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Pony:
Our unit made its way through the dense foliage of the leafy jungle. We had just been dropped in the middle of nowhere to meet another unit to set up base and guard the perimeter. Crock, AJ, Shep, myself and about 10 other guys trudged along in the line led by Doug and Sergeant Caplan.
Glancing behind him Doug yelled, "Christ kid! How many times do I have to tell you to stay on my ass? If you keep lagging behind you're gonna get left behind."
It took me a few moments to register the fact that I was the one being yelled at. I muttered a barely audible "yes". This apparently wasn't good enough because Doug stopped in his tracks and walked back to face me. "You follow?" he asked sternly.
"Yes sir." I responded, straightening up. He shot me a look I didn't even want to know the meaning of and went to the head of the line again. "Idiot," I said to myself. Obviously the survival of the fittest wasn't high on my list of priorities right now, as it should have been. My brain was far behind in Tulsa, having no other way to pass the lengthy 8-mile hike. All the progress I had seemingly made with Doug had been shot to shit during this trek.
I shook my head trying to focus. I wouldn't be any good to Darry and Soda if I came back in a body bag. Then I cringed, ashamed at my morbid thoughts. I guess they came with the territory though.
Hearing shouts, I craned ahead to see Sergeant Caplan shaking hands with another man. It seemed that we had come upon our base; various tents and soldiers were scattered about. "Nice of you to make it," the other man said to Caplan. "We weren't sure if you fellows could find your way."
"Airborne," Shep told me, falling behind in line. "Think they're hot shit." He snorted and frowned at the same time. Caplan took the sly insult easily and slapped the other man on the arm. Hard.
"That's Captain Bane," Shep told me again. "They go way back. Sarge coulda had his job, but he turned it down." Shep's voice was full of awe. "No one knows why. All they do know is that Bane was second choice."
"Nice job there, narrator," I said dryly.
"Hey you asked."
"Actually, I didn't."
Shep paused and then shot me a rascally grin. "Hop to it soldier," he said moving behind me in line and prodding my shoulders as I walked. "We don't want you to get lost in the jungle do we?"
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"Want some Curtis?" Crock asked me holding out a ladle of soup. It was approaching dusk and we were currently testing whatever food Crock had managed to dig up. A.J. and Shep held up their bowls a little too eagerly for me. I shuddered and silently swore to never make fun of Sodapop's cooking again.
"No," I said. "Think I'll do some reading for a while." Reaching into my bag I pulled out a handful of letters from home. After my first letter home I had waited two weeks until I had heard hearing anything. And then the letters came. Boy did they come.
"Jeez-us" Shep sighed, "you'd think those things were love letters."
"Shut up man," I said flicking my cigarette ash in his bowl of food. Shocked and appalled, Shepard looked forlornly into his bowl of mush.
"Look on the bright side Shepard, it might taste better that way," AJ offered helpfully.
"Well now you tell me." Shep took a heaping spoonful of food, ash and all, and shoved it in his mouth. I shook my head in disgust while trying to hide a smile. Shepard and Two-Bit would have had a field day trying to one-up each other.
"You're sick man. Real sick." Looking injured at the thought of his precious food going to waste, Crock gave AJ a smaller than normal portion.
"Chill man. It's not like you cooked it yourself," AJ murmured.
I tuned the guys out and began to revisit bits of the chosen letters. I had taken all the letters I had got but re-read my favorites tonight; they needed to last me until I could get back to base and get new ones.
I had been shocked at Darry's. The scolding I had expected was replaced with resignation at what I had done; he had accepted it, just didn't like it.
Ponyboy,
It's great to hear from you. Don't tell Soda this, but I was beginning to think the worst after a few months went by. The least you can do is write us once a month to let us know your ok. It'd make things a lot easier….You sure didn't put me in an easy spot having to choose between you and Soda like that. Hell, that damned Caplan didn't help out either…Soda sure took it real hard after you left. He barely left the house, Steve and I had to drag him to work…..Be careful out there and write soon…
DarryTwo-Bit's letter made me laugh the most. It was good to hear from someone who wasn't so grim.
Kid,
What the hell am I going to do now on Saturday nights when you're not here? Darry barely let you out of the house before, what do you think he's going to do when you get back?…Seriously though, I can't believe you did it. Stupid but brave. For once in my life I have heard Soda say 'why can't that kid use his head'….They won't tell you this so I will. The state hasn't been on your case and Darry spun some tale to the school about you visiting relatives. So, so far you're in the clear….Thanks for the letter…it meant a lot to hear from you…
The one letter I hadn't expected came from Steve:
Pony,
Well what can I say? I owe you a hell of a lot of thanks. At first I thought I would fly over there and strangle you myself…Soda was a zombie and Darry did nothing but work 12 hour days. It was worse than when you were in Windrixville….But as I said, I owe you. You did a hell of a selfless thing that I, in my entire life, would have never have done. You're there and you shouldn't be. I swear just come back okay and I will never bitch to Soda about how you're the tag-along kid…
Steve
A week after that Soda's letter came. His was the last and the most anticipated. Before it had come my nightmares had consisted of Soda never speaking to me. Of ignoring me until I gradually faded away; became a ghost.
I didn't even want to know what they meant.
Ponyboy,
You don't know how much I wish I could bring you home. Out of all the times you've scared the crap out of me I don't know why you couldn't give me a chance to scare the hell out of you. Trust me, you wouldn't like it. Although no matter where I am I still miss you something awful…Did Darry tell you? Steve and I became the day managers at the DX, which really doesn't mean more responsibilities, just more opportunity to goof off unnoticed…The Socs are still coming over to our side of town.,Curly Shepard got knifed up pretty badly a few nights ago. Tim is looking for another fight, although I'm glad you won't be here for that…Do me a favor will you? Don't try and be a hero or anything over there…Write soon…
I cleared my throat as I looked out through misty eyes. Damn Soda and his letter. Then I was struck by the approaching darkness and the descending sunset. Blearily I wiped my face and stretched out on the ground.
"Wanna smoke?" Crock asked. Taking one I lit it, trying to blow smoke rings in the hazy light.
"Curtis!" I heard a voice bark. Sitting up it was Doug and he was looking at me distastefully. "You're up," he said.
"For what?"
His shoulders sagged in exasperation. "Watch the perimeter dumbass. You and another private from Captain Bane's squad will be watching from 19:00 to 24:00. As much as I'd like to put someone else on watch…unfortunately you'll have to do."
"Thanks for the vote of confidence," I quipped, grabbing up a weapon and walking towards the outskirts of camp.
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FYI: The letters are meant to be random and disjointed...
