Okay, I know it had been forever and a day plus one...but too bad! I have a hectic life, okay? I swear! Just ask...anyone who might know me. Anyway, sorry, hopefully the summer will go better, what with being out of school and all. Well, so here's a new chapter for you, enjoy it while you can! And if you don't enjoy it...kiss our asses, one at a time. HAHA.
Review Responses:
Tensleep: Depth, its our favorite thing! Really, that's the point of writing, yo have to get it right, or it just sucks. The girl at the draftee's office; ah, yes, she's an idiot, and meant to be. You see, they are all idiots, hence the files getting lost. LOL. Well, unfortunately for you, Keira has not been in any new writing moods, and shoot, this chapter was up to me, the infamous Rock. Sorry, babe. And one more thing, IM sorry, but we both agreee that you will only get the really long chapters in SF. That was...is...an exception, the only one, to every rule we ever developed. I swear it. Well, GTG. Have a great day!
SilentScream66: Wow, opinionated today are we? Well, here's all we have to say, you must be desperate to read a new great fic yourself, you wont ever get it with that attitude. So go screw yourself, and never come back. We could give a rat's ass if you did.
DaNNi BaBezZz: Give Darry grey hair? I don't think so, he's too hot to have grey hair, not till he's....really old, like 60. LOL. Sorry, but we aren't the best at being 'nice'. Nope, not in our way of doing things. Here's the much delayed update. Enjoy while you can!
Sodapop02: HAHA, well, we couldn't bear to end it there, it wouldn't fulfill our need to go around being mean to the readers and keeping them hanging all the time. Of course you can gather from the summary that this story isn't the normal everything works out type, it's more of a twists and turns, can't believe that would happen kind of thing. But logically it fits, if you think long and hard about it. Have fun reading!
FUDDYDUDDY: Wow. We can't even thank you enough for all your support! We think it is soo cute that you get your husband to read this with you, and man, you got a catch! (If you don't mind us saying so. We don't mean to be brash in any way). We will keep writing this our way, no worries there. We really hope people have read what you said about OC's because we agree one hundred percent and try to make ours worth reading. Life isn't just about interaction between the family, it is about interaction to everyone. Well, thanks for your continued support! We really do appreciate more than you know or we can tell you. Enjoy!
sodasgurl41: Lame huh? Could you not think of a better word? Seriously, lame is just an under descriptive general word to describe anything you think you dislike or would rather not think on. Go take you "lame" bitchiness to someone else.
Catherine Ace: Dont ever take offense in liking anything, you can like whatever you want and everyone else who thinks you are crazy can go to hell. Its people who don't like this that are the narrow minded ones. Be proud to have an open mind and a logical one at that. We agree that 1. Lost papers are completely believable, and 2. That it would take a very long time and hard road to prove anything to the military in the time of war. Well, thanks for reading and liking! Sorry I took so long, but love it while its here!
Skye Renegarde: Wow, thanks! We love to do nothing more than to bring out peoples emotions, we definitely felt it in that review! Well, I hope you like this next chapter just as much. LOL.
MissLKid: We are very happy that you found time to review for us! Thanks! Hopefully you will review this next chapter to, we would love to hear your opinion on it. Enjoy!
Mel: Stupid reviews form Mel = BORING.
ShyXshortieXbabe: Yes, exactly, know what you mean... Now, what is a taco pocket? Just a tad curious now...
sodipop5: Whoa...okay, who ever said DIE? I mean, you will have to wait and see, but are we THAT insensitive? Don't get too scared. Enjoy, but please don't have a heart attack or anything. We don't want that, really.
Sitting by the pool/guess who/captain cookie damnopinionatedreviewerscaptaincookietheasskicker.com): Wow....where to begin? You sure were high hottie. I mean, are you sure it was JUST sugar? LOL. JK. You know, you just BARELY saved yourself in that second review, stud. We were ready to kill for a second. But the rest was nice and good. Keira is thinking (and this is Keira speaking) that the beer must've gone to your head worse than usual. Geez, man... You'd think that you could handle a bit more of it by now. Although we did finish it all off in four hours... And the fact that you were actually at home instead of camping really was a good thing... to me anyway. But I do feel bad that you never got to go. Maybe this summer, right? Ninja Turtles rock, lol. That was my favorite cartoon growing up. I'm glad I got you in the mood for them again. Oh, and please continue to piss off our readers. We love that. Of course, we love any guy that will defend us, but you're a special case ;) Jk, no but seriously, we like it. Keep it up... even if you don't choose to read this anymore. But you better, if you know what's good for you. And besides that, we think you might actually like this, even though it is from Pony's POV, because he doesn't have the best of luck or times down there...Well, talk to ya later!
Talonz Jones: Hey, its cool to know that someone else is thinking along the same lines as we are. It all came about in history class...I guess I cant curse history anymore... Well, the swearing is relatively minimal in this chapter, we counted three, and if there is more, then sorry. Just don't read our review responses to people we would rather not hear from at times. LOL. We hope you further enjoy!
Chibi Tatiana: Yes, sad. We like sad, keep an eye out for more sad to come. But enjoy it anyway! It's not ALL sad. Kudos to that.
Okay, people. I think we left out one or two more irrelvent reviews that we would rather not explain again and again. Besides, we felt they were unworthy of our time and attention, and that's saying something because we have never done this before. Anyway, hope you like the chapter!
The last few weeks had been pretty busy. Everything from social workers coming over to check up and figure things out to Darry and Soda trying to figure out what they were going to do with things while we were all gone, and hearing about the rest the gang. Two-Bit and Steve were leaving soon to the draft too. One of them was going on the same date as Soda and the other on some other date to some other place in the US. It was odd that everyone was leaving at the same time, but that's just how it happened.
The stupid people at the child care services offices never could find the files they needed. They said the military draftees office was being real picky and needed the certain original files or something along those lines. I didn't know much, only that both my brothers were going to war, even if Darry should be staying home, because people were idiots, and I now had the pleasure of moving to some strange families house until Darry or Soda got back, supposing they came back on two feet and not in a box.
Today I got home from running a few errands with Soda to see a social worker sitting with Darry in the front room. At that point I had gotten used to the site, it happened at least twice a week for the last two or three, I don't really know how long it had been. My clock was screwed up, and everything was in slow motion.
At any rate, the site didn't surprise me, but what happened after that did. I don't think it surprised Darry or Soda, they must have been told, but it slapped me in the face hard enough all the same.
I was going to some home in Texas. That's right, Texas. And that wasn't even the hard part. The worst was when they told us the plans. I was leaving the next morning at eight. I had a few hours to pack and the next morning we all had to say goodbye.
That was a few hours ago that the social worker came. Yeah, its about seven o'clock now. I've spent the last hour trying to pack, but I cant. It's so hard. What do I take? What will I miss if I don't take it? Not only that, but I got a picture to take first thing; one with my parents and Darry and Soda, the whole happy family. Every time I looked at it tears would brim my eyes and I had to think that if my parents were still there I wouldn't be leaving in the morning to live with some stranger.
Soda knocked on the door, "Can I come in?"
"Its your room too." I said blandly. I could hear all the guys horsing around in the front room through the walls, but it nearly shattered my aching head when Soda opened the door to come in. Thankfully, he closed it after him.
"How're things coming?" He asked, sitting next to me on my bed and looking around to the strewn clothes and objects all over the room. My room hadn't been that messy for months.
"They aren't." I said flat out. Any other time I might have been embarrassed that I spent upwards of two hours accomplishing nothing, but then I didn't care. It was Soda, and that was one of the worst days of my life if you didn't count mom and dad's death and funeral.
"Well...can I help?"
"Soda...I don't wanna go!" I wasn't shouting, but I broke down quicker than I thought I might. I didn't want to do that, not to anyone, but I didn't see why it was all happening. I wanted to stay with my family. Screw the war.
"I know, Pon. But its just till things get worked out and Darry comes back. Everything'll be fine." He pulled me into a hug and rubbed my back, "I wish it could all stay like it has been too, but its just life and everything will work out for good. Don't worry."
I cried into his shirt like that for awhile, the whole time he kept saying things along those lines, cracking small jokes and rubbing my back. I really didn't know what I would do without Soda. Even if Darry came back fine, I couldn't live without Soda. No way in hell.
When I had finished my bougt of tears, Soda pushed me away and ruffled my hair.
"You sure are a good kid, Pony. Always were, always will be." He smiled to me, "Now, lets keep that going. Let me help you pack, kid brother."
We started packing then, actually getting a few things in the suitcase. Soda made sure I had enough pants and shirts, a few shorts even. He went and got the only dress clothes I had that fit me now, saying the people might want me to go to church with them or something. He made sure I had a few books and things to entertain me. The list goes on, he wasn't going to miss anything, especially if it made me more comfortable or happy. He even gave me a DX shirt to take, said the girls would like it, and I could be just like him. I had to smile at it, even if I didn't think the girls would go for it. It would remind me of him, and that was good.
He had just handed me the DX shirt and started to explain it when Darry knocked on the door and came in right after, not waiting for an answer. I was chuckling at Soda, feeling a bit better by that time, at least for the moment. I still knew I wouldn't get any sleep that night, but I didn't want to ruin the moment.
"What're you rascals doing in here? Sorting out firecrackers?" Darry chided us, grinning at the site. But he sure was lost.
"Yeah, Darry. Thought if we all had to leave we might as well leave with a bang." Soda joked back. His tone was serious, but that crazy wild grin of his told Darry he was returning the family favor. I sure would miss that grin of his, I thought, all the good flooding away witht the sadnss that engulfed me. My stomach sank.
Darry was grinning at Sodapop in a funny I-sure-love-you way when I gave him a straight answer,"We were just packing, Darry." Any happiness in my tone or face was far gone by then. I turned away from them and walked over to the suitcase, pulling out my picture of the family and wrapping it in Soda's shirt.
"What's with the DX shirt?" Darry then had a confused look on his face.
Soda picked up his crazy grin again then, flashing mischief in his eyes, " So he can catch some girls down in the richness of Texas town. Those shirts will do it for ya!" He was excited, but truly believed it might help me. I had to laugh.
"Sodapop, you sure are a crazy little man." Darry play shoved him, grinning yet again, "I don't think it was the shirt, but Pony here has got his own charm. Im sure he'll fair just fine without your coaching." Darry winked over at me, it wasn't really a wink, but it was the same type of movement and message. It was a rare thing for him to do, but it was great to see. He really was going to miss me and I could tell right then.
"Hey! Im good with the gals!" Soda retorted.
Darry just laughed at him, "Yup. So, you two want some dinner? Im craving some good old steak, what do you say to a night out?"
"Only if you are paying for the all of us." Soda said, still getting over the hard blow.
"Nah, you have to pay for yourselves since we are going to have so many bills in the next six months." He replied sarcastically, walking out of the room to the now empty living room. I guess Darry had chased everyone out earlier and I hadn't noticed. He turned around when he was in the living room, looking into our room from the key table by the door, stuffing his wallet in his pocket, "Of course I'm paying, knuckle head. What kind of a brother would I be if I made you pay yourselves? Its all you can eat even!"
"A mean one." Soda replied, newly happy again, "Lets go Pony!" He yelled, bouncing out of the house past Darry. I dropped my stuff and pulled on a better shirt as I slowly walked out of the house. Darry was waiting at the front door. He put his arm around me once I had my shirt on all the way and we walked out together. He was really going to miss me, he sure was acting weird.
Don't get me wrong, I was sure going to miss them too, even Darry's lectures and pestering, I'm sure. It was just that I had never seen them act like that before, so it took me off guard for things to be like that. It hit me hard that Darry would actually miss me, and that Soda was the one acting normal, not Darry.
We had a fun night. Darry wasn't kidding when he said all you can eat steak. We ate and ate and ate because he didn't care how much it cost, said it was our "fireworks". That way we were legal. Soda ate up the idea along with the food, so Darry seemed to be at ease about it. He knew that Soda had been joking, but he also knew it planted an idea in his head when he had mentioned it. If Soda's face ever lights up like that you have to be careful.
After we ate, we went and saw a movie; Darry even seemed to enjoy it. By the time we were finished with the movie scene, all of us were hungry again, go figure. Darry teased me saying I couldn't eat as much at my foster families house. I told him that I was a growing boy, and I would starve if I didn't eat as much as I did. Anyway, we went out for shakes and fries. It was great.
By the time we got home it was midnight or so, so I finished my packing this morning with Darry's help. He has a nice waking hand and a logical mind for packing too. Well, that didn't take long, and after showering I found myself eating breakfast in the dining room while Soda shaved and Darry cooked the last bit of eggs and bacon.
Darry had decided to go all out on breakfast. He baked an extra cake the day before, made pancakes, waffles, bacon, eggs, hashed browns, toast and jam, sausage, even made chocolate milkshakes for everyone. All the guys were over for our last breakfast together, and they sure were enjoying the food. I was glad to see that something good could come from me having to leave. Steve seemed extra happy, he was actually semi nice to me for the first time in...ever.
"Hey, Dar!" Soda called form the open door of the steaming bathroom, I could tell from the echoing of his voice that he was still in there, besides he spent about an hour in there everyday...so it was not past his time yet.
"What, Soda?" Steve asked, like he might know the answer. Two-bit did what I wanted to but couldn't when he hit Steve over the head and they went wrestling to the floor.
"Not you, conceited greaser!" Soda called, "Dar, where's the last jar of hair grease? I know we had some!" a door in the bathroom slammed shut, and Soda walked through the dining room in his usual green towel early morning attire and into the kitchen to talk to the un-answering Darry.
I never heard Darry answer, but pretty soon Soda was back in the dining room, somehow having put on his clothes and combed his hair back in ten minutes. He sat down and piled eggs and bacon on his plate, covering them with strawberry jam and them piling a huge piece of cake and extra sugar on next to it.
Soda ate real fast, faster than normal, which I personally thought impossible till now. How he did it was completely beyond me, and by the look on Steve's, and even Two-bit's, they were thinking the same.
I decided then that I needed a little fresh air, maybe a cigarette. It was finally hitting me that I was leaving, I wouldn't see Two-Bit or anyone for...however long. The one thing I had always feared and thought about was coming about, and it wasn't anything like I thought it would be. I wasn't even all that upset, just numb. I couldn't believe I had actually eaten, come to think of it. It wouldn't stay down long, I was almost sure.
Standing up to leave, Soda looked up at me, "Where ya going?" he asked, his mouth still full.
"To the porch..." I walked out of the room and made my way to the porch, needing a cigarette desperately and wanting some last Oklahoma air.
The site was nice, the cigarette better and the air refreshing as it needed to be. I sure was going to miss that place. I had grown up there, all my childhood was in that yard, those trees that lined the right side, in the now yellow grass and dirt driveway.
I sat on the porch ledge for I don't know how long day dreaming, but was interrupted by Two-Bit coming out.
He leaned against the pillar next to me and lit up, "Texas has mighty fine babes...I wouldn't mind going there myself... Hell, I'd jump on that plane with you if I could, man..." He took a nice drag on his cigarette and looked down at me, "I'm jealous man, you better catch a babe and then hook me up with her friend for when I get back." He started laughing like a maniac, and pulled out a beer I didn't know he had. But then again, he always had a beer on him.
"Yeah, sure, Two-bit. No problem." I said without emotion. I was looking over to the tracks that you could see from the house. A train was rolling past, and I thought of Johnny. That was the last train ride I would ever have, when we went to Windrixville. Trains would never mean the same thing to me again. I hoped that there weren't any trains in Texas. I didn't want to see one everyday; it brought back bad memories.
Just then Darry opened the door and looked at me, "Pon, we gotta get going, or you'll miss your plane. C'mon, kiddo."
I slip off my spot, looking once more at the view, then went to grab my suitcases. I had two, and Darry was right next to me carrying one. We walked past the bathroom into the living room again, for the last time. Soda was in the bathroom washing his face, and Steve and Two-Bit were in the front room waiting. I stopped and set down my suitcase, looking at them blankely. Was I supposed to do something now?
"So...this is goodbye for a while kid. Take care of yourself and...aaa...find a cute chick for the both of us." Two-Bit said, finally sobered a bit. He stepped a little closer to me and patted me on the back, "Shoot kid! Damn...I don't even care." He pulled me into a quick hug and gave me a knuckle to the head when he let me go. I pushed him away playfully as I blushed.
Two-Bit stepped back then, a little embarrassed himself. He looked down at the floor, avoiding eye contact with me or anyone else in the house, and stuffed his fists in his pockets awkwardly.
Steve looked at me a second, then to Soda, then back to me, "You know...you're an okay kid. Don't let it go to your head or nothin'...but yeah, you're okay." He hit me on the shoulder and stepped back, "See ya, kid."
I nodded, in shock that he said any thing, and it wasn't an insult at that. But I figured by the look he had given me after looking over to Soda that he did it more for my brother's sake than mine.
"C'mon, Pon." Soda came up from behind me, grabbed my suitcase and squeezed my shoulder, "Time to go, kiddo."
Review Responses:
Tensleep: Depth, its our favorite thing! Really, that's the point of writing, yo have to get it right, or it just sucks. The girl at the draftee's office; ah, yes, she's an idiot, and meant to be. You see, they are all idiots, hence the files getting lost. LOL. Well, unfortunately for you, Keira has not been in any new writing moods, and shoot, this chapter was up to me, the infamous Rock. Sorry, babe. And one more thing, IM sorry, but we both agreee that you will only get the really long chapters in SF. That was...is...an exception, the only one, to every rule we ever developed. I swear it. Well, GTG. Have a great day!
SilentScream66: Wow, opinionated today are we? Well, here's all we have to say, you must be desperate to read a new great fic yourself, you wont ever get it with that attitude. So go screw yourself, and never come back. We could give a rat's ass if you did.
DaNNi BaBezZz: Give Darry grey hair? I don't think so, he's too hot to have grey hair, not till he's....really old, like 60. LOL. Sorry, but we aren't the best at being 'nice'. Nope, not in our way of doing things. Here's the much delayed update. Enjoy while you can!
Sodapop02: HAHA, well, we couldn't bear to end it there, it wouldn't fulfill our need to go around being mean to the readers and keeping them hanging all the time. Of course you can gather from the summary that this story isn't the normal everything works out type, it's more of a twists and turns, can't believe that would happen kind of thing. But logically it fits, if you think long and hard about it. Have fun reading!
FUDDYDUDDY: Wow. We can't even thank you enough for all your support! We think it is soo cute that you get your husband to read this with you, and man, you got a catch! (If you don't mind us saying so. We don't mean to be brash in any way). We will keep writing this our way, no worries there. We really hope people have read what you said about OC's because we agree one hundred percent and try to make ours worth reading. Life isn't just about interaction between the family, it is about interaction to everyone. Well, thanks for your continued support! We really do appreciate more than you know or we can tell you. Enjoy!
sodasgurl41: Lame huh? Could you not think of a better word? Seriously, lame is just an under descriptive general word to describe anything you think you dislike or would rather not think on. Go take you "lame" bitchiness to someone else.
Catherine Ace: Dont ever take offense in liking anything, you can like whatever you want and everyone else who thinks you are crazy can go to hell. Its people who don't like this that are the narrow minded ones. Be proud to have an open mind and a logical one at that. We agree that 1. Lost papers are completely believable, and 2. That it would take a very long time and hard road to prove anything to the military in the time of war. Well, thanks for reading and liking! Sorry I took so long, but love it while its here!
Skye Renegarde: Wow, thanks! We love to do nothing more than to bring out peoples emotions, we definitely felt it in that review! Well, I hope you like this next chapter just as much. LOL.
MissLKid: We are very happy that you found time to review for us! Thanks! Hopefully you will review this next chapter to, we would love to hear your opinion on it. Enjoy!
Mel: Stupid reviews form Mel = BORING.
ShyXshortieXbabe: Yes, exactly, know what you mean... Now, what is a taco pocket? Just a tad curious now...
sodipop5: Whoa...okay, who ever said DIE? I mean, you will have to wait and see, but are we THAT insensitive? Don't get too scared. Enjoy, but please don't have a heart attack or anything. We don't want that, really.
Sitting by the pool/guess who/captain cookie damnopinionatedreviewerscaptaincookietheasskicker.com): Wow....where to begin? You sure were high hottie. I mean, are you sure it was JUST sugar? LOL. JK. You know, you just BARELY saved yourself in that second review, stud. We were ready to kill for a second. But the rest was nice and good. Keira is thinking (and this is Keira speaking) that the beer must've gone to your head worse than usual. Geez, man... You'd think that you could handle a bit more of it by now. Although we did finish it all off in four hours... And the fact that you were actually at home instead of camping really was a good thing... to me anyway. But I do feel bad that you never got to go. Maybe this summer, right? Ninja Turtles rock, lol. That was my favorite cartoon growing up. I'm glad I got you in the mood for them again. Oh, and please continue to piss off our readers. We love that. Of course, we love any guy that will defend us, but you're a special case ;) Jk, no but seriously, we like it. Keep it up... even if you don't choose to read this anymore. But you better, if you know what's good for you. And besides that, we think you might actually like this, even though it is from Pony's POV, because he doesn't have the best of luck or times down there...Well, talk to ya later!
Talonz Jones: Hey, its cool to know that someone else is thinking along the same lines as we are. It all came about in history class...I guess I cant curse history anymore... Well, the swearing is relatively minimal in this chapter, we counted three, and if there is more, then sorry. Just don't read our review responses to people we would rather not hear from at times. LOL. We hope you further enjoy!
Chibi Tatiana: Yes, sad. We like sad, keep an eye out for more sad to come. But enjoy it anyway! It's not ALL sad. Kudos to that.
Okay, people. I think we left out one or two more irrelvent reviews that we would rather not explain again and again. Besides, we felt they were unworthy of our time and attention, and that's saying something because we have never done this before. Anyway, hope you like the chapter!
The last few weeks had been pretty busy. Everything from social workers coming over to check up and figure things out to Darry and Soda trying to figure out what they were going to do with things while we were all gone, and hearing about the rest the gang. Two-Bit and Steve were leaving soon to the draft too. One of them was going on the same date as Soda and the other on some other date to some other place in the US. It was odd that everyone was leaving at the same time, but that's just how it happened.
The stupid people at the child care services offices never could find the files they needed. They said the military draftees office was being real picky and needed the certain original files or something along those lines. I didn't know much, only that both my brothers were going to war, even if Darry should be staying home, because people were idiots, and I now had the pleasure of moving to some strange families house until Darry or Soda got back, supposing they came back on two feet and not in a box.
Today I got home from running a few errands with Soda to see a social worker sitting with Darry in the front room. At that point I had gotten used to the site, it happened at least twice a week for the last two or three, I don't really know how long it had been. My clock was screwed up, and everything was in slow motion.
At any rate, the site didn't surprise me, but what happened after that did. I don't think it surprised Darry or Soda, they must have been told, but it slapped me in the face hard enough all the same.
I was going to some home in Texas. That's right, Texas. And that wasn't even the hard part. The worst was when they told us the plans. I was leaving the next morning at eight. I had a few hours to pack and the next morning we all had to say goodbye.
That was a few hours ago that the social worker came. Yeah, its about seven o'clock now. I've spent the last hour trying to pack, but I cant. It's so hard. What do I take? What will I miss if I don't take it? Not only that, but I got a picture to take first thing; one with my parents and Darry and Soda, the whole happy family. Every time I looked at it tears would brim my eyes and I had to think that if my parents were still there I wouldn't be leaving in the morning to live with some stranger.
Soda knocked on the door, "Can I come in?"
"Its your room too." I said blandly. I could hear all the guys horsing around in the front room through the walls, but it nearly shattered my aching head when Soda opened the door to come in. Thankfully, he closed it after him.
"How're things coming?" He asked, sitting next to me on my bed and looking around to the strewn clothes and objects all over the room. My room hadn't been that messy for months.
"They aren't." I said flat out. Any other time I might have been embarrassed that I spent upwards of two hours accomplishing nothing, but then I didn't care. It was Soda, and that was one of the worst days of my life if you didn't count mom and dad's death and funeral.
"Well...can I help?"
"Soda...I don't wanna go!" I wasn't shouting, but I broke down quicker than I thought I might. I didn't want to do that, not to anyone, but I didn't see why it was all happening. I wanted to stay with my family. Screw the war.
"I know, Pon. But its just till things get worked out and Darry comes back. Everything'll be fine." He pulled me into a hug and rubbed my back, "I wish it could all stay like it has been too, but its just life and everything will work out for good. Don't worry."
I cried into his shirt like that for awhile, the whole time he kept saying things along those lines, cracking small jokes and rubbing my back. I really didn't know what I would do without Soda. Even if Darry came back fine, I couldn't live without Soda. No way in hell.
When I had finished my bougt of tears, Soda pushed me away and ruffled my hair.
"You sure are a good kid, Pony. Always were, always will be." He smiled to me, "Now, lets keep that going. Let me help you pack, kid brother."
We started packing then, actually getting a few things in the suitcase. Soda made sure I had enough pants and shirts, a few shorts even. He went and got the only dress clothes I had that fit me now, saying the people might want me to go to church with them or something. He made sure I had a few books and things to entertain me. The list goes on, he wasn't going to miss anything, especially if it made me more comfortable or happy. He even gave me a DX shirt to take, said the girls would like it, and I could be just like him. I had to smile at it, even if I didn't think the girls would go for it. It would remind me of him, and that was good.
He had just handed me the DX shirt and started to explain it when Darry knocked on the door and came in right after, not waiting for an answer. I was chuckling at Soda, feeling a bit better by that time, at least for the moment. I still knew I wouldn't get any sleep that night, but I didn't want to ruin the moment.
"What're you rascals doing in here? Sorting out firecrackers?" Darry chided us, grinning at the site. But he sure was lost.
"Yeah, Darry. Thought if we all had to leave we might as well leave with a bang." Soda joked back. His tone was serious, but that crazy wild grin of his told Darry he was returning the family favor. I sure would miss that grin of his, I thought, all the good flooding away witht the sadnss that engulfed me. My stomach sank.
Darry was grinning at Sodapop in a funny I-sure-love-you way when I gave him a straight answer,"We were just packing, Darry." Any happiness in my tone or face was far gone by then. I turned away from them and walked over to the suitcase, pulling out my picture of the family and wrapping it in Soda's shirt.
"What's with the DX shirt?" Darry then had a confused look on his face.
Soda picked up his crazy grin again then, flashing mischief in his eyes, " So he can catch some girls down in the richness of Texas town. Those shirts will do it for ya!" He was excited, but truly believed it might help me. I had to laugh.
"Sodapop, you sure are a crazy little man." Darry play shoved him, grinning yet again, "I don't think it was the shirt, but Pony here has got his own charm. Im sure he'll fair just fine without your coaching." Darry winked over at me, it wasn't really a wink, but it was the same type of movement and message. It was a rare thing for him to do, but it was great to see. He really was going to miss me and I could tell right then.
"Hey! Im good with the gals!" Soda retorted.
Darry just laughed at him, "Yup. So, you two want some dinner? Im craving some good old steak, what do you say to a night out?"
"Only if you are paying for the all of us." Soda said, still getting over the hard blow.
"Nah, you have to pay for yourselves since we are going to have so many bills in the next six months." He replied sarcastically, walking out of the room to the now empty living room. I guess Darry had chased everyone out earlier and I hadn't noticed. He turned around when he was in the living room, looking into our room from the key table by the door, stuffing his wallet in his pocket, "Of course I'm paying, knuckle head. What kind of a brother would I be if I made you pay yourselves? Its all you can eat even!"
"A mean one." Soda replied, newly happy again, "Lets go Pony!" He yelled, bouncing out of the house past Darry. I dropped my stuff and pulled on a better shirt as I slowly walked out of the house. Darry was waiting at the front door. He put his arm around me once I had my shirt on all the way and we walked out together. He was really going to miss me, he sure was acting weird.
Don't get me wrong, I was sure going to miss them too, even Darry's lectures and pestering, I'm sure. It was just that I had never seen them act like that before, so it took me off guard for things to be like that. It hit me hard that Darry would actually miss me, and that Soda was the one acting normal, not Darry.
We had a fun night. Darry wasn't kidding when he said all you can eat steak. We ate and ate and ate because he didn't care how much it cost, said it was our "fireworks". That way we were legal. Soda ate up the idea along with the food, so Darry seemed to be at ease about it. He knew that Soda had been joking, but he also knew it planted an idea in his head when he had mentioned it. If Soda's face ever lights up like that you have to be careful.
After we ate, we went and saw a movie; Darry even seemed to enjoy it. By the time we were finished with the movie scene, all of us were hungry again, go figure. Darry teased me saying I couldn't eat as much at my foster families house. I told him that I was a growing boy, and I would starve if I didn't eat as much as I did. Anyway, we went out for shakes and fries. It was great.
By the time we got home it was midnight or so, so I finished my packing this morning with Darry's help. He has a nice waking hand and a logical mind for packing too. Well, that didn't take long, and after showering I found myself eating breakfast in the dining room while Soda shaved and Darry cooked the last bit of eggs and bacon.
Darry had decided to go all out on breakfast. He baked an extra cake the day before, made pancakes, waffles, bacon, eggs, hashed browns, toast and jam, sausage, even made chocolate milkshakes for everyone. All the guys were over for our last breakfast together, and they sure were enjoying the food. I was glad to see that something good could come from me having to leave. Steve seemed extra happy, he was actually semi nice to me for the first time in...ever.
"Hey, Dar!" Soda called form the open door of the steaming bathroom, I could tell from the echoing of his voice that he was still in there, besides he spent about an hour in there everyday...so it was not past his time yet.
"What, Soda?" Steve asked, like he might know the answer. Two-bit did what I wanted to but couldn't when he hit Steve over the head and they went wrestling to the floor.
"Not you, conceited greaser!" Soda called, "Dar, where's the last jar of hair grease? I know we had some!" a door in the bathroom slammed shut, and Soda walked through the dining room in his usual green towel early morning attire and into the kitchen to talk to the un-answering Darry.
I never heard Darry answer, but pretty soon Soda was back in the dining room, somehow having put on his clothes and combed his hair back in ten minutes. He sat down and piled eggs and bacon on his plate, covering them with strawberry jam and them piling a huge piece of cake and extra sugar on next to it.
Soda ate real fast, faster than normal, which I personally thought impossible till now. How he did it was completely beyond me, and by the look on Steve's, and even Two-bit's, they were thinking the same.
I decided then that I needed a little fresh air, maybe a cigarette. It was finally hitting me that I was leaving, I wouldn't see Two-Bit or anyone for...however long. The one thing I had always feared and thought about was coming about, and it wasn't anything like I thought it would be. I wasn't even all that upset, just numb. I couldn't believe I had actually eaten, come to think of it. It wouldn't stay down long, I was almost sure.
Standing up to leave, Soda looked up at me, "Where ya going?" he asked, his mouth still full.
"To the porch..." I walked out of the room and made my way to the porch, needing a cigarette desperately and wanting some last Oklahoma air.
The site was nice, the cigarette better and the air refreshing as it needed to be. I sure was going to miss that place. I had grown up there, all my childhood was in that yard, those trees that lined the right side, in the now yellow grass and dirt driveway.
I sat on the porch ledge for I don't know how long day dreaming, but was interrupted by Two-Bit coming out.
He leaned against the pillar next to me and lit up, "Texas has mighty fine babes...I wouldn't mind going there myself... Hell, I'd jump on that plane with you if I could, man..." He took a nice drag on his cigarette and looked down at me, "I'm jealous man, you better catch a babe and then hook me up with her friend for when I get back." He started laughing like a maniac, and pulled out a beer I didn't know he had. But then again, he always had a beer on him.
"Yeah, sure, Two-bit. No problem." I said without emotion. I was looking over to the tracks that you could see from the house. A train was rolling past, and I thought of Johnny. That was the last train ride I would ever have, when we went to Windrixville. Trains would never mean the same thing to me again. I hoped that there weren't any trains in Texas. I didn't want to see one everyday; it brought back bad memories.
Just then Darry opened the door and looked at me, "Pon, we gotta get going, or you'll miss your plane. C'mon, kiddo."
I slip off my spot, looking once more at the view, then went to grab my suitcases. I had two, and Darry was right next to me carrying one. We walked past the bathroom into the living room again, for the last time. Soda was in the bathroom washing his face, and Steve and Two-Bit were in the front room waiting. I stopped and set down my suitcase, looking at them blankely. Was I supposed to do something now?
"So...this is goodbye for a while kid. Take care of yourself and...aaa...find a cute chick for the both of us." Two-Bit said, finally sobered a bit. He stepped a little closer to me and patted me on the back, "Shoot kid! Damn...I don't even care." He pulled me into a quick hug and gave me a knuckle to the head when he let me go. I pushed him away playfully as I blushed.
Two-Bit stepped back then, a little embarrassed himself. He looked down at the floor, avoiding eye contact with me or anyone else in the house, and stuffed his fists in his pockets awkwardly.
Steve looked at me a second, then to Soda, then back to me, "You know...you're an okay kid. Don't let it go to your head or nothin'...but yeah, you're okay." He hit me on the shoulder and stepped back, "See ya, kid."
I nodded, in shock that he said any thing, and it wasn't an insult at that. But I figured by the look he had given me after looking over to Soda that he did it more for my brother's sake than mine.
"C'mon, Pon." Soda came up from behind me, grabbed my suitcase and squeezed my shoulder, "Time to go, kiddo."