Chapter 2

Darry really felt hurt about Ponys words to be selfish. Everything he does, he does for their family.

For his two little brothers.

Yes, he could be selfish and put them in a boys home. So that he still may go to college, live his life again.

But he ain`t. He quit his future plans for his brothers, to have them still their house to live in and to have them still a family. Their family.

And it seems like, his dreamy little brother doesn`t realize anything.

He`s young, just a child. He always let his heart lead his minds.

And Darry? He had to bear to much responsibility for his age. Since the death of their parents he mutants to a sterness, cold hulk, who`s only working. He forgot his own life, to relax, to smile.

He was worried sick, when Pony was in Windrixville and after his return, erverything should become better. They promised to Soda. But that doesn`t really workin` because Pony becames strange.

His whole life Pony was a dreaming one but since that his head was always in clouds. He forgot everything. His homeworks, his papers, his shoes, he forgot which day it was. He was no good for anything.

And Darry`s angry about that. He`s impatient and starts to gripe at Pony.

He couldn´t empatize what Pony feels or how he feels. Of course he knows, what Pony went through in the last months. And of course he knows, it`s to much for a 15 year old boy. Pony was so much different than him. Worlds between the two of them.

So the figths never really stopped. But he never hit him again. This was unforgivable for himself.

„I go to bed. Maybe he`s still awake and I can explain him your side." Darry waved Soda, with his eyes still on the TV.

When Pony hears steps towards his room, he rolled over and pretend that he was sleeping.

But Soda knows his little brother very well. His breathing is different when he`s sleeping.

So he takes his shirt off and lay down beside him.

„I know your ain`t sleeping. Darry`s sad about your fight. You know, I do understand your side. You like this girl, you`re trying to protect her. And thats a good attitude of yours. But I talked to Darry and now I understand him too. He`s just protecting our family. Like you try to Scout.

Imagine, her father goes ballistic and attack us or you two. He could hurt you real bad.

He`ll not okay with her in our house, so he could rush the authority on us.

Darry`s right, think about that."

Ponys listens to Soda. The authority. Shit, that ´s possible! So he turns to Soda:

„Fine. So what else could I do?" „I don`t really know. It`s tricky. It`s not the same with Steve and his dad or the other guys. Let`s sleep over it, maybe we consider something in the morning with clear heads. Night Pony." „Night."

Click...Click...Click...Clirr

Pony wakes up by a strange noise in the middle of the night. His heart was pounding and his eyes were searching anything in his room. Silent. Maybe his imagination or a dream...

He just wanted to lay down again when the noise starts again, heavier and louder. It sounds like the window.

Clack...Clack...Grrr

„Soda, Soda you`re awake? You hear this?" But Soda snored in seventh heaven.

He tiptoed to the window and gingerly moved the curtains.

He`s scared to death when a stone cracked at the window again.

„Ponyboy." A whisper in the dark. He looked closer and realized a shadow next to the appletree.

He shivered. „Ponyboy." This is a familar voice: „Scout?" He moved the curtains, so that he can see the shadow.

Prudently he opened the window and whispers in the night: „Hey Scout. You scared me to death. Whats the matter?"

She sobs two times before speaking. „I ran off. My Dad went crazy and...and yelled at my mom. She..she cried." And Scout did, too. „You know,.. I hate it when she`s crying."

„Oh. Okay, the door`s open. Come in."

He tiptoed down the hall, bewared not to wake his brothers.

Scout looked lousy.

Her hair is tousled and she got a bleeding cheek.

She shivered all over and teardrops roll down her face. „And what happened to you? Did he lay a hand on you, too?" She nods.

Pony was appalled to see her like this, to realize, which father could do this to his own daughter.

„Here, sit down, I´ll get some tissue and a band aid." Probably the Curtis` were the only greaser

with band aids in the house because everytime they got a bleeding cut Darry forces them to stick a plaster on it. It seems more civilized than walking around with a wound, just to show it.

„They´re fighting. Just yelling in the first place but then he becomes wilder and hit her."

He sat down beside her and wiped away her blood and some teardrops. She continued:

„He was drunk when he came home. When he`s like that he always starts yellin`at me or my mom.

I was in my room and they fight about movin`again. We always move, we`ll never stay."

She looked so sad.

„Why? Why you`ll move around so much?" „For the most parts we got disrepute in our neighboorhoods."

When he cleaned her cheek, he stick the band aid on it.

„My mom yelled back. And then he pushed her against my room wall, real hard.

So I ran out, to see, if she need some help. Her nose was bleeding and I got really mad at him.

I starts yellin`. I don`t know, why. I usually know the consequences."

She`s shaking her head.

I yelled: Leave her alone you monster."

Silent. Pony was stunned when he imagine what comes next.

„He came up to me, hit me in the face and pushed me against the table.

He was screaming, the whole time he was screaming. When mom tried to protect me, he hit her in the stomach."

When Pony has found his words again, he asked: „And where`s your mom now?"

„He left the house and she starts drinkin`. When she´s like that, she gets mad at me, so I left the house , too. I just know where I can go to, Pony. Usually I go to lot but it`s to cold outside."

She starts crying again.

Pony gets her some covers and put his arm around her shoulder. She sobs and he stroked her hair to comfort her.

„You can stay here tonight. Tomorrow I`ll talk to Darry and we`ll convince something."

„Thank you Pony, you`re a good friend."

Scout makes herself comfortable. She was so overwhelmed and tired that she fall asleep within a feweconds.

Pony couldn`t find his dreams so easily. He was shocked and kind of clueless.

Was it this bad, when Scout gets seperated from her family? Maybe yes. Maybe no.

What will Darry gonna say, when he see her on the sofa, just right after he told him, that she couldn`t stay here? Pony could hear his scream already now...