Darry's POV
I had let Pony go to the Nightly Double with Two-Bit and Soda was at school, leaving me alone to watch Brianna for a few hours. I figured that Ponyboy could go out and do something fun for once instead of watching Brianna like he usually does. Although he'd insist that watching her is fun. He never complains about having to watch her when he gets home from school or on weekends. At least not that I know of. He's still kind of withdrawn around me even though our relationship has improved since that night Soda ran out the door not long after Johnny and Dally had died.
"Dah?" Brianna was looking up at me.
"What?" I asked her. But she just went back to playing with her blocks. A minute later, she was walking towards the kitchen. Thankfully, the gate was closed. I really didn't want another flour incident.
"Gah?" Brianna looked at me and pointed.
I stood up and walked over to her. "No, we don't need anything from the kitchen. Let's go read the paper."
I picked her up and carried her back to my chair where I picked up the news paper and started to read it. I probably made it through two sentences before Brianna started batting the paper with her hands.
"Okay, lets play with your toys." I mumbled getting down on the floor. Of course, as soon as I did that, she started walking around. She's just like Soda, can't sit still for more than a few seconds.
"Woa! Hey, Brianna." I looked up just in time to see Steve walking in the door. he picked up Brianna and flung her over his shoulder. "I don't think you want to go outside."
I sighed. "Hey, Steve. Get in another fight with your dad?"
Steve nodded. It's not unusual for him to spend the night a few times a week. I think half the town believes that he's related to us.
"Did Soda put your little greaser shoes on you?" Steve asked taking Brianna's foot in his hand. He was now sitting on the couch with her. The pink Converse she had gotten for Christmas were referred to as the little greaser shoes thanks to Two-Bit.
"No, Ponyboy did. If it were up to Soda, everyone would just go bare foot all the time." I said, sitting back down to read the paper.
Steve's POV
I sat with Brianna who was examining my DX shirt. I would have changed but my dad hollered at me and I left before I had the chance.
"Dah?" Brianna gave me a curious look.
"That's a shirt." I told her. I know Soda thinks she'll say her first word on her birthday. And naturally, he thinks it'll be 'daddy'. "Where's Ponyboy?"
"At the Nightly Double with Two-Bit." Darry replied. "Why? You usually don't ask about Pony."
"I'm just used to always seeing him with Brianna if Soda isn't around." I said. "Speaking of Soda, when will he be home?"
Darry looked up at the clock. "Probably at around ten. Ponyboy should be back around then too."
Brianna just yawned and rubbed her eyes.
"Are you sleepy?" I asked her.
"Do you want me to take her and put her in her crib?" Darry asked. "It is time to put her to bed, anyway."
I shook my head. "No, she's fine."
I looked down at Brianna who was sleepily playing with her hands. I knew from my many nights there that she'd be asleep in no time. Once you got her to sit down and stop moving when it was close to her bed time, she usually fell asleep within ten or fifteen minutes. According to Soda and Ponyboy, it's the same way with her naps. Sure enough, after a few minutes, Brianna had fallen asleep on my lap. By then, I had moved her so she was laying down instead of sitting up.
"Are you sure you don't want me to take her?" Darry asked.
"It's okay, Darry." I said. "If I get tired of holding her, I'll just go put her in the crib."
Darry silently nodded and went back to reading the paper while I watched the television which for some reason is always on at the Curtis house. Or at least it seems that way. Brianna just slept, uninterupted by the sound of the television.