Chapter 8 The Influence

"W... Who are you?"...

The man walked in and I instantly felt like a moron. Dally staggered into the living room and plopped down on the couch.

" I'm the president of the United States of America." He slurred. He was obviously drunk.

" You scared me." I laughed and went into the kitchen to start on dinner. I felt that since my mamma was gone, it was now my responsibility to do the cooking. The boys weren't too good at it anyway.

" Hey Dallas. Ya started without me." Two-bit teased as he came into the house.

I seasoned the chicken and put it in the oven. Chicken was Darry's favorite and I hoped it would butter him up enough to get a yes out of him. My room was a disaster, so I started to pick up in there. I pulled out the bed to sweep under it. There was an array of bottles, papers and one old picture frame. I picked up the frame and examined the black and white picture inside. It was a family picture taken on our last visit to grandmas in North Carolina. We were on the beach. Mamma and daddy both in beach chairs. The boys were seated around them in the sand. I was sitting on my daddy's lap/ I must have been about eleven in this picture. I I looked at my parents smiling faces and couldn't contain my tears. I really wished they were here.

" I need you..." I cried, clutching the picture to my chest.

" Daisy?" I heard someone call from the doorway. I looked up through my tears to find Ponyboy. " Katie, what's wrong?" He came over to the bed. I handed him the frame.

" I n..need them."

" I know... I do to." He pulled me close and let me cry into his chest. Pony didn't need to say anything to comfort me. Just his presence and his embrace was enough.

" Thanks Pony." I sniffled as I began to calm down.

" Anytime." He smiled. "I'm always here. You know that."

" I know." I said. " Do you know Steve's girlfriend Evie?" I asked. Trying to change the subject.

" I met her once. Why?"

" Sandy wants me to go to her slumber party this weekend."

" Oh... well she seems nice enough."

" I'm gunna aske Darry tonight."

" I'm sure he'll say yes." Pony said as he got off the bed.

" Pony?' I called before he left.

" Yea" He turned to look at me.

" Do you like Jesse?"

" Yea. I guess." He didn't seem convincing.

" You guess?"

" I don't know Daisy. He's a little tough. I don't know I always saw you going out with a soc or at least close to it."

" Eww Pony! No Way! He's different then the guys around here. Give him a chance."

" Ok, I will." He said before leaving the room. I sat back on my bed and pulled out a book. I read for about an hour before I heard the door open and Darry's tool belt hit the floor along with his boots. A few minutes later, there was a knock at my door.

" Come in." I said. He slowly opened the door and walked in.

" Hey. How was church?" He asked. " Did you get a ride home?"

" It was ok. And I met Sandy there, so we walked to the Dingo for lunch. Then she walked me to the DX."

" Oh.. that was nice of her. It's good for you to spend some time with a girl."

" Yea. She invited me to a slumber party this weekend."

" Where?" He asked.

" At her friend Evie's house."

" Steve's girlfriend?"

" Yea..."

" Let me think about it ok?"

" But you just said it was good for me to be around girls."

" Yes, it is. But these are older girls. I'm not too sure about that," He said. I didn't understand the problem with their age. It's not like they were older boys.

" What does that have to do with anything?" I yelled in frustration.

" First of all you better cool off cause I don't like your tone young lady. And second they are a lot more advanced then you are. I'm not sure about it. Just let me think about it." Darry said in a stern voice.

" Whatever Darry." I said a little more mean then I intended.

" If you keep this attitude up, you ain't goin nowhere." He said as he left the room. I couldn't believe he was giving me this much trouble about going to an ALL GIRLS sleepover. I mean really, it was ridiculous. I heard a conversation pick up in the living room and I cracked my door open a little so I could hear.

" C'mon Darry, let her go." That was Soda.

"Don't you start on me too Sodapop." Darry warned.

" Darry it really isn't that big of a deal. And you know as much as I do that this will be good for her." Soda ignored Darry's warning and pressed on.

" Soda those girls are two years older then her. They're more advanced in a lot of ways. Don't act like I don't know what girls their age are doing. I don't need them influencing Daisy. She's too young for half of the stuff they do."

" Sandy's not like that Darry. She's not a bad influence on Daisy. If anything she's a good one. And Daisy's not gunna just follow the pack." Soda argued.

" That doesn't mean her friends aren't." Darry said.

" I think you should let her go too." Pony joined in. I was shocked. Pony was never one to go up against Darry unless it was absolutely necessary. " That Sandy girl seems a lot nicer then the girls in our grade."

" Fine." Darry gave in." Daisy, you can go." He called, knowing i was ease dropping.

" Oh thank you thank you thank you!" I exclaimed as I ran out of the room and tackled him in a hug. " Your the best brother ever!"

" Yea yea. You better behave yourself. Don't make me regret this." He ruffled my hair.

" Darry It's a slumber party. Not a beer blast." I said exasperated.

" Yea... what's for dinner?" He asked. Obviously trying to get off the topic.

" Oh, my chicken!" I ran into the kitchen and pulled it out before it burned.

" Buon au petite!" I laughed as I placed it on the table.