Chapter 2: Consequences

"I'm sorry Dar, I just wanted to ask them if they saw where my book went? I didn't think before I said it." I muttered out

"Well Pone, you don't use your head. I just told y'all last week if I heard you cursing what would I do?" He asked impatiently

My eyes opened wide at the idea Darry would really wash my mouth out with soap. I felt my eyes start to sting and tears start to collect.

"But Dar, I'm sorry. Please, I promise it won't happen again." I pleaded

Darry let go of my arm and I sat on the couch looking up at him. His arms were folded across his chest as he looked down at me. I could see the anger subsiding, "Pony, listen good. I'm letting you off this once because I just let Soda get away with being disrespectful. Believe me though, when I say that there won't be a next time and your book?" He mused "Use your head and retrace your steps like Mom taught us." He sighed heavily

"Ok, Dar, I'm really sorry." I shrugged getting up and thinking about where I had been. I started in our room and at first glance, it was a mess. Soda had thrown his clothes all over the bed and I couldn't even see the carpet in our room. I made a mental note to clean up tomorrow before Darry started to complain, then we'd both be grounded.

I didn't see my book though, so I walked to the bathroom and looked around the sink, nothing. I was surprised that the bathroom was a mess as well. Darry usually kept things tidy in here but Sodanado must have hit. His hair grease opened still and comb dripping with the grease. I debated cleaning things up in here, but I was on a mission, so I sighed heavily and walked into the living room. Darry had it cleaned up, all of Two-bits beer bottles gone and he was reading the paper in Dads 'ole chair.

"Any luck Kiddo?" Darry looked up smiling

I rolled my eyes at him, I was becoming more impatient that I couldn't find my book and dismissed Darry's question. I turned and started towards the backyard when I heard Darry, "Pony, you better get rid of that attitude while you're outside or you will be grounded." His voice angry

Frustrated I slammed the back door on my way out and instantly regretted it. I stopped to listen if Darry was coming but relaxed when I didn't hear him. Instead, I peered into the darkness and wished I would have turned the outside light on. I made my way to the table feeling around knocking over a bottle as I reached my hand out onto the table. Then, my hand grabbed onto the only other thing on the table, beside the bottle I managed to knock over.

I picked it up squinting in the darkness panicking because I just knew it was my book and it was most likely ruined. As I got closer to the kitchen light it confirmed my fears and I couldn't help but scream, "God Damn it!" I was so angry this was my only copy and Mom had gotten it for me last Christmas. It was ruined because stupid Two-bit was too lazy to pick up after himself and this was his fault. My book sopping wet with beer spilled all over it!

As I started up the back steps and opened the door I saw Darry standing there about to come out. He looked at me angrily, "Pony you're in a world of trouble. Do you want to tell me why you were cursing again? I just warned you what would happen and then you slam the door! You're really asking for it!" He screamed

I took a step back away from him at the stairs and whimpered. I knew I had messed up and Darry lunged forward grabbing my arm. "Dar, please don't strap me." I cried "I'm sorry!"

He dragged me towards the bathroom and I began to cry harder. He shoved me into the bathroom and I stood in front of him. "Why were you out their cursing Pony? This is your last chance to explain! You get what I'm saying to you?" He yelled

He scared me when he yelled, and I froze even though I think I had a good excuse. I wanted to tell him about my book and how Two bit ruined it. Where was my book? I just had it, did I drop it? I started to turn away from Darry and look on the floor for my book. Darry was frustrated and grabbed my arm again, "I ask you a question Pony and instead of answering me you are looking everywhere but where I am!" He yelled

Great, now Darry thought I was disrespecting him, but I was looking for my book. Before I could answer, Darry grabbed my left elbow turning me around in our little bathroom starting to land stinging swats to my backside. His hand was heavy, and I danced around trying to avoid his hand with no luck. I started to cry out, "Owww Dar, no, I promise I was listening." I cried

He got in a good 6 swats to my backside before turning me around to face him again. "You better think Pone because that was just a warm-up of what you will get if you keep disrespecting me! Why is this bathroom a mess? Y'all can't keep anything clean!" He yelled as he started putting Sodas hair grease in the cabinet with his comb. "Now, why were you outside cursing?"

I started sniffling back my tears wiping them with the back of my hand. Darry could see how upset I was as my chest breathed out hard and I struggled to catch my breath. I saw his eyes get a little softer. "Come on kiddo, you're okay now. Just tell me what happened?" He urged softly. I knew I was still in trouble and if that was a preview of what was coming I knew I had to form sentences to explain.

"I…." my breathing ragged.

"Just take a deep breath Pony." Darry urged

I took a deep breath in still shaking a bit from the adrenaline. I never did well when I got a spanking. The first time my Dad spanked me, I was eight and my Mom sent me to my room for trying to touch the bleach under the sink. I didn't know that the powder could be poison and Soda dared me to eat some. I had gotten angry when Soda started laughing at me after my Mom had yelled at me. So, I turned to her bawling up my fist and hitting her on the leg as hard as I could.

She looked at me shocked and gasped in. I turned to look at Soda whose eyes were big, and I knew I was in for it. Mom dragged me to my room and I was crying so hard, "You just wait till your father gets home Ponyboy Michael Curtis!" She yelled and left slamming my bedroom door. I knew he'd yell at me, but I'd only heard my brothers talk about after they'd been given a spanking. That it had hurt, and they'd cuddle on Moms lap after, but, I was nervous because up until that point I'd never done anything bad enough to get spanked.

That night when Dad got home, I had made myself sick waiting in my room. I was sitting on the floor reading my book and my stomach was in knots. Dad had knocked once and came in with disappointed eyes. "Come here buddy, tell me what happened?" He sighed softly patting the bed.

I didn't want to get Soda in trouble, so I had told him it was all my idea to touch the bleach. "Well son, then I think you know what's coming for being so naughty." He frowned getting up. From that day forward, I tried to be good and not listen to Sodas dares as much. I cried so much after my Dad has spanked me that I threw up. I apologized to my Mom and she tried to calm me down by rubbing my back. I remember Mom talking to Dad because Darry and Soda never got that upset over a spanking. She had told my Dad that I'd need more coddling than the other boys and he agreed with her.

She had from that day forward made sure my brothers understood they had to watch out for me and have patience with me. That I was a sensitive boy who took everything to heart. I now managed to look up at Darry who was trying to be patient and I knew he tried his best to understand how I thought. I took another deep breath in getting my tears under control.

"I retraced my steps…..and I ended up outside. But, it was too dark, and I knocked over Two-bits beer bottle. It spilled all over my book Dar, the one Mom got for me last Christmas. I think its ruined." Tears streamed from my eyes

Darry grabbed me unexpectedly pulling me into a hug and I began softly crying putting my head on his shoulder. He rubbed my back and I hiccupped trying not cry. "Awe little buddy, it'll dry you'll see. It'll be okay, and I'll talk to Two about leaving his bottles laying around. You sometimes forget to use your head though, because you should have turned the light on before going outside." He sighed heavily

That really pissed me off, why'd he'd have to say that? So, I pushed him away from me and wiped my tears away quickly sniffling. Darry shook his head, glaring at me and opened the cabinet where we kept the bars of soap. He took one out unwrapping it and I just stared at my dirty white converse shoes, still feeling angry.

"Just because you get mad buddy doesn't mean you get to curse or push people. You know that, and I know your anger has gotten you into trouble with Daddy before." Darry grabbed my chin, so I'd look at him. He was upset but his eyes were staring at me softly. His left hand was holding a bar of soap and I couldn't help but whimper. "No Pone don't start that. Open your mouth and keep your butt in here. I'll check on you in 5 mins."

I began crying but Darry shook my shoulder hard and instead of fighting I let him put the bar of ivory soap in my mouth. "Don't cry Pony or else it'll make the bar taste worst." He said sympathetically

I wondered how many time Mom made him do this after she caught him cursing? She knew she was raising three boys but wanted us to have manners and we did. He wiped the tears from my eyes disappearing into the living room. The taste was gross, it tasted bitter with a touch of lemon and I tried not to swallow any trying to avoid gagging. Time seemed to move so slow and minutes were feeling like years.

I didn't look in the mirror to embarrassed to see myself and wondered if I was still getting a whipping after this. My behind was already sore, and I was still curious where I had put my book? I most likely set it down on the kitchen table when Darry had my elbow dragging me into this bathroom. I felt my saliva making a soap bath in my mouth and it was harder to just breath through my nose. Hot tears streamed down my face and I wondered if the time was up yet.

I heard Darry heading back to the bathroom and I looked up. "Alright Kiddo, your times up and you have a few minutes to wash your mouth out." He pointed at me "Then I want you in the living room. You got me?" He asked sternly

I shook my head frantically yes as I grabbed out the soap from my mouth spitting out the pool of saliva from my mouth in the porcelain sink. I saw Darry walking away as I put the bar of soap in the shower there was no use in wasting it. I gulped water swooshing it in my mouth spitting it out, but I could still taste the soap. I went ahead and brushed my teeth trying to get rid of the taste.

I put my toothbrush back and wiped down the sink then headed to the front room. I didn't want to have Darry come back in here. As I went into the front room I wasn't sure if I was supposed to sit on the couch? I stared at Darry sitting in Dads chair reading the newspaper and cleared my throat impatiently.