Chapter 18

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Ponyboy's POV

"You need to go to the doctor tomorrow morning Pony," Darry had told me at the dinner table the next night.

"Darry, why'd you do that? I'm fine, I wasn't even hurt bad yesterday. You don't need to waste money on me," I argued guiltily.

"Pony, it's not wasting, nor is it about you being jumped, the doctor wants to see you for a checkup, as it has been just over two months since you got sick; it's to see how you are going with your headaches," Darry told me in his 'don't-argue-with-me-voice'.

I wasn't happy and I think he knew that from how I slouched, but I wanted to please Darry and maybe going along to the Doctors would appease him, and he might let me back to school; though I was sore from the attack I didn't want a reason for the Socs to get at me again for taking more time off school.

Soda patted my shoulder. "At least it won't be as bad as last time with all the tests and stuff."

I shrugged in response. I'd still rather forget the whole thing.

X

"Ponyboy Curtis?" My name rang out through the small and all-too-familiar waiting room of the Doctors office.

Long time no see, I thought sarcastically. I really hated going to the doctors for any reason.

"What seems to be the problem today?" he asked after the real pretty nurse took my temperature, weighed me, and all the other recorded vitals I hated being put through.

He looked at me more closely for a moment. "How'd you get those bruises?" he inquired.

"I got jumped by some So..." I stopped before saying 'Socs' as it wasn't a term you mention to a high paid doctor. "...some kids at my school."

I had to answer quickly, to avoid suspicion falling on my eldest brother. I saw the look on the Doctor's face and I knew he would immediately report it had I not said and the last thing Darry needed was for a social worker to think he was an unfit guardian, when in truth he looks out for me more than I ever let him know.

The Doctor didn't say another word and glanced at a folder with my name on it. "I see last time you saw Doctor Peterson and he diagnosed you with Cluster Headache?"

"That's right and he said to come back for Pony to have a check up on his progress," Darry said and the doctor nodded.

"How have your headaches been lately, Ponyboy?" The Doctor asked.

"They were better, but after I got jumped I got sick and I had a few small headaches, right now I feel okay, it sometimes throbs behind my eye," I told him.

He stood up from the desk and shone his light in my eye, "Seems normal."

He then looked at Darry. "Keep him out of gym class for about another week, I don't want him exercising while he is recovering and especially not with those bruises. Have you been watching what you eat Ponyboy?"

Huh? Did he mean a diet? No, I'm not dieting.

"Why would Pony need to watch his diet? Is he underweight?" Darry asked.

The doctor noticed our confused expressions.

"Let me explain, I didn't mean for weight purposes, I meant food products. We have found new research which shows, certain Amino acids in food can trigger Cluster Headaches and makes the headache itself and any accompanying symptoms such as nausea and vomiting worse. It's found in foods like chocolate and cheese."

"We didn't know that but now that you mention it, it makes perfect sense." Darry told him, "Pony don't you remember the night you were really sick after Soda's cheesy chicken dish and every time you had chocolate cake or chocolate milk?"

I remembered Darry having a suspicion about chocolate and telling me I couldn't have chocolate cake, but I never fully tried to stay away from it and even snuck some when I had a craving for it; no wonder I wasn't getting better, it was my fault.

"He should keep away from those foods and that should help his headaches heal. Now I also noted here you smoke Ponyboy?"

The tone in the doctor's voice was like he was putting me down. So what most greasers smoked at my age?

"Yeah," I replied.

"When was the last time you smoked, because smoking will worsen the condition I'm sure Doctor Peterson would have already told you."

"Yes he did, and I made sure Pony quit smoking as soon as I found out," Darry said.

Now I felt real guilty and turned my head down, shifting my feet.

"Ponyboy? When was the last time you smoked?" Darry asked me firmly.

"About a week ago, but I only had one; honest Darry and I haven't had many since Soda caught me... " I stopped realizing I had just told Darry I had been smoking in secret since he told me not to.

Darry looked at me with stern eyes and I knew it was one of those, 'this discussion isn't over, we are going to have a long talk when we get home,' looks.

I was glad that Darry's gaze on me was interrupted when the doctor started talking again.

"Ponyboy can go back to school on Wednesday, should he feel up to it."

Feel up to it? Of course I felt up to it, I was sick of having nothing to do and besides Wednesday was four days away, that was enough time in my opinion.

Darry stood up at the end of the appointment.

"Thank you Doctor Weston."

"Good day Darrel, Ponyboy," he replied.

Darry paid the regular fee and I followed him out into the truck.

I was waiting for the moment that Darry would start to yell at me for going behind his back with smoking, but it never came.

"Darry, I didn't mean to hide smoking from you. I just needed something to keep my mind of the pain."

I watched as Darry nodded his head. "I'm not happy that you lied Ponyboy, when I was doing what was best for you."

I stared down at the floor of the truck. "I'm sorry. So am I gonna be punished?"

Darry looked over at me and smiled. "I'm not going to punish you for that, besides I think you punished yourself with the pain you felt with your headaches," Darry ruffled my hair.

"Yeah," I replied.

Darry and I walked inside and both took off our coat.

"So Darry can I go back to school?"

"Ponyboy, like the doctor said, you can go back to school on Wednesday, not a day early, but you have to take it easy and catch a ride with Two-Bit, ya hear?" Darry commanded me sternly.

"I hear ya Darry," I assured him, but a little bit of sarcasm was lacing my voice.

"I'm serious," he warned, grabbing my chin and making me look at him.

"Yeah, yeah, I know." I said between a yawn.

"Soda should be home soon, why don't you lie down?"

"Alright," I agreed, too tired to fight Darry. I hadn't really slept too well last night anyway.

X

"What did the Doctor say?" I heard Soda ask a few hours later.

I must have dozed off, the sun was all the way set and the stars were out.

"He told me to keep him off school till Wednesday and not to eat cheese or chocolate," Darry responded.

"Chocolate? He's had a ton of chocolate-" Soda was cut off by Darry.

"-and it's made him worse," Darry finished for him. There was a pause before Soda continued.

"I never noticed that. Where is he?"

"In the bedroom, sleeping I hope. His ribs made it hard to sleep last night," Darry told him.

"And Soda, Pony let it slip that you knew he was smoking when he wasn't meant to."

"I would have told ya Dar, but I just thought he could do with a warning that's all,"

"Fine Soda, but next time tell me."

When Soda walked in I pretended to be asleep.

"Night Pone," he whispered. "I know you're awake and can hear me. I'm glad you're gonna be okay."

I turned around and smiled at him, "Night Soda."