Soda's POV
I had always wondered if I was doing a good job with raising Brianna. I don't know if it's because I'm still young or if every parent feels that way even if they have several kids. But my conversation with Darry helped. He wouldn't lie to me. Still, I couldn't help feeling a little insecure about the whole thing. Even though I'm only seventeen, almost eighteen, I want to provide for Brianna the best way that I can. I wanted her to know that she was loved and cared for in the best way possible. And I wanted to be someone she would look up to. Not only as her father, but as a person, too.
I had been thinking a lot about certain things over the past several months. Now, as hard as I thought it may be, I had reached a decision to go back to school. I had dropped out because I thought I was dumb. I still feel that way. But, I want Brianna to grow up knowing that you don't quit just because something is hard for you. You have to keep going. The only problem I saw with returning to school was when I would work and how much time I'd get to spend with Brianna. My schedule would be pretty tight.
"Hey Soda, could you get the cake out of the ice box?" I had been sitting at the kitchen table thinking when Pony's voice broke into my thoughts.
"Sure." I said standing up and going to the ice box for the cake. "Hey, how do you think Darry would react if I said I wanted to go back to school?"
Ponyboy's POV
I stared at Soda. It had always bothered me that he had dropped out. Now he wanted to know what Darry would think if he went back. I was excited and shocked at the same time. "Are you thinking about going back to school?"
Soda shrugged. "I don't know. I want Darry to be okay with it. And I'm not sure if it would work out with Brianna. I don't want you and Darry to have to watch her more than you should have to."
"Well, I think that if you really want to go back to school, Darry would support that. And there's a night school program starting up, so you wouldn't have to give up your hours at the DX station." I told him.
"That might work." Soda said slowly.
"What might work?" Darry asked entering the kitchen. He was carrying Brianna who must have just woke up and handed her over to Soda.
Soda glanced at me and I nodded eagerly. Maybe a little too eagerly. "I'm thinking about going back to school. But only if it's okay with you. I know you don't want to look after Brianna all the time."
Darry's POV
I just looked at my brothers. Pony had this expectant look on his face like he was the one asking to go back to school. Soda was trying not to look too eager for me to give the okay. He even tried to distract himself by putting Brianna in the high chair.
"Well, things are tight here as far as finances." I said slowly. Soda had been helping with the bills.
"Darry, there's a night school program starting up next semester. Soda could do that and still work at the DX station." Pony spoke up.
I thought for a minute. It would be good for Soda to go back to school. So, I gave the only response I could at that moment. "Pony, could you get more information on the night school program for me to look at before I decide anything. And Soda, I think it's great that you want to go back to school. I just to be sure it'll work out with our schedules, okay?"
Soda's POV
I could see Pony grinning when Darry said that. He has asked me several times why I had dropped out. Now, it looked like I'd be going back in just a few short months. If it would work out with our schedules like Darry said.
I turned to Brianna who was slapping her hands on the tray. "Looks like daddy may be going back to school."
Brianna just looked at me for a minute. Then laughed as if she knew what I was talking about as if to say, "That's really great, daddy!"
I grinned and kissed the top of her head before turning to help Darry set out slices of cake. I knew that no matter how hard school might be for me, that going back would be the right decision.