Pony woke up screaming. He shot up off his pillow in a second and realized he was in his room, in his bed. Half a second later Soda let out a cry and rolled straight out of bed, surprised by being woken up so abruptly. Before either boy could yell out for Darry he came stumbling through the bedroom door. He'd heard the yell and woken up with a start. He stumbled through the dark room over to the bed. He would have turned the light on but it would have thrown them all off even more.
"Its all-right." Darry coaxed softly hearing Pony's hitching breathe. "You have a nightmare?" He asked even though he already knew the answer. Soda was on the floor now making noises of protest and kicking the wall so hard Darry thought his foot would go straight through it. He didn't know which brother to go to first.
"Darry." Pony sobbed out. He flopped down on the bed next to the youngest and put an arm around his shaking shoulders. His other arm reached down to try to get a hold of Soda who was sprawled out on the floor. He took his hand and pulled gently. "Its okay, its all-right. Pony had a bad dream." He explained. Soda was having none of it. Pony's scream had woken him out of a dead sleep and startled the hell out of him. Darry knew it was gonna take him a minute to calm down. He hated it when Pony had these nightmares. He didn't know who it scared more, Pony, Sodapop ,or him.
Pony was shaking and Darry pulled him closer. "Its all-right. Its over now, hear?" Pony nodded trying to get his crying under control. He knew he'd have to quit crying if Soda was going to calm down.
"Nooooooo!" Soda cried out about nothing in particular except the entire situation itself.
"Shhh." Darry coaxed them both. "Hang on a second, kiddo." He told Pony and let go of him while he reached down and hoisted Soda back up onto the bed next to him. Finally he had each brother on one side and started rocking them. It calmed Soda down pretty quick like it usually did. Pony let himself believe Darry was doing it just for Soda even though it made him feel better too. He figured thirteen was to big to be rocked by your big brother but he leaned into it all the same and it soothed him even though he didn't want to admit it. These dreams always scared him something fierce.
"I gotcha." Darry voice sounded softly in the dark room. It always scared Soda just as badly as it did Ponyboy when he had a nightmare. Neither one would sleep by themselves though, even though they had another room. It hadn't been anymore than a week since Pony had one and Darry wondered if he should just save himself the trouble and move all their beds into the same room. "Pony's okay, he just had a bad dream."
"No." Soda whimpered. He was squeezing his eyes shut tight and his body was taught, stress still taking over from the moment.
"I know kiddo, we don't like it either." Darry squeezed around his shoulders hard and Soda's body slowly released some of its tension. At the same time he leaned over and spoke quietly to Pony who was trying real hard to sober up despite how much it had frightened him. "It's all-right, kiddo. Just a dream, it ain't real. You're safe." Darry planted a rare wet kiss on his forehead. He looked over at the clock and feared the worst. It was three am and he doubted he would be able to get Soda back to sleep after all the ruckus. Furthermore, if Soda got up Pony would want to as well. All the same Darry attempted to coax them both back to sleep. "Close your eyes and I'll hum that song you like." Soda was already wiggling all over the place though and Darry was so relieved that he'd stop wailing he didn't want to get into it with him over being still. It was a lost cause anyways.
Pony new Soda wouldn't sleep either now. "I don't want to." Pony argued. "I'll dream again and I'm awake now anyways.""You've got to go to school in four hours. Just try for me."
"I can't." He protested. By now Soda was sitting up, his eyes wide open. He looked over and saw Pony's tears and reached out to wipe them away. He didn't like it when his brother cried. "M' ok, Soda." Ponyboy reassured him.
Darry untangled himself from his brothers and stood up. Pony allowed himself to be picked up even though he thought he was to big for that now too. He wanted Darry to hold him but he wasn't about to admit it. "C'mon Pepsi-Cola, we'll watch some TV." Darry sighed. He was to exhausted to fight them into going back to bed right then. "Just for tonight." He emphasized as they headed out into the living room. This could not become a habit.
"Shove over Soda, I was here first." Pony gripped as they got situated on the couch. Soda was pushing his way onto Darry. "He's on my side of you." Pony whined. Darry suppressed a laugh and appreciated that he was so popular at the moment. "Stop you two, you both fit just fine right here." Darry put his right arm around Pony and his left around Soda. Soda pulled on the blanket that covered all three of them and Pony's feet were left uncovered. "Soda, quit it." Pony pulled back.
"Everyone quit it." Darry warned, putting the blanket back in place. "You two let me close my eyes for a few minutes. It's still the middle of the night you know."
The blare on the TV lit up the living room and everyone quieted down for a while. Pony looked up a few minutes later and saw Darry sleeping with his head thrown back against the cushions. Soda was still wide awake and staring at the screen. A few minutes later Pony just couldn't' keep his eyes open any longer and put his head on Darry's leg and fell asleep.
***
It was a damn nightmare. Pony winced and covered his ears as Soda let out another yell. Soda had been awake the rest of the night unlike Darry and Pony who had fallen back to sleep. He was now overtired. On top of that they were all out of cheerios and chocolate milk. Darry could have kicked himself for forgetting to go to the store and buy some more. Soda had cheerios every morning without fail, except for this morning and it was taking its toll on the whole household.
"Darry, do I have to go to school?" Pony said when Soda quit screaming for the sake of taking a breathe.
"It's the same as any other Monday, Ponyboy. Yes, you're going to school." Darry said exasperated. His back was stiff from sleeping sitting up and he wasn't prepared to deal with both boys right then. Soda alone was enough and his meltdown had only just begun. It was only seven o'clock and the day was turning into a disaster.
"DAAAAARRRRRRY! DAAAAARRRRRY!" Soda was hysterical. Any other day Darry would have been able to calm him down a lot quicker but not after the kid only had three hours of sleep.
"I'm tired Darry." Pony argued.
"Ponyboy, do you see what I'm dealing with right now? Quit arguing with me and go get showered and dressed, now."
"DAAAARRRRY!" Soda yelled and sobbed at the same time, nearly hyperventilating.
He took his brothers shaking shoulders. "Soda, I'm sorry, we don't have anymore. I will go to the store and buy more tonight." Darry tried to explain but it was unsatisfactory.
"No, NO NOO!" Soda yelled. He jumped up once and than opened his mouth and screamed so loud his whole body shook and his face turned red. Darry felt panicked but he knew he'd have to stay calm if he was gonna calm Soda down. It wasn't that Soda meant to be difficult but he couldn't help being confused. The nights events had taken its toll on him and he didn't understand why this Monday wasn't like every other. The break in the routine made him downright anxious. He didn't know how to tell Darry this so he just screamed instead. Soda knocked the bowl off the table in his frustration and it shattered on the kitchen floor. He reached for the silverware next, nearly stepping on the broken glass with his bare feet but Darry managed to grab him and pulled him into a bear hug. He wrestled his brother away from the glass and squeezed him hard.
"You use your words when you're upset." Darry said over the loud noises his brother made. Soda was having none of it. He tried to twist his way out of his brothers arms. When that didn't work he tried ducking out of them. But Darry was way to strong. Soda jerked his head up suddenly in his struggle striking his brothers jaw hard in the process.
"Owe! Damnit, Sodapop."
"I WANT IT!" Soda cried bitterly, trying so hard to make his brother understand. He was sobering up a bit now seeing that he had hurt his brother.
"I know you do. Good words." Darry encouraged. "I want you to calm down now."
Soda shook his head against his brothers shoulder and bit his hand nervously. He took in deep ragged breaths that turned into long strained cries. "Shhh, you're okay. It's all-right." Darry soothed just like their mother used to, except it was usually dad that would be holding him since he was getting so big these days. Darry rocked him back and forth and Soda hung on for dear life. Darry wondered if he would ever make it to work that morning. He was getting way to big to be picked up but Darry managed it for a moment until he could sit down at the kitchen table and put the kid in his lap. He knew he was going to be late that morning. Soda got real quiet for a while and Darry wondered if he was falling asleep. He could feel his soft breathing against his neck and was glad that he was calming down.
A few minutes later Pony came slouching in with his book bag over one shoulder. He threw it next to the kitchen doorway and went searching through the ice box. Darry hadn't had the time to make breakfast that morning. He settled for some toast and got the jam out.
"Watch the glass." Darry cautioned. "When did you fall back to sleep last night?"
"Not so long after you. I slept most of the night." Pony said.
"Soda was still awake when you fell to sleep?"
"Yeah."
"You don't have track today, right?""Nope." Pony said, setting his food down at the table.
"I want you to come straight home after school then and get started on your homework, hear?""Yeah. You going to work today?""You know I am." Darry said. Pony motioned to Soda and gave Darry a 'duh' look. "He's fine." Darry stated, trying to convince himself as well. He rubbed circles on the boys back and then patted him gently to get his attention. "Do you want some eggs or some oatmeal?" Darry gave him two options, hoping this would be satisfactory.
"Eggs please." Soda mumbled.
"Okay, hop up then so I can make them."
Soda got up and sat back down where his brother had been. Darry got the broom to clean up the glass and then started the eggs.
Pony finished up his toast and looked up when the front door slammed. "Matthews, I just got that screen door back on its hinges." Darry barked from where he stood at the stove. Two-Bit came sauntering in and took a seat next to Soda.
"Don't blow a gasket Superman, its still standing." He waggled his eyebrows at Ponyboy.
"Just don't slam it." Darry said.
"When is the beautiful Monique arriving?" Two-Bit asked.
"Not coming." Soda said forcefully.
Darry groaned inwardly. "Two-Bit, just shut up about that for right now. Do me a favor and get Pony to school on time today. Ya'll need to leave soon and I'm guessing you aint planning on going with your hair sticking up in every possible direction." He swatted at Pony's head playfully.
"Quit it." Pony said grumpily and went to the bathroom to fix it.
"You look tired." Two-Bit commented.
"I'm always tired." Darry tried not to sound annoyed. He finished up Soda's eggs and placed some grape jelly and toast on the plate with them as well as another plate with chocolate cake on it. Once Soda was eating quietly he went to finish getting himself ready.
Pony finished greasing his hair and ate the rest of the eggs left over on the stove. "Darry we're going now." He called.
"Get your lunch off the counter and don't forget your math on the coffee table." Darry called from the back of the house.
"Peace out Sodapop." Two-bit said.
"Pony." Soda called. "I'll see you tonight, Soda." He said as he headed out the door with his friend in toe.
"Soda are you done?" Darry called, stepping out of the bathroom, clean shaven. "What's your schedule say little buddy? I think its time to get dressed." Soda pushed the schedule off the table forcefully.
"Monique is coming and you're in your underwear." Darry stated simply.
"No Monique." Soda buried his head in his arms. He was exhausted.
"I'm gonna count to five." Darry warned. Soda stomped. "One… Two… Th-" Soda stood up and went, knowing that resistance was futile.
***
"Hey, just to warn you it hasn't been such a good morning." Darry held the door open as Monique stepped in. Soda was sprawled out on the floor watching the train.
"Hi Soda. What's been going on?" She asked.
"Pony woke up in the middle of the night and I couldn't get Soda back to bed so he's only had three hours of sleep and its taking its toll on him." Darry lowered his voice. "If you can get him to do some work great but if he just won't than don't push it. I'm afraid it will send him over the edge today."
"Okay." Monique nodded. Darry looked at Soda worriedly. "Don't worry, Darry. We'll be okay.
"Hey." He nudged his little brothers foot with his shoe. Soda didn't even blink. "You be good today and we'll have chocolate milkshakes after supper. That sound good, little buddy?"
"Whip cream." Soda mumbled.
"Yeah, with whipped cream and chocolate sprinkles. If you're good." Darry emphasized. He grabbed his tool belt and looked back over at Monique. "Good luck." He spoke quietly and headed out the door.
*Three Hours Later*
"Hello?" Darry answered.
"Hi Darry, it's Monique.""Everything Okay?" Darry asked hurriedly. She had never called him at work before.
"I'm afraid I can't get Soda to calm down, Darry. He's just worked himself up and he's stronger than me. You're going to have to come home."
"What is it that set him off?""He wants you."
"All-right, try and distract him. I'll be there in 10 minutes."
"Ok- oh, I've got to go he's just run outside.""What?! Grab him. Hello? Hello?" The line went dead. "Shit!" Darry swore so loud that everyone looked over at him. He rolled his eyes. "Family emergency, I've gotta go." He ran to his truck.
***
Soda bolted out the front door and made a run for it. He could hear Monique calling behind him faintly but he didn't want Monique, he wanted Darry. He was fast and he lost Monique quickly and ran towards the lot. He liked to play football in the lot with his brothers. He ran for a while until something sharp struck his foot. He looked down at the offending rock. He never wore shoes unless Darry made him and since he wasn't exactly planning on taking off outside today he certainly didn't have them on while he was playing in the house. Darry'd be mad, Soda thought… 'but he'll be happy when he sees I've come to see him.'
"Soda!" Monique's voice called. Soda took off again towards town. He laughed loudly at the excitement of it all. It took him a while to get into town but he made it. Pony would have made it faster, he thought, because he runs all the time for fun.
"Watch it grease!" A boy called after him when he bumped him on the sidewalk. Soda stopped and stared at him. "What the hell are you looking at you crazy grease monkey." The boy snided after him and left. Soda's chest puffed out. He was a greaser just like his brothers and he was proud of it.
"Hey!" A familiar voice said behind him. Soda spun around. "What the hell are you doing out here?" Soda grinned widely and jumped on his friend laughing. Two-Bit couldn't help but laugh himself. "Calm down you nutcase, why aint you at home? Who are you with?"
"I ran." Soda said matter of factly.
"You ran, whaddya mean you ran? Where's Darry?" Soda just jumped on him again playfully. "Okay okay calm down kid. Geez, your brother must be having a fit. Ponyboy!" Two-Bit yelled over his shoulder. Pony stepped out of the nearby drug store.
"What are you hollering for, I'm getting some smokes." The boy said counting the change in his hand.
"Pony!" Soda yelped, although he was confused. He knew Pony and Two-Bit had school at the same time he usually did as well. It was only lunchtime and they couldn't be done yet.
Pony looked up at Sodapop wide eyed. In his shock he dropped his nickels on the ground. "Soda? Shoot, be quiet don't tell Darry you seen me." Pony whispered. "Where is he?" He new his oldest brother would kill him if he found him at the Dingo during third period."Calm down, kid." Two-Bit said. "Darry aint here with him, he's alone.
"Soda, what are you doing by yourself? Where's Monique?""…Says he ran." Two-Bit announced. Soda was hopping up and down happily.
"Geez, Darry's gonna have an aneurism!" Pony exclaimed. "Two-Bit you gotta take him home. If I take him Darry'll find out I'm ditching.""Isn't Darry at work?"
"Yeah, well Monique's there and she'll tell for sure." Pony said snidely. He wasn't the biggest fan of Monique. Darry always asked her to stay until four just because she was paid up until then. But Pony felt he was to big for a sitter and she should just leave once he got home from school. He could take care of himself and Soda just fine on his own anyway. But man he knew Monique must be going crazy right then with Soda gone and if Darry new he'd be ten times worse. "Just take him home before they call the cops to report him missing. I'll go back to school so when they ask you can tell the truth about where I am.
"All-right. Home it is my friend."
"No, Ponyboy." Soda protested loudly.
"Soda, you gotta go home or Darry's gonna call the police and they'll take us away." Pony emphasized. "Go with Two-Bit and I'll be home later."
"No!" Soda said strongly. He bent down and picked up the loose change his brother had dropped and held it over the smaller boys head to tease him, laughing.
"Fine, keep it!" Pony snapped. " Jus' go with Two-Bit now or I'm gonna get in trouble." he pleaded.
Soda laughed and ran down the sidewalk. "Soda quit it! It ain't funny." Pony yelled after him.
"Oh but it is." Two-Bit laughed as he watched his barefooted friend prance down the block.
"He's gonna get me in so much trouble." Pony whined. "Soda, come back. I'll go with you just get back over here!"
"No home." Soda yelled back from a distance. Pony sighed and resigned himself to what he knew had to be done. If they were gonna get Soda back in one piece he'd have to give himself up. "Two-bit just follow him and I'll run home for help, I'm the fastest. Just don't let him out of your sight!" Pony emphasized strongly.
"All-right but you better hurry, kid." Two-Bit said going after his wayward friend.
Pony glared in Soda's direction and then took off running full speed towards home. The whole while he couldn't help but feel angry towards his brother. He had been having a decent time playing hookie and he was getting away with it until Sod decided to go MIA and show up in the middle of town. He could just imagine how mad Darry was gonna be when he found out he wasn't in school.
Sure enough by the time he reached his block he saw Darry getting out of his truck and a distressed Monique by the front door. "Darry!" He yelled out once he got close enough. His eldest brother looked over sharply.
"Ponyboy?" He asked shocked. What in the world was his youngest brother doing home right now. He would have demanded to know why he wasn't in school but he had a bigger problem on his hands at the moment.
"I saw Soda!" He stopped in front of his brother, gasping for breath. "Two-Bits, following him. He's over by the Dingo."Relief flashed in Darry's eyes. "All-right." he hopped back into the truck. "You stay here with Monique in case he comes back."
"But Darry-""You do as your told." Darry cut him off and pulled out of their driveway like the speed of light.