Darry's POV
I looked up from the film I was half watching when I heard Steve's car pull up.
Soda came flying in through the door all arms and legs.
He looked like he'd been swimming. I had to remind myself that bitching people out for not wearing a coat was not a greeting- and besides, the DX provided shirts as a uniform so it wasn't a conscious choice.
I'd been trying harder to be less of a parent and more of a brother. To be less hasty with my criticism. It had certainly helped my relationship with Pony, but it really took my willpower.
Soda kicked off his sodden shoes and threw his drenched cap into the sofa. I inwardly cringed but made a mental note to remind him that wet things don't dry so well like that.
"Where's pony?" He asked.
I dont know why he asks because he knows Pony doesn't go anywhere. He's in his room, studying for mid terms. Pony's grades are great, but I do worry about him. He needs friends his own age once Steve and Two bit leave school this summer. Only a few months away.
I make a mental note to ask Two who pony spends his time with at school. I suspect he spends it alone now that Johnny's gone and that thought makes my stomach lurch a bit. He must have friends, right? I mean, I'm glad he's not so pally with Curley any more but he needs to go out and burn off some steam now and again too.
"Studying" I reply. " your dinner's in the grill although its probably stone cold by now. Why don't you chuck it in the oven whilst you have a shower- you look frozen".
He grinned at me and did, leaving a trail of damp clothing from the sitting room to the bathroom.
I went back to my film. It wasn't very good, some romance. But it wasn't the news. Just a distraction.
Pony appeared and I answered his unasked question with " In the shower" he nodded and folded himself onto the sofa with his book.
"Homework all done?" I asked gently, knowing that it was.
He hummed his agreement, all attention on his book.
"Good book Kiddo?" He looked at me with his serious face. "Yeah, I'm reading it for English but it's not so bad. Better than Shakespeare anyway".
He folded the page corner, closed the book and looked at me with his orb like eyes. I could feel he was annoyed but like me, trying to be better.
"What film is this?" He asked without much enthusiasm. I mused that if pony didn't recognise it it was either really old or really bad. I shrugged apologetically "I'm not sure, there just wasn't anything else on- I'm only half watching it anyway".
Pony grinned at me "Gee Dar- a whole DAY of TV, you must be really bored!"
Pony scooted over to the TV and changed the channels using the buttons on the set. We had 5 channels, 2 were all static because of the weather, one bad film, one nature documentary and one with the news.
He made a face at the news. All about the War then turned the set off and put the radio on.
"Wanna play cards?" I heaved myself onto the floor by the coffee table and waited to be dealt in.
Soda reappeared, still wet but no longer cold and bolted his dinner down in 3 big bites, then joined us for a few rounds of go fish. Once he'd eaten he told us about his customers, his day, the cars, the car magazine and being called out to Curley- and how he'd made curley drive back to the garage. (Omitting the lady driver). When Soda gets going you just can't get a word in edgeways.
He asked about our days, I told him about my early finish, pony complained about Algebra. Soda told us more about cars and girls and rain. He's a good storyteller. He can make the retelling of the most boring event sound like an epic adventure.
Pony took himself off to bed at a reasonable time, knowing he had school and track practice the next day. He'd grown so tall and gangly that " little colt" suited him too well. His track performance gone from strength to strength and I was crossing my fingers for that scholarship
I'd arranged some warehouse shifts as the weather looked to remain poor through to the weekend. 4 days of rain. 4 days of warehousing with Tim.
Soda looked like he had something he wanted to get off his chest. He's so easy to read- all fidgety and wound up.
" what is it, Pepsi cola?" I ask him. He blinks at me, as though he thinks I'm a mind reader and I wonder how he ever wins at poker.
He picks at the carpet before picking some careful words. " I had to tow the lady that hit Curley's car. She was awful upset. She reminded me of Mom".
I know that's not all of it. But he doesn't offer any more and I don't pry.