Chapter 15

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Ponyboy POV

I woke up the following morning feeling better than I had in the last two months. I didn't have much of a headache and slept through the night. I guess reading Johnny's letter last night really gave me something to think about and I was looking forward to my first day at an attempt of fighting through my condition.

I slid into a chair at the table and greeted Darry, "Morning Darry."

Darry turned to me with a smile. "Morning Pone, you feel up to eating today?"

"Yeah, I'm real hungry Dar."

Darry spooned some eggs onto a plate and placed it in front of me.

"Is Soda up yet?"

I shook my head, "I think he was still sleeping when I got up."

I heard Darry give a groan and walk down the hall closer to the bedroom.

"Sodapop Curtis, get your rear end out of bed this minute or you'll be late again!"

I smiled at Darry's persistence; Soda was so much more stubborn than me.

"I'm getting up Darry, quit hollering!"

"I wouldn't holler if you got up on time to get to work," Darry yelled back.

I saw Soda sleepily stumble into the bathroom to take his morning shower.

"Hey Darry what are you doing today?" I asked as he sat down to eat his breakfast.

"Um just some shopping and I gotta drop by work to pick up this week's paycheck then it's just you and me for the day. I was hoping you would be okay on your own just for an hour, Two-Bit can't come over today," he smiled.

"Darry you treat me like a little kid, 'sides I was wondering if I could come along with you; get me out of the house for awhile."

Darry gave me a confused look. "You're my kid brother, Ponyboy. Are you sure you're feeling up to that?"

"Yeah Darry I think it'll be good to try and get some fresh air."

"Okay Ponyboy, just be ready in about half an hour when Soda's ready so I can drop him at work first."

I nodded in agreement and quickly finished my breakfast.

Soda rushed into the kitchen and grabbed the leftover eggs off the stove, starting to eat them straight out of the pan.

"Sodapop, where are your manners?"

I smirked at Darry's frown and attempt to scold Soda.

"Guess I left them in bed this morning? Man these eggs are cold Darry," Soda sassed.

"If you had gotten out of bed on time Soda they wouldn't be cold and I'd appreciate none of your sass little buddy," Darry warned.

Soda shrugged and put down the pan. "How you this morning Pony?"

"I'm feeling really good Soda, I'm gonna go with Darry to get the groceries,"

"That's great you feel better Pony, see what did I say?" Soda replied giving me a bright smile.

"Come on Soda grab your shoes and socks and let's go," Darry ordered, then turned to me, "you sure you still want to go Pony?"

"Yeah," I replied and stood up from the table, walking out the door to Darry's truck.

Truth be told I wasn't entirely sure but I didn't want to let Darry or Soda down either. I was done being babied.

X

It had become late in the afternoon and I was still feeling pretty good. My head was just a dull throb but I decided to take some aspirins anyway. Darry was reading his newspaper he bought at the store.

"Darry I'm going to my room to do some of my overdue homework," I called out as I exited the bathroom.

Darry looked up from his paper and must have seen me rub my head slightly.

"Ponyboy, are you sure your alright?" He asked.

"Yeah, I feel fine Darry," I lied.

I wasn't going to let this be my brothers' problem anymore.

"Alright well don't overdo it. I don't care if you feel better now, you are only just recovering. I don't want you going backwards." He lectured sternly.

I walked into the bedroom and sat at my desk, opening up my English work first. 'Write a short essay on what individuality means to you'

After some though I quickly jotted down my essay and was done; feeling proud of myself. Next was some history work. I had to write some research and another essay about President Roosevelt; that was harder than I thought; all that straining to read was starting to make my head pound again.

I put my history homework aside and took a quick break. No I have to stay focused. I'm so far behind in my work if I don't do this I might repeat. I told myself.

I grabbed out my science book and started on the questions I had to answer for that, pushing any painful feeling I had in my head and behind my eye away. Finally I took out my dreaded mathematics book and attempted to make a start on that. I had multiplication tables to complete along with long division; I just couldn't understand it and the more I strained to concentrate the harder it was.

I was so focused on the work and trying to forget about the pain in my head that I didn't hear when the bedroom door opened.

"Hey Pony, Darry said you was in here doing homework, that's good Pony."

Soda approached me and rubbed my back proudly before walking over to the other side of the bedroom and unbuttoning his shirt.

I couldn't handle it anymore and felt my head was about to explode. I wasn't getting answers for my homework, I was so far behind and I couldn't stop the pain I was feeling; I tried being normal and accepting this, but it all wasn't working!

I felt myself get frustrated inside and before I could control it I let out a yell and threw my books harshly onto the floor; my papers flying everywhere. I grabbed my head in my hands and slumped onto the desk.

Soda's POV

I was surprised to see Pony at his desk doing his school work; I was real proud of him, he was making a real effort to be tough when he was still sick.

I was unbuttoning my shirt when I heard Pony yell and saw him throw his books and papers on the floor; I was shocked, that wasn't like him.

I ran to Pony's side and held his shoulders.

"Ponyboy what's wrong?" I said in a panic.

"I can't do this Soda, I can't do this anymore."

He was actually sobbing now. I pulled his chair out and pulled him over to the bed and sat him down. I wrapped my arms around him.

"Where is all this coming from?"

Ponyboy didn't give me an answer and I looked over to see Darry standing at the door.

"What's going on? I heard a crash."

"Pony threw his books on the floor," I explained.

Darry walked over to the desk chair and sat down.

"Ponyboy what's wrong? Are your headaches back?" Darry asked.

Pony didn't answer again and I rubbed his arm.

"I tried," Pony mumbled.

"Tried what Pony?" Darry asked.

"Tried to deal with my condition and live like I used to. I did my English, History and Science homework but I just couldn't push my way through my headache by the time I got to my mathematics. I even took some aspirin but it didn't help," he explained.

Darry gave a sigh and I could tell he was worried.

"Ponyboy you told me you were fine and I warned you not to overdo it."

"I lied and I didn't want to let you both down anymore," Pony mumbled.

"Ponyboy your health is important and not something I want you lying about. Is that understood?"

I could tell Darry was trying to be firm but kept his tone quiet.

Pony nodded his head against my chest.

"And what's this about you letting us down. You've never done that Pony."

"I just feel that with being sick I can't do anything and I feel like I failed you both, I mean you want me to go to college Darry but how can I if I can't focus on my work. I can't even get a job to help you both out."

"Pony you don't need a job," I quietly told him.

"You're talking nonsense Ponyboy. Now just promise me you will tell me when you're not well and don't push yourself."

Darry definitely said that loud and clear and Pony nodded again.

"You alright now?" Darry asked.

"Yeah I think so."

"Why don't you have a break from all this work and I'll get you a piece of chocolate cake?"

Chocolate cake always made everything better. Pony stood up from the bed and leaned down to pick up the thrown books and papers.

"I'm sorry about this mess Darry," Pony mumbled.

"Don't worry 'bout it Pone."

X

It hadn't even reached time for dinner when Pony was retching and I saw him shoot to the bathroom where he proceeded to vomit violently.

"It'll never get better!" He told me.

I glanced at Darry who was at the doorway of the bathroom.

"Maybe it was just because you over worked or somethin'? You've been good otherwise," I tried reassuring him.

Pony shrugged, "then why did it keep happening before I went back to doing school work? I was fine before, it just got worse now after I had the chocolate cake."

Darry and I shared a look; surely this was not what had made Ponyboy sick all along?