Chapter 34
That night was pretty quiet for the Curtis members. After the football game on Sunday the gang slowly dispersed themselves throughout Tulsa, doing god knows what, but at least keeping themselves out of trouble and giving the Curtis members time to regroup, which they needed. Sara was taking her restrictions very well, and Darry had soon forgotten her little stunt of not listening and playing in the game. He had to admit that it was good seeing his little sister being herself again, laughing, giggling and smiling. Yes, it was the smiling that made Darry feel more at ease with things. But he still needed to make that appointment to please Mrs. Roberts, and to help him be able to remove one more stressor from his life. It was late afternoon and Darry was thinking about dinner. He was rummaging through the fridge when he decided that some barbecue chicken would be nice. He started to take some ingredients to make up some barbecue sauce. As he was tossing the ingredients into a mixing bowl Sodapop was walking through the kitchen and instantly noticed the aroma from the sauce. Even though he knew that smell he moved over behind Darry and looked over his shoulder and let a wide grin come to his face. "Ah, feeling ambitious tonight?"
"I thought it would be a nice treat. Can you grab the chicken legs from the fridge and rinse them for me?"
"Sure." Sodapop didn't mind chipping in and helping out with preparing one of their father's ultimate recipes. He moved back over to the sink and turned the cold water on to rinse off the chicken. The two worked side by side for a few minutes in total silence before they heard some ruckus coming down from the hall.
"Sara, that's my sketch pad. You can't just up and take something that's not yours." Darry and Sodapop could hear Ponyboy and Sara bickering while moving down the hall. "Darry!" Ponyboy yelled for some support.
"In the kitchen, stop…" But before Darry could finish replying back Ponyboy and Sara were already in the kitchen still going at each other's throat. "Darry, Sara just up and took my sketchpad without asking and took out pages that I needed, they had some of my sketches on them."
"I needed paper!" Sara yelled back at Pony getting red with anger.
"Stop yelling you two. I have perfect hearing; you don't need to yell to explain to me what's going on here." Darry warned while pushing the homemade barbecue sauce off to side waiting for Sodapop to finish with the chicken legs. The two youngest Curtis' heard his warning and stopped yelling and talking to listen. Darry turned his attention to Sara and placed his hands on his hips and spoke directly towards the little girl. "Now, Sara you know better than to take something that doesn't belong to you."
"But I needed paper." Sara tried to defend herself.
"Did it belong to you?" Darry asked again. Sara let out a little growl and puckered up her lips in frustration and sputtered out an answer.
"No, but…"
Darry held up his hand to show Sara that he didn't want to hear anymore. He had in fact heard the only answer that mattered at the moment. "Sara, there's no buts about it. If it didn't belong to you than you needed to ask first before taking."
"Or not at all." Ponyboy managed to get in. Darry glared at Pony to let him know that if he wanted his help than he better cut it out and let him deal with it.
"Apologize to Ponyboy and tell him it won't happen again." Darry demanded. Darry and Ponyboy waited for Sara to say something, but she just stood there with her arms folded across her chest with a pouting face. "Sara, Pony is waiting. I advise you to apologize and do it now." At this point Sodapop was watching and listening from the sink and noticed by Sara's stance that this was going to be a struggle. A struggle that could get her deeper than she already was in.
"C'mon Sara, just hurry up and apologize. I have something I want to talk with you about, but I can't if you don't apologize first." Darry turned and flashed a puzzle look at Soda, but in the meantime it sure got Sara to change her position.
"I'm sorry Ponyboy." She said very insincerely.
"It doesn't seem like it to me." Pony pointed out while tapping his foot in disbelief.
"Sara, what are you sorry for?" Darry prompted her.
"I'm sorry for taking your sketch pad without asking first." She said with a sigh.
"And?" Darry tried encouraging Sara with a more sincere apology.
"And for taking sketches from it. I won't do it again." Sara said sarcastically while rolling her eyes.
"Did you see that, Darry? She's not sorry at all." Pony said rushing at his little sister with anger ready to tackle her to the floor. Darry literally had to move in between the two to hold Ponyboy back from go after her.
"Soda, take Sara outside. Now!" Darry instructed.
"What about the chicken?" Soda asked holding a plate of raw chicken legs.
"I'll take care of it in a minute, but right now I need you to remove Sara from this situation, before Pony does something he's gonna regret." Darry was still standing in between Pony and Sara keeping them apart.
"Let me at her, Dar!" Pony struggled to get around Darry towards Sara. In response to Pony's attempt Sara stuck her tongue out at Pony and protruded her chest forward and placed her hands on her hips.
"C'mon, Sara. Let's go cool you down some." Soda moved around the kitchen table and grabbed Sara's hand and led her out the front door towards the big oak tree. Once the two arrived at the tree Soda instructed Sara to sit. "Take a seat." Soda said sternly. Sara could tell that he wasn't playing games, so Sara sat her bottom down on the swing.
"He's blowing this way out of proportion Soda."
"No, he's not Sara. You need to learn not to take things that don't belong to you. Now just yesterday didn't you take my favorite ball cap without asking?"
"You never wear it anymore." She mumbled.
"That doesn't make it yours, and just because I don't wear it as much doesn't mean that I don't want it, or that you can take it without asking, now does it?"
"No." She said hanging her head.
"Sara, Sara, Sara. What are we gonna do with you? I swear sometimes I'm afraid you're never gonna learn. You were doing so good too. I know that it's hard." Soda paused and squeezed her shoulder. "I have something that might help though." Soda said having a sly smile on his face while he reached down to push Sara on the swing.
"What is Soda? Tell me!" Sara begged as she started to fly on the swing.
"Well, a little birdie told me that there's this important dance coming up Friday night. And that there's a certain little girl that wants to go, and I just might be available to take that certain little girl, if she still wants to go that is."
"You?" Sara asked a bit surprise to hear this news.
"You seem a little surprised. Do you not want me to take you?" Soda was now slowing the swing down so he could talk with her.
"Ummm, wellll, I just thought that, ummmm, no that's fine. I'd love to go with you." Sara spit out a non-convincing answer.
"Huh, are you sure about that? Because you're not sounding like it." Soda had now pulled Sara to a complete stop and was watching her dig her toe of her shoe into the dirt. "Sara?
"No, I just really wanted to go with Da…" Sara stopped herself as Soda took a seat on the grass beside her and the swing and lifted her chin.
"Sara we've all been over this with you before, Dad's not able to do that." Soda could't help but to pause and try to clear the knot that was starting to form in his throat. After a few tries he felt like he was able to continue. "Is that why you went all the way to the cemetery yesterday? Is that what you wanted to ask him?"
Sara sat very quietly trying to figure things out, but then it slowly came to her. "No, Soda. I went to the cemetery to ask them to come back home, so things could be like they used to." Sara had turned away from Sodapop for she couldn't see the pain etched in his face with the talk of yesterday, but as she did she softly mumbled, "You know before the accident, when you guys didn't have to watch over me all the time and you could be my silly brothers again." Sodapop just about felt his heart drop to his feet; the pain that he was feeling for his little sister at that moment was almost more than he could bear. He was lost for words at the minute. No matter what he came up with to say, he knew that he would never be able to relieve the pain his sister was feeling about the loss of their parents. He never realized until that second just how hard it must be on her and especially at times like this with the father/ daughter dance. Soda was still scrambling trying to figure out something to say when he heard Sara's voice speak first. "Soda, it really wasn't Dadda that I was gonna say. I mean don't take this the wrong way or anything, but I was gonna say Darry."
"Oh, I see." Soda placed a frown on his face while he picked at some fresh grass clippings. "So you don't want to go with me?" He sounded hurt. "Because, Sara, I really want to take you. I think you'll have a really good time with me. I'll make it fun."
"Are you saying that Darry wouldn't make it fun?" Sara asked Soda with a sly smirk on her face. Sodapop looked up and couldn't resist the smile that Sara was flashing him. He tossed the grass clipping towards Sara and the two laughed.
"You know what I mean.. Darry can be, let's say a little stiff?" Sodapop said still smiling.
The smile slipped off of Sara's face just as fast as it had gotten there and she slowly spoke. "I do want to go with you, Soda. It's just I don't have a dress."
"Ah, the dress thing. I'm sure we can find something that might work in your closet. I can even ask Sandy if Shirley has some that she's out grown."
"Shirley's twelve, Soda. She won't have anything that will fit me, nice try though." The two sat in silence thinking things over. "Soda?"
"Yeah, Babygirl?"
"Why doesn't Darry want to take me? Is it because I'm bad?"
"No, Sara, no. It's not because you're bad. And you're not bad; you just make some bad choices, sometimes." Soda said trying to reassure Sara.
"So why doesn't he want to take me? If it's not because I'm bad is it because he's embarrassed to be seen with me?" Soda couldn't stand it one more second. He jumped up off the grass and picked Sara up off of the swing so that he was holding her.
"None of it Sara. It's just Darry has to work, and I can switch shifts and stuff, and Darry can't. Plus this isn't really Darry's thing, but you know how I love to dance." Sodapop started to move his hips like Elvis and was shaking Sara, which caused her to giggle and smile. "So, will you give me the honor of being my date for this dance or what?" Sodapop started tickling Sara around the neck so that he could continue to see her smile.
"Stop, Soda. You're gonna drop me. Please stop!"
"Not until you accept my offer of coming with me first." Sodapop continued with the tickle torture.
"Alright, alright. I'll go with you."
"Should we put it on the calendar then?" Soda couldn't resist teasing her more.
"Yes." She shrieked out with laughter.
"Ok, now that's settled, back to Ponyboy. What do you think you should do about that?"
"I already said I was sorry."
"Yeah, you did. But I don't think you really meant it. I think you just said it because Darry made you. Don't you think that Ponyboy deserves a real apologize? A heartfelt apology?"
"Do I have to Soda?" Sara asked while laying her tired head down on Soda's shoulder and looking into his deep chocolate eyes contemplating what she should do.
"Now, Sara." Sodapop said sternly, so sternly that Sara almost thought it was Darry talking to her.
"I just wanted some paper." She said sadly.
"I know that, but you need to ask before taking." Sodapop looked up to the front porch where he heard the door open and noticed Darry waving him back into the house. "Now, let's go on back in so that you can go speak with Ponyboy. How does that sound?"
"Oh, alright." Sara really didn't want to go and speak with her brother but she knew it was the right thing to do after all. Sodapop placed her back down on her two feet and they walked hand in hand back to the house where Darry was still waiting for them on the porch.
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Darry watched as Sodapop escorted his feisty sister out the door. Darry still had one hand up against Pony's chest to keep him from and further action. Once Soda had disappeared down the stairs with their sister Darry flew around to Ponyboy. "What are you thinking lunging after Sara like that?"
"She took my stuff Dar, my stuff, not her's. She's always getting into my things. I feel like nothing is ever mine." Pony whined.
"Well, welcome to my world Ponyboy." Darry mistakenly said. Pony was taken aback by Darry's sudden remark. The instant the remark slipped off Darry's tongue he knew that he had done wrong. "Ah, shit, Pony, I didn't mean it like that."
"Sure, you didn't." Pony said sarcastically.
Darry was annoyed that Ponyboy would respond like that. He was trying the nice, calm, understanding route with him at first, but he soon lost his patience. "Look around Pony; do you see anything in this house that's just mine?" Pony slowly looked around the kitchen and living room trying to figure out what exactly Darry was talking about when Pony just shrugged his shoulders. Darry knew that he wasn't getting it. "What's yours is yours, what's mine is yours but I don't have anything that is mine but do you find me arguing with you guys about it or whining and crying?" When Pony was still glaring at him Darry continued. "I get that you're upset about the sketch pad; you came to me looking for help, so I tried. What else do you want me to do? I made her apologize, she did so now let's move on."
"You just don't get it." Pony muttered and started to move out of the room, but not before Darry grabbed him by the arm and was holding him firmly.
"No, you don't get it Ponyboy. She's your younger sibling and younger siblings just do those types of things, you should know that by now. But you can either do two things here Pony. You can forget about it and move on or you can continue to spout off and be angry." Pony was trying to shake Darry off when it only made Darry tighten his grasp." I'm warning you Ponyboy, if you take the route of being angry I'm not putting up with it from either one of you. You've got it?"
"So does that mean you're gonna lecture her too?" Pony shouted back in anger and frustration.
"Jesus Ponyboy, is that what you think I'm doing here? Is lecturing you? I'm not lecturing; I'm trying to give you some advice on how to handle these types of situation with Sara. I'm not lecturing." He repeated.
"Could of fooled me, Dar. Can I go now?" Darry stood there taking a good look at his thirteen year old brother. God, how much Pony wanted to be treated like a man, and not like a boy, but he still had so much growing up to do and this was the perfect example of it.
"Fine. Don't wander off to far though. I'm getting dinner ready."
"Yeah, whatever." Darry heard Pony mutter then the slamming of his door followed. Darry shook his head in amazement. He was actually surprised that any of the doors were still on their hinges with as much slamming they get these days. Darry went back to the task that he had started before all of this petty fighting began. He placed the chicken legs into the barbecue sauce and moved the bowl back into the fridge to let it marinate for 20 minutes or so. After he was done with that he was sitting down on the couch to kick his feet up onto the coffee table where he just ran his hands through his thick brown hair and wondered if this was the way it was gonna be for the rest of his life. As he sat there taking a break he could hear his sister begging for mercy. Darry managed to pull himself up off the couch and over to the door to see what was going on. There he spotted Sodapop with Sara in his arms tickling her neck. A small grin pulled at his lips and he continued to watch the two interact. Darry rested his arm up on the doorframe as he watched his younger brother and sister laugh. Darry couldn't help but feel that jealousy again. He wished that he could be that brother that could always make his baby sister laugh and smile. Soda always made it look so easy with both Ponyboy and Sara. Why couldn't he be more like Sodapop he thought? Maybe he should try to be the one to take Sara to the dance after all. Maybe it would help build that bridge he was so looking for with his sister. He brought his attention back to his siblings and noticed that Sodapop now was wearing a frown. The two now looked like they were having a serious discussion. Darry stepped out onto the porch and waved to get Sodapop's attention. It only took a few seconds for Soda to notice he was waving him back in. Darry watched as Sodapop set Sara back down on the ground and the two walked towards him hand in hand. As they got closer Darry spoke to them both. "Sara, I want you and Ponyboy to help with dinner by getting a tossed salad ready, and Sodapop I want your help with the grill."
"Do I have too?" Sara whined, but Sodapop wasn't far behind with his own protests.
"Dar, you're the grill master, whatcha need my help for?"
Darry threw his hands up in the air like he was giving up. "What has gotten into you three today?"
"What do you mean?" Sodapop questioned as he ushered Sara up the stairs to the house.
"I mean the back talk. The whys? The how comes? All of the I don't want too's, just all of it. Well I'm the adult and it's because I said so. Now Sara go tell Ponyboy that he's helping and Soda grab the chicken and meet me out back." The two younger Curtis' just shared a glance but snuck into the house before Darry could say another word. Darry followed in behind them to make sure that they were indeed going to follow through with what he asked of them. He watched as Sodapop and Sara stopped in the kitchen. Soda looked around for the chicken when he decided to look into the refrigerator; while Sara on the other hand just sat there and watched. Sodapop grabbed the bowl out and motioned to Sara to go find Ponyboy. He bent down to a level so that only Sara could hear what he was saying. He whispered into her hair. "Sara, you best be going and getting Ponyboy. Darry's a little grumpy that his team lost today." Sodapop gave her a little nudge with his elbow to try to get her moving.
"I'm going, I'm going." She moaned and started for the boys' room. Sodapop followed right on her heals with the chicken to go place on the grill. Darry waited in the kitchen for the two youngest Curtis children to return to give them orders. But as he was waiting he was also watching Sara.
"Pony?" Sara said opening the boys' door.
"What do you want?" Pony hissed over to his sister.
"Darry said that you and I need to help with dinner. We need to put together a salad. He's waiting for us to come out." Pony threw down his book that he was reading and moved towards the door.
"He's doing this on purpose you know?" Pony muttered to Sara as he pushed her back out the door, but not expecting her to understand his sarcasm.
"I know." She confessed. The two shuffled their feet back out towards the kitchen where Darry had taken out the fixings for the salad. He heard the two coming and turned to watch them enter.
"You two will work together to make a nice tossed salad. I'm hoping that you can do this without bickering or fighting. I'm gonna be out back with Sodapop. If you finish the salad you can set the table. And if you finish with that you can sit in the living room and wait for dinner." Darry's hopes were that the two would work through their fight and to make peace. He himself had a task ahead of him as well. He strolled off towards the back door but paused one more time to make sure that the two were indeed doing what was ask of them. He had to hold back a chuckle when he heard Pony speak to Sara.
"Drag a chair over here Sara and help me get started with the peeling. I'll do the cutting. Jeez Louise, for only being 20, Darry sure knows some good methods on how to punish us." Sara didn't get what Pony was saying but went to retrieve the chair. When Darry was satisfied with the work the two younger Curtis kids were doing he trudged out to the back yard where Sodapop had already started the grill. When Darry opened the door Sodapop's eyes met Darry's, like Ponyboy, Sodapop knew exactly why Darry had asked him to come help him cook. As Darry descended the stairs Sodapop was quick to speak.
"I know what you're doing, Dar. I'm not 6 years old. You and I both know damn well that you're capable of grilling chicken without my assistance. So just say what's been on your mind." Darry came up beside Sodapop and scrapped at some old burnt on crud that was left from last time.
"Soda, I was hoping that you and I could at least try to have a man to man conversation about things, but it looks like I was wrong."
"Man to Man? Give me a break, Dar! I think it's the other way around right now." Soda started pacing in hopes that it would stall the anger that was starting to build up.
"I'm not the one that ran out of our conversation last night." Darry continue to speak in a cool tone.
"And I'm not the one that was out for blood this morning in the football game." Darry stayed quiet for a second thinking over his actions from this morning. And as he thought about it, maybe he did mishandle it a bit, but at least his way helped him get it all out. Obviously by Sodapop's tone and pacing Darry could tell that Soda wasn't as much over their argument from last night as Darry was now.
"You're being over dramatic Sodapop, I wasn't out for blood, I was just frustrated with you and this attitude." Darry shook his head and grumbled; "Now I know where Sara gets her melodramaticness from." Darry continued by placing the chicken onto the warm grill. He checked to make sure the charcoal was burning right and placed the cover over the grill.
"Nice Dar, there you go again comparing me with Sara. If I remember correctly this is what started this whole thing in the first place. What was it again? Oh, yeah, using a cop out for having to put a roof over our heads, food on the table, clothes on our back so that you don't have to take Sara. Well I have news for you big brother, Sara herself just told me that it's you that she wants to go with. But being the Man I am, I covered for your ass, again, and told her that you couldn't because of work and that I would take her. How does that make you feel?" Soda didn't mean or want to be so harsh with Darry, but jeez, he needed to get it through his thick head that he wasn't the only care giver around here. Darry knew deep down inside that he was the one that Sara wanted to go with in her father's place, but Darry just couldn't commit to it. It was too much, too much reality. And no matter how he tried to explain this feeling to anyone, no one would probably understand.
Darry was slow to respond to Soda's accusations. For everything he was saying was true and how could he possibly defend that. "I just can't Soda. It's just too much for me right now." Darry had to look away from Sodapop for he could feel his chest tighten and a knot starting to form in his chest. "You're right Soda. I can't defend my actions. I'm sorry that I said that to you last night. I do know how hard you work for this family, and I know that sometimes I take you for granted. I don't mean too, it's just I have so many more worries these days, and so much more responsibility that I forget to thank you for everything you do. I know I can't make up for all the times I should of said it, but I'm saying it right now. I'm thanking you for taking Sara for me. I'm thanking you right now for doing everything you do to keep this family a float. You know damn well that if it wasn't for your help those two in there would be long gone by now." Darry was starting to get emotional just thinking about the possibility that Mrs. Roberts could still take Sara at any given moment. Darry didn't want Sodapop to see his misty eyes so he turned back around and opened the cover of the grill to splash some more barbecue sauce on the chicken legs. As he did the smoke from the charcoals started to rise in fury as the sauce hit the hot coals. But Sodapop didn't miss a beat. He could tell by the way Darry was talking that he was getting choked up and Soda quickly rushed to Darry's side and placed a hand on his broad shoulder.
"Dar, you don't have to thank me for working. I want to work. I want to keep this family together just as much as you. Just promise me that you'll think a little more about the dance. I mean as for now I'm happy to go and Sara seems to be ok with me taking her, for now anyway." Soda patted Darry's shoulder as Darry wiped at his eyes.
"This damn smoke." Darry tried to use to cover up his tears. "Getting in my eyes." Sodapop burst into a deep laughter.
"Yeah, I hate when that happens." Sodapop's laughter was contagious for Darry let out a little chuckle and gave his younger brother a friendly shove.
"Dar, we're ok. You know that right?" Soda smiled as he grabbed the football that was left by the backdoor from this morning.
"Yeah, I know Little Buddy." Darry said covering the grill back up.
"Good then, let's toss this thing around while that finishes up. Plus I think we need to give Ponyboy and Sara sometime to make up." Darry shook his head in agreement.
"What are we gonna do with those two? I swear give it one more year and they will be fighting like cats and dogs. Friggin' Sara is such a scrapper she'll take Ponyboy for a ride here someday. Did you see her in the game this morning? Thank goodness they don't allow girls to play football."
Sodapop let out another laugh while the images of Sara playing this morning were playing over in his head. "It should be interesting to see her go from tomboy to princess on Friday. What are we gonna do about a dress?"
"I'll work on it. That's the least I can do, right?" The two boys continued tossing the ball back and forth and chatted about all sorts of thing. Meanwhile back inside the two younger Curtis kids were working side by side not really talking much but making progress on the vegetables. Sara would peel and hand them to Pony and he would cut and place them in the bowl with the lettuce. They were working on some cucumbers when Sara couldn't stand the silence any long.
"Pony, I'm really sorry for taking your sketchbook, I shouldn't of taken it. It was just I wanted to try and draw like you. You're just so good and all." Sara stopped and handed Pony the small pickled cucumber and waited for a response. When Sara just heard Pony grunt she returned back to the other cucumber. "It's just I loved the picture that you drew and I wanted to try to draw one just like it. I want to be good at something like you are."
"Sara, that's a lame excuse. You're good at lots of thing. You didn't need my sketchpad to try to draw like me."
"Why do you still have to be mad at me? I said I was sorry already and I really mean it." Sara pushed the final cucumber over towards Pony, he took it without even making eye contact. "Please don't be mad at me forever Pony. I couldn't bear it." Pony snorted at how dramatic Sara was being about this, but he wasn't giving in, not one inch.
"Sara, I have every right to be mad at you."
"Not if I said I was sorry. Remember Momma and Dadda would say that once we said sorry that we were forgiven." Sara tried to get Pony to change his mind with bringing this up.
"Well, that was when you were apologizing to them. It doesn't work like that in real life. They were our parents they had to say that so as to not hurt our feelings. And plus you haven't said you're sorry for everything yet."
"Yes I have!" Shouted Sara.
"No, you haven't Sara! You seemed to forget who was in charge of you yesterday when you decided to take off." Pony shouted just as loud back at Sara.
Sara was caught off guard and pulled back away from Pony. She hadn't stopped to think about apologizing to Pony for taking off on him yesterday. She hadn't thought about his feelings. This is what Darry was saying to her last night about having to start thinking about what others might feel before making choices. She never realized that she might of made Pony mad, or scared yesterday. She slowly lifted her head back up and looked at Pony with huge eyes. "Oh." Is all she could get out at that moment. It was all starting to sink in.
"Oh, is right Sara. Did it every phase you at all when you were taking off down the road that I might be scared out of mind when I got out of the shower and couldn't find you. Jesus, Sara, I thought that someone had come in and kidnapped you. It almost scared the shit out of me. Literally, Sara, it did. And you never even thought to apologize when you came home. You had a few hours before I left for the movies and nothing. How do you think that made me feel?" But before Sara even had time to respond Ponyboy continued right on. "Well, let me tell you little lady, it wasn't very good." Sara didn't know what to say, for she was stunned. Pony rarely ever opens up in front of her about his feelings and Sara just wanted to melt. She was feeling terrible that she had scared Pony so badly and that he was upset about it. Ponyboy had finally stopped long enough for Sara to get a word in.
"Darry told me that I have to start thinking about others before making choices, and this is probably a perfect example of that huh?" Sara asked with seriousness in her voice.
"Yes, it is. I just hope that in the future you'll listen to Darry's advice." Sara let out a deep sigh and turned to grab a carrot to peel. The two worked for a few minutes in silence before Sara's shaky voice interrupted the still air.
"I'm sorry I scared you Pony. If it makes you feel any better I was scared too. But then I met Myles and he made me feel safe."
"Myles?" Pony asked back.
"Yeah, you know Myles. He works at the cemetery. He knows us all, Momma, Dadda, Darry, you and Sodapop. He's such a nice old man, Pony." Pony couldn't help but give his sister a puzzle look.
"Sara, we don't know a Myles. Are you sure his name was Myles?" Before Pony could get an answer Sara had jumped down from her chair and ran towards the hall. "Where are ya going? Darry wants this done before he gets in." Pony yelled after her. Sara was only gone for a minute when she returned with the white hankie and something else.
"See? Myles gave this to me because I was crying." Pony took the hankie from her and noticed the embroidery letter M on it and just assumed that Sara must be telling the truth. But then there was something else in Sara's other hand.
"What ya got in the other hand?" Sara hesitated for a second but then slowly drew her other hand out from behind her back. She held out her hand and Pony reached for the very familiar paper. He took it from her and noticed that on one side of the paper was his drawing and on the other side was another drawing. Ponyboy studied the drawing for a second and then let a small smile tug at his lips. "So this is what happened to my drawing then, huh?"
"I told you I wanted to try to draw something like you." Sara was looking at the back of the paper which had Pony's beautiful scene of their yard, including the big oak tree and her swing. On the other side Sara tried to duplicate the same drawing but that of a 6 year old and not of that of a thirteen year old.
"Sara, it's pretty good. But you should of still asked me first. Next time just ask, ok."
"Ok." Sara responded in a soft voice.
"Now let's get back to work before Darry has a cow." Pony knew that this would get his little sister laughing and he was right. She broke out in her cute little giggle. The two continue to work while they chatted about things like drawing and how delicious the chicken smelt. After the two set the table they were told to go sit on the couch and wait. As Sara was started to head to the living room to do just that, Pony noticed the picture that he left on the counter. He picked it up and was really surprised at how well she did with it. He was going to pin it up in his room on the corkboard over his desk but instead he thought it might look better on the refrigerator. He called Sara back over. "Sara, come help me put this up." Sara darted back in and watched as Ponyboy was centering the picture on the front of the refrigerator. "Go onto the other side and grab two magnets." Sara was beaming that Pony thought her picture was good enough for the refrigerator, because it was mostly his work that made it up there. Sure Sodapop had placed some of her artwork from school, but Pony had never done so. Sara took her two magnets and placed them on the bottom two corners as Pony placed two on the top corners. They stepped back and took another look at the picture. Sara slipped her arms around Pony's waist and gave it a big squeeze. "Thanks Pony. And I don't mean for just hanging up my picture, but for forgiving me."
"Well, you know, I better follow through with what Mom and Dad say about forgiving when someone says sorry." Sara squeezed again and this time Pony couldn't resist returning the hug. He was just about to release it when he could smell the chicken and soon heard the back door open and in came Sodapop followed by Darry. Soda instantly noticed Pony breaking away from a hug he was sharing with Sara. He turned to Darry and nodded his head.
"It worked." He said.
"Huh, imagine that." He said smiling.
The group of four sat down for a delicious Sunday night meal. The conversation was light hearted and enjoyable all around. They shared many laughs about the game this morning, and past memories, and for what seemed like forever things in the family seemed almost like old times… but only almost.