"This is a really stupid idea." Soda whispered at 5:45 a.m. the next day. "He'll never talk to either one of us again."

"Quit blabbing and help me get him to the car. I can't carry him with one arm without waking him up."

"He's bound to sleep for the next two days with all those pills you keep making him take."

"Well, he doesn't sleep at all if he doesn't have them." Darry and Sodapop placed their sleeping younger brother in the backseat of the car and got in their own seats.

"You sure you don't want me to stick around for when he wakes up?" Soda asked.

"No, after I take Ponyboy and get out, go back home. You can go back to bed if you want for ten minutes or so but get up on time for work. I'll come by the DX later to get the truck so I can drive to work myself."

"He's gonna go crazy when he wakes up, specially if the car ain't there."

"If the car ain't there then he'll have no other but choice to walk home with me. If I start walking I know he'll follow. It's the only way I can think to get him outside."

"Man I hate doing this to him." Soda mumbled. "I can't believe you're making me do this."

"Well, someone has to drive the truck back home." Darry said. They were silent for several minutes more and then Darry pulled over to the side of the street. "Help me get him out and into that coffee place over there." Darry didn't know how long it would be before his youngest brother would wake and it was cold out so the little coffee shop across the street would offer warmth and somewhere to sit.

"Darry are you sure you wanna do this?" Soda asked.

"Sodapop, you've only asked me that same question about a hundred times since I told you the plan last night. Now quit worrying about him. It'll be fine. I'll make sure he knows I'm right next to him when he wakes up."

Soda sighed. "At least let me stay Darry." He begged.

"No, someone has to take the truck back. If he sees it he'll just jump in and that will defeat the entire purpose of bringing him out here. Lets go." Darry said, making it the clear that the discussion was over and everything was going to happen according to plan. Soda didn't like it. In fact he hated it but he helped Darry carry out his scheme on the youngest Curtis. Darry didn't think it should be considered a scheme but Soda thought it was just down right mean.

When they walked in the one person that was sitting in there looked at them as if to ask 'what in the world are you doing with that sleeping kid?' Soda didn't notice and Darry ignored it. They put Ponyboy on one of the couches they had for customers and Darry sat down beside him, propping his head on his shoulder so he could sleep somewhat comfortably.

"Darry can't I stay-"

"Sodapop." Darry said, irritated that his brother kept asking him the same question.

"Fine." Soda grumbled. "But when he wakes up the whole town yelling at you don't get mad at me. This sure wasn't my idea." He turned and left. Darry sighed and wrapped an arm around Ponyboy who was sleeping soundly. Darry figured he'd better buy something or the people that worked there would get irritated that he was just sitting there taking up space. So he carefully got up and put Pony's head on the arm rest. Then he went over and ordered a large cup of black coffee and a chocolate chip muffin. Then he sat back down and pulled Ponyboy back up against him. He spent next half an hour eating and reading the newspaper until he felt Pony start to squirm ever so slightly. Darry put his coffee down. "Hey, Pony." he said softly. "You awake honey?"

"Darry?" Pony asked, opening his eyes a little. Where was he? He didn't remember his room looking like this. Did they remodel the house?

"Yeah, that's right." Darry said. "Morning sleepy head."

Ponyboy sat up fully now and looked around him. "Where- where are we?" He asked.

"We're at that little coffee house on 6th and Swarthmore." Darry informed him. There was still hardly anybody in the coffee shop. It was a Saturday so not many people had work and it was only 6:30. Ponyboy's breathing sped up and he turned a little white. Darry was beginning to wonder if this was such a good idea. "Calm down." Darry pulled him close again.

"How'd we get here?" Pony demanded, shrinking back into Darry immediately and eyeing the man that sat across the room suspiciously.

"Sodapop and me drove you over here a little while ago. You want some breakfast."

"Where's Soda? Where's the truck? How come you took me here?" Pony said. Darry could tell he was trying so hard not to completely freak out considering they were in a public place.

"Soda's not here. You wanna go home, kiddo?" Darry asked. Ponyboy nodded, firmly.

"Ok, c'mon then."

"Where's the truck?" Pony asked again, holding onto Darry so he wouldn't' stand up.

"The trucks not here."

"What do you mean!?" Pony nearly screamed, drawing everyone's attention.

"Ponyboy don't yell. C'mon outside with me." Darry said.

Pony shook his head. "Call Soda and have him bring the truck over." Pony demanded.

"No, we're gonna walk home. At least I am. You coming?" Darry got up and headed for the door.

"Darry!" Pony hollered but Darry kept walking, knowing his brother would follow.

"Darry I don't wanna be out here!" Pony yelled, running after his brother and tugging on his arm.

"You don't have to follow me." Darry said.

"This is a really dirty trick." Pony said. He had pretty much figured it out by then and he was going to let both of his brothers have it when he got home.

"Hey, I'm only doing this for your well being. Now I'm walking this way. You can either come with me or you can stay here. It's up to you." Darry said and started down the sidewalk again.

Pony had Darry around the waist in a second and was walking with him. "This isn't fair." Pony wiped away a tear quickly.

"Relax, Pon. You're doing really good so far." Darry squeezed Pony's shoulder tighter and led him down the street. "Are you sure you don't wanna stop for breakfast?"

"You know I don't!" Pony snapped, angrily. "I can't believe your doing this to me. I'll never forgive you for this!"

"You'll thank me first." Darry mumbled.

"What?"

"Nothing, you wanna let me breath? You're liable to squeeze my lungs out if you hold on any tighter. You don't have anything to be afraid of. There isn't hardly anybody walking round town right now anyways."

Pony loosened his grip around his big brother ever so slightly but not before he felt Darry's strong arm hold him closer. "How long do you think it'll take us to get back to the house?"

"Twenty minutes maybe."

"Will Soda be at work when we get back?"

"Maybe."

"Are you going to work today?"

"Yep." Darry said.

"Can't you stay home?" Pony asked

"I thought you were mad at me."

"I am." Pony said.

"So why do you want me to stay home then?"

"I just do." Pony said, grumpily. Darry tried to hide his grin but it wasn't working to well. "Quit smiling. It ain't funny. Can't you call Sodapop now? Ain't I walked long enough. It's freezing. I'll get sick."

"Nice try." Darry said. "You got any more books to read at home?"

"No, I read all of um. Why?" His arms were getting real tired now so he let go of Darry but walked right beside him.

"You wanna stop at the bookstore and get some more?"

Pony was quiet for a minute. The offer was tempting. And what would that soc be doing in a bookstore at this time anyways? "It prolly ain't even open." He said.

"Well, I need more coffee so maybe they'll be open by the time I get that."

"Oh c'mon Darry. Don't do that!" Pony begged as Darry turned the corner to walk towards a McDonalds. He ran after his brother. "I just wanna go home!"

"Oh c'mon Pon. You love McDonalds."

"I wanna go home."

"Go home then. It won't take to long to walk it. You know the way. You've only walked home a million times." Darry said and kept going but Pony didn't stray far for a second.

"You know I don't wanna walk alone."

"Then come with me."

"But I wanna go home."

"Then go home." Darry said.

Ponyboy sighed defeated. "Fine, I'm coming!" He snapped.

Darry smiled to himself. "Good." They entered the McDonalds and walked up to the cash register. "Black coffee." Darry said, pulling out his wallet. "Pony?"

"I don't want anything." He mumbled.

"Nothing huh?"

"Nope."

"All-right." Darry said.

"Will that be all for you?" The woman asked.

"Yeah." Darry said, paying and getting the coffee. "So," Darry took a small sip of the hot drink. "You wanna go to the bookstore after this?" Pony shrugged. "Yes or no?"

"I guess. I don't have anything else to read." Pony said. His stomach let out a loud growl a moment or so later. Darry looked over at him. Pony was staring at his t-shirt. "You sure you don't want something to eat."

"Yes."

"You sound hungry."

"Chocolate chip cookies and an ice cream sundae." Pony blurted out suddenly. Boy did that sound good right now.

Darry laughed. "Ok." Pony looked at his brother surprised. He'd thought he'd have to do at least a little bit of persuading on that one. Darry ordered what Pony had requested and paid. "You're doing a good job of keeping your cool."

"Well I don't wanna make a scene and your stubborn as ever when it comes to stuff like this so I figure I'm gonna have to follow you all over the stupid city before you take me home, no matter how much I beg." Pony said, angrily but still remained close enough to Darry to lean on. "There ain't that many people out anyways so it doesn't make much difference. If you really wanted to scare me you coulda just brought me out here in the middle of the day."

"Oh admit it Ponyboy. You're enjoying yourself. You haven't been anywhere for a week."

"I am not enjoying myself!"

"Number 76!" Someone called from behind the counter. As if there was anybody else in the place except Darry and Ponyboy...

They got the tray and walked over to a table. Pony sat down next to Darry and picked up his ice cream. "How's breakfast?" Darry asked.

"Good." Pony said, with a mouthful of nuts and fudge. "How come you let me order this?"

"Once won't hurt." Darry said. "Besides it ain't much different than chocolate cake." They sat in silence for a few more minutes while Darry drank his coffee and Pony ate. Darry looked up at the clock. "It's almost seven. We'd better get going. The bookstore's five blocks out of our way and I wanna get to the DX to get the truck by at least eight. I told my boss I'd be late but he doesn't want me any later than nine."

Ponyboy stuffed the last cookie in his mouth and got up so Darry could as well. "How come Sodapop's not here too?"

"He had to drive the truck away so you wouldn't get in it."

"Boy, you guys sure put some thought into this." Pony mumbled. He didn't know weather to be mad at Darry or not but he couldn't turn down an ice cream sundae or a few more books to read if they were out in town anyways.

Darry smiled at his little brother, who was clinging to his side. "Only because we care, little buddy."

"Promise you won't do this again. I don't wanna wake up in some coffee joint."

Darry laughed. "I'll tell you what. You promise me that you'll go to school on Monday and I'll never do this to you again."

Pony looked skeptical. "Can I have a little time to think about that?"

"Ponyboy." Darry said, impatiently.

"Oh, all-right. I'll go to school on Monday."

"Good boy." Darry slung his right arm around his youngest brothers shoulders.