Disclaimer: I do not own The Outsiders
Soda
I hate this waiting game. Sit and wait, wait and sit. It never does any good. These doctor was really trying my patients. First we get the one who would not shut up, had to tell every little detail even if we didn't want to know. Then there was this the one.
I looked at Darry, fidgeting. He must be as least as worried as I am. I couldn't get Pony out of my mind. All these tests, what they proved or disproved meant everything to us.
A man in a white coat walked in and shut the door. He had some papers in his hands. "Hello. I'd ask you to sit down but you are already ahead of me. I'm Doctor Hanson. I'm a pediatric neurologist on this floor." Darry shook his hand.
"I'm Darrel Curtis and this is my younger brother Sodapop." I saw the man shake his head. He didn't look to happy.
"You must have had very creative parents."
"Our father was one of a kind." I said gruffly. I wanted him to stop with the small talk and get on with it. I wanted, no needed to know about my brother.
"So he was." The man paused and sat down, putting the paper out in front of him.
"We did extensive testing on your brother."
"Yes." Darry said. "We know. What did it show?"
"We did an EEG to measure brain waves as we tried various stimulators, such as light, pain, sound, touch. He was virtually unresponsive until pain was at a severe degree and even then.."
I looked at Darry. "Eyes are still fixed and dilated, he shows no reflexive response."
"What exactly are you saying, sir?"
"Mr. Curtis there has been no change. While there is evidence of brain activity there is not a significant amount."
"Not a significant amount, what kind of crap is that?"
Darry shot me a dirty look, a warning of sorts. The doctor blanched. "I'm sorry Mr. Curtis. It means we do not believe he will wake up."
Of course he was going to wake up. Pony had to wake up. I mean he's fourteen. And he's Ponyboy. Pony never would just give up like that, not Pony. He's a tuff kid and he's so smart.
Darry spoke up gruffly. "What do you suggest we do?"
The doctor sighed. "We can make him comfortable although right now he is not aware enough to actually feel pain. You can keep him here for a few weeks, we can monitor him look for change. But the best thing for him would be to put him in a home, round the clock care. I know you haven't got much money so I might suggest giving the state custody, to ease your burden."
Darry
Burdon, burden, how could he ever say that Ponyboy was a burden? I saw Soda beside me. His face was stony. He was processing. Soda takes time coming to terms with reality. I sighed.
I could never just leave Pony like that, like some unwanted piece of trash. I promised mom and dad I would take care of him. I'm not going to fail again. This never would have happened if I could control my temper. If I hadn't have hit him we wouldn't even be in this situation. I've made my bed and I'll have to lie in it.
No that wasn't how I should thing of it, a punishment. He's my brother, he's blood. After mom and dad, well we've all kind of lived heart and soul for each other. I couldn't just leave Ponyboy out in the cold. I hear what the doctor is saying but I can't just live my life without my little brother, not knowing he was alive.
Dad always said you don't forget your family. Family was the most important thing in the world to him. He passed it on to me and my brothers. Its probably why our friends are so close to us as well.
"I plan on keeping custody."
"Darrel financially and emotionally speaking your brother's condition is draining. Even if you don't go bankrupt the stress of having a family member in this condition, being in charge of his care could drive you to an emotional brink."
I stood up, glaring. "You heard my decision. Come on Soda."
Soda stood up and followed me to the door. "Understand that I will be notifying the state as to my recommendations."
I slammed the door shut. It was people like that who made my blood boil. It took everything I had not to hit that pompous old wind bag.
I muttered a couple less then enduring phrases ten looked back at Soda. He looked at me red yed. 'Can't you stay calm for once." He took off in a run.
I took a deep breath, "SODA!" I ran after him.
Soda.
I sat in the visitor's lobby, curled in a corner. Why was this happening? Why Pony? He's smart. He aint never hurt nobody? How can that doctor say he won't ever wake up? He's Ponyboy, he just has to wake up. We couldn't get along without him.
And why did Darry have to g and lose his temper like that? That's what started everything in the first place.
I shook a little, NO that wasn't right. Darry didn't mean to. He was just worried about Ponyboy and when he gets scared he kind of loses it. But if he hadn't have lost it? No I couldn't blame it on Darry.
He tried so hard for us. It wasn't right to pin it on him. He's a good guardian. I remember Pony telling me he thought Darry hated him. Now my little brother might never know how much Darry loved him. I sighed.
"Pepsi-Cola?"
I looked up red eyed. Darry was knelled in front of me. "Hey Darry." I said numbly.
Darry put his hand on my knee. "I'm sorry Soda. I just got ahead of myself." He gave a hollow sounding laugh. "We all got our flaws. Guess I wasn't thinking"
I let out a sob. "You sounded just like Pony."
Darry sighed. "Guess I did." He made his way over to me. I lay my head on his shoulder and he leaned his head on mine. We had not really did that since we were little kids on long car rides. Pony would just lay on our laps and we all would fall asleep. Mom must have been happy when we did. Three kids on a long trip equals three aspirin and a migraine.
"Darry?"
"What the doctor said about Pony, do you really think he aint ever gonna wake up?"
Darry sat up. "I don't know, Pepsi Cola. I just don't know."
I sighed. "Lets go see Pony now."
Darry pulled me to my feet. "Okay."
* * * * * *
Tulsa Gazette
September 13th, 1966
Audrey Rockwell
On the morning of Saturday, September tenth two young men were found at Hawthorne Park. The young men, Ponyboy Curtis age fourteen, and John Cade, age sixteen, were found severely beaten around two thirty in the morning when one of their assailants, Randle Anderson, age seventeen, made a run for help.
Randle claims the boys had an altercation after the younger two walked his girlfriend and another young lady home from the Admiral Twin Drive Inn. Her will not give the names of other aslant.
John Cade suffered internal injuries, a mile concussion and is said to be paralyzed from above the waist down. His parents have been unavailable for questioning.
Fourteen year old Ponyboy Curtis is currently in a deep coma, from which doctors say he might never emerge. Ponyboy has been in the care of older brother Darrel, since losing their parents in an automobile accident this January. The two had an argument over his curfew from which Ponyboy ran away, "….to cool off." States John Cade. The boys were then attacked by Randle and the mystery suspects.
Ponyboy is an honor student and a squad track member at Will Rogers High School. He is described as having been a bright, loving and creative young man with a great future ahead of him
His brothers are asking anybody with further information to please step forward.
Please call the Tulsa Police headquarters with any information.
Darry looked at the paper and sighed. He took a sip of his coffee. "Come on kid. Wake up. You're in the paper and everything."
No movement, no speaking, no nothing. Darryl sighed once more. I looked away.
I got the head shoulder thing from when I was little. My brother and I used to do that.