"You and me, we gotta stop this." Darry said, closing the door as Ponyboy stepped back into the house. "It's driving Soda out of his mind. Not to mention me."

"Yeah, sure. You leave me alone and I'll stop it." Pony said, marching off towards his bedroom. He was not gonna make this easy for Darry.

"Pony!" Darry yelled but just then the phone rang. He sighed and picked it up "Hello?"

"Hello, may I please speak to Darrel Curtis?"

"Speaking." Darry said, listening intently. Most people that called and asked for him using his full name were either solicitors or people from the state and he found both of them annoying.

"Hi, this is the headmaster of Franklin High. I'm calling in regards to your younger brother."

Darry sighed deeply. "What did he do this time?" Not again. He thought. I do not need more problems right now.

"Well I wanted to call because he's had some recent unexcused absences, as I'm told you know about but today he was not present in any of his classes again and we did not receive a call or note. Was he excused for today?"

"He wasn't there today?" Darry asked utterly shocked. What do I have to do to get the kid to stay in school!?

"No, I'm afraid not. I'll take it that you didn't know?"

"No, I didn't." Darry said, looking towards the hallway and seeing Pony poke his head out to see what was going on. "Get in here!" He whispered angrily, moving the phone away from his mouth. Pony ducked back into his room quickly, knowing what the phone call was about. He didn't think they'd call. They hadn't called once the week before when he hadn't been in school.

"I am sorry but we're going to have to issue suspension as well on top of the detention next Saturday because this is the second time. I have no other choice."

"Yes, thank you. I understand." Darry said. "When will he be aloud back at school?" The last thing he needs to do is fall farther behind. Darry thought.

"Next Monday." The man said, nonchalantly. This phone call obviously wasn't a big deal to him. He sounded like he'd rather be off doing something else then worrying about the well being of his students.

Darry sighed, "Ok, thank you." He mustered out, calmly.

"Thank you Mr. Curtis."

Darry slammed the phone down on the receiver. "Ponyboy! Get out here!" He walked towards his little brothers room. "Why weren't you in school today, huh?"

"I was." Pony yelled through his closed door.

"Don't you give me that crap! Why weren't you at school?"

"I didn't feel like going." Ponyboy said. At least it was the truth.

"Is it your goal in life to make everything this difficult for me?"

"No." Pony said. " I just didn't feel like going."

"And that's supposed to make it ok for you to skip again?"

"Don't know, don't care." Pony said, simply. He was actually surprised at his own words. I'm getting good at this. He thought.

"I should whoop the sense out of you." Darry said. "You know what? I'm gonna rephrase that. I am gonna whoop the sense out of you." He said, taking his belt off and trying the knob but Pony had been holding it closed for the past five minutes. "Open the door, Ponyboy." Darry said.

"Or what?" Pony challenged, sounding much braver than he was feeling. He new he was in deep trouble but recently that was always the case anyways.

"Or I'll break it down, that's what." Darry said, trying the door again. Pony leaned against it but after a minute of that Darry barged through, being twice as strong as him.

Pony didn't get a chance to protest before Darry grabbed him and flipped him around, licking him hard with the folded over belt. Pony hollered and struggled to get away, not believing what his brother was doing. "I'm fresh out of ideas for what do to with you kid." Darry said.

Pony winced as the belt fell again. "I'm never speaking to you again, Darry!"

"Is that a promise?" Darry asked, striking the seat of his pants for the third time. Pony didn't answer but merely let out a moan. I hate Darry. He thought, fighting back tears unsuccessfully. Dad never belted us. Not ever.

"Owe!" He yelled as the belt fell once more.

"Stay here!" Darry instructed, releasing his youngest brother who quickly ran away from him and to the other side of the room. "I'm gonna go find Soda. DO NOT leave this house!" Darry excited the room and grabbed the car keys. He headed out the door towards the truck, not to sure if what he just did was such a smart idea. Right then though he needed to find Soda. It was dark now and he was sick and Darry knew that his brother might do something stupid being as upset as he was when he left.