After I went to pay the electric bill, I went to my second job which is working in a warehouse. Another job that requires heavy lifting that puts a lot of strain on my back. But it helps get the bills paid and that's all that matters. Of course, Pony and Soda feel otherwise, if they're not telling me to stop carrying two bundles of roofing up a ladder, they're telling me not to carry too many heavy boxes at one time.

"You're not early for once." Tony commented when I punched my time card. "Are you feeling okay?"

"Yeah, I'm fine. I just had to stop at the electric company to pay a bill that was past due." I replied.

Tony just looked at me and walked away. He was from the rich side of town and didn't understand what it was like to struggle to get the bills paid every month. I know this because we went to school together and he used to eat lunch with Paul and me. His parents bought him everything he wanted, even now, although he's twenty-one and has a job.

I felt the familar twinge of jealousy creep through me as I watched Tony drive a fork truck to another area of the warehouse. It had always bothered me that I had to live on the poor side of town and when I was younger, I had dreams of becoming a famous football player who would have enough money to buy his family a mansion and pay for his two younger brothers to go to college. I even wanted to buy Soda a farm with all the horses he wanted. But unfortunately, I had to stop dreaming and face something called reality. Something Ponyboy needs to face sooner or later.

"I need you to start putting those boxes over there on shelves." The boss said to me as he walked past. He was pointing to a pile of boxes several feet away.

I walked over to the boxes and started putting them on shelves, lifting two, sometimes three at a time. My back was already sore for roofing that house earlier in the day, but I ignored it and continued to work.

"Has anyone ever told you that you work too hard?" Ben said to me when he came to see how I was doing.

I grinned. "Yeah, my brothers tell me that all the time."

Ben grinned too then continued to go to the area where he was also putting boxes on shelves. Unlike Tony, Ben grew up middle class. He was a few years older than me, but I remembered him from grade school. Maybe because he was the kid who always went out of his way to be nice to people, kind of like how you always remember the school bully.

I continued to shelve boxes until it was time to take a break, which I took only because the company requires it. Both Tony and Ben joined me. Which isn't unusual since we have the same break period. I like being around Ben, but would rather not have Tony with us and after drinking half of my Pepsi, I was reminded why.

"Darry, bills are no big deal. You always complain about how this bill and that bill needs to be paid. You need to stop worrying so much and live a little." Tony said to me and I saw Ben roll his eyes at the back of Tony's head.

"Tony, have you ever seen a bill?" I asked. "Do you know what it's like to be without electricity or even hot water for a few days? Because let me tell you, it's not pleasant to have to take your morning shower in ice cold water because the bill wasn't paid or to stumble around a dark house because the electric company disconnected your service."

"And he has two brothers to take care of, too." Ben added in my defense.

"You have two jobs, Darry. You have money." Tony said, crushing his soda can in his fist.

"Yes, I have two jobs." I agreed. "But, that doesn't mean I have all the money in the world and you need to remember that I don't have the privledge of having parents who will buy everything I ask for. In fact, unlike your parents, mine aren't around anymore."

I don't usual mention the fact that my parents aren't around anymore but I felt some satisfaction when I saw Tony's eyes get wide. I know that no one likes to think about losing their parents and I'm the one who makes them think about that. I also know that Soda and Pony have had the same effect on people they know.

We finished the rest of our break in silence before returning to work. By the time I was punching out to go home, my back was so sore, I could barely walk. I hoped Soda hadn't gone to bed yet because I really needed a back rub, even if he ended up putting me to sleep.