
"Hey, Pon."
Surprisingly, he looked up immediately, like he knew I was there all along. "Hey, Soda."
He tried to ignore me and looked back down to his book, but I had other plans. I wanted to talk to him, he was the type that needed to talk about things to get them off his chest, and this was one thing he couldn't keep sealed up inside.
"So...you feeling okay, kid?" I was hoping that I might get something out of him, open it up, but instead he just shrugged me off and went back to his book.
"You sure? You don't seem like it..." I pried a bit further.
He didn't say anything, he was really trying to avoid the subject, so I jumped right into it, he couldn't run if I didn't beat around the bush.
"Pon...I know Darry told you...and well...Geez, I cant believe this is happening." I hoped that would get him to open up with out forcing him to. I didn't want to force him. Maybe I if I made it seem like I wanted or needed to talk about it then he would, for my sake.
He looked up slowly, a bit surprised at my directness, I guess.
"It cant be that bad, can it? I mean, it wont be that long and..." he trailed off, running out of other good things to say about it.
"Pony...its war...war is always bad. But hey, Darry wont be going, he's going to go straighten that out tomorrow." I had to offer some hope to him.
"He said he was going tho."
"Yeah, well, I don't think he wanted to get your hopes up, kid. He shouldn't have to go though, there has to be exemptions, and I'm sure this is one." I reached up and patted him on his back, smiling a bit.
"I sure hope so. Who wants to go live with a bunch of fuckin' strangers?" He didn't add a bunch of emotion, but he really did feel that way, I knew.
I chuckled at him. Shoot, I understood that. I didn't want him living with strangers either.
We sat there for a minute, silently. Pony didn't go back to reading his book, but instead was thinking hard from the expression on his face. I would have just gotten up to go shower and left it at that, but Pony looked like he had something he might want to say, and I was going to leave the door open for him to say it if he wanted. I came in here to talk, and if he wanted to now, I wasn't stopping him.
"Soda?"
"Yeah?"
"So...you're going to war...doesn't that kinda scare you? I mean...shoot, I'd be going out of my mind!"
"Sure it scares me. I have to go kill people, Pony. But it's all right. It'll be an adventure." I at least had to be optimistic in front of him, or try to be. And the truth be told, I was hoping if I kept telling myself that, it would ring true to me at some point in time. Preferably before I made it to the battle front.
"Well, it's not like you won't be coming back or anything." He said almost confidently.
I bit my lip at that. Would I really have to tell this to him? It didn't seem right that I had to tell him that I might not come back, I was barely facing the possibility myself. Should I even bring that up? But I had to, he had to face it before I left, he had to know. That was how it was, and even if he didn't believe it, or want to believe it, he had to face it for his own good.
"Pony....I don't know. It's war...people die in war, and it doesn't take much. I mean, there's a chance, and I'll do my best to stay out of trouble, but you never know. Sometimes there isn't anything you can do, sometimes things just happen and no one knows when they will."
He shrugged it off, "You'll come back." He said so confidently that there was no room for argument. I almost laughed, but knew that was no the time to be laughing at him. I knew he had to face it, but until then he had a little time. A few weeks at least, he would come around to it eventually, but it had to hit him first. Then again, I thought he was probably putting on a front. He knew the truth, he was just trying to talk himself into a lie he thought would be better suited for him in life. Couldn't blame him there.
About the whole Darry going to war thing...don't jump soo fast to conclusions. In the next few chapters it will all come together, it does make sense. At the current time it doesn't make sense, its not supposed to, but it will in due time, so relax. Give it a try and it all comes together.
About the going to war, I've sent people off to war, so don't talk to me about that one. No matter what the chances of someone coming back, it's still hard to send them off. War is brutal, unpredictable and dangerous, so no matter what, your first thought, thanks to lovely human nature, is that your loved one might come home in a box. Think about it, its war. And that whole thing was to Iraq, this is to Vietnam where the circumstances were a lot different. Trust me, they would feel this way.
Now to Review Responses!
Skye Renegarde: That's true! Thanks. We are going for original, meaning we haven't seen it here before. Here's more for you to read!
Kix: That's right, no more girls. That was a definite one timer, so deal with it. Just FYI, this story shall be very interesting. How many originals can you come up with in which they are all happy and together? This is one of the many stories that we will write, and one of the very few where they would be split up. But truthfully, haven't you ever wondered how Pony would take being split apart form his brothers? We sure have, and this is merely our view of it.
Tens – From Alli: You make me sooo happy! Us happy, that is. LOL. It is hypothetical, thank you, but people jump to conclusions too fast. You are sooo nice to me though, thanks. Thank you for helping me out, and no worries, we aren't changing the story line. So be happy. ( Well, see ya later. Here's your much anticipated chapter that I am putting up just for you.
Tens – From Keira: Hey girl! How's it shakin? We are soo lucky to have you reading this. You're opinion means the world to us. You know that too. I finally got Alli to finish this, nice huh? (No comment to that last sentence. LOL. I was slow. Can you believe her? HAHA) Now more waiting, hoorah! And I am itching to begin chapter three, so hopefully you wont have to wait much longer. (Yeah right! LOL. JK)
Cloudburst2000: We appreciate your support. This is story is just out of curiosity, but wait, there is a reason behind the whole Darry thing. Wait a few chapters before you jump too far on that one. Keep reading, we think you'll enjoy what we have in store. Thanks again!
Shyxshortiexbabe: Thank you soo much. Here is the second chapter. Keep reading. Thanks!
Jesso: Sweetheart, just PLEASE spell Vietnam right next time. It's NOT Viet Nam. Another thing, have you ever taken a US History, or did you just not pay attention in it? And if by chance you aren't from America, Im not sure you realize the full extent of what they went through. It's called a geurilla war, and many Americans died. That's why Vietnam veterans are heroes today, hun. And you do realize you contradicted yourself on that one? I sure hope so. If you are reading, you should have read the authors note, because we don't to reexplain it, if you havent, Im referring you to it now. Don't jump to conclusions after one chapter, it makes you look like an idiot. And how is it that you think Darry wouldn't let Pony swear? One, he lives with how many people that cuss every other word, and Two, how many times did Pony say in the book "I cussed" or "I swore"? Maybe he wouldn't have let him swear at the age of fourteen, but he's older now, and he cant stop him. Also considering the circumstances, I doubt that Darry is all that worried about lecturing Pony about a swear word. Overly melodramatic, Huh? Yeah, well, so was your review. I guarantee it wont be that bad, so eat it.
Oblivious Misconception: Heart wrenching? Yes. Over dramatic and disgustingly sad? No. Yes, they have a few rough weeks ahead of them, but they will make it okay. You'll see in this chapter just how things are thought of by dear Soda, and hopefully it won't make things worse in your minds eye. Thank you for reading. We do appreciate all your support.
JuliannaGrl: You thought of Vietnam too, huh? Sweet. You'd be surprised at how many people don't make such connections. We're happy to have a reader from another country, this is cool.
Sodapop02: Thanks for the complements. We are glad you like it. Keep reading, and we KNOW you will be glad you did! Ciao.
Now on to the story:
Chapter Two Soda's POV
The cold day had finally come to an end when the last old man pulled out before the newbie came on for his third shift. I gave him instructions and left quickly, my stomach growling at the thought of warm food in the oven at home.
I ran home, not having a car and not caring to feel the wintery wind blasting in my face any longer than necessary. It was nearly snowing outside, more like sleet I guess you could say, and too cold for my liking. I had a coat, but that hardly kept out the wind or the wet.
By the time I reached the door to our house, a frozen ice block, I could hardly open the door as my hands were tightened balls of grease, but somehow I was able to open it up eventually.
I walked into the door to see Darry slouching in his armchair talking on the phone. He seemed pretty frustrated, stress lines stretched across his forehead as he weaved a pen in and around his fingers the way only a good jock can do. He glanced up at me as I walked in, his expression changing very little in my presence. He stretched out his arm to the table next to him and picked up a letter, flinging it at me so it flew threw the air like an ax to a tree. I caught it, looking at the address. Great, it was not what I wanted. No wonder he wasn't happy. I wondered if he got one too, but decided to read first, he was busy.
I sat down on the couch opposite him, and he followed my every move with his eyes. He seemed apprehensive, but just a bit, like he was thinking, wandering how I would take this. He didn't seem too worried though, more interested and distracted with only one thing to follow, that thing being me. Apperently he had been put on hold by that time.
As he looked back down at the note pad in his lap, he sat up and started talking, well, more like arguing with the person on the line, "No, you don't understand..." he sighed, "Yes, I'm aware of that. What you don't seem to understand is that things have changed and there are other things to consider now. Namely..." He stopped suddenly, "Yes, but make it snappy, please!" he tried to keep his voice even, but it didn't work.
I tuned out about that time, leaving Darry to do whatever it was he was doing. Slowly I opened the letter and started reading. The more I read, the more real it became. I was going to war, to go kill people in a hot, humid jungle on the other side of the world.
My hands gradually started shaking, only slightly, but enough that the paper I was holding was trembling also. I stared at it coolly, set it down in my lap and continued staring more. It wasn't a surprise, really, I knew I would be drafted at one point or another, but now it was real. This was really going to happen, and as much as I thought I had been ready for it, the news hit me hard. I didn't want to go to war, I liked my life here and now, I didn't want it destroyed. It didn't matter how much I had prepared for the moment, there was nothing that cold have made it easier. It was like the brick had finally hit my head, after hovering above it for ages. I knew it would happen, but I couldn't prepare for it.
Focusing in on a black, greasy fingerprint left by one of my half frozen fingers on the paper in my lap, I stopped seeing all around me and crawled deeper into myself. I wondered if I would ever come back to this life, if it would ever be the same. Would I leave to never see my friends and family again? Or would I be like the many blue collars who I had known to come home in coffins to a grieving family and a little more than slightly remorseful nation? They were all questions I knew couldn't be answered yet. They would be answered when I came back home, whether in a wheelchair, broken and battered, in a coffin, or on my own two moving feet. I hoped the latter held true, but the nagging in my mind shot red flags into the air, telling me it might not be true and I should fear for it.
That was when the thought of Pony hit me. What about him? How would he take this? If Darry was called too, which sounded to be the case but in all likely-hood couldn't be, what would happen, where would he go? I suspected that he had heard by then. Darry had to have told him when he got home. The fact that he was no where to be seen told me I was right on that one, but then again, he could just be doing homework and avoiding the grumpy older brother in the house.
My stomach grumbled loudly, reminding me once again of my hunger. I thought it was Pony's day to make dinner, and I knew by the look, feel and smell of things that there wasn't a scrap of food cooking. So I was right, Darry had told Pony, and Pony was upset. If he hadn't been told, he would be making dinner, especially with Darry being like he was from what I could tell. Besides, he ate like the rest of us did, like a horse. He would be making dinner for himself if no one else. But Pony was probably lost in some book of his, avoiding the outside world for everything it was worth, and I couldn't blame him.
I was about to get up and go find him, but never made it out of my seat. I wasn't exactly over the shock of the whole thing myself, but Pon would take it hard, harder than me at least. One of his greatest fears was to lose us, for us to leave him. He feared everyday of his life the possibility of losing the only family he had left.
I would have made it to him had it not been for Darry's slightly distracting action of yelling a, "Fuck you too!" and slamming the phone down to the hook and continuing to throw the entire device to the floor with a bang, bringing me out of my trance of deep thought and shock.
Looking at Darry, who had dropped his pen to the floor, and was now tapping a clenched fist on the arm of his chair, I asked, "Who was that?"
He looked up to me, shaking his head in frustration. "No one that could help me. Idiots at the draftee's office, they're worthless."
I nodded my head. I knew then that he had been drafted, and apparently no one seemed to care about Ponyboy or the fact that Darry was his only guardian. Maybe they just thought it was an excuse, but you'd think they would look into it at least. I mean, this was just wrong, Darry had every right under the sun to stay home, and they wouldn't hear him out.
"So...you got drafted?" I was asking the obvious, I know. But I wanted to make sure I wasn't assuming the wrong.
"Yeah, and it doesn't make any sense, let me tell you right now. I went down to the office to see if I could get going on the exemption process, but they told me flat out that Im going. Apperently, it doesn't matter. I accepted it then, it seemed screwed up, but there wasn't anything I thought I could do about it. But ya know, the more I think on it, the more it seems to be wrong to me. It doesn't make sense, it can't be right. I'll even higher a lawyer, not that we have the money, but this is wrong. Flat out wrong."
"Well, yeah. I don't see how they can make you go, Dar. They have to have something on record about this, and they wont make you go." I was sure it would all get worked out, that he wouldn't end up going, and everything would be fine. At least for him and Pony. I hated to go myself, but at least the both of us wouldn't be shipped off to a foreign country. Pony had to have one of us home, for his sake and life.
"I'm going to let it go till tomorrow. I'll go down there and won't leave till it's taken care of. Or I have a plan to fight it. Tonight, I've got to finish up the bills. What do you want for dinner? I don't think Pony's going to come make it." Darry went back to doing the bills in his lap, listening for my answer. He didn't seem to really care that Pony wasn't making dinner even though it was his turn. He knew he would take it hard, and although he would normally be grumpy about something like that, he really didn't care at that point. I understood why, completely, but it almost miffed me because I was starving.
"Whatever, Darry. Anything'll do." I got up and started for my room. I had nothing more to say or ask. I didn't know what to do, other than go talk to Pony and jump in the shower if I couldn't eat.
I made my way back to our room, dragging my feet. I was tired, hungry, still cold, and overall, just drained. I had no idea what to think of this all, I was going to go to war and I couldn't kid myself anymore. I never thought it would be this hard, but it was just so....overwhelming to think about.
As I walked past the phone I thought about stopping and calling Steve, I wondered if he had been drafted that day to. I doubted it, but he would be going soon, we had both been waiting for this.
To my surprise, though, I didn't stop to call him. My feet kept moving in the direction of my room as I knew deep down that Pony was much more important. I could call Steve when I was done taking care of my little brother.
Pony was sitting with his back on the headboard of the bed, his legs stretched out. He was reading a book, one of his all time favorites. It was one of those books he got so into that he couldn't put it down, and it bugged the hell out of all of us when he read it because he got so caught up in it he rarely responded to you until you jumped on him.
I didn't say anything when I first walked in, just threw my dirty shirt to the floor on my side of the bed and sat down tearing off my shoes.
"Hey, Pon."
Surprisingly, he looked up immediately, like he knew I was there all along. "Hey, Soda."
He tried to ignore me and looked back down to his book, but I had other plans. I wanted to talk to him, he was the type that needed to talk about things to get them off his chest, and this was one thing he couldn't keep sealed up inside.
"So...you feeling okay, kid?" I was hoping that I might get something out of him, open it up, but instead he just shrugged me off and went back to his book.
"You sure? You don't seem like it..." I pried a bit further.
He didn't say anything, he was really trying to avoid the subject, so I jumped right into it, he couldn't run if I didn't beat around the bush.
"Pon...I know Darry told you...and well...Geez, I cant believe this is happening." I hoped that would get him to open up with out forcing him to. I didn't want to force him. Maybe I if I made it seem like I wanted or needed to talk about it then he would, for my sake.
He looked up slowly, a bit surprised at my directness, I guess.
"It cant be that bad, can it? I mean, it wont be that long and..." he trailed off, running out of other good things to say about it.
"Pony...its war...war is always bad. But hey, Darry wont be going, he's going to go straighten that out tomorrow." I had to offer some hope to him.
"He said he was going tho."
"Yeah, well, I don't think he wanted to get your hopes up, kid. He shouldn't have to go though, there has to be exemptions, and I'm sure this is one." I reached up and patted him on his back, smiling a bit.
"I sure hope so. Who wants to go live with a bunch of fuckin' strangers?" He didn't add a bunch of emotion, but he really did feel that way, I knew.
I chuckled at him. Shoot, I understood that. I didn't want him living with strangers either.
We sat there for a minute, silently. Pony didn't go back to reading his book, but instead was thinking hard from the expression on his face. I would have just gotten up to go shower and left it at that, but Pony looked like he had something he might want to say, and I was going to leave the door open for him to say it if he wanted. I came in here to talk, and if he wanted to now, I wasn't stopping him.
"Soda?"
"Yeah?"
"So...you're going to war...doesn't that kinda scare you? I mean...shoot, I'd be going out of my mind!"
"Sure it scares me. I have to go kill people, Pony. But it's all right. It'll be an adventure." I at least had to be optimistic in front of him, or try to be. And the truth be told, I was hoping if I kept telling myself that, it would ring true to me at some point in time. Preferably before I made it to the battle front.
"Well, it's not like you won't be coming back or anything." He said almost confidently.
I bit my lip at that. Would I really have to tell this to him? It didn't seem right that I had to tell him that I might not come back, I was barely facing the possibility myself. Should I even bring that up? But I had to, he had to face it before I left, he had to know. That was how it was, and even if he didn't believe it, or want to believe it, he had to face it for his own good.
"Pony....I don't know. It's war...people die in war, and it doesn't take much. I mean, there's a chance, and I'll do my best to stay out of trouble, but you never know. Sometimes there isn't anything you can do, sometimes things just happen and no one knows when they will."
He shrugged it off, "You'll come back." He said so confidently that there was no room for argument. I almost laughed, but knew that was no the time to be laughing at him. I knew he had to face it, but until then he had a little time. A few weeks at least, he would come around to it eventually, but it had to hit him first. Then again, I thought he was probably putting on a front. He knew the truth, he was just trying to talk himself into a lie he thought would be better suited for him in life. Couldn't blame him there.