Chapter 50
Darry was amazed at how well Sara had been throughout the supermarket. Who would have ever guessed that making a little promise of him sharing stories with her about their parents would keep her on her best behavior? He would have to add this to his running list in his brain on how to get his younger siblings to behave when he needed them too. He couldn't resist but chuckle as he loaded the bags into the bed of the truck and then helped Sara get up into her side. As he settled himself in, he dug a milky way out of the pocket of his shirt. Sara's eyes grew wide as he tossed it in her direction. "For me?" She asked as sweetly as the candy bar was going to taste.
"Well I was hoping that you'd share some."
"You betcha I will!" Sara ripped open that candy bar faster than Darry could start the engine. She estimated where the middle of the candy bar was and did her best to break it in half. The chocolate had started to melt almost the instant her fingers touched it. With sticky chocolate fingers she went to pass Darry his half, but instead of taking it from her sticky hands he opened his mouth wide. This made Sara release a high pitch giggle. "Darrry." She got out in between her soft giggles, but in the end Darry won and Sara slide closer and plopped the melting chocolate caramel in his mouth. He chewed for what seemed like only a second before licking his lips.
"Mmmmm, alright that was good but where's the rest?" He teased the little girl. She couldn't stop giggling.
"Darry that was all of it." She playfully slapped Darry's hand that he had resting on the stick shift. "You know that."
"Are you sure that you divided it up equally because that one tiny piece didn't seem like it was equal." Darry loved teasing the little girl when he knew he could.
"Darrryyy, I did!" Sara cried but was still smiling.
"I know you did Kiddo. I'm just teasing ya." He said as he reached over and squeezed the back of her neck making her squeal. "You know Sara I wanted to tell you how proud I am of you taking your restriction so well. You did a fine job, so I wanted you to know that you were off restriction starting now."
Sara looked towards her brother with wide eyes. One because he complimented her and two, she was off restriction! "You mean it?"
"Boy, do I!" The two shared a smile and then they both got real quiet as Darry drove them on towards home. "Last Kiss" by J. Frank Wilson and the Cavaliers was playing softly in the background. Sara lightly laid her head against the half rolled down window. She listened to this sad song and wondered if that is how it was for her mother and father. She wasn't paying much attention to Darry and as she watched the familiar scenery she soon heard the song go out and a new song come on, "Dream Lover" by Bobby Darin. She had turned just in time to see Darry taking his hand down off of the turner and back onto the shift stick. He obviously thought that the song reminded him to much of their parents' accident as well and was looking for a much upbeat song, for he didn't want anything to spoil the nice day that they were having. Sara let a small grin creep onto her lips as she and Darry exchanged a glance. Darry didn't need to say anything for he knew what she was thinking. Sara leaned her head back against the window and listened to Bobby sing. There were no more words spoken between the two until they got home. Darry loaded Sara's little arms up with two light weight brown paper bags and told her to go inside. Sara obeyed and when she started for the stairs she heard loud music coming out of the opened windows and door to their little house. Sara tried to grab the door with her hands but was unable. So she took the toe of her shoe and caught it against the right hand bottom corner where it was chipped and she managed to get it pulled back. As it swung open she moved her butt against the flying door so she could get it. She walked into the loud house where she found a shirtless Sodapop with a dishtowel hanging out of his back pocket and a bottle of Clorox in one hand.
"Soda!" Sara yelled trying to get his attention, but "Little Sister", by Elvis Presley was playing too loudly and with Soda's singing on top of that he wouldn't have been able to even hear a bomb go off. "Soda!" Sara tried again. As she got closer she tried again but still nothing. Soda was scrubbing the stove top when Sara placed the bags on the kitchen table. Just as she was gonna scream Soda's name again, the music's loud beat dropped off to a subtle background noise. Soda swung around to see what caused the music to die.
"Jesus Darry, you scared the crap out of me. You could of given me a warning that you were here." Soda grumbled.
"I did. I called your name two times." Sara informed Soda while taking the produce out of one of the bags.
"Oh, sorry I didn't hear you." He said coming up beside her to help her unload the bag that she was working on.
"Can't imagine why. Do ya always need that music cranked up so high Soda?" Darry scolded as he handed Sara her bag of clothes from Emily. "Sara, go run these into your room, and Sodapop I could use your help bringing in some more groceries." Sara happily took the bag from Darry and started towards her room while Sodapop placed the bananas down in the fruit basket and followed Darry out to the truck. As the two were bending over the side of the truck to grab more bags Darry spoke up about tonight. "Soda, what are your plans for tonight?"
Soda gave Darry a weird look but willingly gave up what he was doing. "Just gonna hang with Steve and Two-Bit. Why? Am I in trouble or something?" Soda was half joking but wasn't sure with the serious tone that Darry was asking with and all.
"Should you be?" Darry teased. Soda shifted the bags in his arm and let out a light laugh. "No, it's just Billy got talking about Dad and things from my past and Sara's feeling a little low from it. She told me that she feels like we never talk about them, and she wants to know things." Soda's face turned to a sadden expression but just nodded his head a bit. "So I thought maybe after Ponyboy gets off work tonight we could share some memories with her about things they did with us and stuff like that." Soda's face brightened a bit thinking of some good memories to share.
"Oh, I think she would love to hear a story or two about her big brother doing things he shouldn't." Since Darry's arms were full of groceries he couldn't slap Soda so he resorted to his knee instead. He lifted his right knee up and jammed it right into Soda's boney ass. "Jesus Darry that hurt!" He yelped.
"It was meant to. If you dare mention something that we won't want her doing when she gets older than you'll get another one." Darry gave his brother another warning look for he knew Sodapop was about to say something wise. The two walked up their steps before Darry stopped. "So are you in?"
Soda nodded his head. "Yeah sure. I mean I can just meet up with Two-Bit and Steve after she goes to bed." Sodapop paused and gave Darry a funny look. "I mean this isn't gonna be an all-night thing? She's still going to bed at her normal time right?"
Darry smirked at his younger brother and gave him a friendly nudge. "No Soda, it's not gonna be an all-night thing. She'll be going to be bed at 8:30. So just tell the guys you'll meet up with them then. But now we just need to get Ponyboy on board. Any ideas if he has plans for tonight."
"I think he was gonna meet up with Johnny and Dally for the nightly double."
"Who's going to the nightly double? Can I go? Are you going Soda?" Sara inquired while opening the door for Darry and Soda. The boys exchanged a glance and moved on in past Sara.
As Soda was going by he bent down and said, "Sorry Half-pint, no movies for me or for you. I'm staying home and gonna entertain you with some stories."
Even though Sara was disappointed to hear that there were no movies in store for her tonight. But the thought of her two older brothers staying home to share stories of their parents was even better. "Oh, Soda really? You're staying home too? This is just so cool." Sara waited for Soda to move on by with the bags before she started yelling after the two. "Darry! Darry! You're never gonna believe it!" She ran through the living room into the kitchen where she almost ran straight into Darry's backside.
"How many times have I reminded you about running in this house? Don't you remember what happened last time, when you and Dally were horsing around?" Sara instantly brought her hand up to feel the scar that was on her upper forehead from smashing into the coffee table. Darry watching her do so was quick to say. "Yeah, exactly. So stop running." Sara lowered her eyes as she was being scolded and Darry noticed so he tried to make up for it. "So what am I not gonna to believe?" Sara piped right up noticing the change in his tone.
"Soda's gonna stay home with us tonight and share stories too. Isn't that just so cool?" Darry and Sodapop made eye contact and the two smiled over at their little sister.
"Is he now?" Darry decided to play along with Sara's excitement.
"Uh huh! He just said so."
"Yup, that's right, So Darry what's for supper tonight?" Soda said placing a can of beans and corn into the cupboard.
"Shepard's pie."
"Yuck! Can't we have something different?" Sara whined, she was not a big fan of shepard's pie but her brothers all were. It must be a boy thing she thought.
"It's that or nothing little one!" Darry threatened. "And you will eat what is put on your plate. You have an appointment next week with Dr. Robinson and we both want to see that you've gained a pound or two." Darry handed her the toilet paper to go put away. Sulking she took it from him and moved towards the bathroom. "I would take the pouty look off that face or you'll be sitting alone in your room, while we make other plans for tonight." Sara let out a loud and long huff but tried to take the pout off her face which was much harder than she thought. "Sara, I mean it." Darry warned again. Sara drew in her lips and tried to place a fake grin on while trying not to stomp off towards the bathroom.
"That kid I swear Sodapop. You know she's had such a great day. It's amazing how something so little like eating shepard's pie makes a switch in her."
"I don't know why you're so surprised about it Dar. I mean she's never like shepard's pie."
"But she likes everything in it. She will eat the beef, the mash potato, carrots and peas, but served altogether it's like no way."
"It's the gravy Dar. She doesn't like gravy. I thought you knew that by now." Unlike Darry, Sodapop knew all his siblings inside and out. He might act like he isn't paying attention to details but in fact he could tell anyone off the street what his siblings liked and disliked. After Darry put the eggs in the fridge he stopped and scratched his head.
"Really? She doesn't like gravy? Since when? Mom used to make it all the time. We could never get enough of her gravy." Sodapop couldn't help but burst out in laughter.
"Since like, forever." Soda slapped Darry on the back and continued to laugh a hardy laugh. "Don't worry Dar, I have faith that you'll know her like a book before she's eighteen."
"I hardly doubt it." Darry mumbled, but the second he noticed that Sara had returned he tried to change the subject. "So Sara, what is it exactly that you don't like about shepard's pie?" Darry needed to know if Soda was right or not.
Sara answered point blank, "The gravy Darry. I don't like the gravy." Even though Sodapop was now walking away Darry and Sara could hear his deep laugh echoing through the kitchen.
"What's he laughing at?" Sara asked seriously.
Darry smiled back at her but raised his voice so that his wandering brother could hear. "Oh, that brother of yours just thinks he knows it all, that' all." And again the two heard Soda's deep laughter ringing throughout the house.
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"Ah, c'mon Soda are you serious?" Pony whined as he spun the radio dial trying to find a good song to drown out his sorrows of hearing the request to stay home tonight.
"Hey, I'm just the messenger. If you don't want to join in than you don't have to. Go meet Johnny and Dally if that's what you want to do. Darry just wanted me to ask you that's all."
"I'm not gonna sit around and talk about the past. That's why they call it the past you know." Pony finally found a station playing a new song that was just released that week, "I Can't Get No Satisfaction", by The Rolling Stones. Now Ponyboy wasn't a big fan of these "British Invasion" groups but this song was starting to grow on him some.
"Whatever Pony. No one's saying you have to stay home and do this with us." Soda put the blinker on to turn down their street when he realized what was playing on the radio. "What's up with this shit?"
"It's the Rolling Stones. I kinda like it." Soda didn't say anything but don't think for a minute that Ponyboy didn't catch the roll of his eyes as he accelerated down the road towards their house. Soda didn't want any hard feelings between him and Ponyboy but he was a bit disappointed that Pony didn't want to stay and talk about their parents. But as Soda sped down the road he realized that maybe this would be hard on Pony. For Darry was right about Sara saying they never talked about their parents anymore and it probably bothered Pony just as much as it did Sara.
"So what are you going to see?"
"The first show is "What's New Pussycat?" with Peter O'Toole and Woody Allen. And then the late showing is The Collector. It looks really good." Sodapop pondered over what Pony had just said and was wondering if Darry would be happy about Ponyboy seeing a Woody Allen movie, they can sometimes be a bit vulgar.
"Does Darry know you're going to those ones?"
Pony gave Soda an awkward looked. "Darry's never cared before what movies I go and see, so why would he now?"
"I'm just saying." Soda cleared his throat, "that there might be some inappropriate parts in it."
"Oh, please Soda!" Pony was offended. "I'm not a little kid."
"No, you're not, but your still only thirteen kiddo." Soda was going to continue on with his speech but Pony was quick to cut him off.
"I'll be fourteen next month Soda."
"I know. You think I would forget your birthday?" Soda slapped Pony's arm trying so hard to lighten the mood. But before he could try any further their house came into view. Soda grinded the gears together and went flying way to fast into the driveway, thrashing both him and Pony around some, but causing Pony to finally let out a chuckle.
"If Darry saw that your ass is gonna be grass." Pony laughed again, but not before Sodapop gently slapped the back of his head.
"He'll have yours too if you don't cut out that language. I swear you've been hanging around Two-Bit and Dally too much." Soda let a grin grow on his lips, "or maybe I should right now?" He started to move across the seat after Pony, when Pony flew open his door and started to jump out.
"You'll have to catch me first." He laughed and slammed the door on Sodapop. The two were laughing and Soda pushed open the door running after his little brother who was already barreling through their front door. Both boys were hollering and laughing at each other when Darry stepped out of the kitchen to see what in tarnation was going on. Pony was trying to rush past him when he stepped in front of him.
"Darry, you've got let me by, Soda's gonna get me." He said trying to push pass the big man still laughing.
"Let me at him Dar." Darry pushed Ponyboy behind him and was defending him some not knowing the reason why Sodapop was after him, but by the way the two were laughing they must be playing around.
"Dinners ready. Ponyboy go wash up in the bathroom and grab Sara from her room." He gave Pony a brotherly shove towards the hall while he playfully grabbed Sodapop in a bear hug.
"C'mon Dar, you don't play fair! Let me at him." Soda was practically laughing so hard he had water leaking out of the corner of his eyes.
"That's enough Soda. Calm down and go wash your hands over there, and leave your brother alone." Soda struggled to get out of Darry's bear hug and the two found it amusing.
"Alright, alright Dar. I'll leave the little squirt alone. Just let me go."
"What's the magic word Sodapop?" Darry loved teasing any sibling when he could. Sodapop let out a sigh and gave in.
"Please?" He asked nicely. Darry laughed and released his brother. Sara heard all the laughter and wanted to join in too.
"Why's everyone laughing?"
"Because you two other brothers are goobers." Darry laughed as he took ahold of Ponyboy that was walking in behind Sara.
"He's the goober, not me." Pony said shaking loose for Darry's grasp.
"Yeah, well you might want to take that back, or else I'll tell Darry why I was chasing after you!" Soda and Pony sat down and they both just eyed each other. Pony knew that Sodapop wouldn't give him up, or would he? But after a few seconds of their staring contest, Sodapop finally let a small grin creep up on his serious looking face and then he burst out laughing.
"What are you two knuckle heads up too?" Darry asked taking the shepards pie out of the oven. He noticed the scowl on Sara's face which pulled his attention off his two younger brothers and pointed for Sara to sit down. She did as he told but not without crossing her arms against her chest first. "Sara." He warned. Darry set the cassrole dish down in the center of the table and grabbed at a loaf of Italian bread and threw that on the table as well. Sodapop started scooping up the pie and plopping it down in his plate, he then passed the serving spoon to Pony and he did the same. When Pony was finished filling his plate he passed the spoon to Sara. She shook her head and Pony just shrug. Sodapop took the spoon out of Pony's hand and started digging into the dish for Sara. He was just about ready to plop the first spoonful down when Darry swooped in and grabbed her plate away from him. All three watched as Darry walked over to the stove where there was a smaller casserole dish. He scooped out two big spoonful and placed them on Sara's plate. The three looked on in amazement. He walked her plate over, held it steady as he grabbed out a piece of Italian bread for her and leaned in and placed it down in front of her. She looked on and noticed no gravy. She couldn't help but smile, she looked up to see Darry watching her every move. "I want you to eat, and enjoy it. So there shouldn't be any reason why that plate isn't empty by the time we're done, got it?" She vigorously shook her head in agreement.
"Thank you Darry." She said softly and took a big fork full and smiled while she did so.
"You're welcome Kiddo, next time just tell me you don't like something first without pitching a fit." Darry mentioned while filling up his own plate.
"I will." Sara said with a mouthful. The two younger boys laughed and the Curtis family sat and talked about lots of things. Darry talked about the job at Billy's, Sara talked about Colleen's playhouse and asked Darry if he could build her one. He said he would see, which to Sara meant no, but she wasn't gonna give up on working on him. Sodapop talked about how Steve and him almost had his car up and running. And Pony talked about his day at work and how it was mostly Soc families and that really sucked. It was a nice night without having any of the gang around. Sara ate everything on her plate and got approval from Darry by the gentle squeeze he left on her shoulder. Sodapop and Sara were on dishes tonight, which was good because that gave Darry time to pull Ponyboy aside and ask if he was staying tonight. Darry was a little disappointed to hear that Pony was going to the movies instead with Johnny and Dally, but it was his free night, so Darry didn't make a big deal of it and just told the kid to be back home by eleven. Pony agreed and moved into his room while Darry moved out to catch some of the conversation that Soda and Sara were having.
"Soda are ya gonna tell me some good stories about you and Momma and Dadda?" Sara asked as she wiped the dishes off.
"Of course. What do you want me to tell you? Do you just want stories of Mom and Dad, or me, Mom and Dad?" Soda was hoping that Sara would give him some ideas of what she was looking for so he could start to think of some appropriate stories that Darry would approve of.
"All of it. You,Darry, Pony, me and Momma and Dadda. Or even Momma and Dadda and one of the boys. Anything really." Darry was actually happy to hear this so it helped give him ideas too. He started tinkering with one of the broken drawers while he continued to listen to the two go back and forth when finally Sara asked the most important question. "So when can we start?" She looked over towards Darry hoping he would answer. When there was a moment of silence between everyone Darry finally spoke up.
"How about we get you in the tub, and then when you get out we'll get some popcorn going and settle in the living room." Darry thought that the living room would be the best place than he could go over the mail and look through the paper while Sodapop was sharing stuff, and when it was his turn he could easily have something in his hands to fidget with. He wanted to do this for his little sister but at the same time it felt a bit weird and all. But he promised himself that he would walk out of his comfort zone for a least an hour or so and do this for Sara. It was already twenty minutes of seven and by the time she got in and out of the tub it would be past seven, or so he hoped. Sara on the other hand had different plans. After she was done drying the dishes she jumped off her chair and placed it back at the table without dragging it across the floor, because she knew how much Darry hated that. She pranced into her room grabbed some comfy pajamas and rushed to the bathroom where she started drawing up her own bath.
"Do you hear that?" Soda asked Darry while he put the dishes away that Sara had just wiped dry. Darry stopped trying to get the drawer back on its bent tracks and took a good listen. "By golly I think Sara's starting her own tub Dar." Darry placed the broken drawer on the counter and followed Soda to the bathroom. When they got to the open door, they noticed their little sister had in fact drawn her own bath and was frantically washing her body up. "What's the rush? You got some hot date or something that we don't know about?" Sodapop teased. Sara's head spun around just like she was a toy top.
"I want to hurry so we can get started with stories." She said looking like a wet swan covered in suds.
"Sara, Soda and I still have things we need to finish before we can get started with that. Plus Ponyboy hasn't left yet. I thought we would wait for Dally and Johnny to come pick him up so we don't get interrupted."
"Pony's not staying?" Sara's face drooped at the news.
"Sorry kiddo. He had plans already. But I'm sure that he'll share something with you tomorrow if you ask him too." Darry was hoping that would be a good consolation prize.
"Oh. It's just, well…" Sara splashed at some suds that were floating around in the tub. "I guess that'll be fine."
"Do you need help with your hair?" Soda asked while moving in towards the tub.
"Yes please." Soda crouched down next to Sara and cradled the back of her head and let the warm water from the faucet get her hair wet. After it was completely saturated, Soda slowly brought her head up and started scrubbing with shampoo. As he was scrubbing he noticed the frown that was playing across Sara's pretty little face.
"Why the long face?" He asked picking up her chin.
"I don't have a long face."
"Sara Marie Curtis, don't lie to me." Soda said putting his parental voice on.
"Can you just try talking with him Soda? Please? Maybe he'll change his mind if you ask him to stay home with us tonight."
Soda sighed and stopped scrubbing as he let his suds covered hands hang over the edge of the tub. "I tried honey, and he still wants to go to the movies with Johnny and Dally."
"But you're staying, and you probably had plans with Sandy or Steve."
Soda smiled at his sister, "Yeah, but I'm older and I know that this is important to you. And I can always do what I wanted after, Pony can't. The movies don't wait for no one. Now stand up and let's rinse with the shower head." Sara stood up and Soda turned the shower on. "Close your eyes and move forward a bit." Sara did both and Soda soon had her hair all rinsed and cleaned. "You're good to go."
"I want to get out now." She said as she started to step over the edge of the tub still dripping wet. Even though she was still disappointed about Pony not staying she was still in a hurry to try to get the boys talking. She had a feeling that if she bugged them enough about that either two things would happen. One, they would cave in and start talking; especially Sodpaop, or two Darry would warn her to stop pestering and to wait until he was ready. So she was willing to take both chances. Soda had handed her a towel and she rushed through drying off. But instead of Darry giving the first warning she unexpectantly got it from Sodapop.
"Sara, you'll never get your pajamas on if you don't slow down and dry off completely." Sara just huffed with annoyance and reached for the towel that she had thrown down and tried it again. When Sodapop was satisfied he walked back out to the kitchen to finish the job he had started before getting distracted with Sara. Once she was dried off and had her pajamas on she rushed into her bedroom grabbed her pillow and Mr. Bear and rushed back to the couch where she planted herself. Darry and Soda watched as she rushed back and forth and the two couldn't help but shake their heads at the girl. The two older Curtis' finished their jobs in the kitchen when Sodapop glanced over to Darry. "What do you say? I mean she is being so patient in there."
"Yeah, I know. I was just hoping that Pony would be gone so that Dally and Johnny wouldn't interrupt."
"You know what I think?" Soda stepped closer to the hall so maybe Pony would hear. "I think we should get started and maybe he'll hear what we're sharing and he might change his mind."
Darry shook his head. "You know what little brother; you just might be onto something." Darry threw his arm around his little brother and brought him in for a side hug. Soda stopped at the fridge and grabbed a Pepsi, while he handed Darry one too. Darry thanked him and the two moved into the living room. Darry took his typical spot in his chair while Soda flopped down on the couch next to his sister. Sara's eyes sparkled with delight. She figured if they were joining her than they must be ready. "So who wants to start first?" Darry asked taking the cap off his Pepsi. No one said anything until Sara got up from the couch and walked over to the tv where a few weeks ago Darry had placed a picture of their parents. She carefully took the black and white picture down and brought it over to the couch with her where she studied it. She studied her parent's faces and their expression, their hair style and even though the picture was in black and white she could still vividly remembered what color their hair was. Soda and Darry watched her intently both wondering what she was thinking.
"I remember when this picture was taken, don't you Dar?" Soda finally broke into Sara's thoughts.
"Yup, wasn't it Easter? 1962? No wait 63?" Then Darry couldn't help but smile and he looked over and noticed that Sodapop was smiling too. And at the same time they both said, "Rotten Easter Eggs!" Sara looked between the two with a yucky facial expression. Just as Darry was gonna get ready to tell the story, Dally came through the door with Johnny lagging not too far behind.
"Hey." Dally said moving towards the entryway.
"Hi Dal." Sara had remembered his threat from earlier in the day so she tried to act like her normal self so to say.
"Hey Kid." Dallas looked around for Ponyboy and when he couldn't spot him he yelled. "Ponyboy, let's get a move on. It's gonna be dark soon."
"I'll be right out." The group heard from the boys' room. Sara was waiting patiently for Darry to continue with the story and when she couldn't wait no longer she inquired about it.
"So what about the rotten Easter eggs Dar?"
"What the hell are you talking about Kid?" Not only was Sara intrigued but it caught Dallas Winston's attention as well.
"Sara wanted to hear stories of our family from times that she couldn't remember so we're telling her some." Soda informed him as he glanced down at the picture that she was still holding of their parents.
"Ah, I've got one to share. Darry you remember the time you, me, Tim, Tommy and Two-Bit played mailbox baseball, and oh man, what a good game we were having until your old man passed us right at the time you were taking a swing at the Parson's box. Oh, man I'll never forget him sitting out of that porch there." Dally stopped and looked towards the porch like it was replaying right in front of him. "He was pissed. Remember when he grabbed you by the arm and hauled you out to the shed." Dally then let a low whistle out. He was about to continue when Pony waltzed into the room.
"I'm ready. Let's go." He started walking towards Johnny and Dal when Darry stood up and reached out to stop him.
"Eleven Pony." Darry had taken his wallet out and went to hand Pony a one dollar bill, but Pony just pushed it away.
"I'm fine Dar. I've got my own money." Darry continued to hold it out, but Pony continued to refuse it.
"Tell me more Dally. How old was Darry? Did he get into trouble for hitting people's mailboxes?" Sara had never heard this story and was quite smitten with it so far.
"What were you sixteen?" Dallas paused trying to recall how old he would have been.
"Fifteen." Darry mumbled and then added, "I think that's just about enough. Don't you guys need to get going." Darry was purposely trying to drive them out so that no more of the story would be released.
"Ha!" Dallas sputtered.
"Well, did you get into trouble Darry?" Sara asked again.
"Yeah, Dar, did you get in trouble?" Soda egged Dallas on so he would continue telling them what he knew of this.
"Um, I do believe that your big brother here had a hard time sitting down for a few days, now didn't ya Dar?" All eyes were now turned on Darry whose face was changing to a brighter shade of pink. "And a lot of mowing lawns to help pay back for new mailboxes too if I remember correctly." Dally was just rubbing salt into the wound now.
"Get outta here." Darry said pushing them out towards the door. But the room was just filled with laughter except from Sara who was actually feeling bad for Darry, remembering how it felt to receive just the three hits from Darry not so long ago. "Pony, eleven." Darry warned as he watched the three jumped down the stairs still laughing. Once they were out on the driveway, Dally paused to pull out a smoke and Darry moved back to his chair.
"Ouch Dar, Dad did have a heavy hand didn't he?" Soda remembered a time or two that he had been on the receiving end. But that punishment that Darry received wasn't by his father's hand that time, it was from his belt and Darry will never forget what that felt like. He wasn't sure if Sodapop had received the belt, he knew for a fact that Pony had never been stuck by anything and Sara, well, she was such a different story from Pony. Darry had in fact seen both his parents plant a smack on her behind, but never with a belt. But thankful Sara saved him from thinking any further about it and wanting more of the rotten Easter Eggs. So Darry was able to continue to explain how their parents had left the eggs outside the night before and it was really warmed that night so when they boys and Sara got up the next morning all they could smell was rotten eggs. The three enjoyed the laugh while Dally, Johnny and Ponyboy started to head out of the driveway. Just before they set foot on the road, Dally turned to Pony and slapped him.
"Hey Dipshit, where's your coat. It's gonna get cold once that sun goes down." Pony looked down noticing that he only had a muscle shirt on. He knew Dally was right.
"Wait right here, I'll be right back." Pony was a fast runner and both Dally and Johnny knew that so they agreed to wait. As Pony ran back to the house he got to the porch and he could hear Soda talking about his old horse Mickey Mouse.
"You know Sara, if you can only remember a few things about Mom and Dad; I want you to remember what kind, and compassionate people they both were. When I lost Mickey Mouse I was absolutely devastated. I felt like my whole world was gonna crash down on me." Soda couldn't take his eyes off of the picture that was now lying on the couch between him and Sara. His traced the outline of his Mother's face and then continued. "I remember Mom and Dad sitting me down at the table telling me that they wished that they could afford to get him back for me. Dad told me he would sell everything he had, but that it would still not be enough. That horse cost a great deal of money. I didn't understand it back then, but I do now, and you know they were right. We would of never been able to afford him. Either he would of starved to death or we would of…" Pony had to catch his breath for he remembered how awful it was for Soda to lose Mickey Mouse. He remembered how sad he was. Pony never knew this about his parents. He thought that they were just being parents and didn't really care about how Soda was feeling. It was at that moment that Pony turned and ran back off the stairs towards Johnny and Dally. When he approached, Dally starting cussing up a storm, seeing that Pony hadn't come back with a jacket or nothing. "Hey Dipshit, what the hell are you doing? Jesus Christ Kid."
"You guys go ahead without me. I'm not feeling very well. Must have been something in Darry's shepards pie." Dally cocked and eyebrow.
"You sure kid?" Pony shook his head and waved good bye. Johnny hung back and spoke to Ponyboy.
"You look fine Pon." The two sat there just studying each other for a few seconds before Johnny added, "I hope you feel better though. The movies won't be the same without you. I mean who will talk me through it and all?" Johnny kicked at the dirt and gravel but after grinding a hole as far as he could he spoke again. "But then again maybe listening to some good memories of your Mom and Dad will help and all." Johnny knew the truth and gave his buddy a nod.
"Johnnycakes, if ya coming, you best get a moving, because this cat is moving on out."
Johnny waved good bye to Pony "See ya round Pon." and he jogged off to catch up with Dally.
"See ya Johnnycakes." Pony stood there and watched his two buddies disappear with the fading sun. Once he couldn't see them anymore he turned and ran as fast as the wind back to his house hoping that he hadn't missed too much. He flew up the creaky stairs and flung open the door. It caught the attention of the other three sitting there. He moved on through to the kitchen. As he passed by not saying a word to anyone Darry and Soda exchanged glances. Darry watched and listen to his little brother moving around in the kitchen. He finally came back in holding a glass of water and moved on over to the couch, tapping Sara to move over closer to Sodapop. Sara was smiling from ear to ear and took her pillow and Mr. Bear and leaned into Soda's lap making herself very comfortable, but Soda didn't mind much. No one mentioned anything to Pony and he didn't offer any information up. He kicked his sneakers off and stretched them out onto the coffee table and sat quietly listening for the next story, but when no one mentioned anything Sara spoke.
"Darry can you share some more stories?" Darry ran his hand through his hair as if it would help pull some memories out. "How about some popcorn first?" There was a round of cheers and Darry went off to make some while Soda went and gathered up drinks. Sara stayed on the couch and just smiled a big wide grin at Ponyboy who was making himself comfortable beside her. Before the two knew it Soda and Darry where handing out bowls of popcorn and drinks.
As everyone got comfortable again, Sara reminded Darry that he was about ready to tell another story. In between bites Darry started in again. "Well, like Soda already said, our parents were the best, they really were. They always put us first, our needs, our wants, always. And even at times when we would never ask for things. They just knew. A perfect example of this was during my senior year me and my steady girlfriend broke things off." Darry paused again looking at his three siblings on the couch and not sure if he really should go here, but he had already started so he knew they would make him finish. But even though it was slightly embarrassing it wasn't nearly as embarrassing as the story Dally shared. When his eyes landed on Sara it was like she was encouraging him to continue just with her eyes. He took a deep breath and he managed to tell the story. "See I thought this was the girl for me. I thought I might actually ask her to marry me some day, but then something happened, and we just broke things off. I was so hurt and miserable. Kind of like Soda was with Mickey Mouse. I couldn't focus. I didn't want to go to school, I didn't want to do homework, I couldn't eat, I couldn't sleep, and so finally Dad showed up at school on a Friday afternoon. They called me down to the office and Dad was there to pick me up." Darry paused again looking into the kitchen like he was watching something. He gathered his thoughts and then continued with the story. "He picked me up and we started driving. He didn't say anything, and I didn't ask anything. It wasn't until we crossed the city limit lines that I glanced over my shoulder and noticed some bags in the backseat. Dad finally said, Son I think we need some time away from life. It was amazing how he just dropped everything at home, at work and got me outta of Tulsa. He brought me to that camp where we would stay to hunt sometimes." Pony and Soda shook their heads remembering exactly where Darry was talking about. "We stayed there until Sunday. Just him and I. We fished and talked and talked and it was just what I needed. He confided things in me, that one day I will confide in you, but that was the first time I felt like I was no longer a boy, I felt like I was a man, and he made me feel that way. We came back on a Sunday afternoon and it was like everything had changed, but for good. I was now more focused on school, working hard and getting into college. And all because Dad knew, he knew I needed time, time away, time with just him. I'll never, ever, forget that memory of Dad and that trip."
"I remember that. I remember wondering where you and Dad had gone. And all Mom kept saying was that you were safe and not to worry." Pony confessed to his siblings. The group was quiet for a moment until Sara's sweet, soft voice spoke.
"It was Maggie wasn't it Darry?" He was completely shocked that Sara would have put two and two together. He knew that Sodapop knew and maybe Ponyboy, but he doubted it. But he would have never guessed in a million years that Sara would know. When Darry was too shocked to answer Sara pressed it again. "You wanted to marry her Darry?"
"I thought I did back then Sara." Darry mumbled.
"Do you still want to marry her?" Sara asked innocently. Darry let out a low chuckle.
"No Sara. I don't want to marry her."
"Phew." Sara said under her breath.
"What's that?" Soda said leaning down into Sara's ear.
"Nothing." Sara answered trying to cover up a yawn.
"Is someone getting tired over there?" Darry noticed.
"No, not at all." She rubbed her hands over her face to try to get rid of the sleepiness she was feeling. She felt so comfortable lying in between her two brothers and with her head on her pillow in Soda's lap. "Please tell me more stories."
"How about not only was Mom and Dad compassionate, kind and caring, but how about how much they encouraged us to always rise to our potential." Pony said as he broke off a piece of thread that was hanging from his shirt. Sara looked up with droopy eyes at her brother. "There was this one time when I was in the sixth grade and Mr. Bugsy wanted me to enter a local writing contest, but I didn't want to because I didn't think it was cool. So after several attempts from Mr. Bugsy and me saying no, he called and spoke with Dad." Pony stopped and tried to choke back the tears while he thought about this memory. He was about ready to stop when he felt a small hand touch his thigh. He brushed away a tear that started to slip. The little hand slowly moved from his thigh to his hand and he felt a little tiny squeezed. This only made another tear slip from his eye. But it was the encouraging smile that was shining from his little sister that forced him to continue. Pony took a deep breath and looked around the room. He could tell by the expression on all their faces that they were there to help support him through it. "So Dad came into my room that night after speaking with Mr. Bugsy and started talking about all these notorious people in our history that went out on the limb and tried things, even though they might not seem cool. Like Benjamin Franklin with the lighting rod, or bifocal glasses, and how about Thomas Edison for the light bulb, Alexander Graham Bell for the telephone. He went onto talk about Orville and Wilbur Wright for the airplane and Henry Ford for the automobile, Robert Fulton the steam boat." Pony paused as he noticed that Sara and Soda started getting a fuzzy glaze over their eyes. He smirked and then tried to get to his point. "So basically he would remind me every time it wasn't cool what they were doing either, but they worked to the best of their potential and because of that we have all these tools that make living so much easier. Every night for a week he would simply walk past me in the hall or while we sat on the couch or before going to bed and would drop a name, Samuel Colt, Eli Whitney, Willis Carrier and so on. And before I knew it I was sitting down one afternoon and wrote that paper that won first place. I received ten dollar rewards from it, and all because Dad believed in me." Pony might have shed a tear at the beginning of the story but by the end he was grinning from ear to ear.
"We all were proud of you Pon." Soda said while he caressed Sara's hair.
"I think we lost someone." Darry watched his brother caress a sleeping beauty. Soda bent his head down and noticed that Sara was out like a light.
"Yup we sure did."
"It must have been all that playing she did with Billy's daughter this afternoon." Darry started to get up from his chair when he informed his brothers of the new friend she had made. "It was nice to see Sara interact with someone her own age. I think Billy's daughter will be very good for her." He reached in and took a hold of a sleeping Sara. He was careful not to jostle her too much for he wanted her to stay asleep. Sodapop followed with her pillow and Pony, well he just felt like tagging along. The three brothers got her to her room without any waking of the child. They tucked her in and Darry even turned her music on for her just in case she might awake. The boys shuffled down the hall and Sodapop went immediately to the television and turned it on. Darry flashed Soda a puzzled look. "I thought you were meeting Two-Bit and Steve?" Soda threw himself back onto the couch. "Nah, I just feel like hanging out here, with my family and enjoy the memories." He couldn't help but look over again at the black and white picture of their parents that was now on the coffee table. "It's what Mom and Dad would want."