4. Wait for an answer

Darry's POV

I was cleaning the last remains in the kitchen when I heard the porch door and shortly after that the front door.
A look at the clock said me that it was only twenty past eleven.

Who could that be?

Soda and Steve went out and probably would still stay away a little, Pony would go to the movie house and this would just be finished at half past eleven and Two-Bit screwed around who knows where.
Maybe it was him?

I went into the living room to see who it was and was quite surprised when I saw Ponyboy.

How come that he was home even sooner than he's actually allowed to stay out at the latest?
On weekends I allow him to stay out till twelve.
And now where he's got summer vacations he's allowed to stay out also within the week a bit longer than on school weeks.
And normally he always uses this time...

"Hey Pony, what are ya already doin' here? Weren't ya perhaps in the movies? Where have ya been?" I asked, because I would know what was going on.

He looked at me and he already opened his mouth to answer me.
And I could swear that he almost would have said as a habit that he would have been out with Johnny.

I watched him waiting and I could see on his face that he considered if he should tell me or not.

"Nope, I wasn't in the movies. I went to the lot and somehow I got stuck there. I... I met someone there." he said.

He met someone there?
That's interesting.
There I already was curious and was about to ask who he has met when he kept on telling, "It was a girl. Her name's Claudia. I talked with her a bit. She doesn't seem to be here that long yet. And apparently she ain't a greaser. I don't know."

I wouldn't appear too obtrusive, but I was interested in it though.

We were permitted to read Pony's essay when he has finished it.
And it made me a bit sad and thoughtful that Pony really supposed I would like to get rid of him and wouldn't love him.
And yeah, I was disappointed about it as well!
Who wouldn't be?
I mean, we're brothers...

Anyhow that's why I try to listen to him much more and to take an interest in him, his thoughts and feelings.
Even though I'm a bit harsh to him and secure that he gets good grades in school and everything, I still love him.
He's my kid brother and since the death of our parents I somehow have taken their responsibility for my both brothers as well.

I wanna hold this family together.
They ain't supposed to live in a boy's home.
I couldn't get myself to put them into some foster home.
I love them too much for that!
These two are the only thing what's left of my family to me.
I couldn't bear it to lose them, too.

"Where's she from?" I finally asked.

As brother and legal guardian for Pony and Soda I'm interested in what my brothers do and with whom they associate.

And when Pony's talking about a girl it's just naturally and also something like my duty to go into it closer to get to know how's their relationship.
I don't mind by no means if Ponyboy would have a girlfriend.
I really don't grudge him it, honestly!
I only wanna be sure who she is and see how she is.
That's all!

Besides I welcome pretty everything what hasn't got stamped the name Shepard on it.
I don't like it very much when Pony does something with Curly.
He is - as Ponyboy has written in his essay - really a little Mini-Tim and a pretty dangerous company for that reason.
But I can tell Pony my doubts again and again; it's as if I would talk to a wall, which probably would give me back more than Pony.

"No idea. She hasn't told me and I also didn't ask." Pony answered and yawned. "I guess, I'm gonna go to bed. When's Soda gonna come home?"

"I don't know, but I guess, he's gonna come soon as well." I replied and glanced again at the clock: half past eleven.

"Ok. Well, I'm gonna go. Good night."

I nodded and replied, "Good night, Ponyboy. See ya tomorrow."

Then he turned away with a wave and went into his room.

I sighed and kept on tidying up the kitchen and went to bed as well.

Today it has been a quite hard day again but the house I was working on should be roofed as soon as possible.
And if we wouldn't be ready till then meant this for me that there would be less money and I just couldn't afford that.