Soda forced himself to not think about losing Pony. Pony was slipping though his fingers no matter how hard he fought. It was impossible to beat the inevitable, and would lose the fight. He tried to keep to himself so he didn't have to think about. It was harder to speak about than it was think about it.

"Soda, i have a question", Pony asks breaking the silence

"Sure, little colt. Shoot", Soda says

"Why do good people have bad things happen to them? Mama and Papa were good people who did the right thing. They didn't deserve to die. There are people like Tim Shepard and the Burmely Boys who walk around without a care for another human. Yet, nothing touches them. Darry didn't deserve this nor did he deserve to lose the ability to walk. Yet, he did. Johnny didn't deserve to die, he was gallant and a hero in my eyes. Yet he died.", Pony questioned

"I don't know, baby. I don't know how to answer that", Soda says

"Its't not fair", Pony says

"I know isn't not. But remember Darry and I always love you no matter where you are. We are still a family if we get separated. You will always be our baby brother and we will find you before you even know it. ", Soda says

Soda pulls into the drive way of the house. It hit Soda hard that neither brother had been home since the accident. So much had changed in just twenty-four hours. Yesterday, Darry and Soda left for work like always. Pony went to school and came home like always. They fought Darry in the morning asking for five more minuets of sleep before Darry pulled them out of bed like always. It had become retinue and now every thing was changing.

Soda and Pony climbed out of the parked truck. Leaving it behind as them as they opened the front door. The house looked undisturbed and tidy just as they left it. Soda and Pony went into their shared bedroom, it would be the last time for a while that they would share this room.

Soda pulled a duffle from the closet. Soda pulled Pony's clothes from the drawers while Pony packed his art supplies and books. He cradled the sketch book close and recalled Darry picking it up for them for his birthday two months ago. He grabbed the unused box of sketch pencils. Pony packed a few books he knew word for word by heart as well as Gone with the wind and Peter Pan, a book Darry had given the day before.

He grabbed the picture of his brothers and him together. Soda finished packing Pony's clothes when Pony had grabbed his stuff from the bathroom. Things were going to be different that was for sure. The two were finished packing Pony's stuff.

"Pone, you need to get some clean clothes on and clean up", Soda says

Pony changed into jeans and a clean t-shirt. He grabs the jacket Dallas gave him with the burned leather darker than the rest. He slipped on his new pair of converse and combed his hair.

They made their way out of door as they didn't look back. Not saying a word they climbed back into the truck. Pony had realized for the first time in his life he would be without his brothers on his own. It didn't count when he ran away with Johnny, the gang are like brothers. But this time there wasn't gonna be Johnny or anyone coming with him.

Soda pulled into the parking lot. It reminded Soda of taking Pony to school for the first time. It was like hand your baby brother off to strangers and he hated that feeling. Seven year old Soda would have done what Eighteen year old Soda wanted to do. Soda just wanted to run and fight to keep his brother away from the care of strangers. But he didn't have an option.

Soda and Pony climbed out of the car. Mrs. Williams stood next to her parked car waiting for Pony. Soda hugs his brother and whispers that he loves him. The brothers say their goodbyes before Pony went with Mrs. Williams.

Soda watched as his brother climbed into the car of Mrs. Williams. He knew Pony was safe in the hands of Mrs. Williams but where was she taking him. Pony silently read his book in the back seat as Mrs. Williams drove.

Soda sobbed as he drove to the hospital. His knocks turning white from gripping the wheel hard. That pain in his chest came back as his heart broken. He let his walls come down and screamed for good measures. He felt a little better when he pulled into the parking lit. He would never forgive himself.

Soda climbed out of the car and locked. He made his way to the third floor where Darry was. He planned to tell Darry after Pony was put in foster care rather than before. He couldn't fight or try to change things. It was best he didn't know at the time. Now, he needs to know.

Soda turns down the hall to make it to Darry's room.

"Soda , where the hell did you go?", Steve asks

"I'll tell you later , Stevie", Soda says

"You better get it there Darry's be wanting to know for like a hour", Steve says

"I figured he'd be asleep most the day", Soda says

"Where's the kid?", Two-bit asks

"i'll explain later", Soda says

"Let's go to the cafe and get something to eat:, Steve suggests to get the brothes time to talk

Soda closes the door behind him. He could see the worry on Darry's face as he laid in bed. Soda didn't like to make Darry worry. But he had to do what he had to do. He prayed that Darry would get better and walk again. He prayed that Pony would return home safe.

"Soda", Darry says

Soda walks over to Darry and takes a seat next to him. He pulls the chair close. He grips Darry's hand, he felt like he would float away if he didn't grip onto Darry's strong hand.

"Yeah , Darry", Soda says

"where's Pony?", Darry asks

"About that, we need to talk", Soda says

Darry closes his eyes knowing the noise will be bad. He has a feeling if Soda didn't return with Pony it was a bad sign. Soda doesn't just leave his little brother behind like that. Those two are attached at the hip it seems like.

"The state took him. Legally, I turn eighteen by midnight so they can't touch me. But i fought to keep him but you can't agree with the law. Mrs. Willams took him to a boys' home not more than twenty minuets ago. I can apply for temporary guardianship on the day i turn eighteen which is tomorrow. It will take two to four weeks to get everything straighten out", Soda explains

Darry no longer had to be the tough older brother figure he was when his brothers were around. He was in the safety of a closed room with his middle brother. Darry sobs as Soda embraces in a similar way he embraced Pony earlier that day.

Soda played with Darry's hair and was comforting. Darry wasn't mad at Soda. He was mad at God for taking his brother, his parents, his dreams and his friends away. God took away his legs and he was angry.