Chapter Nine: What's Going On In Tulsa
Disclaimer: See last chapter's disclaimer.
Sodapop came home from work in a bad mood, which, these days, wasn't that unusual. The poor guy was lonely.
He made himself purple pancakes for dinner and ate it while watching The Brady Bunch. It was a dumb show, but nothing else was on.
He went out for his mail when it came and made short work of most of it. "Bill…bill…junk mail…" he muttered to himself as he went through the mail.
His eyes widened when he found the one significant letter. "Holy—! Darry's writing home!" Soda screamed to no one in particular.
He ripped the envelope in half in his haste and read the letter three times over. He called up Ponyboy immediately after and read the letter to him over the phone.
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Ponyboy picked up the phone. It was Soda! He was so glad. He was seriously considering going back home.
He didn't like New York so much anymore. It was great for a visit, but he had had enough of it. And his girlfriend, Lisa, was driving him insane!
She nagged, went out without him more and more, and was sour and crabby. Not to mention she was a mean drunk. She could be sweet when she wanted to be, but that was getting to be less and less.
He decided that he would have to break up with her.
He told all this to Soda over the phone. "So, I was wondering…could I come back home?" Ponyboy asked pleadingly. There was a long pause on the other line.
"Soda?" Ponyboy said cautiously. "I could get a job, you know, help with the bills and everything, and I could—" he said quickly, thinking that Soda was going to say no.
"Of COURSE you can, Pony!" Soda practically screamed on the other line. "Man, it'd be great to have somebody else around here! When can you come?" he asked eagerly.
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Soda was literally jumping up and down with the phone in his hand. He felt like he was four again.
His prayers had been answered! Ponyboy was coming home! And Darry would be too…well, for the holidays. But that wasn't too far away.
Somebody up there really likes me, Soda thought happily. He hung up a few minutes later after Ponyboy decided he would be there in a day.
"I have some things to…take care of," Ponyboy had said mysteriously. Soda shrugged it off. He was too happy for words.
He danced all around the kitchen, waltzing and tangoing with himself until he crashed into the door. Hmmm. Maybe I should contain myself just a little, he thought as a bump on his forehead swelled up.
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Meanwhile, Ponyboy waited, watching T.V., for Lisa to come back. Several times he drifted off, but jerked back awake. He finally fell fast asleep.
He was woken by someone shaking him gently. "Pony? Wake up. It's seven a.m." Ponyboy sat up straight and looked around. Damn. He had fallen asleep.
Lisa led him gently into the kitchen. "Want some breakfast?" she offered, smiling. Ponyboy shook his head slightly. He was still kind of groggy.
Something wasn't right. He had to do something…oh yeah. "Lisa?" Ponyboy started tentatively. Lisa turned around from the eggs she was frying.
"Yes?" she asked, eyes filled with curiosity. Ponyboy took a deep breath. Lisa was a sweet girl, but he couldn't handle living with her anymore. He hated breakups.
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Ding, dong! The doorbell rang. Soda dived for the door. He flung it open. The eager look on his handsome face was replaced with one of disappointment. "Oh. It's just you," he said grumpily.
"Well, that makes me feel loved," Steve teased. Soda sighed. "Sorry, man. It's just that I'm expecting somebody."
"Who?" asked Steve curiously. "Pony'scomingback!" Soda said in a rush. Steve stared at him. "Huh?" he said, a look of annoyance and confusion on his face.
Soda tried to contain himself. "Pony's coming back home to STAY!" he screamed, prancing around.
Steve grinned widely. He and Ponyboy still weren't the best of friends, but they had matured enough to accept each other. "Really? You're not pulling my leg?"
Soda shook his head. "Nope! He's coming, he's coming, he's coming!" He stopped dancing long enough to ask Steve, "Why've you come here anyway?"
Steve rolled his eyes. "Hey, doofus, I'm here to pick you up for work." Soda sagged. He didn't feel like working. He was too excited. But, he had to pay the bills somehow.
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Soda flopped in his chair. It had been a long day at work. He was getting kind of tired of girls hanging around giggling their heads off, doing nothing. Today he had dared to ask a really young looking girl, "Shouldn't you be at school?" She had just laughed in his face.
The doorbell rang. Soda heaved himself up off the chair and stumped to the door. He opened it with a bad grace, but his mood was alleviated almost immediately.
"PONY!" he screamed. "SODA!" Ponyboy yelled in turn, and they hugged in the doorframe.
Soda grabbed Ponyboy's bags and threw them into their old room. "Man, it's great to be back home," Ponyboy exclaimed, shrugging off his jacket. Soda noticed a scar on Pony's forehead.
"Pony, what hit you?" Soda demanded. Pony looked sheepish. "My girlfriend. I broke up with her over breakfast, and she hit me with the frying pan and kicked me out."
"Ouch," Soda said sympathetically. Ponyboy shrugged. "I guess I deserved it. I wasn't very kind about it."
Soda shrugged. "You did what you had to do," he said nonchalantly. "So," Ponyboy said, trying to change the subject. "What's for dinner?"
Soda grinned. "Green macaroni and red mashed potatoes. Want to help me cook?"
Ponyboy grinned. Just like old times.
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Two weeks later, another letter arrived from Darry. Pony and Soda tore it open like wild animals.
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Dear Soda and Pony,
Glad to hear Pony's moved back in. It'll be just like old times once I come home.
Two-Bit's comedy show's in a couple of days. He's already here, and said he sent a few tickets to Tulsa since he didn't know I was here.
You guys should come up to see the show if you can. I know I want to. Except you have my ticket.
College's fine. Still failing Calculus. A.J.'s helping me some, but she's not exactly a math whiz either.
Sometimes, I wonder, was it really such a good idea to come back to school? But when I think about it, yes.
Anyway, I enclosed some money for your train fare. Come over soon. I can't wait to see you guys again.
Your brother, Darry.
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Sure enough, there was a letter from Two-Bit, too, with a program and three tickets. Soda called Steve. He was going too, but Evie didn't want to come.
"We're going to see Darry!" Pony exclaimed in disbelief. Things were going great!
Then a chill ran up his spine. Things were going great…too great. Something was bound to happen, and soon.
Pony shook away his feelings. What could possibly go wrong?
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Find out, but only if you review. I'm not updating until I get some more reviews. Seriously, I want to know what you think! Flame me if you want, just tell me how you like it.
BTW, could somebody help me out? I don't know what calculus is. Could someone tell me, so I can write about Darry's calculus troubles without feeling like a moron because I don't know if I'm going to say something stupid?
