Disclaimer- I do not own The Outsiders. You're reviews have been wonderful and this chapter is for you guys. Hope you like it.

Tulsa

I'm dreaming of a white Christmas
Just like the ones I used to know
Where the treetops glisten,
and children listen
To hear sleigh bells in the snow

Dallas Winston spat on the ground and rubbed his hands together. There was nothing special about this time of year. It was cold and it was wet. People spent money they didn't have on mindless gifts and trinkets and feasts only to be laid off come January.

He took a cigarette from his pocket, lit it up and took a puff. He began to walk, kicking the dirt beneath him. What was with everyone at Christmas anyway? He remembered the Curtis's. What did it get them. Good Christmas last year and less than a week later they were dead.

And this year, he gave a harsh bitter laugh. This year they were in a nursing home, some celebration. And Johnny. Dallas took another puff. The kid was stuck in some chair the rest of his life, a useless cripple.

Dallas mentally cursed himself. That wasn't right. Johnny was not useless, never useless. He cursed himself once more for being sentimental and went on his way to see Tim.

Nursing Home- Soda

The room was quiet, no carols, no cheerful decorations. The bed sheets were all twisted and there was a harsh smell to the room. Pony was asleep. His hair and cloths were a mess. He was so skinny. He looked like death, the ghost of Christmas yet to come.

I heard Darry grunt asked he walked over. His face turned red. "They haven't even got a catheter in him. He's soiled himself.." Darry clinched his fists and bit his lip. I knew he was just trying to stay calm. I think he blames his temper for all this in the first place.

I closed my eyes. I used to hear about places, homes that were bad. Our neighbor Mr. Hertford went to one when we ten for a broken hip. He was dead a month later. But Pony, he was a kid. It's bad enough people would leave an old person to die, abuse them, but a kid? Pony aint never hurt no one.

He's just a kid. What if, I don't think there is but what if, what if some part of him is aware? He should never be in pain? He's been through enough all ready. Darry kicked the trash can and cursed. Some Christmas huh?

I ran my finger's through my hair. The bed was so dirty. I looked around. There was a chair. "Darry get a nurse to change the sheets. I'll sit in the chair and you can hand me Pony."

He smelled so bad, looked so sick. I wanted to vomit.

Darry shook his head. "You go. I'll stay. If I go I'll lose my temper."

"And I won't?" I was starting to get mad myself.

Darry shook. "Listen Soda. You're much better at staying calm then I am. I don't want to be kicked out, savvy?"

I just nodded numbly and headed out.

Darry

He looked awful. I wanted to yell. I wanted to scream. I wanted to cry. This should be a happy day but its not and there is nothing I can do about it, nothing at all.

Somebody shook me. I groaned. "Wake up Darry. Wake up. Santa Came. Santa came." I opened my eyes A pair of greenish eyes stared back at me and his grin was wide. Chubby little hands pulled on the bed and a small body landed in my lap.

I had long since stopped believing in Santa and hated being woken up but I smiled at Ponyboy anyway."is that so?" He nodded.

"Soda's getting mom and dad. Do you think I got it?"

"I don't know what you're talking about." I winked at him. All Pony had talked about was getting a bicycle. I knew we couldn't afford a new one, a Schwann black phantom but dad and I went to the junk yard and found a bike that wasn't in to bad of shape. We fixed it up for him. I hoped Pony would like it.

I swung him over my shoulder and we walked into the living room. Mom and dad were standing with Soda. "Merry Christmas Ponyboy."

I set Ponyboy down. He gave an excited squeal when he saw the bike. "A bike a bike, I got a bike. Wow this is the best Christmas ever." I heard dad chuckle and mom just smiled. She walked over and whispered in my ear.

"That was a wonderful thing you did Darry. You are a good big brother."

To this day I don't think Pony knows it was me who worked on the bike but I really don't care. I just wish I could see him as happy as he was then.

I looked down at Pony as I held his unresponsive body. The feeding tube was all tangled and his face was pale. He smelt like a port-a-potty we use on a job site. His cheeks were sunken in and his eyes rimmed dark. I felt more sad now then angry.

I ran my finger's through his hair. It was oily from not being washed. "I'm so sorry baby." I muttered now stroking his cheeks. "I'm so sorry." I heaved a sigh. "Merry Christmas."

His eyes popped open. I gasped in shock. He stared at me. He was actually looking right at me. I felt like crying.

His hand started to shake, like he was trying to pick it up. His mouth gaped open and.. and he tried to speak to me. "Pony?" He blinked.

"ma..ma..ma." He just kept sort of repeating himself but he was talking, he was responding. I have never had a better gift.

"Oh Pony…"