I woke up on the couch with Soda sitting beside me and darry sitting in the chair. Neither of them seemed to notice I was awake, so I sat there and listened to their conversation.
"Now we have to childproof this whole have to put up prescription drugs and get rid of all the liquor. You have to stay home with him tomorrow..." Darry was saying but I interrupted him.
"Where are you gonna be?" I asked sitting up. They both looked at me. I guessed they wanted to know how long I was listening. I really hadn't heard much.
"Morning Pony," Soda said smiling this big goofy smile.
"Morning? It's probably the middle of the night," I say looking outside.
"I'll be working," Darry said as he looked at Soda. It takes a lot to make Soda stop smiling and the look Darry gave him wiped the smile right off his face. Darry grabbed his toolbox and left the house.
"Why can't I stay with Two-bit?" I asked. Two-bit was the only other living member of the gang who didn't have a job.
"After last night you are lucky you will even be able to mention Two-bit's name. Darry doesn't want you alone with him anymore," Soda said. It all came bak to me. Randy and Cherry, my parents graves, Finding Two-bit, and coming home drunk.
"I'm not a child, I can take care of myself," I said defensively.
"Good. Tomorrow I'm going to a party with Steve and I an't watch you. I'll be home before Darry and I won't be drunk but just over for me, okay?" Soda asked me. I nodded and stood up.
I liked being was something about the stillness and being alone with my thoughts that calmed me down. I also needed time to work on my creative writing assignment.
I was thinking about turning in a paranormal story. I thought of a ghost girl trying to contact a living boy. They would then fall in love. I searched for the right words to start it.
"Hey, Pony, come eat," Soda yelled from downstairs. I then changed my mind. I wanted to write about Soda. His great looks, his charm, his happy personality. That's gold.
When I got to the kitchen, Soda was already waiting to eat. When he saw me oming he smiled wickedly. Then I notied the blue scrambled eggs and chocolate milk.
"Eggs are good for hangovers. Didn't know if you needed that," Soda said as I sat down.
"No I'm good. Did you make some for Darry?" I asked.
"Are you kidding me?" Soda asked laughing, "I made enough food for an army." Soda always made exta food. It was usually rainbow of colors too.
"So tell me about this party you and Steve are going to," I tried to make any conversation to mask the silence. Sometimes silence is good, sometimes it's bad. Right now, I can't stand it.
"Well it's at Buck's so it's close to home. There will be a lot of greasy girls and drinks and people passing out. I'll want some eggs in morning," Soda laughed.
"You told me you wouldn't drink," I warned. I stared at him across the table. He could only laugh and hold on to the table to keep himself from falling out of his chair. I didn't know what was so funny, but Iaughed too. I laughed so hard my stomach hurt. It was the first time I seriously laughed in a long time.
"What's so funny?" Darry walked into the kitchen.
"Tell him, Pony," Soda said, but his eyes said 'Make something up because you are the creative one.'
Soda stood up to fix Darry a plate of eggs and I started my story.
"Me and Soda went to the movies and Soda tried to pick up this girl sitting a few rows in front of us and when she turned around, she was a guy," I said and we all laughed. You know how I know Soda is a good actor? A blush crept on his face.
I usually spent a lot of time alone. I read or write or draw or just think. When Johnny was alive, he and I would trade stories or pictures. He was a great artist and author. He never let me share his stories or artwork with anyone.
After dinner, I went to my old room. The one I used to sleep in before I moved in with Soda. There was nothing but a closet in the room. I sat in the closet with the door closed and just enough light to read the words on the page. If Soda would sit in this closet, Darry would've worried sick. I had been up there for three hours, and no one noticed. I decided to put the book down and fell asleep in the closet.