Soda's chicken pox faded, and Steve came around again. This time he was careful what he said, he usually avoided me. Spring came; I figured out why Mom never wanted us to wear shoes in the house. Mud was everywhere; I was in the process of scrubbing everything down. Social workers were coming tomorrow so everything had to be perfect.
"Darry?" Soda called from my left. "Why do we have to eat these things?"
"Because the last time the social worker asked you what your last meal was it was chocolate cake. Just eat it, Brussels sprouts won't kill you." I replied.
Soda twirled the object of disgust on his fork. "You eat it!" He shoved his Brussels sprout in my face.
"I have some." I pushed his hand away.
"Won't our last meal before the social workers come be breakfast? So technically it will be chocolate cake!"
I tried my hardest to give him a look that said I am not taking your crap tonight but it didn't work. "I can make Brussels sprouts for breakfast little buddy."
Soda grimaced.
"Can I be excused?" Pony asked.
I looked at his untouched plate. "You sick or something?"
"He can't eat Brussels sprouts. He's a chocoholic, you know Pony if they invented a chocolate cigarette you'd be set for life!" Soda grinned at him, Pony smiled back I wasn't sure if he was just nervous about tomorrow or if he was actually sick.
"Can I leave?" Pony asked irritably.
"I need you to eat a little bit at least."
"I'm not hungry." He was emphasizing his words now. See this is what I didn't get how hard is it to pick up your fork and eat a couple of bites. I knew Soda was going to say something.
"Come on Darry, he might get sick if you force him to eat." I knew it, but Soda brought up a good point, I didn't want him puking on the social workers shoes tomorrow.
"Just take a bite of everything Ponyboy."
He did, then threw his plate in the skink and stomped down the hall slamming the door.
I put my elbows on the table and my head in my hands. I couldn't take much more of this. Pony rebelled against everything. "What's going on with him?" I asked Soda. He knew everything in Pony's life.
"I don't know. You just yell and fight with him all the time. I think it's getting to him." Soda said slowly.
"Sodapop." I tugged at my hair. "You know full well I have good reason to yell. Soda didn't say anything back. I glanced at him from between my arms. He was pushing his Brussels sprouts around on his plate.
"Can you talk to him?" I asked
"Maybe you should try first?" Soda suggested.
I rubbed my temples. I could feel a migraine coming on not a headache but a full-blown migraine. It was my job to work threw this a migraine was no excuse.
"With out all the yelling." Soda added quietly.
"Why didn't he want to go to school this morning?" I asked.
Soda shrugged; I could already feel my temples pounding. I patted Soda on the head as I made my way to the room he shared with Pony. I knocked on the door.
"Pony, can I come in?"
"If you want to."
I took a deep breath. I was entering dangerous waters every time I opened my mouth to Ponyboy. You just never knew anymore. Things weren't like how they used to be.
Pony was sprawled out on his bed looking at nothing in particular.
"What's going on?" I asked. "You didn't want to go to school and you aren't eating."
Pony shrugged. "Things."
"What kind of things?" I pushed.
Pony looked down at the ground. I was well aware of his you don't cry or look sad in front of Darry. That seemed to be with the entire gang lately; we are always tuff in front of Darry. I placed a hand on his shoulder.
"Ponyboy, you can tell me."
"We had that stupid Mother's Day thing today. You know the junior high brunch. I spent yesterday preparing for it and now today, I got to sit in the study hall with a couple of other kids. I just didn't want to go to school but my sub made me write a card to Mom anyways. I guess since she was a substitute, she didn't know"
I remembered Mother's Day brunch, all the setting up and decorating, card writing, baking the list goes on. I was at a loss of what to say him. What was I supposed to say to that sorry, about your luck?
"It sucks." Pony tilted his chair on the floor.
"Why don't you get some sleep; we have a pretty big day tomorrow." I suggested.
Pony looked at me as if I was crazy. I guess I was for telling him to go to bed at eight. He crawled under the covers anyways. I pushed the hair back from his face.
"Don't worry baby, this will be over soon. I'm sorry; I would have let you stay home if I knew what was going on."
I shut his door and leaned back on it. Dad's role was easily filled, I mean I didn't do it like he did and I never could but he was a man at least. Mom's role was a lot different. No one wants their big brother and Mother's day brunch and I don't blame them. The worst thing about it was knowing how much that little kid hurt right now and the only solution I could think of was telling him to go sleep.
The social worker did her usual check up. She inspected the house; I gave her Pony's report card, Soda's paycheck stubs and doctor's check up, dental records. Then she took each of them out of the room questioned them and sent them back in. Of course, I held my breath every time. I always waited on something menial to get my brother takes away, something like having the cleaning fluids no locked up or having dirty shower. I don't know why. I looked around the truck as drove home. It's a good thing they never asked about my truck. I had nails on the floor that feel from my tool belt; dirt was everywhere. I pulled up in the driveway, the porch light wasn't on but there was a blue glow in the window.
"Stop being a wuss, I know girls who can handle it better than you." Dallas snapped.
"I wonder what this kind of alcohol tastes like." Two-Bit said. "It smells like vodka."
"You can't drink it stupid; you'll die!" That was Steve.
"Then how can you put it on your cuts and not die?" Soda wondered.
"What's going on?" I asked all of them jumped about a mile high.
"LORD ALIMIGHTY! I thought you were killer." Two-Bit cried.
I rolled my eyes. "What's goin- SODAPOP!" Soda looked like he had just gotten home from war. His jacket was torn, mud was on half of him, were there wasn't mud on that half there was blood. "What happened?"
"We were playing foot ball and I got caught up in the fence on the upper field in the park. Now they are putting rubbing alcohol this." He flipped his arm over to show one nasty looking gash.
"Yeah; but he screamed his head off, you're lucky it wasn't Brandy we poured in there." Dally smirked.
"You did this on a fence?"
Soda nodded. "I guess its good the social worker came early. Darry do I have to use rubbing alcohol on it?"
"I told him since his hate iodine that we could use rubbing alcohol." Steve said.
"Moron, rubbing alcohol burns more." This was going to be a lovely bill but I wasn't going to tell Soda that. "Honey, I have to take you to the hospital you might need a shot not to mention stitches."
I helped Soda to the car keeping a towel over his arm the way there. Steve came along for the ride. I got lucky Soda only needed stitches even if it was another bill, shots were a lot more expensive.
"Darry!" He cried out. Once we were back in the house. "I left our football at the lot."
"I'll get it tomorrow." Johnny offered.