Chapter 43
For in that split second everything had stopped in the world for most of the members of the Curtis gang. It was the high frequency pitch from one little girl that caught all of their attention. They stopped everything they were doing in and around the garage and looked on in horror at the sight that was happening right before their eyes. They all looked on but for some reason their bodies were frozen like statues with the exception of one person, Dallas Winston.
Dallas was always known for every extreme stunt he has ever pulled, but this one would surely never, ever be forgotten, with the exception of maybe just one other time. Dally had just been rounding the opposite side of the DX building and was crossing the dirt driveway when he caught something out of the corner of his eye. He had noticed that George had just pulled away from the curb and his eyes caught a pretty light girl zigzagging across the parking lot. His face immediately turned into a frown for Dally knew damn well that Sara knows better than to be running in the parking lot. Jesus, how many times had every member of the gang scolded her for it he thought? But as he slowed his pace he realized that Sara had tears flowing down her cheeks and it looked like she was on a mission, a mission that looked like she was trying to avoid a certain person. As Dally's eyes darted around the DX he realized that certain person was no other than Sodapop Curtis. Dally had heard about the little mishap that happened at the Curtis' house last night and he wasn't one bit surprise that Sara would be trying to dodge her big brother, but not at the cost of getting physical hurt in the process. Dally decided then and there that he would be the one to intervene between the two and he picked up his trot and started to get closer to Sara as he heard Sodapop call out to her.
"Sara! Stop Running…" Sodapop's heart was literally pumping out of his chest. He felt like his world had just turned into a slow motion picture. He watched as the Camaro came flying in from the road and cut right in front of him spinning up a cloud of dust. Knowing the Soc's did in on purpose wasn't so much of his concern as now the car was blocking his view of Sara. It was at that moment that Sodapop noticed that Dally had come out of no where and was standing within feet of Sara and the oncoming car. Soda responded in the only way he knew how and that was to yell at Dally. "Dally!Sara!" He pointed.
Dally had just crossed over the aisle of the pumps and was just about to grab Sara to stop her from running and give her a good scolding that she deserves, but instead his thoughts and motion came to a complete stop when he heard the tires on the rubble of the dirt drive from behind him. Dally's cool eyes glanced off of Sara and up to notice a car full of Soc's driving a fire engine red Camaro with a white soft top. He heard laughter coming from within and the music slipping out the windows was some damn Beatles' song. As Dally tuned out the laughter and the Beatles he heard a familiar voice calling his name. His eyes moved from the car up to see whom it was and he made the connection right away. He heard Soda yelling and pointing. Just as he turned the driver of the Camaro was slamming on the brakes and was swerving the car to the right. It was then that Sara was now standing within inches of the fender of the car. As she realized what was about to happen she let out the highest pitch scream Dallas has every heard before. Dally noticed that the car wasn't coming to a stop even though the driver was trying with all his might. Now Dally wouldn't normally sacrifice his own life of seventeen for that of a 6 year old, but this wasn't just any 6 years old. This was Sara Marie Curtis, the daughter of the only mother figure that he had ever had. The daughter of the man and woman who offered up their home and their food and their love and attention for him, for some jd hood, many thought, but not Mr. and Mrs. Curtis. They saw something more in him that just a hood. They saw someone that could be somebody. No, he knew what he needed to do something and quick. So without having any gentleness to it what so ever, Dally came barreling towards Sara and with all his might he gave her the biggest and hardest shove that he could. He knew he needed the force to be so great that it would move her completely out of range of the width of the Camaro front fender. With two hands up he plowed right into the little girl's right arm and right shoulder and sent her flying completely off her feet. The boys watched as the little light weight's feet came totally off the ground and watched as she sailed away from the car, however the car ended up making an impact, though it wasn't with Sara but with Dally instead. Once the boys realized what was happening they soon fled their spots in and around the garage and came running to the aid of their friend and family member.
"Sara!" Pony screamed running to the rescue of his little sister.
"Dally!"
"Sara!"
"Dally!"
"You Sons of Bitches." Steve yelled coming full throttle towards the red Camaro. Before anyone could get to Sara or Dally the car full of boys was quickly emptying to defend themselves. But it was the passenger in the front of the Camaro that was quick to check on the injured parties. He immediately fled to Sara's side; having a little sister of his own he wanted to make sure she was ok. He could hear small whimpers coming from the little girl.
"Soodddaa?" Sara cried as the stranger approached her.
"No, my name's Randy. Lye still and try not to move." He instructed. Randy reached in his back pocket and took out a handkerchief and started wiping at the blood that was now dripping down Sara's pale face. Sara tried pushing herself up to see what all the commotion was around her. All she could hear was a lot of cursing and threats being thrown around, but as she was trying to push herself up she winced in pain. Sara felt heavy pressure on her shoulders and heard Randy say, "I thought I told you not to move? You're bleeding like a bandit. You need to stay still."
"Sara!" And before Sara was lying back down on the ground she heard the only voice that she wanted to hear at that moment. "Move it Adderson." Sodapop slide down so he was on his knees and holding Sara's heads in his palms. "Oh, Babygirl, look at you." Soda moved one hand away from the back of her head and took his greasy thumb and smudged her dirty tears away from her cheek , while trying to give her a weak smile at the same time.
"Sooodddaaa?" Sara's small voice asked.
"It's gonna be ok Babygirl." And before Soda could offer anymore reassurance Ponyboy was now flying down beside them both.
"How is she Soda?" He asked with worry stretched all over his face.
"I'm not sure yet Pon." Soda started to scan Sara to try to determine how bad things were. He started making mental note of things that might be wrong. The first was the gash about her left ear that was causing much of the blood that was dripping down her face. Then her left knee and leg were oozing dark crimson liquid as well. But he was most concern with her left arm. "Pon, I need you to go inside and call Darry. He's home. Tell him there has been an accident with Sara and to come to the DX as quick as he can." Ponyboy hesitated as he looked between Sara and Dal who was still lying on the ground and then back to Sodapop. "Go!" Soda shouted. The instant Pony heard Soda's tone he jumped up and ran inside to the phone.
"Curtis, don't you think we should call an ambulance or something?" Randy asked still looking on as he watched the little girl cry in pain.
"No!" Soda hollered, knowing that if that was done, than the Fuzz would show and that would just cause so much more problems with the state, problems that they didn't want or need.
"Stop being stupid Man! They both need medical attention." Randy tried again.
Before Sodapop could respond Steve was right by his side and at his defense. "Look Adderson he said no. So why don't you get your candy asses out of here, before we beat them outta of here. I think you've caused enough trouble as it is." Randy threw his hands up in the air and started backing away from Sara and Soda.
"Fine, I was just trying to help."
"We don't need your help!" Steve shouted.
"Soda, Darry's on his way." Pony said scrunching down to see how Sara was doing.
"C'mon Randy, who cares if a couple of low life greasers die anyway. Two less we have to deal with." Soda gently passed Sara off to Ponyboy and was up on his feet and charging after the Soc that had just said this.
"Who the hell you calling low life greaser? She's six years old. What the hell has she ever done to you? Huh?" Soda was ready to throw a punch when Steve stepped in between the two and spoke while holding Soda back from doing anything that would make this matter worse than it already was.
"Soda, Sara needs you until Darry gets here. Don't do this Man." Soda's eyes were blazing with anger but he knew his best friend was right, so he let down his arm and turned back towards Sara who was still lying on the ground while Ponyboy continued to try and stop the bleeding. Even though Steve had stopped Soda from hitting the guy that had just made that awful comment didn't mean he was gonna let it go without a physical consequence. Just as the Soc was getting back into the Camaro Steve threw his fist right into the boy's gut. "That's for my friend, and this one, this one is for my little sister over there." Steve then threw another one but this time into the boy's left cheek as he was doubled over from the first. By this time Two-Bit had quickly moved on over to help back up Steve just in case the Soc's decided to changed their minds about getting into the car and leaving. Johnny was still huddled over Dally.
"We'll get you greasers! You can count on that!" The driver yelled out and spun the Camaro in reverse and backed out of the drive and onto the main road.
"That could have been a close one." Two-Bit said laughing.
"How's Dal?" Steve asked looking back over to ground.
"Still out. Johnny's trying to get him to come back around. Let's get some water from inside and give that a try." Two-Bit turned towards the building but stopped first at Sara and the boys. "She's scratched up pretty bad huh?"
"Yeah, we need to move her and Dally, soon, before any Fuzz drive by." Soda said shaking his head in disgust.
"I'm gonna go get some water for Dally, you want some for Sara?"
"That would be great." Soda looked down at Sara who was still crying and whimpering. "Shhh, it's gonna be ok Sara. I just need ya to try to calm down and tell me what hurts." Sara tried to slow down her crying and managed to get out one word.
"Everything." Soda gave her another weak smile, but was relieved when he noticed their old black ford truck come speeding into the parking lot. Darry didn't even have the truck in park before he was jumping out and running over. He noticed Dally on the ground by the pumps but his main concern was his little sister.
"Soda, how is she?"
"Daarryy?" Sara slowly turned her head to get a better look at her big brother. Darry first thought was how pale she looked and the second was the blood that was coming from her head. He looked her over and noticed that her wrist was swollen and was discoloring already. It could be a bad sprain or a possible break he thought.
"I'm right here Babygirl. Gosh, you're not looking so hot there Kiddo. Let's get you up so I can get a better look at ya." Darry in one cool swipe picked Sara up bridal style and quickly moved her over to the truck. "Sodapop are you off the clock yet?"
"No, not until 4:00. I'm waiting for Joe to come in."
"Pony, get in the truck and help Sara. I'm gonna check out Dally and then we'll head on home." Pony quickly followed Darry's orders and jumped in. From the driver's side Darry slid Sara in so that she was leaning up against Ponyboy. After Sara looked settled with Pony he quickly trotted over to Johnny and Two-Bit who had poured some water on Dally's face and were carefully slapping his cheeks. "He's coming to huh?" Darry asked the boys.
"It looks like it. How's Sara?" Johnny asked looking up at Darry.
"I think she'll be just fine. She just banged up a bit. Dally!" Darry spoke loudly. Dally's eyes fluttered open and closed. "Dally!" Darry spoke again.
"The Kid?" Dally managed to get out.
"She's fine Dal. You got her out of the way. How ya feeling?" Johnny asked.
"Just wait until I get my hands on her." Dally said rubbing his head.
"Anything hurt?" Darry asked with some concern.
"What do you think Man? I just got hit by a car." Darry knew that if Dallas was wisecracking than his spirits must be feeling just fine.
"Here." Darry said holding out his hand to help Dally up. "Two-Bit, get on the other side of him." Two-Bit moved and slipped his arm under Dal's armpit and on the count of three Two-Bit and Darry had Dally up an on his feet. They stood supporting him for a few seconds to make sure he had his balance. Darry was about ready to let go when Dally started swaying from side to side, "Whoa there Dal. Two-Bit let's get him in the back of the truck. I'll bring him back to the house."
"Jesus Christ Darrel. I don't need no babysitter." Dally hissed.
"Oh, you don't? Then let's see you walk on your own then." Darry went to let go of his hold when Dally's knees began to buckle some. Darry raised an eyebrow.
"Fine." Dallas mumbled. Just as Darry and Two-bit were helping Dally in the bed of the truck, Sodapop noticed Joe walking in from the back of the building.
"Hey boys." Joe waved but then noticed that something was off. He jogged over to where Sodapop and Steve were standing by the truck. "What happened here?"
"Long story Joe. Can you punch me out? I've gotta get home." Soda asked jumping into the bed of the truck with Dally and Johnny.
"Sure thing." Joe said waving. "Hey, Steve are ya just gonna stand there? I'm pretty sure that Barracuda isn't gonna get itself fix." Joe joked. Steve was feeling some disappointment of not being able to go back to the Curtis' with the rest of the group but he knew Joe was right, the Barracuda wasn't just gonna fix itself. Steve kicked at the dirt thinking about everything that just happened and shuffled back over to the garage. "Here, get started. It will help take your mind off of things."
"Yeah right, easier said than done." Steve mumbled as he stuck his head under the hood of the Barracuda.
XXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXX
"Sara, sit still and let me get a better look at this arm of yours." Darry warned as he and the two other Curtis members looked on. "What possessed you to run through the parking lot anyway? You know better. We've told you a million times to use walking feet. If you weren't already hurting I swear I would be skinning your bare ass right now." Darry was having a hard time holding his anger back at his sister. Between her and Ponyboy, Darry swore he would go gray by the age of twenty five if they didn't start using their heads. As he took a deep breath to regain his thoughts he took a good look at his little sister. He could tell that she was in some pain and he felt bad about that, but his anger was almost conquering his feeling bad because she was hurt. "Do you know you could be lying in a hospital bed right now if Dally didn't see that car coming and you running right towards it?" Sara couldn't help but let the tears slip from her eyes. She wasn't sure what the true reason was for them for maybe it was because Darry was practically hollering at her or maybe it was because she hurt all over. "Sara! Look at me when I'm speaking to you!"
"Lay off of her Darry. Jeez, I know how I'm feeling right now, so she much be feeling just as bad." Dallas spoke coming to her defense.
Darry's head spun around and glared at Dally who was in the arm chair. "When I want your opinion on how to speak to my kid sister, I'll ask you, but until then you can just keep your trap shut. Got it?"
"I'm just saying cut her some slack." Dally grumbled through a sharp pain.
"Cut her some slack Dal? How many times have you heard us tell her to not to run in the parking lot? Especially at the DX station?"
"Alright, alright, she knows it, but why don't you ask her who she was running from and not why she was running huh?" Darry didn't ask his sister why, but instead gave her a look as to spill the beans, and now, type of look. When Sara didn't comply with the look Soda could clearly read the situation and decided to help avoid any more conflict for the moment.
"So Dar, what do you think? Is it broken?" Darry's focus switched from Sara and onto Sodapop who was trying to examine Sara's wrist and arm. Darry quickly swooshed Sodapop's hand away from Sara and mumbled some words.
"I can't tell. It might just a bad sprain, or it could be." Darry stopped from saying anymore.
"Or it could be broken?" Dallas said in a nonchalant kind of way.
"Hush!" Darry warned.
"Well, it could be Darrel. She needs to know the truth, right?" Dally continued.
"I swear Dallas if you didn't just save my sister's life I would be throwing my fist at your face right now." Darry threaten. He turned back to Sara to see that her eyes were now the size of saucers, with one gumdrop size tear starting to leak from her right eye.
"Is it broken?" Sara managed to get out. Darry carefully pressed his thumb and index finger in an around where the swelling and discoloring started. "Ouch! Darry you're hurting me." Sara cried.
"I don't mean to be, Sara. I'm just trying to figure this out. Ponyboy go get me a baggie and fill it with ice."
"What do you think Dar?" Sodapop asked again.
"Well, it's not an open fracture because there's no break in the skin from the bone." Sodapop raised an eyebrow questioning the medical jargon that Darry was throwing around.
"It's a good thing Soda. She isn't numb anywhere because she can feel me pressing on it, her fingers are still pink, and other than the swelling there's no deformity. We can wrap it tonight, and call Dr. Robinson tomorrow to see if can get her in to look it over. I don't think we need to go to the emergency room tonight, thank the lord. But I'll need your help to take care of it tonight while I'm work."
"I can do it, Dar. Just tell me what I need to do." Soda said willing to help. Darry grabbed a hold of Soda's forearm and guided him out into the kitchen. "What? I can do this. You don't think I can do you?" Soda questioned when they were out of earshot from everyone else.
"No, it's not that Soda. I know you'll take good care of her, it's just that you two aren't really on good terms yet are you?" Sodapop just shook his head no. "That's what I thought when Dally mentioned that I should ask who she was running from. Did something happen that I should know about?"
"No, Dar. She had just gotten off the bus and the second she noticed me walking towards her she started running off."
"You didn't say anything to her?" Darry questioned.
"No, Dar, like I said the second she got off the bus she just started darting away from me."
"I told Ponyboy to get her off the bus today. So why were you waiting for her?" Darry was trying to process this and figure out why Sara would purposely run through a business parking lot when she knew better.
"Because Pony stayed in the garage with the boys while I was walking Sandy to her car. I was the closest, so I was gonna just grab her from the bus."
"Sandy you say?" Darry gave his brother a look while rubbing his forehead.
"Ah, damn it!" Soda realized when Darry questioned being with Sandy. "She probably saw me talking with Sandy while the bus was pulling up. But I swear Darry that Sara was my first priority when I saw the bus coming. I kissed Sandy good bye and they left before George even had the bus to a complete stop. I swear Darry." Sodapop knew he had a lot of ground to make up with Darry about this subject.
"I'm not saying you didn't Soda, just relax. But I need to go into work tonight because I'll probably be calling out tomorrow depending on what Dr. Robinson says. I need you to keep the ice on for at least 30 minutes. I'll give her some pain reliever now before I leave." Darry glanced over at the clock and started to do some calculations in his head. "Give her a tablespoon again before going to bed. I want her down around 8:00ish, if she makes it until then. This stuff might knock her out. I'm hoping that the pain won't make her moody and cranky but I just want to prepare you, just in case."
"It'll be fine Dar."
"Here's the ice you wanted Darry." Ponyboy started to toss the bag at Darry when Sodapop stepped in and caught it first.
"Might as well get started." Sodapop smiled and moved back towards the living room where things were surprisingly quiet. Dally had dozed off, or was resting his eyes and Johnny and Two-Bit were watching over Sara like a hawk. She had curled herself up at the end of the couch and was using the armrest as a placement holder for her left arm. "Hey, Sara, Darry's gonna get you some medicine to take to help with that pain some, and I need you to place this on your wrist." Soda reached down to place the baggie on it when Darry came up behind him.
"Not like that Soda. Wrap it in this washcloth first, and then place it on the wrist." Soda took the washcloth from Darry and carefully wrapped the baggie like he was swaddling a baby. "Sara, I need you to take this. It will help with the pain." Sara scrunched up her nose and placed her right hand over her mouth refusing to take it. "C'mon Sara, I don't have time for this. You need to take it." Sara again shook her head from side to side.
"Sara, just do as Darry says. Plus I need you to sit still so I can get this ice on that wrist." Soda decided to join in on the ganging up on Sara party. Darry wasn't playing anymore and reached over and tugged Sara's hand away from her mouth.
"Drink this." He demanded.
"It's yucky, Dar."
"Jesus Christ little Curtis! Stop your damn whining and complaining and just drink the shit. It'll make you feel better." Dallas yelled with one eye open and one eye still closed.
"Dally you owe the swear jar 30 cents." Two-Bit laughed.
"I owe nobody nothing after the stunt that little shit just pulled, more like they should be paying me." Dally said closing his eye again.
"Hey Dar, the swear jar is getting full. Do you think we can empty it and roll up the money?" Pony asked picking up the full pickle jar.
Darry not caring too much about the swear jar kind of just waved off Ponyboy. "Yeah, go ahead. Leave it on the table. I'll try to bring it to the bank tomorrow." He turned his attention back to Sara. "Now Sara, we can do this the easy way or the hard way. Your pick." Sara hated when Darry said this to her and her brothers. She remembers her father using this line all the time. It amazed Sara how much Darry was mimicking parenting just like their father had. "Sara?" He prompted.
Sara pushed at the spoon that held the medicine in it, but Darry shoved it back at her and gave a threating glare. "Fine, I'll take it." When she reached for the spoon again she couldn't resist but to throw in, "but I'm not gonna like it one bit."
"I didn't say you had to like it, I just said you have to take it." Darry slowly moved the spoon up to her mouth, Sara opened wide and Darry slipped the spoon in and Sara shook all over as the medicine slide down her throat. Two-Bit was watching the whole thing and couldn't help but to burst out in laughter.
"Someone should have had a camera to take a picture of that look. Too priceless!" Two-Bit said slapping his thigh. Darry had walked away to place the spoon in the sink and medicine in on the sink of the bathroom. When he walked out he decided to grab Sara a glass of water to help get the taste out of her mouth. When he came back in he handed it to here.
"Here, drink this, it will help." Sara hesitantly grabbed at the glass but guzzled it down. He crouched down so that he was now in front of Sara and placed his hands on her knees. "I hate to leave you here Sara, but I really should go into work tonight. If your wrist isn't looking better by tomorrow morning, we'll probably have to go see Dr. Robinson." Darry noticed a frown start to appear on her face and she had dipped her chin down to her chest to shy her eyes away from his. Darry took his hand and lifted her chin again. "Sodapop and Ponyboy will be right here to take care of you. It'll be ok. Just promise me that you won't give them a hard time."
"I won't." She whispered.
"That's a good girl." Darry started to get up and gave her head a little ruffle.
"Soda, if you can, it would be good to get her in the tub and help wash those cuts and scrapes up, but if she gives you too much of a hard time, it's not worth it. Bedtime at eight" Darry looked back at Sara and stressed the eight. "Before she goes to bed Soda, give her another tablespoon of the pain reliever, even if she has fallen asleep wake her up and make sure she gets it. Ice off for thirty minutes, ice back on for thirty. Got it?"
"Jesus Darry, we all got it by now." Dally remarked throwing an arm up over his head. "It's not that hard to figure out; even a monkey could do it." Darry walked towards the kitchen but first slapped Dallas on the warm.
"Watch it smart ass." Darry commented while walking into the kitchen to retrieve his dinner box and the truck keys. As he moved back into the living room some guilt was building in him that he was actually leaving Sara and what if it was really broken, he would feel terrible, but as he looked around the room he knew that he was really leaving her in the best hands possible, even those of Dallas Winston.
XXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXX
"Wow, is there really nine dollars there? Jeez, we really do have to watch our tongues around Sara, don't we?" Two-Bit joked while he watched Johnny and Ponyboy roll up the money from the swear jar.
"Not we, just you, Dally and Steve. There's no we on this side of the room." Pony joked back. And just like on cue Steve came banging through the door.
"Hey." He said stepping over Dallas's legs that were stretching out from the armchair that he still occupied. "How ya feeling Dal?"
"How the hell you think I'm feeling? You know that old saying, I feel like I've been run over by a truck, well that's how I'm feeling. If you want you can give me a ride over to Buck's. He's got what I need to help make me feel better."
"I'll do it Man. I've gotta get home to my old lady anyway. She'll probably be wondering where I've been hiding myself." Two-Bit offered as he pulled himself up off the floor.
"I don't give a shit who drives me, but one of you punks better." Dally managed to get up out of the armchair and headed towards the back of the house.
"Hey Dal, the front door's in this direction." Two-Bit grinned pointing to the screen door.
"No shit. I've gotta message to deliver first." Two-Bit just shrugged his shoulders and started a conversation with Steve while he waited for Dal to come back. Dallas followed the small mummers of that of Sodapop's and Sara's voices. He moved to the door of the bathroom and looked in to see Sodapop gently tapping at Sara's scrapes on her knees and legs. He cleared his throat which brought both Soda's and Sara's attention up to the door to where he was standing. "Thank goodness you'll be wearing a long dress tomorrow for the dance so no one will see those knees of yours." Sara took her eyes off of Dally and back down at her knee that Soda was now placing a band aid on.
"It doesn't matter Dal." Sara answered in a soft voice.
"Of course it matters. You've got that big dance tomorrow, right?" He asked roughly.
"I've changed my mind Dal. I don't want to go now." Sara said turning her head from having to look at either Dally or Sodapop.
"Just over some stupid scrapes, that's a little extreme, even for you." Dally had inched further into the bathroom and got down so that he was face to face with Sara. "You ever pull a stunt like that, I'm not gonna save your ass next time, you hear me?" Sara shook her head as fast as she could up and down. "And I best not hear anymore of you not wanting to go to this dance. Suck it up!" And with that said Dally turned on his heels and moved out the door.
Soda finished up with the bandages and wrapped Sara's wrist up with the ace bandage that Darry had left for him. The two sat in complete silence after Dally had left and when as Soda was just finishing with latching the clip into the bandage he looked up in Sara's face and moved her hair behind her ears and gave her a smile. "I hate to say this, and you best not repeat it either, but Dally's right you now?" Sara just stared at her brother with a blank face. "He is Sara. There's no good reason why you don't want to go to this dance anymore." Sara started to speak when Soda placed his finger up to her lips to hush her. "Sara, I don't know what you're thinking about me only wanting to take you because Sandy is going, but that's nothing but hogwash, and you know it." Soda paused to make sure he was getting his point across. "I think you're just mad at me because I forgot your milkshake last night, and Sara I didn't do it on purpose like you think, I just honestly forgot it. People make mistakes, even me. You can't hold me up on a pedestal all the time. I'm gonna make mistakes. I said I was sorry for the milkshake thing. So please let's move on and let me bring you to the dance tomorrow night." Soda stopped talking to wait for his sister's response. Sodapop could read her eyes and he knew that she still wanted to go. He just needed to convince her too. Soda thought for a second that he had her, but all of a sudden her quiet disposition totally changed. She jumped up from sitting on the side of the tub and stomped her foot and placed her hands on her hips, she puffed out her cheeks and she just blew up like a balloon.
"How dare you! You think I don't want to go because of the stupid milkshake? You don't know nothing! Nothing at all Sodapop Patrick Curtis!" Sara was practically screaming instead of talking and Sodapop wasn't gonna tolerate it. He grabbed her shoulders and firmly held her in place.
"You will not speak to me this way. I'm trying to discuss this with you in a calm manner. Now if you lower your voice and talk instead of screaming then we just might get somewhere. But if you can't then you can go to your room and stay there until it's time for bed."
"Fine then!" Sara stormed out of the bathroom leaving Soda standing there holding her wet towel. He was actually dumbfounded. He truly thought they would be able to talk about this in a civil manner. But the rattling of her door slamming shut soon told him otherwise. Soda started to hang her towel up on the rack when he heard Ponyboy's voice enter the bathroom.
"What was that all about? I thought Darry told you to try and work things out with her, not to make them worse?"
"He did, and I tried, but I swear she gets more ornery and stubborn every day. Pretty soon she's gonna be so thick headed that no one will be able to get through to her."
"Still not going huh?"
"Nope." Soda started to exit so that Pony could use the shower, but he needed to ask him something first. "Pony, do you think she really doesn't want to go? Or is she just trying to get back at me?" Pony rubbed at the back of his neck, hating to get in between their fight.
"I don't know for sure Soda. I mean she seemed real excited about going earlier this week, but maybe she's doing it to get back at you for last night. It's more her style than just to up and change her mind about something that she was excited about." Soda nodded his head and grabbed at the doorknob to close it. Soda wanted so badly to give Sara her space and he wanted to follow through with sending her to her room, but he just couldn't let it go. He moved on towards her door where he could hear a faint cry from within. He knew then he had made the right decision to come here instead of joining Steve and Johnny out in the living room. He turned the knob slowly and entered. He made sure to close the door behind him to keep out any unwanted ears. He caught sight of a bump hiding under her covers and pillows. He slowly sat down on the edge of the bed and sat there listening to small sniffles. After a minute or so of this he moved his hand over to find where her tiny back was. Once he found it he started rubbing small circles. It only took another minute of this routine before he heard her weak voice.
"Go away, Soda."
"I can't. Cause you see, I have this problem, I had plans for tomorrow night to go to this dance with this pretty little girl, and now she left me dateless. Just up and canceled our plans without even telling me why. She's broken my heart." Soda listened for a response but nothing came, so he tried again. "Not a very nice thing to do." Finally he got a response but it wasn't what he was expecting to hear.
"Well what he did to me last night wasn't very nice either. So I would say we are even now. Even Steven, isn't that what you say to Steve?" Soda tried not to chuckle at the last part, but he still didn't understand what she was saying.
Soda tugged on the covers, not too hard of course, because he couldn't see her injured wrist and didn't want to cause any more harm. "And what did I do that was as bad as you breaking my heart huh?" He finally got the blankets pulled back when he heard Sara's confession.
"You broke my heart last night, ignoring me like you did when Sandy, Evie and Steve were hear. You didn't even pay any attention to me. And I needed you too! You laughed at me and made fun because I didn't know what baking soda was."
"I did no such thing!" Soda protested.
"Yes, you did Soda. Everything was about Sandy this, and Sandy that, whatever you want Sandy." Sara broke off and swiped frantically at her tears.
Sodapop let out a big sigh and placed his hands together as if he was praying. "Sara, I don't know how to get this through your head." He paused and took a deep breath. "It's different with Sandy."
"No it isn't! You're different with Sandy! It's like the old Soda disappears somewhere and this new Soda appears when Sandy's around. You act different, you talk different, and you treat me different. I don't like it." Sara's was starting to get flustered again and her emotions and anger were rising, and Sodapop could see this.
"Sara, what can I do to make this up to you, so that we can go to the dance tomorrow night and have a good time?" Soda was trying to take a different approach with this, He was hoping that he might be able to deescalate Sara's anger and emotions. Sara sat quietly thinking about this, but she just couldn't let it go.
"If you stop seeing Sandy, then I will go to the dance with you tomorrow night." Sodapop's mouth dropped open; he couldn't believe what she had just suggested. Here he was trying to be responsible with her and she comes up with this ultimatum, no friggin' way he thought.
"Sara, that's not gonna happen, you can just forget it. Sandy's an important part of my life and nothing you can do or say is gonna change that. The only thing that is gonna change here is you. You're gonna need to accept the fact that she's in my life. And I've told you this before and this will be the last time I'm gonna say it, there's room for both of you in my life and in my heart. You can either accept it and things between us can go back to the way they used to be, or choose not to accept it and then things will continue to be different so you say." Sodapop was stern and hard with his response but it was the cold hard truth and she needed to hear it. Sodapop sat and looked sadly at his baby sister and it was practically breaking his heart as he watched tears drip from her dim blue eyes. After what seemed to be forever Sara finally spoke.
"Well, I guess you've made your decision and I am sticking to mine. Maybe you can call Sandy and ask to meet her there at the dance, because you will be free." Soda was stunned and hurt by Sara's word. He had to hold back from saying something he would regret so instead he slowly and quietly moved up off of her bed and headed out her door without saying a word. He moved into the kitchen and grabbed a spoon then walked over to the bathroom and knocked. Pony opened the door with a towel hanging off his hips. Soda didn't say a word. All he did was moved in and grabbed the pain reliever and moved back to Sara's room. She had buried herself back under the covers and Soda could still hear her whimpering but it didn't faze him like before. He approached the bed and cleared his throat.
"Sara you need to take this and then you're going to bed." Soda sounded just like Darry, but Sara was going to push it to the limits.
"No!" Soda wasn't playing around and he roughly grabbed at her covers and yanked them right off.
"You will, and you will do it now." Soda threated.
"No!" Sara yelled. Soda was just about at his wits end, and he could see how Darry spanked her last week, for he had the urge to do it at this very moment.
"For the love of god Sara, if you don't want a repeat of that spanking Darry gave you last week you will sit up and take this."
Sara hesitated for just a second and decided to push it just a bit further. "I don't like it."
"I don't care if you like it or not, you need it for the pain. Now open up." Sara placed her right hand over her mouth and shook her head back and forth. Soda knew he needed to show her who was boss. He swooped in and grabbed her good arm and swiftly lifted her up from the mattress. Once he had her up his hand moved in to give her a swift swat on her butt, and before his hand made contact with anything Sara was pleading for him to stop.
"Stop! Stop! I'll take it; please just don't spank me Soda. I just couldn't bear it." Soda's hand was inches away from her pajamas and was so relieved when Sara called out for him to stop. He handed her the spoon and watched as she quickly shoved it in and swallowed it.
"Now get in that bed!" He demanded. He watched as his sister fumbled as she tried to manage getting into bed with only one good arm. He wanted to help but his anger kept him at bay. Once she was settled he moved over to switch her lamp off. "Try to get some sleep." He stated before he was about to leave. Soda was just about to close the door before he heard Sara call out to him.
"Soda?" He swung open the door and just looked at her. "Soda, you didn't wish me a good night." Sara said sadly. Soda let out a big sigh, he so wanted to be angry and annoyed with his sister, but she was only 6 after all. He slowly reentered and got a bit closer.
"Good night Sara. I hope your wrist feels better in the morning."
"Good night Soda." Sara watched as Soda closed the door behind him. Sara wasn't sure if he heard her or not but right before the door latched shut she whispered, "I still love ya a lot."