Chapter 45

Sara was instructed by Darry that she was still on restriction and that she wasn't to watch any television or listen to any music while they were home alone. He also told her that he wanted her to lay low because of her wrist, and he actually had suggested taking a nap which Sara thought a bit odd, but as the afternoon drew on she became so bored that a nap was just possible. She had wandered into the boys' room where she found Ponyboy shuffling through some clothes on the floor that Darry had issued for him to pick up before he headed off for work. Having exhausted all her energy into coloring, looking at books, playing with Barbie's she flopped down on the boys' bed and watched Pony mutter about how messy Sodapop was.

"Pony?" Sara asked after watching her brother fume around the room.

"Yeah?" He asked without looking up from the mound of clothes that he smelled, trying to determine if they were clean or not.

"When you get mad at someone that you like, how long does it take you to forgive them?" Pony couldn't help but chuckle at Sara's question, but Sara was taking offense to it. "It's not funny Ponyboy Michael Curtis. I need to know, it's kinda of important." Ponyboy was trying to hold back another series of chuckles for he could tell by the expression on Sara's face that she was serious about this.

"Sara it depends on the situation." He said tossing what he thought might be a clean shirt at his bed.

"Depends on what? On how much you like the person?" Sara pushed the shirt that had landed on her to the side and continued to pressure Pony. "For example, if Johnny made you mad how long would it take for you to forgive him, because he's your best friend right?"

"Sara you can't just put a time limit on when to forgive someone, it just happens." Pony tried to explain so that she would understand.

"But how long for Johnny? A couple of hours or a couple of days?" Sara tried again to get a more defined answer from her brother.

"Maybe a few hours, possible one night, I don't know." Sara could sense the irritation rising in Pony because she wasn't getting it.

"Well what about if it was Steve or even Darry, how long for them?" It was the last straw for Pony; he was trying to have patience with his sister about this but when he just couldn't find anymore.

"Sara!" Ponyboy stopped himself and took a deep breath before he continued. "Sara, it depends on how mad I am. Usually Johnny and I don't get mad at each other, and Steve and Darry well, that's different. It depends on what they did." Pony walked over and sat on the edge of the bed next to his baby sister. He nudged his sister with his elbow and gave her a stern look. "Sara, for Christ Sakes, just forgive him. You'll feel so much better about everything. And you won't have to be in here bugging me and asking me all these silly questions." Sara knew that Ponyboy was right, that she needed to just forgive Sodapop, for her brain told her to, but her heart was saying something else. Deep down in her soul she just had this hurt and pain that she couldn't explain or express and she wasn't sure if she could let her brain win this time. Pony got back up and started moving some papers around and finished cleaning the room. Sara didn't move off the bed, she just laid her head down on Sodapop's pillow and watched Pony just move things from one place to another, not really cleaning it at all. As she laid there watching Pony she couldn't resist breathing in Sodapop's scent from his pillow. It smelt a bit like oil and gasoline, but yet masculine like a hint of his English Leather cologne that he wears when he goes out with Sandy and to parties and such. Sara closed her eyes and tried to clear her head of the recent memories of Soda and tried to fill them with past enjoyable moments, like him pushing her on the swing and helping her to ride her bike, and dancing with her in the living room. As those memories filled her head she found her eyelids getting droopy and before she knew it she was fast asleep on Soda's side of the bed. Ponyboy hadn't taken notice that his sister was sleeping until he turned to throw their bed together. He couldn't resist the smile that tugged at his lips as he watched his sister sleeping peacefully. He carefully moved the top quilt up over her and gentle rubbed the top of head. He decided to see what was on the tube and leave Sara to get some rest. After flipping through the stations and only finding soap opera shows and games show he decided to pick up a book that he had started the other day. As Pony got lost in it, he soon lost track of time, for before he knew it the sun had shifted some from where it was shining through their front window, to now the window on the side of the house. He was about ready to get up when he heard their front steps creaking. Once his gaze fell onto the door, he noticed Sodapop walking in with Sandy in tow. Ponyboy stiffen a bit knowing that Darry had made it perfectly clear that Sandy and Sodapop weren't allowed alone in the house anymore by themselves.

"Hey Pony, enjoying your afternoon?" Sodapop had a hold of Sandy's hand and was leading her into their home.

"It's been nice. It would have been better if Darry didn't make me clean up after you." Pony closed his book and looked back at Soda. "Jeez Soda, can't you learn to be a little bit neater?" Sodapop couldn't help but to let out a hard, deep laugh.

"No, little brother, I don't think I'll ever be able to learn that." Soda had moved Sandy towards the couch where Ponyboy was sitting. "So did you get it all picked up?" Sodapop knew how much Pony hated picking up their room.

"Go check it out yourself." Pony nodded towards their room. Soda whispered some into Sandy's ear and Sandy lips turned up into a sweet smile. Soda started to move away while Sandy took a seat in the armchair by the door.

"Whatcha reading there Ponyboy?" She asked politely.

"Catch-22." Sandy raised her eyebrows some with surprise. "Do you like it? Isn't it about war and fighting and stuff?" Pony couldn't help but let out a very small chuckle.

"Yeah, kinda. It's a good book though." Sandy just returned a grin and looked down towards the hallway; eagerly waiting for Sodapop's return to help with the awkwardness she was feeling.

Sodapop knew that Pony was home because Darry needed someone to watch Sara while he returned back to work, and knowing that she was still on restriction, he was still surprised how quiet she was being. He used the bathroom first and after he moved on down to Sara's room checking to see if she had changed her mind about the dance before he took off again with Sandy. But as he reached her room it was still. There was no noise, and no sign of Sara. "Sara?" He called out. When there wasn't any answer he moved into her room a bit further. "Sara?" When there was still no response he moved back out and down towards the living room. He could clearly see Sandy sitting in the armchair with her legs crossed and her little size seven foot bouncing up and down. "Ponyboy? Where's Sar…" He was just at the door of their room when he was asking his brother where their little sister was when he stopped and noticed the bump in their bed. Just as Pony started to answer, Sodapop ducked into their room. Without startling her, he slowly lowered himself to the edge of the bed. He watched as Sara's chest slowly rose and fell. After a few seconds he swiped to move some of her hair out of her face and tucked it behind her ear. But without meaning to he must have tickled the back of her ear just right and her eyes fluttered open. Soda gave her a few seconds to come out of her slumber before he started to speak. "Hey Babygirl. Whatcha doing in here?"

Sara stretched her arms high up over her head and then rubbed at her tired eyes. "I… I was keeping Ponyboy company." She said with a small yawn.

"Oh, you were, were ya? If I ask him the same question do you think that's what he would say?" Sodapop couldn't help but to tease his sister.

Sara disliking the teasing was quick to defend herself, "I was. Really I was."

Still teasing, Sodapop said, "then why is he out in the living room and you're in here if you're supposed to be keeping him company?" Sara had to succumb to defeat, for she knew Sodapop had her there, but not without trying first.

"I must of gotten tired and bored of watching him just move things from place to place instead of just cleaning it up like Darry asked him too." Soda let out a soft chuckle again, for his sister surely could talk around anything if she put her mind to it, but what she didn't know was that she was dealing with the best of them here and he was gonna prove it.

"Oh, I see, so when you got so tired of watching Pony you're eyes just happened to close shut?" Sara shook her head in agreement. "So it didn't have anything to do with maybe that you were missing your big brother and you wanted to curl up on his side of the bed so you could feel closer to him?" Sara's eyes got a bit bigger and a look of shock spread across her face.

"No, that's not it. I've told ya already that I was watching Pony…"

Sodapop cut Sara off from making any more excuses. "Alright Sara, if you say so. You can believe what you want and I'll believe what I want." Sodapop was wearing his shitty ass grin and couldn't stop looking at his sister with it either. Soon Sara couldn't bear to look at it anymore and she lifted Pony's pillow and tossed it at her big brother. Soda immediately banged her back with it on the leg. Then a pillow fight started between the two. Both were laughing and giggling and Soda felt like this might be the time to ask about the dance. He paused before he hit her again with the soft feather filled pillow. "So, does this mean that I have a date for the dance tonight?" Soda was flashing his movie star grin in hopes that would melt any ice that was in Sara's heart still. Sara took a deep breath and she remembered all the earlier conversations between Pony and Darry and knew what the right thing to do was. She looked up into her big brother's dark chocolate eyes and notices how they were sparkling for her. She slowly let a small smile come to her face and she nodded her head yes and threw her arms around her brother. Sodapop engulfed her and gave his sister a big hug. After they shared their hug Sara flung the pillow again at Soda's head, but without thinking about Sara's wrist, Sodapop threw the pillow with a little more force than intended and got Sara right on her wrist.

"Ahhhhhhh!" Sara screamed. This caught the attention of two other people in the house. Ponyboy placed his book down on the couch and flew towards his room with Sandy right on his heels. By the time Ponyboy and Sandy got there, Sodapop was taking off the ace bandage to get a better look at it.

"What happened?" Ponyboy asked moving in from the doorway to get a look.

"Is she alright Soda?" Sandy asked with sincere concern in her voice, but just when Sara thought everything was alright between her and Soda she flipped a lid.

"What?" Sara looked frantically back and forth between Sodapop and Sandy. She couldn't believe that Soda would bring her here, to their house, so soon after everything. "Was this all a plan Soda?" Sara pushed at Sodapop's chest to get him off of her and away from her wrist.

"No Sara, no." Soda couldn't believe how his sister was reacting. She slipped under his arm and over to the door past Pony and Sandy.

"Stay away from me Sodapop Patrick Curtis! Just stay away from me!" Sara hollered as she stormed off to her room. "And you can forget about the dance!" Sara still continued to holler as she ran down the hall, but she did pause before slamming her door close. "Take her instead!" And just as fast as Soda thought he had made peace with his sister the peace was now shattered like a broken window. Pony just looked over at Soda and Sandy and shrugged his shoulder and let out a little sigh and moved on back to Catch -22.

"Oh, Soda, did I just ruin everything? I didn't mean to, I just heard her cry out and wanted to make sure everything was alright." Soda rubbed Sandy's arm and just shook his head.

"It's not your fault." Soda took one more painful look down the hall towards his sister's room. He contemplated it for just a second and turned back to Sandy. "I've given her plenty of chances and she has made her choice. I'm just gonna gather up some things and I'll meet you out in the car." Soda placed a soft kiss on Sandy's cheek and tenderly spoke again. "Hey, enough with the long face, we tried."

"I just wanted it to work out." She said sympathetically.

"I know you did, Babe." Sandy patted Soda's shoulder as he entered his bedroom. Sandy didn't dare take the chance of crossing the thrush hold without Darry being in the house so she shuffled back out toward the door. She paused when she noticed that Ponyboy had returned back to his book, she wondered if she should interrupt him or not, and decided not to be rude.

"It was good seeing ya Ponyboy. I hope you enjoy the rest of the book." Pony slowly picked his head up and gave a weak smile to Sandy and responded.

"Thanks. And I hope you have a good time at the dance tonight." Sandy didn't comment but just gave a small waved and let herself out the door. Sodapop wasn't too long behind after Sandy had retrieved to the car. He had a bag with him which prompted Pony to ask questions. "What's with the bag Soda?"

"Oh, just a change of clothes. I'm going out tonight with Sandy."

"Well who's staying with Sara tonight? Cause if you're going out, and Darry and I have to work." Pony asked with a hint of concern.

"Darry is I guess. He swung into the shop after dropping you guys off here, said something happened with a truckload in Texas."

"Oh, but you'll be coming home tonight won't you?" Pony tried to hide the pleading look on his face.

Soda flashed Pony a reassuring smile. "Stop worrying, I'll be here later." He moved to the door and swung around and said, "Tell Dar I'm at Sandy's, then I'll be hanging with Steve for a while before I hook back up with Sandy. I'll be home before midnight."

Pony waved his hand good bye and yelled. "Will do."

Pony finished reading a few more chapters without much interruption from Sara or the gang. He glanced at the clock and noticed it was quarter of four; he needed to be at work by four thirty, he was hoping that Darry would be arriving here pretty soon. Pony decided that he would go and check in with Sara to make sure she was still alive and well. He moved down the hall and stopped at her door. It was still closed so he gave a few taps. "Sara, it's me, Pony, can I come in?"

"Sure." Came a muffled response. Pony slowly opened the door to find Sara lying across her bed with her bare feet up on the wall.

"Whatcha doin'?" He asked moving closer to her.

"Nothin' much. Whatcha doin'?" Sara asked looking up at the water stains that were on her ceiling.

"Getting ready for work. Darry should be here soon. He's gonna need to drop me off, so why don't you get your feet off the wall, and get some shoes on so that you can be ready to go when he pulls in." Sara flipped around and spied her brother starting to exit her room.

"Wait!" Sara said with energy in her voice. "Wait! Did you say that Darry's taking you to work?" Pony hesitated by the door, surprised with the sudden change in his sister's attitude.

"Yeah. Why's that got ya so excited?"

"Because if I have to go with you, than that means Sodapop's not here." Pony being late understanding her point just responded with a blunt answer.

"Yeah, so?"

"Don't ya get it?" Sara said jumping up from her bed and prancing over towards Pony who was looking at her like she had lost her marbles. "That means that Darry is gonna stay home with me tonight, and not Sodapop. So Darry can take me to the dance now!"

Pony started to rub his forehead, not wanting to be the bearer of bad news. He thought before speaking. "Sara, I don't want to be mean here, or to burst your bubble, but I don't think Darry was planning on that." Pony paused to draw in a deep breath. "I'm pretty sure that was a Sodapop thing, and seeing you pretty much just botched that plan, it might look like you're hanging out here tonight." Sara crunch up her nose and eyebrows and pumped her fists down towards her side and snarled at her brother.

"You don't know that! You just wait and see Ponyboy Michael Curtis. You just wait and see!" Sara knew what she needed to do at this point. She was gonna throw her shoes on and go and wait until she saw the old black tarnished ford pickup truck pull into their drive. She ran towards the living room and did just that. She tossed open the screen door letting it take a beating against the side of their house as she threw it open. She lowered her little bottom down on the top step and planted her elbows on her knees, and rested her chin in the palms of her hands. She watched the scenery, looking for the sight of the truck, listening for the hum that it's known to make, just waiting. Pony changed his shirt and messed with his hair, choosing to add more hair grease than was already in it from this morning and being satisfied roamed back out to the living room. He sat back down with his book, watching his sister from where he sat. He couldn't believe how she was acting. They all knew this was an act that she was putting on with Sodapop, but Ponyboy just hoped that Darry used his heart and took the poor child. For if he didn't life around here was soon going to get a little bit more unbalanced than it already was for the Curtis Family. Pony couldn't concentrate on his book anymore for every minute he kept looking up to make sure that Sara was still on the steps, finally after rereading the same page three times he closed the book and left it on the couch and went out to sit next to Sara. The closing of their front door caught Sara's attention. "I thought you said he was coming." Sara said with a frown. Pony took a seat next to Sara and looked out towards the road.

"Sara, I just don't want you to get your hopes up. You know Darry might have other plans." Just as Pony was getting out other plans they heard the rambling of the truck. Before Pony could say anything more Sara had jumped up from her spot and started running towards the driveway. She was waiting at the edge of the grass and dirt before Darry even had the truck to a complete stop yet. "Darry! Darry!" Once he had the truck stopped Sara threw open the door and started shouting at Darry. "Darry, are ya staying home with me tonight? Can you take me to the dance? Please Darry? Ponyboy told me that you were. Please Darry!"

Darry watched his sister with intent as she just rambled on, for she was talking so fast that he would have never been able to get a word in anyhow. Before he did say anything Ponyboy was pushing Sara to slide over so that he could get in. "Jeez Darry, cutting it a bit close aren't ya? It's not gonna look to good being late on my second day."

"Sorry Kiddo, I had to work as late as possible. They needed me. Just shut the door and we'll get outta here." Darry put the truck in reverse and didn't even have a second to think before he heard Sara rambling again.

"Well Darry are ya? Will ya? Please?" Sara little rant was starting to get annoying. For what started off to be cute, seeing her excitement and all, but now Ponyboy just wanted to hear her shut it, but thankful Darry was thinking the same thing.

"Sara, first just cool your jets. We're not gonna discuss this right now. But to answer your question, yes, I'm staying home with you tonight. My shift was cancelled at the warehouse. But I don't want to hear any more about this dance, you got it?" Sara was ready to rebut Darry's demand before she noticed the eyeball he was giving her, and if she stood any chance of getting him to take her, she best just shut her trap and sit and wait quietly, and so she did just that. She didn't say another word and just listened to the boring conversation between Darry and Pony. First it was mostly about what time Pony would need a ride, and then for him to call home 15 minutes before hand. Then it changed to what Sodapop was up to and that irritated Sara's mood some, but she was trying to not let it get her down. Darry pulled up to the parking lot of the bowling alley and watched as Pony got out. Just before he jumped down he tapped his sister on the shoulder, Sara turned and looked on with uncertainty.

"Have a good time tonight, no matter what it might turn out to be. Just don't be too disappointed though. Remember you had your chance and you blew it with Sodapop this afternoon." Pony had let just enough out of the bag to make Darry raise an eyebrow.

"Call for a ride, Pony." Darry warned as he watched his younger brother shut the door and head towards the bowling alley. Once Pony had disappeared behind the tinted doors of the bowling alley, Darry started to pull out. He didn't say too much until they were a little ways down the road. He reached for the volume of the radio and turned it down and nudged his sister's elbow to get her attention. "So what's this all about you blowing what chance with Sodapop this afternoon?" Sara didn't take her attention off the window and bite at her bottom lip trying to think of something reasonable to say. When she hadn't responded in a Darry like fashion he nudged her again. "I asked you a question, and don't think I can't see you over there. I know what ya doing."

"It was nothing." Sara said pouting.

"Seems like a lot of something the way you're pouting over there."

"Fine then!" Sara said slamming her fist against the leather seat of the truck. "I was gonna go to the dance with Soda. I forgave him like you and Pony told me too."

"Well, I'm glad to hear that part, but what's got me puzzled still is why is Sodapop at Sandy's right now, and then hanging with Steve later, if he supposed to be taking you?" Sara was fuming with anger. She hated how Darry could always interrogate her like no other. He had this amazing ability to get answers out of anyone, but Sara also had her ways about her too. So as she sat there she tried to think of ways that she could turn this on Sodapop and just when she was gonna give up she found what to use.

"Because he had the nerve to actually bring Sandy to our home, into our house and rub it in my face that she was there again. So I told him that I changed my mind that he could take her instead." Sara knew that brining up the fact that Sodapop had Sandy in their house without Darry being there would boil Darry's blood and maybe that would distract the interrogation of her. But to Sara's dismay she didn't get the reaction from Darry as she was hoping, all she got was a flat four word response.

"Ah, is that right?"

"That's it?" Sara hollered. Her reaction startled Darry a bit off his seat.

"What do you mean is that it?" He asked her.

"Aren't ya mad at him?" Sara demanded.

Darry stuck one arm out the driver's window and started tapping the side view mirror while still keeping his eyes on the road as he turned onto their street. "I'm not thrilled to hear Sodapop had Sandy there at the house, but I also know Sodapop and he probably had good intentions on why. Ponyboy was there wasn't he?" He asked turning towards her, looking for an answer.

"Yes" she stumbled out. Sara had nothing to say from there on out to their house. Darry couldn't help but to release the smirk he was now wearing on his lips, gosh that kid, what was he gonna do with her when she was a teenager? He pulled the truck to a complete stop and peeked over to see that she was still steaming from the non-conviction from tattling on Sodapop and Sandy. Darry reached over and tapped her shoulder.

"You coming in, or are ya gonna stay out here and pout? Because I'm kind of hungry and I was thinking we could go grab some dinner somewhere after I shower and all." Sara's eyes got wide and started to sparkle with the mention of dinner out.

"You mean it?" She said with surprise.

"I'll even let you pick." Darry said smiling.

"Oh, Darry that sounds just peachy!"

"Good, now let's get on in that house and get ourselves cleaned up a bit. I might even treat you to something else after the dinner." Sara was bouncing with delight she was so happy, just maybe this night would turn out fabulous after all. Darry hopped out of the truck and met Sara doing the same. They walked side by side up to their door. He opened it and motioned for her to go first. "I'm gonna jump into the shower. When I get out you come on in and we'll wash ya face and stuff up, until then I want you to wait in your room." Sara obeyed and Darry watched as she walked into her room. Once she had disappeared he rushed back out to the truck and lifted the bench seat forward and grabbed the bag that he had hidden behind the seat. He couldn't help but to let the big grin grow on his face. For Darry this actually just felt right to him. He carried the bag and brought it into the bathroom with him. He reached his hand into the brown paper bag and withdrew the dress that Sara had been just drooling over and hung it on the towel hook. It was bit wrinkle from being hidden in the bag behind the seat so Darry was hoping the steam from the shower would help smooth them out. He turned the water on and let it get warm and soon jumped in. As he was thinking about how to present this to Sara, his thoughts bounced all around his head. What was he gonna do with her hair? Sodapop was supposed to take care of that, but Darry knew how that ended, in disaster of course. He would just have to try to manage. He remembered his mother using curlers but didn't know one thing about them, and then he remembered family pictures and how his mother would sometimes just place a ribbon in her hair. He might be able to manage that. Darry quickly finished up and jumped out feeling so refreshed. He was absolutely against this idea days ago, but something had changed in Darry. He couldn't quit explain it but he almost hated to admit it, but he was kind of looking forward to treating Sara to a special evening. He wrapped the towel around his waist and slipped down the hall. He stopped for a quick moment to see what his little sister was doing. She was lying quietly across her wooded floor and was drawing on a piece of paper. "Hey." He said startling his sister a bit. "I hope that isn't Pony's paper and pencils?"

"Oh, no they aren't Darry, it's my paper from school, see." Sara lifted up a paper that had letters of the alphabet on the back.

"Well, why don't you put your things away and then pick out something clean to wear. I'll be back for you in a few minutes." He watched as his sister started to get up.

"Alright Darry." Sara started rushing around which caused a chuckle out of Darry.

"Sara?" Sara stopped and spun to look at Darry because of the sternness in his voice told her she better.

"No need to rush. I'm not gonna leave without you." He flashed her a smile to reassure the little one that even though he said her name roughly, he wasn't upset or anything. She hesitantly returned the smile and slowed her pace and continued to put her things away in their appropriate places. Darry still wore his grin as he moved into his bedroom. He closed the door behind him so he wouldn't ruin the surprise. He slipped on some boxers and a white tank top and fished through his closet. He continued to dig deep towards the back but finally he found it. He took it out and gave it a good look over. "I sure hope you still fit me." Darry noticed that some dust had gathered up across the shoulders so he took his damp towel and brushed it off. He then reached for his white long-sleeved dress shirt and tie. He moved over to his dresser where he started to slip on his only pair of dark dress socks. Then he reached for the hanger and dragged off the pants. There was a little dust on those as well, especially where the pants were folded over the hanger for so long. Again he just took his damp towel and made a few swipes over the dust line. Before he knew it the line had disappeared and he was pulling them up over his muscular legs. Now for the button, Darry could tell that the pants were a bit tighter through the butt and hips than they used to be, but to his liking he was able to slip the button right through the slot without any problems. "Phew." Darry let out. Next was the shirt and tie. He knew this wouldn't be much of a problem. He made quick work of the tie and soon was looking at a very handsome reflection in the mirror. While he was standing there he swirled his hair around some with his comb and even threw on some Old Spice Cologne. He took one more peek at himself and grin at what he saw. He grabbed his dress shoes from his closet and slipped into them easily. He tied them up and let out a deep breath and as he slipped his foot down off of the edge of his bed. He moved over to the door opening it slowly, and moved swiftly down the hall. He slipped on into Sara's room. She has just finished grabbing an outfit from her dresser when she caught sight of Darry. She took her time moving her eyes from his head down to his toes and back up again. The expression on her face was a blank as a piece of paper. She didn't know what to think. She didn't know what to say, and she didn't know how to feel. She knew that the person standing in front of her was in fact her brother Darry, but the image of him standing there reminded her of their father. People were always saying how much Darry and their father could have passed as brothers instead of father and son, but here in this instant, Sara knew it was for the truth. As Sara stood frozen to the floor, she couldn't help but just stare. But as the shock started to wear off of that he looked so much like their father, Sara's mind starting asking why? Why was Darry standing in front of her all dressed in his most fancy clothes? Was he taking her to fancy restaurant? Did he have a date after their dinner? Or could it just be possible, possible that he was taking her to the dance? Sara just started to shake her head, no, she thought. He said he couldn't, she didn't have a dress, she had sent Sandy away, who was probably there to help her get ready. NO! This isn't how it was supposed to go down. Sara couldn't hold the emotions that had just flooded through her and the water works started slipping from her beautiful eyes.

"Well, this surely wasn't the reaction I thought I was gonna get from you!" Darry couldn't help but frown. He was expecting her reaction to be much different. Her reaction was supposed to be that of his her smiling from ear to ear and jumping and bouncing all around, not of one that looked so sad and with tears falling down her face. Darry stepped in closer to her and caught a tear with his thumb as it slipped from her blue eyes.

"It's just that…" Sara stopped to catch her breath. "You look just like…. Dadda. All dressed up like that." Darry looked down at his outfit and half smiled.

"Yeah, I guess that might be true." Darry knew what he needed to do next. He reluctantly reached for Sara's tiny hand and pulled her towards the hall. He led her down to the bathroom, where the steam had filtered away into thin air. He stopped her at the doorway and closed the door a bit to grab the dress and the bag. He held the bag with this right hand behind the door so that Sara couldn't see the dress yet. He looked the sad little girl in the eyes and asked, "Sara Marie Curtis, will you do the honors of being my date?" When Darry got out the date part he also pulled the dress out from behind the door. He stood nice and tall and held the dress out in front of him. He watched every inch of Sara's face. Her hands flew up to her face and she starting jumping up and down letting out little tiny squeals of delight. Now this was the reaction he was hoping for!

"Oh, Darry!" She muffled between cupped hands over her mouth.

"Is that a yes?" Darry asked smiling as wide as the ocean.

"Is it really for me?" Sara asked finally taking her hands away from her mouth and was reaching them out towards the dress not daring to touch just in case it disappeared in front of her like magic.

"Of course, I don't like to tease, that's Sodapop's job, not mine." Darry continued to hold the dress out towards Sara, but when she wouldn't touch it, Darry needed to prompt her to do so. "Sara, it's not gonna crumble in thin air, you can go ahead and take it. If we don't get a moving we're gonna be late for this thing." Sara's eye got wide at the mention of thing. She was just so excited to learn that the dress was really her's that she hadn't put two and two together.

"You mean the dance?" Darry nodded his head up and down. "You're taking me to the dance?" She asked again to make sure she had the correct information.

"Yes, Sara, that's why I asked if you would be my date. Now are ya just gonna stand there or are we gonna get this thing on you. You know I'm not the best at putting these things on, but I'll try to manage. You need to run to your room and get some white tights. There in your top drawer." As Darry was giving instruction he noticed that Sara was still standing still like a statue. "Sara, if we're gonna make this thing on time you need to get a move on. Now go!" Sara started to turn to do as she was told but before leave she spun towards Darry instead and flew into him and the dress. She squeezed her little arms around Darry and softly spoke.

"I just knew it, Darry! I just knew you wouldn't let me down! You're just the best, and I'll never forget this night. Never!" Darry found his left hand coming up to the back of Sara's hair and he gently caressed it. "I love you so much for this Darry."

Darry was still getting used to using this language with his little sister but for some reason today it was easy as pie. "I love you too Saragirl." He bent his head down and placed a soft kiss on the top of her head and let it linger just long enough to make sure his sister knew how much he deeply cared for her.