Soda's POV
After work, I went home and found Darry half asleep in his chair with Brianna sitting on his lap. "Long day?"
Darry looked up at me. "Let's just say a nap would be nice right about now."
"I thought you were going to put her down for one when you got home from the Tasty Freeze." I said, taking Brianna from him.
"I did. I was talking about me." Darry explained. "She may look like you, but, she seems to have Pony's ability to move fast."
I laughed. "Well, I'm home now if you really want to take a nap. I don't have to leave for class for two hours."
Darry gave me a tired grin and went off to his room. Probably so he could have some uninterupted sleep.
"Daddy." Brianna was looking at me.
"Hey sweetie." I said to her. "Did you keep your uncle Darry busy today?"
She just grinned at me and started to show me that she wanted me to put her down.
"Okay, I'll put you down." I laughed. I set her down and followed her to her room where I was greeted by a mess of toys. "Did you make a mess?"
Brianna ignored me and just sat down among the pile of toys. She started to play, then looked at me waiting for me to join her.
"Alright, what should we play with?" I asked sitting down next to her on the floor.
"How about the blocks? We can build a soc neighborhood and have her knock it down." I looked up to find Steve standing in the doorway. "Boy, Pony wasn't kidding when he said she removes everything from drawers and cupboards."
"No. But there's nothing in any of them that could harm her. All of that is kept out of reach." I replied. "What's going on?"
Steve shrugged. "Not much. Pony said I could come over and help watch Brianna tonight. Kind of give Darry a break."
I grinned. "Darry is taking a nap now. I think Brianna tired him out."
"Well, he can relax tonight." Steve replied. He picked up Brianna and added, "Isn't that right?"
Brianna laughed.
"She'll probably cry for a few minutes when I leave." I told him.
"I know, she did at the restaraunt. Pony explained that she'd be fine and she was." Steve said as he put Brianna back down.
"Stee!" Brianna held out her arms wanting Steve to pick her up again.
"Oh, you don't want your daddy to hold you but Steve can?" I asked Brianna.
Steve picked her up and went out into the living room with her. "When do you leave for school?"
"In an hour and forty minutes." I told him. "Speaking of which, I'm glad your here. It's easier to fix dinner when someone else is around to watch Brianna."
Steve shook his head and sat down on the couch with her. He reached into his back pocket and pulled out one of the car magazines that he's always looking at. Then, he started showing Brianna all the pictures of cars in it.
Steve's POV
Over an hour later, after we all had dinner, Soda got up to leave for school.
"Bye sweetie." He said to Brianna. "Give daddy a kiss."
He kissed her on the kiss then turned to me. "Good luck, Steve."
"We'll be fine. Besides, Darry's up now and Pony will be home after his track meet." I said.
Soda just laughed and walked out the front door. A minute later the sound of Darry's truck and Brianna crying "Daddy" filled my ears.
"Brianna." I whispered from behind her. "You know he'll be back."
She looked at me and nodded. Then she walked over to her bouncing pony.
"Someday, they'll make little cars that kids can actually drive." I mumbled as I lifted her onto the pony.
"Even if they did, Steve, she'd still be too little to drive it." Darry commented from the kitchen where he was washing the dishes. One setting remained on the table for Pony when he got home.
"I guess." I replied. "But wouldn't it be cool if kids could drive cars?"
"On the sidewalks or the streets with all the adults?" Darry asked, entering the living room.
"On the sidewalks or in the yards." I replied. "I'm not stupid enough to want a kid driving on the streets. Heck, some adults shouldn't be allowed to drive on the streets."
"Well, maybe you'll be the one to make it happen, Steve. You certainly know enough about cars." Darry told me.
"Stee?" I was about to respond to Darry when Brianna tugged on my sleeve.
"Do you want down?" I asked her. She nodded and I let her down. She started to walk away. "Where are you going?"
Knowing her, she's probably going to Soda's room." Darry said.
I followed her and sure enough, she went to Soda's room. She grabbed the sheet on the bed and hid behind it when she saw me. I pulled it away. "Are you trying to hide from me now?"
Brianna giggled and hid behind the sheet again. And we continued our little game until Pony got home.
"Sounds like you two are having a good time." He said as he set his books down on his desk.
"She's been having lots of fun. Haven't you, Brianna?" Her response was hiding behind the sheet again. Then peeking out from the side and giggling as she hid again.
"Darry's reading the paper. Do you know how long it's been since he's been able to read the paper in one sitting?" Pony asked me. "Brianna usually keeps both of us busy. Anyway, I should get her ready for bed. You don't want to help with her bath do you?"
I shook my head. "Nah, you can do that. I think I'll watch television while you get her ready for bed. I'll probably spend the night. I don't feel like going home. If I did, I'd probably be back here anyway."
Pony gave me a half smile as he picked up Brianna and left the room. I left the room too and went to the living room to watch 'Leave It To Beaver'.