Chapter 19
"I need to go to the library today Steve. The project is due tomorrow. If I go with you than I won't get the project done."
"Can't you run in, get what you need and then come back out? I can't do this by myself. I don't know anything about this kind of shit."
"And I do?" Pony asked with some attitude in his voice.
"Well, you should! More than me." Pony was just shaking his head no at Steve.
"I can't Man. Sorry, get Sodapop to go with you." Pony said slamming Two-Bit's car door.
"I can't. Soda works until 4:00 then I come go in and work until closing." Steve jumped out his side and ran over to catch up with Ponyboy who was practically sprinting into school. As they were climbing the stairs to the school Steve grabbed Pony's shirt and pulled him to stop. "Look, I wouldn't ask you for your help if I didn't really need it. What do you have last period today?"
"P.E. Why?"
"I have auto mechanics. We could skip out early and head over to the library. You can run in and do what you need to do. Then we can swing downtown. Then we can both be back in time for work and for you to get Sara." Pony didn't seem convince. If Darry finds out that he skipped P.E., he would be grounded for life, and he had almost completed his house arrest for sneaking out to the rumble.
"I can't Steve. Darry will kill me if he finds out. Plus my time is almost up for going to the rumble. No, you'll have to do it without me."
"Fine then." Steve shoved Pony away from the door. "I see where your priorities lie, thinking of no one except yourself. I get it. Typical, Ponyboy Curtis for ya." Steve knew just how to get at Pony's nerves and he had just pinched one there. For it wasn't 10 seconds later that Pony was now catching up to Steve in the hall.
"Fine, I'll come with you, but if Darry finds out you have to help cover for me." Pony was practically begging Steve for his support if Darry found out.
"Meet me at my car at 1:00, sharp!"
"What about covering for me with Darry?" Pony yelled after Steve who was already making his way towards his class. Of course, Steve being Steve, didn't respond with nothing more than a wave of his hand.
Two-Bit was now standing beside Ponyboy and was laughing and slapping Pony on the back. "Pony, when are you ever gonna learn that you shouldn't make deals with the devil?" Pony just let out a loud, long sigh.
"Never, I guess."
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Sara had a pretty good day at school. She was proud of herself for staying awake the whole day and actually like the little extra attention that she was getting because of her birthday. Ms. Martin had made a crown that she wore all day that stated that she was 6 years old today. Everywhere she went throughout the school adults would greet her with a "Happy Birthday". It made Sara feel special. And to her surprise she couldn't believe how fast the day had gone by. Before she knew it she was on the bus heading towards the DX. After all the kids had gotten off except for Sara, George started a conversation with Sara.
"So, 6 years old today, huh, Sara?"
"Yes, George."
"Doing anything special?" George asked while keeping his eyes on the road.
"Sodapop made me a cake." Sara said with eagerness in her voice. "He makes good cakes. Not as good as Darry, but Darry's been too busy lately worrying about stuff so Sodapop made it."
"It sounds like you have some good cooks in your house. Any presents yet?"
"No, presents always come after dinner." Sara soon lost the eagerness and excitement in her voice once she mentioned that presents always came after dinner. For the first time today her thoughts lingered of her parents and how things were when they were around.
"Well, I wouldn't worry none. Knowing your brothers as well as I do, I'm sure they have done found you some great gifts." George looked up into the rear visor and flashed Sara a smile. Sara forced a smile back but didn't mention anything more. George pulled up to the curb and let out a honk. Sodapop was swamp today and couldn't believe that Two-Bit hadn't brought Ponyboy back in time to get Sara off the bus. Darry was sure gonna lose his top about this one. Soda threw down his rag and started to walk out to the curb to get his sister. "Hey, Sodapop, I have a special delivery here for you. If I didn't know better I would think it was someone's birthday." George gave Sodapop a wink and Sara made her way to the stairs.
"George, you're funny." Sara said with a smile.
"Happy Birthday, Sara. Have a good night and I'll see you tomorrow. It's Friday, hallelujah for that." Sara descended down the stairs towards Soda.
"I like your crown there Kiddo." Soda said grabbing her book bag from her and walked with her towards the garage.
"Where's Ponyboy and Two-Bit? I thought they were picking me up today?"
"I'd like to know the same thing." Sodapop said looking around for the two hoping that they would be here any second now.
"They're sure gonna catch heck from Darry, hah Soda?" Soda couldn't resist but chuckle at his sister's statement.
"You might be right about that."
Then all of a sudden Sara stopped walking with Soda, Soda turned back towards her to see what the holdup was when he noticed that the smile his sister had a second ago was now a frown. "What?" He asked.
"Soda, can you just make sure that Darry waits to holler at Pony until after my birthday is over?"
"I'll try, but I can't promise anything. You know how Darry can be." Soda steered Sara towards the cash registered. "How about I treat you to a Pepsi? You know because it's a special day and all? Plus I could use a break." A small smile pulled at Sara's face at the thought of her own Pepsi. Soda paid for a Pepsi for Sara and himself and the two sat outside so it didn't look like Soda was having Sara hang around the garage, just in case Mrs. Roberts was lingering around or someone for the Department of Human Services. As the two sat there and small talked the two noticed Steve flying into the drive of the station. Sodapop got up from the stoop and started walking towards Steve when he noticed Ponyboy getting out of the car. "That's odd." Soda said out loud. Pony came running over to meet up with Sodapop.
"I'm sorry, Soda. Really, we meant to be here. We just got stuck in traffic downtown." Pony was talking a mile a minute trying to defend his tardiness.
"Whoa, Pony hold up there. Why were you downtown?" Soda eyes darted back and forth from Ponyboy to Steve. "And why are you with Steve and not Two-Bit?"
Steve tapped Pony's shoulder to shut him up so he could take over doing the explaining. "I needed to run an errand downtown and Two-Bit couldn't take Ponyboy to the library after school, so I offered, but told Pony that he would need to come downtown with me after he was done at the library." Steve knew that Soda might take the news better if he delivered it. Soda seemed less worried after Steve explained and was just happy that Pony was there to get Sara. "But there's one more thing. I needed to jet early so Pony missed gym class."
"What do you mean he missed it?" Soda asked with concern in his voice.
"Skipped, Soda. We skipped out early."
"Great Steve, how are ya gonna cover that one with Darry? He's already pissed off at Dally, and now this isn't gonna help any." Soda kicked at the dirt thinking how on earth was he gonna get Ponyboy out of this one. He turned and looked at Sara who had stayed on the stoop. "Great, just great. Of all days you had to pick her day to do this." Sodapop started shaking his head side to side.
"Don't worry, Soda. It'll work out in the end. I'll show ya." Soda turned back to Steve with a doubt in his eyes. "Hey, birthday girl, let's get a move on. I need to drop you two off at the house and then come back to relieve Sodapop here." Steve was waving for Sara to get up and get in the car. Sara obeyed Steve's request and moved on over to Soda and grabbed his waist for a hug.
"Be good for Pony until I get home. No fighting, or there's no cake tonight, got it?" Sara just rolled her eyes at Sodapop as she walked off. "Hey, I saw that!" He yelled after her but still had a smile on his face.
"I'll be back soon, Soda."
"Ok ,Man." Soda considered his break over and he moved back into the garage to finish the Ford Mustang that had come in that morning.
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The Curtis house was filled with excitement that night. To Sara's surprise Johnny, Two-Bit and Steve had shown up after dinner, just in time for presents and cake. The only person that was missing was Dallas. Sara was a little disappointed but figured that after the argument that Dal and Darry had that morning that Dally wouldn't show up.
Darry made Sara close her eyes as they piled the kitchen table up with presents. "Ok, Sara, you can open them up." There in front of her were four presents just for her. Sara's eyes grew large as she was looking at the size of all four gifts. One was semi big, about the size of a child's suit case wrapped in brown shipping paper, and the next one was much smaller wrapped in newspaper and the third was wrapped in an crumpled up brown paper bag. The fourth was the size of a shoe box that was wrapped in pretty pink paper. "Well, are ya just gonna stare at them, or actually gonna open them?" Pony asked just as eager as Sara was.
"I can't decide which one to open first." Sara was shifting in her chair with excitement.
"Here, open this one first." Johnny tossed it at her. "It's from Pony and me. Pony actually picked it out." Sara flashed Johnny a small smiled and took the brown paper bag from him. She took her time opening it. She stuck her tiny hand in and felt a skinny, tall box within the bag. She timidly pulled the box out. Once she got it out she was thrilled.
"Oh, Pony, Johnny, thank you so much!" Sara was looking at the box of Ken the Barbie doll. The boys started laughing which caused Pony and Johnny to start blushing.
"Leave it to you two!" Two-Bit said lightly placing his hand on Johnny's shoulder.
"It was Ponyboy's idea. I just helped chip in a little." Johnny said in a hushed voice.
"I love it!" Sara squealed. "It's just what I wanted. And it's brand new. It's not a hand me down." Sara was just staring at the Ken doll in disbelief.
"Well, there's still more. How about you open mine next, just want to warn you though, mine isn't brand new, but when I saw it, I knew that you'd love it. Actually if I'm gonna be truthful here, Dal was with me and it was his idea. So he chipped in and went halves." Two-Bit pushed the suit case sized presents wrapped in brown shipping paper towards her.
"It's so big, Two-Bit." Sara replied.
"Open it." Two-Bit encouraged. Sara slowly took her time breaking the tape off.
"Jeez Sara, you're the only kid that I know that would take her time. Just ripe the damn thing open." Steve said finishing a plate of left over pancakes that Darry decided to try again to make up for Sara missing out on them for breakfast.
"Whose birthday is this? I can take as much time as I want opening them. I'm sabering the moment." Sara said a little too wisely for Darry likes. This erupted a chuckle from the boys around the tiny kitchen.
"I think you mean, savoring the moment." Darry corrected.
"That's what I said." Sara said a little defensively.
"You keep that attitude up young lady and you'll be finding yourself without these presents and in your bedroom with a sore bottom. " Darry threaten while giving her a look of seriousness.
"Sorry." She mumbled and continued to unwrap the gift. Once she had all the wrapping paper off she sat there with her mouth wide open.
"I guess I'll take it back. It seems like she doesn't like it." Two-Bit said reaching for the case.
"Two-Bit, I… can't, oh my gosh, I can't believe it." Sara ran her fingers across the leather top of the case. "Don't take it back, please. I just can't believe that it's mine. All mine."
"Yes, all yours. I take it you like it then?" Two-Bit asked with a wide grin on his face.
"Like it? No, I love it, Two-Bit. Thank-you so much." Sara jumped out of her chair and ran over and hugged Two-Bit. This caught Two-Bit a little off guard, but he half hugged her back and pushed her away. "Open it." Sara moved back into her chair and looked at the Mickey Mouse on the top. It was a red and white case that read the Mickey Mouse Clubhouse Record Player on the top. It was used but in pretty good condition still. Sara flew open the cover and there was a record already on the player. "My first record! Look Soda! Look." Sara yelled with glee. Soda peeked over her shoulder and read, "Help Me Rhonda, by the Beach Boys." He turned to look back over at Two-Bit. "You couldn't think of anything else to buy?"
"Soda, that's the number one song this week. I ask the guy at the record store. I wanted her to remember what the number one song was when she got her first record player."
"Wow, Two-Bit that's deep. Who would of ever thought." Darry said laughing.
"It's a 78, and rumor has it that 78's are out and 45's are in. But hey, that means 78's might be cheaper and you can start your own collection Kiddo. Maybe Sodapop will let you borrow some of his." Two-Bit said nudging Sodapop in the ribs.
"I love it. I don't know what to say. I wish Dally was here so I could thank him too." Sara said still gawking over the inside of the record player.
"Thank you is enough. Now you still have some more. So get opening so that we can have some cake and ice cream." There were two gifts left; one was in newspaper and one in a beautiful pink rose paper. Sara decided that she would leave that one for last and reached for the box with newspaper.
"The comics?" Sara laughed and turned towards Sodapop. "From you?" She asked.
"Me and Darry. Go ahead." Sara again took her time unwrapping the edges and slowly undid the gift. "No way! Darry you said that you were afraid I would burn down the house with it." Sara was delighted to see the EasyBake oven. "Can I make a cake tonight? Please?" Darry shook his head back and forth.
"Let's save it for the weekend huh?" Sara shot him a pouty look. "Plus, you need one of us to supervise you while you use it. You can't use it on your own, you hear me? There are rules to it and if you can't follow them then you lose it, got it?"
"Got it! I can't believe it. This has been the best birthday ever!" Sara yelled towards the boys. Darry and Sodapop shared a quick glance. Both boys' heart swelled. Just at that moment the phone rang. Darry was the closest so he waltzed over to answer it.
"Hello? Oh, hi Coach Taylor. Yes, he's fine, why do you ask? Oh, he did, did he? No, I wasn't aware of that." The minute the boys heard Darry say Coach Taylor, Steve and Ponyboy passed a look between them.
"Great, Guys. I told you he'd find out." Sodapop pushed his way passed Pony and Johnny towards Darry who was still on the phone with Coach Taylor.
"What happen?" Johnny whispered to Ponyboy.
"Knowing Darry, you'll find out soon enough." Pony whispered back.
"Yes, I understand. No, I will get to the bottom of it. Thank you for calling Coach. You too." Darry hung the phone up and gave a look that could kill towards Pony. He started to step closer when Sodapop was there to stop him.
"Darry, wait until later. Until after Sara's has finished with her birthday. Maybe when she's in the tub or after she goes to bed. Don't do it now. I'm not telling you not to get mad at him, just not now. Look at her, Man. She's actually having a good birthday. The best she said. This morning was enough; let her enjoy the rest of it." Soda was continuing to try to keep the peace.
"You knew about this?" Darry's eyes pierced through Soda.
"Yes. I found out this afternoon. But just hold off on this until later, alright?" Soda was almost begging.
"Alright, but you two have a lot of explaining to do." He pushed past Soda and moved back into the kitchen behind Sara. He threw a look in Pony's direction who then quickly diverted his eyes over towards Steve. Darry knew Pony to well to know that something was definitely up between those two.
"There's still one left." Soda said coming back into the room. Sara reached for the gift. She just held it in her hands for a moment. "Well, aren't ya gonna open it?"
"Who's it from?" She asked looking around the room. The boys just shrugged their shoulders.
"It's so beautifully wrapped." She tried her hardest to keep the paper in tack without one ripe in it. When she managed to get it off the box without any tear she folded it back up. Pony went to grab it to put it in the trash when Sara stopped Pony's hand. "No, I want to keep it." Pony just looked at her in a weird way but withdrew his hand from the paper.
"It's a shoe box. Who's playing ticks?" Two-Bit joked around. Sara casually opened the box. There packaged inside was some white paper wrapped around something. Sara carefully unwrapped the white paper and there inside the box was a brand new pair of penny loafers. Sara instantly shot her head up and looked into Steve's direction. Steve had a hard look on his face but the minute the two meet eyes a small smile crept onto his lips. "Hey, they really are shoes. Look, nice shiny shoes at that too." Darry and Soda looked at each other in a quizzical way, not sure where they came from. Sodapop then looked back over at Sara whose eyes were starting to glaze over with tears. He followed Sara's gaze over to where Steve was standing up against the counter. Sodapop then moved his gaze over to Ponyboy who was trying to hide his emotions as well. That's why, Soda thought. "Do you like them?" Two-Bit asked.
"Are they from you, Two-Bit?" Darry asked still confused at where they came from, and knowing damn well, that they cost quit the dollar.
"Nah. I wouldn't of thought of something practical like shoes." Two-Bit laughed picking up one of the loafers and letting out a low whistle. "I don't know but these are some pretty sharp looking shoes." Sara was trying to wipe at the tears that were started to fall from her sapphire color eyes.
"Did she need new shoes, Dar? Sara, did you want new shoes?" Sodapop said taking a closer look.
"No. I thought her sneakers and saddle shoes were in good condition. I didn't know. Sara did you want new shoes?" Darry asked.
"Umm." Sara was trying to find her voice but didn't know what to say.
"I don't know about you guys but some cake would be great right about now. Who cares about if she wanted new shoes or not, she's got some now, that's all that should matter. Now let's get that cake cut, even if it's a gold cake instead of chocolate." Steve said moving towards the refrigerator to grab the cake. Darry and Sodapop started to clear off her presents, but when Darry went to grab the shoes, Sara put her hand on top of Darry's. He stopped and raised his eye brow.
"Can I keep them right here beside me?" Darry didn't understand, but didn't see the harm in it either. He just removed his hand from them and let Sara place them next to her. Soda took the cake from Steve and placed it in front of Sara and the boys started singing "happy birthday" in harmony with each other. Just as the boys were finishing up there was a voice that rang out above all of the boys. Sara looked over towards the living room and there stood Dally who was leaning against the wall between the living room and the kitchen. Sara gave a wide smile towards Dally who gave a wink back at her. Having Dally there now just made Sara's night. Darry wondered what Sara was smiling about and he turned to look at what she had noticed. The minute he saw Dally his blood started to boil. He was just about to say something when Soda reached over and grabbed his arm. It stopped Darry but he made sure to flash a scowl in Dally's direction. The only thing was Dally didn't let it bother him.
"Make a wish, little Curtis." Dally said smiling over at her. Sara looked from one boy to the other and after her eyes landed on the last one around the room, she closed her eyes real tight and blew her hardest trying to get all 6 candles out so that her wish would come true.