Thanks for the reviews! I love, love, love them! I cannot thank you enough. Here is another chapter…enjoy!
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To everything, turn, turn, turn
There is a season, turn, turn, turn
And a time for every purpose under heaven
A time to be born, a time to die
A time to plant, a time to reap
A time to kill, a time to heal
A time to laugh, a time to weep
-The Byrds
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Darry:
"Soda?" I knelt down and tried to look into his face, which was turned away from me. Slowly his gaze flickered, his brown eyes whisking back and forth. I waited for him to sort out his thoughts before I prodded once more; a serious Sodapop was never a good sign.
"Do you know where our brother is right now?" he asked me gravely. I opened my mouth to say no, but then he leapt off of the chair, nearly knocking me over. Steadying myself, I stood up to meet him.
"He took my draft letter, a draft letter I didn't even know I had, and…and he's gone to God knows where. What in the world was he thinking? He's just a kid-"
"Easy Soda, easy," I heard myself say to him. Usually I could count on Steve for backup, as he could calm Soda down easily; but Steve stood frozen, the color drained from his face.
Soda would have continued ranting, but I stopped him by putting a hand on his arm. "Tell me again."
Furiously, he looked at me. "He went in place of me. To the war. Vietnam."
I stood there aghast at Soda's wild idea. His stony eyes bore into mine. Then, turning abruptly I grabbed the phone and dialed information, getting the number to the local military base.
After a few rings a frazzled receptionist picked up. "US Army National Guard."
"Yes, hello, I was wondering if you could check for me and let me know if my brother has reported for duty. I believed he received a draft notice…Sodapop Curtis…"
"One second sir," she sighed and flipped through a stack of papers. I held my breath until she said, "Yessir. Says here he checked in at 9:02 this a.m. Active duty."
I swallowed the lump in my throat. "I need to make an appointment to speak with someone in charge…it's extremely urgent."
She sighed again, "Is this regarding the draft? We get enough complaints as it is…"
"No, no. There's been a misunderstanding that needs fixing as soon as possible."
"Well," she hesitated, "I suppose I can set you up with someone around 2 p.m. tomorrow. There's nothing earlier," she added.
I ok'd the meeting and with a sense of dread hung up the phone. It clattered back onto its cradle. Now what?
"You're right," I croaked.
"That's all?" asked Two-Bit anxiously. His gray eyes were no longer laughing.
"I don't think they can bring him back home," I began slowly.
Soda started, "What are you talking about? They had better bring him back! He shouldn't even be there; he's only 15 for chrissake."
We all shifted uneasily. Ponyboy definitely shouldn't be over there, but we didn't want Soda over there either.
I tried to stall. "Soda, this is a mess. Let me handle this. If the state or school got a hold of it…"
"Screw the state, Darry! What's the worst they could do? Take him away? Right now that would be a blessing, because he could get killed over there. That's a hell of a lot worse."
"…I'm going to talk to someone tomorrow. Try and get him back," I finished lamely, trying to block out the word 'killed'. I wanted my dad so bad right now. He would know the right way to handle this unfathomable situation.
I smoothed a hand down my face, trying to pull myself together. I needed to focus before I lost it. Had Pony been here now I would have grounded him for life; yet, if given the chance I would have done the same thing for either of my brothers.
Two-Bit frowned. "Wait-what? That's all? We just sit around twiddling our thumbs?"
I stared at him, as Steve looked on as helpless as I was. All I got from Soda and Two-Bit was angry stares. "This is bull," Two-Bit muttered, stalking into the kitchen. Soda shut his eyes and made a pained noise in his throat.
"We'll get him back, Soda." Steve spoke up for the first time since the phone call.
"Like you give a damn," Soda snapped, leaving Steve and me alone in the living room.
Steve followed Soda into the back bedroom and I heard Soda apologize. "Sorry. I just don't know how to handle this," he pleaded sadly.
Neither did I.
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I know I have taken some creative liberties but hey it's all in good fun right? ;) But I bet out of all the soldiers in Vietnam…at least one person had somebody take their place…it could happen…Twilight Zone Music
