I DO NOT OWN THE OUTSIDERS! Although I would love to! (hint hint Suzie!) :-D
Chapter II (Pony POV)
Damn it all! For the past seven months, my life has been a living hell. And now Christmas is two days away and I'm supposed to be happy? Hah. There is nothing happy about this Christmas. Three weeks ago they tell me that my brother is MIA, and there's an even bigger rift between me and Darry, if that's possible. Yep, it is definitely evident that my life sucks right now.
I've been saving up for Christmas so I decided that it is about time for me to go shopping. Just so I don't get yelled at, I wrote Darry a letter and taped it to the inside of the door. It read: Darry, going to strip mall to Christmas shop. Left at 6:30 should be an hour at the latest! –Pony. I hurried down to the pawn shop, where I quickly found something for Two- Bit and Steve: A Mickey figurine and a Corvette keychain. Then it was time for the hard part: Darry. He never let on what he wanted or needed, I guess he thought it wasn't important. I combed down the entire store, looking for something. After a while, I ended up asking for help from the shop owner.
"Excuse me, do you have anything a twenty-one-year-old football fan would like?" I asked the plump old man.
"Sure thing, kid. I got something over here that I usually don't bring out, but I think it may be what you're looking for," he reached under the counter and brought out a football, "This here is an autographed Joe Namath football. Completely authentic, and it comes with a stand. I'll give it to you for thirty bucks." The sides of my mouth turned down when he said that. I didn't have thirty bucks. Now what?
Just then, a poster caught my eye. It said that the store bought scrap metal. It gave me a great idea.
"Sir, can I ask you to not sell that? I'll be back in fifteen minutes," not even waiting for a reply, I ran out the door, down two blocks, and through my front door. Just then I realized my luck ran out, cuz Darry was sitting in his armchair reading the paper. Now I really needed to think fast.
"Darry, don't get mad, but I've got to go back to the store. I sort of needed a little more cash to get this one present. I'll be back in fifteen minutes I swear!" I yelled at him quickly while I ran into my room. I pulled out three silver medals that I won two years ago, praying that it would be enough for the football. I hurried back in to the living room to wait for his reply.
"Sure, but fifteen minutes and fifteen minutes only!" He scolded, but with a smile on his face. I was really juiced up about his gift, and that was the first time in a long time that I showed any emotion. I ran back to the store in record time, almost breaking the door down in my haste to get in.
"Sir… I got… three pieces of silver… will… it be… enough… for the football?" I panted, clutching my side as the cold air ripped through my lungs. I handed over the medals and the clerk studied them closely. He looked up at me and smiled.
"Sure thing, kid. Here you go." He said, handing my purchases over in a bag. I thanked him and left, feeling much better about myself. I walked with a fast pace two blocks over and I was just about to turn down my street when I realized I was in trouble.
Four Socs were walking towards me, smiling slightly. Out of habit, I hitched my thumbs and watched the road until I hit something solid. Looking up, I saw two of the Socs standing right in front of me.
"Watch where you're going, grease" the first said down at me.
"Excuse me" I said, trying to force my way through the guys.
"Where do you think you're going, we're in the mood for some holiday festivities," another one said with a sick smile. I backed myself into a wall in the alley, my head reeling with ideas of how to get out. I finally settled on one Steve had used last week. I settled my eyes over my captors' shoulders and yelled, "Officer, thank God you're here!" When everyone turned their heads, I broke through and ran as fast as my legs could take me. I dared not look back, but I kept my eyes on our house that was becoming larger and larger in the distance. I leapt over all four stairs, grabbed the handle of the door, and jumped head first into the house, locking the door behind me.
"Pony are you ok?" Darry looked at me in alarm.
"If four Socs start banging on the door, ignore them." I told him from my spot on the floor where I collapsed.
"What did you do?" Darry asked me shrewdly.
"Nothing!" I yelled, a little too loudly. Darry walked over and lifted me off the ground and onto the couch where he gave me a once-over.
"They didn't hurt you, did they?" He asked me looking straight into my eyes.
"No," I replied, "but I ought to give Steve more credit. It was his idea that saved my ass."
"Watch it," Darry said commenting on my language, "but I'm glad you're ok. So what's in the bag?" he asked me, walking into the kitchen and grabbing me a bottle of Pepsi.
"Nothing you can know about for another day and a half," I said, smiling a sneaky smile while downing some of the Pepsi.
"Ok, little buddy," Darry said, smiling back, "Dinner's on the table, and I'm turning in early."
"I will, too. I'm bushed." I told him, grabbing a plate and cutting into the meatloaf Darry made. We ate in silence for the rest of the night, and then when I was done with dishes we went to our separate rooms. I still slept in me and Soda's room, but I've taken to sleeping curled up in a ball on my side of the bed. I turned my light off, crawled into bed, and went to sleep, hoping for once that I would sleep dreamlessly.