"Pony would you like me to read to you?" Darry questions trying to get some kind of response from his brother.
Pony just stares straight ahead. "Pony would you like some food?" Darry tries again. Again he gets nothing.
Darry resigns his efforts on getting his brother to open up right now. Instead he tucks his brother into his bed and lays beside him. Darry holds Pony close rubbing his back. Darry was not sure how to help his brother. Darry knew the kid had gone through so much at such a young age and he had every right to shut down. The boys remained younger brother cuddled up to his elder brother for the next three hours before Ponyboy drifts off to sleep once again.
Once he was sure his brother was asleep Darry snuck out and started a load of laundry and dinner. Darry let his mind wander as he went throught he motions of doing his tasks. He was concerned about his little brother. The kid did not even shut down like this after their parents passed. Yes his brother was upset and cried, but he would talk and interact with everyone. Honestly, Pony was probaly the reason everyone had pulled through that loss as well as they did.
Dinner was just being pulled from the stove when Soda waltzed in. "Hey Dar! Where is Pony?" Soda inquires.
"He is asleep. I found out his friend Mark Ellis was murdered today," Darry tells Soda in his cold voice that Soda knew he only used when he was upset and trying to hide it.
"Sht! I heard that one of Tims boys was jumped, and put in the hospital. Never would have thought. Man poor kid. Has he talked to you?" Soda quizzed.
"No. Nothing has gotten him to talk. He had a nightmare during a nap. I also gave him a bath and held him," Darry tells his brother feeling helpless at the thought he was not doing enough to help Pony.
"I sure hope he bounces back soon. I can't deal with the baby being sad," Soda reveals the feelings both brothers shared.
After Darry finished his household chores he peeked in his brothers room. He smiled in spite of himself at his two brothers cuddled up together fast asleep. He was happy that for the moment Ponyboy looked at peace. After he felt his brothers were ok he went and laid down in his own bed and was out like a light as soon as his head hit the pillow. Darry was sleeping good until he was woken up by a scream ringing through the house. Darry shot up and headed towards his brothers room where he could hear Soda talking to Pony. Darry watched from the doorway as Soda cradled their brother and rubbed his back until he was back asleep. Soda gives Darry a thumbs up so he knew all was well before both boys went back to sleep.
The next morning Darry wakes up and starts breakfast. He was hoping today would be a far better day than yesterday. Darry had just finished the eggs as Soda comes walking in carrying Ponyboy. 'Breakfast is done," Darry tells them sitting out plates. Soda sits Pony in his chair before taking his own. . Darry glanced over at his brother after taking hiw own seat noticing his brother was not eating. Pony sat looking into space with his head propped up on his hand.
"Eat Ponyboy," Darry tells him nicely. Pony continued to stare off blankly into space as though he had not heard his brother.
"Ponyboy eat your breakfast now!" Darry said louder and more stern! Pony glanced over at his brother tears springing out of his eyes. Darry sighs. He did not want to make the kid cry. He just wanted his brother to eat something. Seeing his brother upet really pulled at Darrys heart strings.
Pony pushes his plate off the table watching it crash down. Lucky for him it was plastic and did not break. His actions got a reaction from Darry. He was now glaring at his brother. Darry was really trying hard not to loose his temper, but this was behavior that he never will tolerate.
"Ponyboy you do not do that! You know better!" Darry tells him sternly. All this accomplished was Pony to cross his arms and lay his head on the table.
Darry kept himself from going crazy. He knew Ponyboy was acting out for attention because he was hurting. Darry wanted him to know it was not ok, but figured talking is pointless at the moment. Darry got up from the table going over and lifting his brother into his arms. He carried him back to his seat and sat down holding his brother with one arm while eating with his other.
"I'll take him to get ready while you finish getting ready." Soda tells Darry as he finsihed his own food. Darry lets Soda grab Pony. Soda takes his brother and goes to their room.
Soda sits Pony on the bed as he quickly gets dressed and goes about dressing Pony who did not help .
"Ok buddy I think Johnny is staying home today with you so you can have a day to recover. " Soda tells him carrying him into the living room. Johnny was on the couch watching tv. Soda had not even heard him come in.
"Ready to go Soda?" Darry asks coming out of his room dressed for work.
"Yes! Bye Pony! " Soda tells him ruffling his hair before sitting him in Johnnys lap.
"Bye kiddo. Be good," Darry tells him kissing his head.
Pony has new tears running down his face as he realizes his brothers were leaving. He did not want his brothers to leave.
"Darrrrrrrryyyyyy! SssoODaaaa! Darrrrrryyyy! Sodddaaaaa! " Pony screams leaping up running after his brothers grabbig a hold of Soda's leg.
"Come on Pony! We have to get to work. We will be back later. Johnny Cade is going to hang out with you," Soda tells him unwrapping his brothers arms. He walks Pony back to Johnny who gets a grip on him.
Pony fights trying to get away to his brothers. "Soda! Darry!" he screams as they hurry out the door.
Soda and Darry felt bad, but they both had to get to work. They knew Pony woud be safe with Johnny and they could not afford to take off work
Johnny was trying to keep a hold of Pony, but it was diffacult when he was thrashing around so much. Johnny was kind of nervous at this point. He had never seen his friend act like this before. Noramlly he would be running laps around you. Johhny knew he was a bubbas boy, but he was not that clingy normally. Johnny knew now how bad off Pony really was now.
"Ponyboy! Darry and Soda will be back home after work," Johnny tries to reason with him. Pony was not having it. After a few minutes Johnny let Pony go. Pony threw himself down screaming while hitting and kicking the floor..Johnny did not know what to do so he just let him throw his fit. His fit lasted nearly an hour before Ponys collaped completely on the floor.. Pony's arms and legs were hurting now. His whole body ached, but worst of all his heart hurt.
Johnny took this time to try and move the kid on the couch. He gave Pony a pillow and covered him with a blanket. Johnny then sat beside the couch next to the kid. rubbing his head. Pony laid there in a Pony knew was everything hurt and he wanted hs brothers.
Johnny felt bad for the kid. Ponyboy was practically his little brother too. Johnny loved this boy as more than most anyone in this world. It made Johnny sad for the little boy, but also made him angry at the hurt the Socs had once again brought on. Johnny stayed right beside his friend while they both dozed on and off through out the day. Neither boy shared a word, but Johnny knew deep down Pony was happy he was beside him the whole time.
Darry was the first one to get home that evening. As soon as he walked in Pony was off the couch and clutching onto his brother tightly before he could even shut the door.
"How was his day?" Darry asks lifting Pony into his arms.
"He threw a bad tantrum when you left. After that he has not got off the couch," Johnny tells him.
"Oh Kiddo What am I going to do with you?" Darry asks Pony . Pony just stared into his brothers eyes not saying a word. "I really wish you would you would talk to us. I really miss talking to you. I love you kiddo," Darry tells him sitting down with him.
"I love you too," Pony whispers to his brother. Pony felt he needed to let his brother know. Even though it was four simple words Darry was excited to hear his brother speak. He has not really done that in over 24 hours. Darry hugged his brother tight. He sure loved this kid.
"Johnny will you go get me a yogurt cup and spoon?" Darry asks his friend. Johnny nods getting up going into the kitchen. He returned a moment later with the food. Johnny opens it up handing it to Darry. He had an idea on what Darry was going to attempt. Darry resituated Pony.
"Here Pony I want you to eat this ok?" Darry said trying to hand it to Pony. Pony turns his head away from it. "Hey Pony will you please take a bite for me?" Darry tries offering a spoonful to Pony. Pony turns towards his brother staring at him before finally opening up his mouth and taking a bite.
"Good Job Baby," Darry tells his brother. After he swallowed that bite he opened his mouth for another much to Darrys delight. Pony took another four bites willingly. After that he turned away again rejecting any more. Darry was disappointed that he did not finsih the yogurt, but let it go since he ate a few bites. Pony rested his head on his brothers shoulder content that his brother was home.
Darry snuggled his brother until Soda got home. "Here Soda will you occupy him so I can get dinner done? " Darry inquires.
"Of course," Soda says happily stealing Pony away from Darry.
"How was your day kiddo?" Soda questions joyfully. Pony just looks at him not answering knocking Sodas mood down a few notches.
"How has he been Johnny Cade?" Soda questions knowing Pony won't answer.
"Not great! Cried and threw a fit for almost an hour when you left. After that he did not move off the couch til Darry got home. Once Darry got home he got Pony to eat several bites of yogurt," Johnny updated him.
"You know kiddo you have all of us worried sick. I love you," Soda tells him tickling his side causing his brother to squirm around.
"Love you too," Pony tells Soda. Soda smiles at his brothers words. Soda sits on the couch beside Johnny Cade. Johnny had some western playing on the tv. Pony reached over and hugs Johnny. He did not want Johnny to think he hated him. He likes Johnny as long as his brothers are close by. Johnny returned the hug. He was glad that the kid seemed to be happier now. After hugging Johnny Pony went back to snuggling with Soda until Darry popped his head in calling everyone to dinner.
Pony climbed off his brothers lap, but followed him closely to the kitchen. Darry had sat out four plates. Pony climbed into his chair eyeing his brothers making sure they were sitting down. Everyone dug into the spagetti set in front of them except Pony. Darry eyes Pony silently urging his brother to eat. Pony answered him by pushing his plate away. Darry sighs in defea before taking a bite of his own food.
Pony didn't want to sit in his chair so he gets up and walks over to Darry who lifts him into his lap. He balances Pony with one arm and reaches for his milk with the other. Pony watches Darry with the cup and realizing how thirsty he was. Pony opens his mouth leaning towards the cup hoping his brother would get the hint. Darry chuckles trying to hand Pony his cup over to his brother. Pony makes no attempt to take it so Darry holds it for him. Darry thought holding a cup was silly and pointless, but if he actually drank something then he would not complain. Pony drank a quarter of the cup before turning away from it. Darry was not going to complain. He was haooy his brother was deciding to drink.
Darry picks up his fork to eat himself some spagetti. Pony eyed the food as his brother ate it. Pony decided it looked good and he was a little hungry. When his brother got another forkful of pasta he grabbed his arm dragging it down to his mouth and taking a bite. Soda let out a laugh from across the table.
"Pony would you like your food?" Soda questions. Pony looks away from Soda not answering his question. Instead he looks Darry in the eyes and opens his mouth for another bite. Darry feeds his brother another bite. Pony chews it up slowly. It tasted good, but for some reason Pony decided he did not want made him feel slightly sick.
He turned away from the next bite his brother offered.
Darry finishes his food before offering his brother another drink. Pony gladly accepts taking another big drink. When he was done with the drink he hopped down and goes over to Soda. climbing into his lap. Soda had chocolate milk and it sounded better then the white milk. Pony pointed to his brothers milk. Soda rolls his eyes but quickly gives up a drink. Pony drinks half of the cup.
After he was done drinking the milk he bounces off his brothers lap. Pony was on a mission. Pony went to the counter and points at it. Darry picks him up lifting him to the cabinet he was pointing too. Pony opens the cabinet door reaching for the one and only sippy cup that is hidden in the back. Pony hands it to his brother.
"Pony your don't need a sippy cup," Darry tells him. Pony looks at him pouting. Pony wanted that cup. He did not care if he was acting two.
Darry contemplates how to handle this. He don't want his brother to think that he would start tolerating the pouting, but on the other hand he was glad his brother was wanting to drink. He has barely ate anything and tonight was the first he has drank since lunch yesterday, and he don't want him getting dehydrated. Darry did not like this the sippy cup or that Pony don't want to hold cups. He is hoping this passed quickly. Darry decided to go ahead and give him the drink, but his brother was going to have to hold it himself. Darry poured Pony some juice into the cup before handing it to him.
Pony follows Darry around drinking on the his cup. Darry sighs wishing his brother would go back to acting his age instead of like a baby.. Darry and Soda tag teams the kitchen work while Pony sits on the floor nearby watchig his brothers clean.
"Pony why don't you go color," Darry suggests placing the plates in the cabinet. Pony just stares at him before shaking is head. Pony stays put until his brothers were done. They could not even get him to hang out with Johnny.
"Ok Kiddo we are done lets go in there and read," Soda tells Pony. Pony liked that idea and follows his brother to the living room. Soda grabs a book and parks himself on the couch. Pony climbs up beside him. while Johnny shuts the tv off so everyone can hear. Soda opens the book and begins reading. Pony leaned against his brothers chest listening to him read and feeling his chest rise and fall as he read. Pony sips on his drink soon drifting off to sleep listening to the soothing sound of his brothers voice. Soda smiles at his brother who was now sound always looked young especially when asleep, but tonight even more so as he clutches his cup beside him.
"So whats up with this? He has never been so clingy and acting so babyish. I mean a sippy cup? Not hardly talking and all the pouting" Soda questions Darry.
" I dunno! I think its some weird grieving process he is going through," Darry tells him. Darry was unsure about the behaviors himself. Darry was happy that it was now the weekend so they had two more days to help Pony and his crazy behavior before he had to return to school.
"What time do you work tomorrow?" Darry asks.
"8. I think I'm working til ten tomorrow night. I'm covering a partial shift for Cody. " Soda tells him.
"Alright. I have the day off tomorrow but work Sunday morning. So i'll be here trying to deal with that one," Darry tells him looking over at the sweet site of his sleeping brother.
Pony woke up the next morning next to Soda. He was feeling energetic today so decided to shake Soda waking him up. Pony wanted someone to keep him company. He hated the idea of being alone for any amount of time.
"Hey Baby," Soda greets his brother with a sleepy grin planted on his face.
"Cup," Pony tells his brother wanting a drink. He had no plans to act bigger, because frankly he wanted to be babied.
"Talk like a big boy and ask correctly," Soda tells him.
"Cup," he demands in a whiny voice. Soda sighs pulling himself out of bed.
"Kiddo I gotta jump in the shower. How about we go find Darry first?" he offers.
Pony nods climbing off the bed. He followed Soda to the kitchen where his eldest brother was busy cooking.
"Morning Dar! I'm going to jump in the shower really quick," Soda tells his older brother signalling to Darry Pony was behind him.
"Alright,Breakfast will be ready when you get out. Morning Pony." Darry tells him with a smile. Soda walks off ruffling Ponys hair on his way to the bathroom.
Pony walks over to Darry who is at the stove. He knows he is not to be at the stove when it was on, but he wanted to be close to his brother.
"Pony i'm cooking and your not allowed at the stove when the it is on. Go have a seat and food will be ready shortly," Darry instructs him. Pony crosses his arms over his chest, but he does as he is told. He goes to table and climbs up in hi seat. He lays his head on the table and watches Darry prepare breakfast. Darry was cooking oatmeal today. Pony normally loves oatmeal,but today he decided he did not want it, After five minutes Darry walks over to the table with bowls of oatmeal. Darry sits one in front of Pony. Pony stares at it as though it was the plague. After all the bowls were set out Darry went to the fridge and started pouring cups of milk before bringing them over to the table. Soda walks in clad in a towel just as Darry finished serving everyones food and drinks. He happily takes his seat waiting to devour some food and the chocolate milk that awaited him.
Darry sat down to enjoy his food and drink a little coffee to get his day started. "Cup," Pony demands breaking his brothers from their food and thoughts.
"You have one right in front of you," Darry tells him pointing at it. Pony pushes the cup away. He wanted the sippy cup.
"Well I guess your not very thirsty then," Darry told him turning back to his food ignorinng his brothers attitude. Pony wanted to cry and throw a fit, but he was trying to hold it back because he wanted near his brothers more and did not want to end up in time out. Pony was feeling anxious now. He wanted to throw himself down,but he also wanted nothing more than to be held by his brothers. A few tears exscaped his eyes as he pondered what to do. Finally Pony decided he wanted one of his brothers comfort. He went over and climbed in Sodas lap. Soda snuggled him close instantly bringing the much needed comfort he wanted.
"You going to eat baby boy?" Soda asks him. Ponyboy considered carefully rather he wanted to eat. He was sorta hungry but not very. He decided to go with eating a few bites. He openshis mouth for Soda to feed him a bite. Soda gets a spoonful and feeds it to his brother. Pony swallowed the bite decideing on a second. After the second bite he decided he wanteda drink. Pony point to his drink,
"Pony use your words," Darry tells him. Darry did not want to baby him. Pony glares at his brother and whimpers pointing at the drink again.
"I can't understand you. Try again," Darry tells Pony.
This only made Pony mad. Darry good and well knew what he wanted. Pony knew that Darry knew. Pony picks up Soda's bowl flinging it at Darry, Oatmeal splatters on the table before it crahes into Darry covering his shirt in oatmeal. Pony procedes to pick up Soda's cup throwig it as well. Pony was in a angry trance and not truely realizing what he had done. Darry was sitting there silently trying to hard to keep his anger under control. . Pony could tell Darry was angry and it sets him back off. Pony jumps down from his brothers lap running to his room, but he reaches his hand out on the way shoving his own dishes to the floor before sprinting to his room slamming the door behind him,
Pony now had tears running down his face. He put his head against the wall before drawing it away and bringing his head back down with a bang. Pony really wanted this pain to hated the way he felt. He kept hitting his head against the wall, Pony liked feeling the pain as it seemed to mask his inner pain. Pony cries more as he bangs his head harder and harder.
"Ponyboy." Darry shouts running into the room and picking his brother up stopping him from his self harm,The whole scene scared Darry. He had never thought his brother could ever hurt himself. All of Darrys anger from moments ago were now gone being replaced with sadness and fear. Pony fought briefly to get away, but quickly gave in to the comfort of his brothers arms.
Darry held his brother tight. "Shhhhh. I got you," Darry tells him rocking his brother him softly back and fourth before slowly singing a song he had heard in a childrens movie one time.
"Come stop your crying It will be alright Just take my hand And hold it tight
I will protect you From all around you I will be here Don't you cry
For one so small,
You seem so strong My arms will hold you,
Keep you safe and warm This bond between us Can't be broken I will be here Don't you cry
'Cause you'll be in my heart Yes, you'll be in my heart From this day on Now and forever more You'll be in my heart No matter what they say You'll be here in my heart Always
Why can't they understand the way we feel They just don't trust what they can't explain I know we're different, but deep inside us We're not that different at all
And you'll be in my heart Yes you'll be in my heart From this day on Now and forever more
Don't listen to them 'Cause what do they know We need…
When destiny calls you, you must be strong I may not be with you But you got to hold on They'll see in time, I know We'll show them together
'Cause you'll be in my heart Believe me you'll be in my heart I'll be there from this day on Now and forever more
You'll be in my heart No matter what they say You'll be here in my heart Always
Always I'll be with you I'll be there for you always Always and always
Just look over your shoulder Just look over your shoulder Just look over your shoulder I'll be there Always "
Pony could not handle the sadness no more. He bawled his eyes out as he snuggled his face into his brothers chest. As his brother sang to him Ponyboy was slowly able to calm down..
His brothers voices always seemed to soothe him when he needed it. Pony was able to bring his outburst to just sniffles. He placed a hand on his brothers heart feeling it pound.
Darry was silently relieved as his brother calmed down. He stared at his brother momentarily before lookig towards the door way where he saw Soda standing watching with tears streaming down his face. Darry had no doubt why Soda was crying. He himself felt like breakind down, but he had to tough. Darry held an arm out to Soda who gladly accepted the comfort from him brother too. Darry knew then holding both brothers that everything would some how be ok.
"Cup please?" Pony asked his brother after a while. He really wanted his sippy cup.
"You want the big boy cup?" Darry asks him. Pony shakes his head no and silently pleads with his brother to give him his cup. Darry sighs.
"Here Soda you take the devil child," he teases handing Pony over. Once Soda has his kid brother Darry walks into the kitchen and locates the sippy cup. Darry cleans it before filling it up with milk and delivering it to his youngest brother against his own beliefs.
"Thanks," Pony says snatching it from his brothers hands immediatly downing his drink. Now that Pony was calm his headache that he got from banging his head was becoming very noticeable. Pony put hi hand on his head trying to pressure on it to relieve the pain.
"Does your head hurt baby?" Soda questions noticing immediatly
"Ya," Pony says trying to hold back new tears. Darry over heard the boys from his spot in the kitchen where he was cleaning up the mess. He quickly grabbed his brother some tylonel before heading to the bedroom. Once there Darry measured the liquid out and gave it to his brother. Pony swallows it quickly hoping for instant results.
"More please?" Pony asks Darry holding out his cup. Darry takes the cup with out second thought this time. He quickly fills it with more milk before delivering it back to his brother.
"After this one Pony its only water for a while," Darry tells his brother. Pony smiles a half smile at his brother to show him he had heard what he said.
"Soda you gotta get going," Darry tells his brother. Soda jumps up hurrying to get dressed. Once Soda was dressed Darry tossed him the truck keys so that he could drive to work.
"Thanks Dar," he said with a grin before kissing the top of Ponys head and calling a good bye before heading out the door.
"Lets go color a picture together," Darry offers holding a hand out to his brother. Pony happily takes his brothers hand. They walk to the closet so they could grab the crayons and drawing pad before heading to the kitchen table. Darry lets go of his brothers hand and moves a chair close to his own. Pony climbs into the chair sitting beside his big brother before opening up the pad. He rips a paper out and hands it to his brother before starting his own picture.
Darry starts drawing a picture of his brothers and himself. Well he was attempting to draw a picture. Honestly he figured Ponys picture would look better then his own. Darry was shocked by how relaxing coloring was. Pony was drawing a picture of the sky. Darry was always amused by how much this kid noticed details. He hd never met another kid like Pony who appreciated things like the sky.
"Its us," Pony shrieked in excitement when he glanced at his brothers picture. Pony loved his brothers picture of the three of them.
"It sure is," Dary tells him. "You sure are drawing the prettiest sky I have ever seen," Darry tells him.
Pony held up his picture in Darrys face showing it off. He was very excited with his picture. Darry took the picture from his brother and went and hung it on the fridge. Pony smiled seeing his picture on the fridge where everyone would see it.
"Water please?" Pony asks his brother once he was done admiring his own art work. Darry grabs his brothers cup rinsing it out and filling it with water.
"Thank you," Pony tells his as he takes his cup. Pony did mind drinking water. He has been made to drink it since he was little.
"Do you want a snack?" Darry questions his brother.
Pony thought about it. He was hungry. "Yes please," he tells his brother.
Darry goes to the cabinets and finds Pony some graham crackers to eat. He puts them on the table after opening the package. "Ok buddy you sit here and eat and i'm going to vacuum the bedrooms," Darry tells him trying to get some house work in. Pony starts pouting and holds his arms up for his brother to hold him. He was not ready to be alone at all.
Darry quickly meets his brothers request not wanting him to fully breaking down again. Darry reaches for a graham cracker handing it to his brother who slowly begin eating on it.
"I think house work can wait. I think hanging out with you sounds way more fun." Darry tells him tickling the boys side earning him a laugh. Pony rests his head on his eldest brothers shoulder smiling at him.
"I love you Darry," Pony tells him.
"I love you too kiddo," Darry tells him.
"I love Soda too, but he is kinda crazy," Pony tells his brother with a smirk.
"I think you both are," Darry tells him.
" We learned from the master," Pony tells him stocking his tongue out at him.
"Really?" Darry asks tickling his brother causing him to shriek in laughter.
Darry loved hearing the sound of his brother laughter. It was one of the greatest sounds in the world.
Darry and Pony hung out all day together. They read and worked some puzzles together. The boys were playing with Ponys army men when Soda walked in.
"Soda," Pony greeted his brother as he walked in. He ran ove and hugged his brother.
"Have you been a good boy?" Soda asks his younger brother.
"Yes. Darry played with me all day long," Pony exclaims smiling.
" Sounds like you have kept the old man busy," Soda said teasing his brother.
"Who you calling old?" Darry questions throwings a army man at his brother.
"See Pony the old man missed," Soda said as he dodged the toy. His teasing Darry got Pony giggling. He always found his brothers friendly banter funny.
Okay this is the end of the chapter. I don't own the song lyrics and I had to stop before i carried on for to long. I hope you enjoyed. I have started my next chapter. Thanks for reading.
