Chapter 31

"Where did I put that stupid thing?" Sara said out loud while moving onto her pile of books.

"Do you mean this stupid thing?" Sara spun around and looked on in horror as she watched Darry fish a piece of paper outta of his back pocket.

"No! Please Darry, don't look at that!" Sara begged, but it was too late. Sara stood there frozen to the floor watching Darry unfold the piece of paper.

"Sara, is this the real reason why you took off today?" Darry asked while moving from the doorway of her room and closer to where Sara was standing. Sara couldn't look up at Darry for she was too angry with herself for leaving that damn flier out. "Sara, I asked you a question and I would like an answer." When Sara still didn't answer, Darry reached down and took a hold of her hand and led her towards her bed. On the way by though he closed her door just in case someone might be lingering out in the hall, you never know in this house with their open door policy and all. Darry returned back to the bed where he sat down next to Sara. He waited there for a second trying to get his thoughts together before he approached all the topics that he needed to discuss with her. "Sara, I think the time has come for us to try and work things out. We have a lot to discuss, don't you think?" He tried catching the expression that was on Sara's face but he couldn't see it due to her hair hanging in her face. He reached over and pushed most of it behind her ears so now he could see her. "I'll let the flier drop for now, but I'm warning you that we'll be revisiting it here at some point. But right now there are other things that are more important. Before we get started, is there anything you want to say before we dive into the muck?" He was hoping that she would just be a garbage mouth and spit everything out, for he could probably handle that a lot better than her just sitting there being quiet like she was. Darry sat leaning forwards with his forearms resting on his upper thigh, head down, and ready to listen to her explanation of why she has been behaving so badly. After hearing no response from her, he gave her one more chance. "You're honestly gonna sit there and not say anything? Because I have plenty to say, and I thought it was being pretty fair of me to let you have a chance to speak first." Darry was still in the same position but this time he brought his head up and turned to look at her. Sara was sitting criss crossed up against her pillows and headboards now while fidgeting with her hands that were folded in her lap. After waiting another few seconds for her to say something, Darry knew that it was his turn. "Fine, but just remember, Sara, I gave you a chance to speak first." When Sara still hadn't spoken, Darry drudged forward. "I guess we should start way back at the beginning of all of this. First thing first, you getting lost at Pony's meet was an accident and it's never going to happen again, I won't let it Sara. I don't for one minute believe that you would of done that on purpose, but what does bother me is that it's really getting to you in every way possible. The not eating, the not sleeping, you needing to be with someone all the time, the moodiness, and the temper tantrums, I know it's all steaming from getting lost, Sara. But hiding it from us was wrong, and this whole mess could have been avoided. I understand that it was really scary for you. But what I don't understand is why you just didn't tell us that you were still scared. I mean what did you think we would of done? Soda, Pony and I are here to help you when you need it, but we aren't mind readers, Sara. When we ask you what is bothering you, you need to speak up. Replying with a nothing and I'm fine, when something is wrong will just make matters worse, like in this case. You need to let us know these type of things." Darry paused and took a breath hoping that Sara would jump in, but when she continued to sit still and silent Darry continued with trying to bring home the point. "Sara, I know I'm not Mom and Dad, and I'm gonna miss things, things that they would of probably of caught onto, but you need to cut me some slack. I'm learning here. And sometimes I'm gonna get it, and sometimes I'm not. But you need to trust me, and trusting me means telling me things. Even if you think it's gonna make me mad or upset." Darry was having a very hard time trying to spit out what he really wanted to say to Sara and so when he stopped to gather his thoughts he was surprised when he finally heard Sara's small voice speak.

"I didn't know how to tell you. I didn't want to be a baby." Sara lifted her head just enough so that she caught Darry out of the corner of her eye rubbing his forehead. Even though he looked perplexed she could tell that he was still listening so she continued to speak soft and slowly. "Plus I was afraid you'd never take me along anymore. I know you didn't really want me going to the meet in the first place." Sara spoke softly to her brother.

"It doesn't matter if I wanted to take you a long or not, Sara, you still should of told me. And as far as being a baby, being scared doesn't mean you're being a baby, and if so, then I guess I'm the biggest baby of all." Darry turned to see that Sara had dipped her head down again, where her auburn hair had fallen into her face and all he could really see was the top of her head. Darry took his index finger and placed it under Sara's chin and lifted it so that he could see her eyes. As Darry expected her sapphire blue eyes were filling up with water. "Sara, getting lost was just as scary for me as it was for you. I haven't told you this, but I thought that I had lost you forever that day. I thought that someone might of taken you and that scared me more than you will ever know."

"It did?" Sara asked with a shaky voice.

"Yes, it did. Actually ever since then, you've been scaring me a lot. Your odd behavior this week is scaring me, your outburst with Mrs. Roberts scared me, your temper tantrum last night scared me, and then running off today has probably scared me the most of all. I swear Sara; I'm surprised you haven't caused me to have a heart attack this week, with all the stress that you have put me under." Darry paused to make sure that his sister was still paying attention to him, when he noticed that her watery eyes were now leaking. He shifted his body and brought his left leg up on the bed so now he was sitting sideways and looking straight at his sister. "Why are you crying?" He asked her. She swiped at the tears with the back of her hand and shrugged her shoulders. "That's not an answer, Sara. I think you know exactly why you're crying." Sara was trying really hard to find her voice so that she could answer her brother's question.

"Becau…" She stopped and tried to clear her cottony throat. "Because I made you scared." She managed to get out.

Darry shook his head up and down in understanding what she was trying to say. "So, you feel bad that you scared me?" Sara responded with a nod while tears continue to stream down her face. "It's called guilt, Sara. You're feeling guilty because of things that you have done that you know you shouldn't of done." Sara again nodded yes. "It happens when you do things like this to people that you love, it makes you feel guilty." The instant that Darry said people you love Sara couldn't hold back her sobs. "See what happens when you know right from wrong? Just like keeping a secret from me and your brothers. You knew that was wrong right?" Sara's head bobbed up and down agreeing with Darry, but not able to speak it. "The tantrum that you had with Mrs. Roberts, you know that was wrong too, right?"

"Yes." She whispered finding her voice.

"And then the tantrum that you had with me last night?" Darry paused and caught his breath before continuing into some hard territory.

"I'm sorry about all of it Darry. I just don't know what has gotten into me lately. I feel like I don't even know what I'm doing and then I do it and afterwards I realize what I actually just did. Darry, is there something wrong with me? Am I sick? Or crazy?"

"No Sara, you're not crazy!" Darry couldn't believe his ears. "What on earth would make you say such a thing?" Darry asked a little more harshly than he intended.

"Well, the gang always talks about how crazy Mr. Lawson is down the road. So I figured I was turning into him." Darry let out a little cough to cover up a grin that was coming to his face when Sara thought she was turning into Mr. Lawson. Mr. Lawson was an 89 year old man who has lived by himself for over 20 years, he has no children or friends that come by and visit and he lives a very solitary life. Darry was pretty certain that he even had some type of dementia to go along with everything else, and Sara was nothing like Mr. Lawson by no means.

"Sara, you're not crazy, and you're nothing like Mr. Lawson. You can just get that thought right out of your head, and you're not sick either. I'll tell you what I think's wrong with you. I think the lack of sleep is the major culprit for making you feel not right. Then when you add in factors like not eating properly and this fear that has built up from getting lost, that's what's making you feel different. Sara, you need sleep, and without sleep your mind can start playing tricks and games, and I think that's what's happening with you. But you're not crazy, so stop thinking that, do you hear me?"

"But in the truck you said that I was seeing and hearing people that aren't there. But Darry he was there." Darry just eyed Sara still not believing her about Myles, but he really didn't want to approach that subject with her.

"I'm sorry Sara, I just didn't see this Myles you're talking about. I didn't mean to imply that you were crazy for seeing them. But you're not sick or crazy, do you hear me."

"But what about the doctor's appointment that you said you're making for me. If you're gonna make an appointment for me then you must think something's wrong with me."

"I just told you what I think is wrong with you, but I'm not really sure how to make you feel better, or to stop it from happening. I mean Pony, Soda and I can't be with you 24 hours a day. You can't continue to sleep with us to feel safe. So by taking you to the doctor's they have the experience and the knowledge to know how to help you. And they might even know how we can help you too. That's why you're going to the doctor's, not because I think you're crazy. Got it?" Sara looked up to Darry with a blank face but just nodded so that Darry would move on to his next point. "Now, I want to discuss with you last night." Darry paused again because he knew this was going to be extremely hard for him, and her, but it needed to be addressed. "Sara, your behavior was totally inexcusable last night. You know better to argue with me, and talk back after I've told you that we aren't going to discuss it anymore. You know that. You need to understand that I'm older than you and most of the time I know what is best for you. And going to the races last night was not what I thought was best. And I was gonna try to talk to you about it over dinner, but when you smashed your dinner plate down and sent your food flying to the floor, well that put an end to the discussion and doing something like that Sara is just not acceptable. And then to top it off with the yelling, the cussing and the kicking, well that scared the piss outta me. It was like you were a stranger that was standing in front of me. You don't act like that, but your negative reaction made me have a negative reaction and I snapped and I shouldn't have, and I'm sorry I did. I didn't even realize what I was doing until Sodapop stepped in and stopped me, and for that Sara, I'm forever sorry. But you need to understand I didn't know how else to stop you, and that surly got your attention and made you stop. I'm hoping that I won't have to do something like that again, and that you won't ever give me a reason to do so." Darry finally stopped because he felt that he needed to have eye contact with Sara at that moment. Darry noticed that Sara had her head dipped again and so he called her name. "Sara, do you understand what I'm trying to say?"

"I think so." She answered slowly.

"Look at me then." Sara picked her head up so that Darry could see her tear stained face. Darry could tell by her body language that things were not getting better between them. She had pulled herself further away from him and she was so tensed. He could almost see every facial muscle clinched and her fists were closed and he just knew that he had a lot of work to do to regain her trust. But it was when he tried to touch her leg and she flinched that his worst fear was coming to the surface. "Are you afraid of me?" Darry was only thinking this and he surprised himself when he heard that the words actually had come out of his mouth. Sara just shook her head no, but Darry wasn't buying it, for Sara had always been a terrible liar. He cocked and eyebrow and when Sara noticed it she let out a breath. "Oh, Sara." Darry said leaning in to try to give his little sister a hug, but when she jerked back, Darry knew that she was indeed scared of him now and that any loving affection right now needed to be on her terms. "Well, then it looks like we will both have to learn to regain each other's trust, now won't we? Because Sara after running off today, I'm not sure if I can trust you like I used too." Darry stopped and could see that the water works had started again with Sara. "Sara, I'm gonna always be worrying when I leave you home now with Pony or Soda if you're gonna do what you're told. Didn't I tell you that you were not to leave the house?" Darry couldn't believe how quiet Sara was being through all of this, all he could here from her were her soft sobs. Darry was hoping that he was getting through to her because usually she was full of excuses, but not today. She was just sitting there nodding along and agreeing with everything. Darry thought this was odd, but continued to trudge forward. For it was going way better than he ever imagine and seeing he was on a roll he continued to explain his disappointment in her actions. "I'm extremely disappointed in you for running of today, and I think you know this. For one, you put yourself in danger and two, not telling anyone where you were going. And three for deliberately disobeying me when I told you not to leave the house and four for doing something that you know darn well you shouldn't of. These are four pretty major offenses, and it's gonna take me a while to trust you again. Do you have anything to say for yourself?" Darry needed a break from all the talking he was doing, and really wanted to hear what she had to say for herself. He so desperately wanted some reasons on why, even if they were silly and outrageous reasons. Darry eyed Sara waiting for her and finally after a few seconds of silence Sara decided to speak.

"I did do all those things, and I'm sorry for them now. But I wanted to talk with Momma and Dadda, Darry. I needed them, you probably wouldn't understand, but just after everything from yesterday and with how I've felt all week, and my birthday and that stupid flier, I needed to go to them." Sara stopped and let out a huff and blew at her bangs that Darry still hadn't gotten around to cutting yet. "I was confused I guess, and I was hoping Momma and Dadda could fix it all. But I know now that they can't. But I had to try Darry, I just had to. Please don't be angry with me? I'm fine, I didn't get hurt."

"It's not about that and you know it Sara. You need to learn to come to me and let me know what's going on with you. I'm not Mom or Dad, I can't always sense things. I know that some things are kind of hard to talk about with me, but I'm busy, and I'm new at all this guardian stuff and sometimes I get tired and stressed and I don't think about all the details. So you're gonna need to help me with that. Like this flier, Sara why didn't you just tell me? Hiding it from me isn't the right thing to do. But if you really want to go to it then we can find a way to make it happen. I know it won't be the same, and I know all your other friends at school won't be there with a brother but I can ask Sodapop or Ponyboy and one of us will take you." Darry was now looking down at the flier and Sara couldn't help but look at it too.

"I don't have a dress. You need a party dress for those types of things." Sara said softly.

"You have plenty of dresses Sara. That's not an excuse. You need to stop always trying to find excuses to cover up stuff. You need to learn that things like this are gonna come up in your lifetime and you're gonna need to learn how to deal with them. Just like the Mother's Day card, this is like the same thing. I know it's hard for you because you're younger, but Sara the sooner you learn to deal the better off you will be in the long run. So do you want to go or not?"

Sara looked down at the flier again where she study the picture and the caption. "You and Soda will probably have to work and I don't want to go with Pony. My friends will laugh and make fun of me if I show up with him; they won't if it's you or Soda."

"So is that a no? Because if you don't want to go then I'll throw it in the trash and we'll forget all about it." When Sara didn't say no, Darry knew she did want to go, it was just she was having mixed emotions about it. He would talk with Sodapop about it later tonight and see what his take on it is. "But if you do want to go Sara, then we'll need to make arrangements sooner than later. I will guarantee that someone will go with you. I don't know who, but someone will." Sara couldn't help it but the flood gate seemed to open up again and the hot tears came running down her cheeks. Darry could tell that she was hurting, and that this event was truly causing her heartache, and he couldn't blame her none. If he was 6 and a girl he would probably feel the same way. Darry leaned in again to try to comfort her, and to his surprise she willingly leaped into his open arms. Darry wrapped his strong arms around his little sister and held her. "Shhh, Sara, it's gonna be alright, I promise. This is just another hurdle that we have to jump over. Shhh… I've gotcha Babygirl. Shhhh…" Darry held her tight and just let her cry. She needed a chance to get it all out. If he wasn't there trying to console her, he would probably be crying somewhere that no one could see him doing so. "Shhhh. We'll figure it out, Sara. I'm sure if you ask Sodapop he would get Steve or one of the guys to cover his shift and he'll take you. And we'll find a dress that will work just fine." Darry heard Sara trying to speak through her sobs, but her voice was so muffled into his shoulder and shirt that he couldn't hear her. He pushed her away a little and said, "What was that? I can't hear you?" Sara's eyes were opened wide and tears were still flowing but it's what she said that nearly made Darry want to just crumble to the ground.

"But it's Dadda that I want to go with me."

"He can't, and you know that. Why don't we just set this aside and we can talk about it more later. After you've had some time to think some about it, how does that sound?"

"But it's next weekend. If you or Sodapop come with me you'll need to let work know so you'll be granted the time off." Sara tried to explain to Darry.

"Why are you constantly worrying about things that are meant for grown-ups?" Darry couldn't resist allowing a small grin come to his face when asking her this. Sara returned the simple grin and shrugged her shoulders. "Well, it's not for you to worry about. I'll take care of it." For the first time this evening Sara showed some peep.

"Does that mean you'll take me then?" Sara tried flashing Darry her little crooked smile, and Darry wanted to fall for it, but knew that he couldn't.

"No, Sara, it doesn't mean that I'm taking you. What it means is that I'll take care of it and not to worry about it anymore. Clear?"

"Yes, but will you at least try to take me?" Sara begged.

Darry looked back down at the flier where he saw the picture of the man twirling his daughter around and knew what he needed to say even though this was way out of his realm. "I'll try Sara, but it's not a promise. Now, back to your actions today, you caused a lot of grief today, do you know that? Sodapop had to leave work early to deal with you, and that's not fair to Mr. Frizzle, and it wasn't fair to Steve who was left all by himself to do the job of two people, and what about Pony? Have you thought about how he felt finding that you had taken off without even considering to tell him."

"But he would of said no." Sara interrupted with.

"That's no excuse young lady and you know it. You were told to stay at home. And even if your weren't I would of never let you go 9 miles down the road on your bike by yourself. Hell, I probably wouldn't even let Ponyboy do that and he's twice as old as you."

"But, I needed to go." She tried to defend her actions again.

"Sara, you're not listening to what I'm saying. What you did was dangerous, it was unsafe, irresponsible, it was everything under the sun that you shouldn't be doing, but you did it anyways. Did you ever think what could of happen if Tim didn't see Louis Parker hit your bike? What if you had gotten hurt? What if Tim didn't come back to see you? What if he didn't come and tell me? Have you thought about any of this?" Darry noticed that Sara just shook her head no. "Of course not, hell you're only 6. You only ever think in the moment Sara. You only ever think about what you want. And I hate to tell you this Kiddo, but you need to start thinking about others. We are a struggling family, trying our best to stay together, but when you pull sh.. stuff like this, than it puts all of our family in jeopardy. I know you're a smart kid, you've got a good head on your shoulders, and you just have to start using it a little better. Now when Mrs. Roberts was talking to you about wanting to stay here, or wanting a new Mother, you picked here. But in order for that to happen you need to think before you act. We need you to start doing that." Darry noticed his sister shaking a bit, trying to hold back more tears. Darry wanted to engulf her again, but knew that he also needed to get his point across. "Now, you know I'm not going to let you off the hook for this stunt, right?"

"But Darry." Sara whined.

"Nope." Darry said holding his hand up. "I can't let this just go with just a talking to." Darry motioned for Sara to get up. Sara reluctantly slid off her bed and Darry grabbed her two arms and moved her in between his legs. Sara was pretty certain what was to come so she tensed her body up and squinted her eyes shut. Darry cocked his head and took a look to see what Sara was doing. "Sara, what are you doing?" he asked.

Sara slowly opened her eyes and looked at him a little hesitantly. "Aren't ya gonna?"

"No, Sara!" Darry yelled. He released his hands from her arms and ran them down his face. "Gosh, you really are still scared of me, aren't you?" Darry searched Sara with his eyes. "Sara, I already told you that I'm hoping I never have to do that again, and I mean it. What I was about to do it explain to you why I was giving you the punishment that I have decided on, that's all."

"Oh." Sara said letting her cheeks blush with embarrassment of the thoughts that Darry was gonna spank her again.

"Sara, come here." Darry reached for her hands and looked deep into her sapphire eyes and started in. "Sara, you know that what you have done these past 24 hours isn't acceptable, and I feel that you need to learn from this, so that it never happens again. So I've decided that you will be grounded for one week, your week will be up next Saturday. But if you still want to go Friday night than I'll allow it but you'll finish serving the rest of your time until Sunday to make up for Friday. So that's a decision you'll need to make. If you choose not to go Friday, than your time will be made up by Saturday night. I feel I'm being pretty fair about this so please don't try to argue with me about it. Being grounded includes, no music in your room, no record player, no television, you can't leave the house to go anywhere except to school and back. No park, no going to see Sodapop at work, no Mrs. Anderson's, no going shopping with any of us, no nothing, just staying here at home. I think your little escapade today was enough of an outing to last a week." Darry took note of the frown that was now playing on Sara's face, but he wasn't going to give in to it. She needed a punishment and Darry thought that this was fair, even though he could tell that Sara didn't agree. Darry raised an eyebrow when Sara just continued to pout. "Sara, you have no right to stand here and pout. I think it's a pretty fair punishment."

"Can I just say one thing?" Sara asked hoping that Darry would listen and agree.

"What's that?"

"Darry I just can't live without my music! How will I survive? You know I can't sleep without it and you just told me that I needed sleep."

"Well, then you should of thought about that before taking off this afternoon. Plus, I've never known someone to die because they can't listen to music. And we'll think of something else to help you sleep. Maybe reading before going off to bed will help."

Sara continued to pout but decided against arguing. "What if the boys have it going in the house?"

"Well, then that is something different. But you're not to turn it on in your room or anywhere else. I want you to use this time to think about what you've done."

"Can I at least finish my night with Sodapop? We still have my cake to try." Darry thought about it for a second and decided that he would compromise with her.

"Ok, you can finish having your night with Sodapop, but no television, no music, no outings. So if Soda is watching tv than you need to go in the other room. He shouldn't be punished for something you did, now should he?"

"No." She said sadly. Darry started to stand up from the bed, feeling pretty pleased with himself on how he had stayed calm and he was able to speak with Sara without it turning into a shouting match. Once he was standing and was moving towards her door he turned to see that Sara seemed still uncomfortable with how it went. She was just kind of standing there uncertain to know what to do. Darry couldn't help but feel sorry for the little girl.

"How about that cake? Shouldn't we finally get to see how it came out?" Darry let a small smile tug at his lips. Sara looked up and turned her frown upside right and slowly crept over to Darry. He crouched down and gently grabbed Sara's arms and softly spoke. "It's over now Sara. Let's move on. I'm still disappointed in your choices, but I'm not mad anymore. It would help everyone if we make the best out of the week ahead. You'll find it a really hard and tough week if you continue to pout and mope around. So let's try to accept the consequences that I've dealt and move on."

"I'll try."

"Good girl. That's all I ask. Now what do you think are the odds that Sodapop has eaten all of that cake already?"

"He better not have!" Sara hollered as Darry was opening the door. Once Darry had it opened wide enough Sara slipped out and started dashing towards the kitchen. "Sodapop you've better not of touched my cake." When Sara had rounded the corner into the kitchen she was relieved that Soda wasn't even near the cake and that it still stood safe and sound on the counter. Sara yelled again, "Soda?" She heard him give her a hush. Sara turned her attention to see that Sodapop was still on the phone with Sandy. She tip toed over to Soda and was trying to get his attention, but he just kept holding up one finger. Sara turned around and gave Darry a pleading look to get his help. Darry must have been feeling real bad for Sara because he spoke up.

"Sodapop, that's enough. Let's wrap it up." Sara returned a smile to Darry as to thank him for helping. She moved back into the kitchen and grabbed her cake and brought it over to the table. Darry had followed her back in and reached for the package that the icing had come in. "Here Sara, squeeze it on, then take this spoon and spread it around the top of the cake. I'll get us some plates and forks." Sara did as Darry instructed and soon the golden cake was covered in chocolate icing.

Sara couldn't resist but to test out the icing and the minute the chocolate hit her tongue she let out a "Mmmmmmm." Darry still having some childish moments himself did the same thing.

"You're right. It isn't bad at all."

"You thought it was going to be bad? You didn't think I could do it?" Darry rubbed the top of Sara's wet head.

"No, I didn't think you couldn't do it, I just didn't know what to expect that's all." Darry noticed that Sodapop was still on the phone, so he walked back into the living room up to Soda who was sitting in the armchair with one leg prompt up over the arm of the chair and snatched the phone receiver out of his hand. "Hi Sandy, its Darry. Sorry for the rudeness, but Sodapop has already been warned to get off the phone, so now this is him saying goodbye. He'll talk with you tomorrow." As Darry was basically telling Sandy good night Sodapop was trying to grab the phone back away from Darry, but wasn't having much luck with it. Sara had gotten up from the table and was watching this from the kitchen, where she couldn't help but laugh watching Sodapop act like a puppy after a biscuit. He was bouncing up and down begging Darry for the phone. "Have a good night Sandy." Darry finished before setting down the phone.

"Bye Sandy." Soda was screaming so she could hear him say good bye. Darry flashed Sodapop a look, that didn't need any words attached to it. "That wasn't called for Darry." Soda hissed.

"Nor was not listening to my first request to get off the phone. Now your sister has tried her culinary skills out and has cooked up a real nice cake. She would appreciate having your presence at the table to try it out." Darry continued to joke with Soda, and Soda was taking it pretty well because he could see Sara watching from the distance. Soda went to throw a punch at Darry, but Darry was too quick and had dodged it before Soda had time to try again. "Getting slow in your old age, there little brother."

"Ha, ha, ha." Darry threw an arm around Sodapop and pulled him in for a nuggie. The boys shared a chuckle and Darry let Sodapop go and the three Curtis members sat around the tabling digging into their first ever easy bake oven cake. It was quiet as the three digested what they had just eaten.

"That wasn't half bad." Darry was first to speak while grabbing a glass of milk to wash it down with.

"Hey, I'll have some of that." Soda hollered from the table.

"Sara you want some too?" Darry asked pouring a glass for Soda.

"Yes please." She answered. "Did you like it Soda?" Sara asked while watching Sodapop finishing his piece off.

"Not bad, Kiddo, almost as good as mine, wouldn't ya say?"

"I liked mine better." Sara laughed, flashing her brother a big grin. Darry brought the glasses over to his brother and sister and watch them interact. He was a little jealous of how Soda just had this natural ability to bond with their siblings. Darry was pretty certain that when Sodapop ever had kids of his own, he would be such a softie when it came to discipline. Darry knew that Soda was just as mad as he was at Sara, but Soda just has a way of coping and letting it all go. Sodapop noticed Darry just staring at them.

"What?" Soda asked looking over towards Darry.

"Nothing, just you two knuckle heads, that's all."

"Us knuckle heads? Never!" Soda laughed.