Author's Note: A shout out to a reader named Delgado. I am not offended at all. I didn't even notice the mistake until you pointed it out. I know you are just human and was typing fast. I make mistakes in my writing all the time. No biggie, stay gold!
A note to the rest of the free world. I have short window to write this coming week. I have mid- terms, holiday break , two speech contests and visiting of relatives who i don't really know. So expected a bit of craziness over the holiday, but I promise I can make it up to you. I'm thinking either a special chapter or maybe an insight to how I write a new chapter for "Being superman isn't easy". Thanks- Free as a bird , stay gold.
Darry-
I returned to Soda's room with lukewarm coffee. Is that even possible? I don't really know, but it isn't cold or hot. It's in the middle, so I think its lukewarm. I took my seat beside Pony with the stupid grin still on my face. I handed Pony his coffee and sandwiches. We ate in silence, it so quiet the only sound in the room was Soda's gentle snores.
"What has you all happy?, Superman?", Pony asks
"Oh, nothing", I say trying to hide
Of course, my attempt failed and the Great Ponyboy Curtis would figure it out. The kid was smart, that was for sure. He watched me with a keen eye. He was like a hunter going for the kill. He steadied his weapon and took the shot. I knew what the first thing out of his mouth would be. At least , he's not as bad as Soda. Soda wants all the details and has them before you realize what you said.
Damn, I was like a love sick puppy. I hadn't even taken her on a date yet. I knew Soda would give me a hard time when he found out. Those two have been trying to set me up with girls .I only went on a couple of the hundreds they sat up. Of course, I only took the girl out to be nice. None of them interested me, so the boys stopped around a year and half ago.
Girls didn't interest me like they did in high school. I was a football stud in high school, it wasn't hard to attract girls then. Now, I'm a grown man who works full time. I have very little time to offer, looks isn't an issue. But Jenny's different, she has school and work, so she's busy too. But this could work, I hoped that things with Jenny went well.
"What's her name?", Pony asks
"Jenny", I reply
"Is that your pounding heart I hear?", Pony tease
"Damn, you are just as bad as Soda, sometimes", I say
"What makes you so nervous? You are the great Darrel Curtis. ", Pony asks
"I'm not the great Darrel Curtis anymore. Yeah, high school football stud was but those days are over.", I reply
"Dar, you have the hero quality going for you. You are raising your kid brothers after a tragic accident took your parents. You're superman", Pony says
"I don't know about that, kiddo.", I reply
"Hey did I hear Darbear got a girl?", Soda says with a cheeky grin
"Damn, how long have you been awake?", I ask
"Long enough. Since you came in all goo-googly eyed.", Soda replied
"Did you call me Darbear?", I ask
"Yep, and it took you a whole sentence to notice.", Soda replied
"Only because I love you will I let it go.", I replied
"You broke Steve's jaw when he made a smart mouth comment.", Soda says teasing
"Well, you're my annoying kid brother, I can put up with that. Steve on the other hand, is the guy who eats the food I pay for", I reply
"So tell me more about this Jenny", Soda says
"She smart and beautiful. She's in premed , going to be a doctor. She has silky brown hair and brown eyes. ", I reply rushed
"Come on, tell us more", Soda whines
"What more is there to say? Other than she is way out of my league.", I say
"She is the perfect girl for Mr. Superman", Soda says
"She is way out of my league", I say once more
"Obviously not. She allowed you to take her on a date which means she finds you interesting and attractive.", Soda says
"Just use the ole' Darrel Curtis charm on her.", Pony says
"I should beat both of your heads in", I reply
"For that to happen , you would first have to catch us.", Pony says
"Young man, I'm not that old.", I say rapidly firing back.
"Whatever", Pony says teasing
"Just remember, I buy your food", I say
"Forget this, I love food. Pone you are on your own.", Soda says
"I thought you loved me.", Pony says
"I do but I'm having an affair with food.", Soda says
"You, two I will never understand.", I say
"But you love us", Soda says
"That is true", I say
"Dar, Can I ask you something?", Pony says
"Sure, kiddo", I say
"Have you ever been in love?", Pony asks
"I'm not sure. Do you mean puppy love or serious love?", I ask
"Serious", Pony replies
"I've loved a lot of people in my life but in different ways. I've had puppy love, it's enjoyable but not forever. No, I haven't had serious love before. Serious is forever love, I haven't had that. You have to meet the right person. And you are too young.", I say
"I'm not the one whos swooning over here", Pony says
"Who's swooning?", I ask
"You are you big dork. When you talk about Jenny, your tone of voice is different. Your icy blue eyes light up and your heart races. That's puppy love,muscles.", Soda says
"So next did you lose your virginity to?", Pony asks
"Alice Jenneson, a brunette with a feisty side . Age 15 1/2 , October 31th. We were in Dad's truck at Lover's peak. We made out and one thing led to another.", Soda says
"Damn, Soda. You've slept with most of the east and west side.", Darry says
"I know, it's not my fault. I am like honey, sweet and sticky. Girls are like bees, they like honey.", Soda says proudly
"You are such a man whore.", Pony says
"Really Soda? ", Darry says
"I am not at fault here.", Soda comments
"Your first, Dar?", Pony asks
"Christie Peterson. Age 14, September 23rd. I was a freshman on the Varsity team. It was my first big win , state champion and I was the only freshman on the team. There was a tradition, that virgin state champions got laid by the cheerleader of their choosing. It happened in Dad's was seventeen, blonde and all legs.", I say
"Im the man whore and you're the prev , Dar", Soda says
"I am not. I've only slept with three different girls not like a hundred.",I say
"Only like ten", Soda says
"Yeah, like ten v.s. three ", Darry says
"So Ponyboy, have you had your first?", Soda asks changing the subject
"Yep. Carrie Carter, Age 15, August 4th. I was a sophomore. We were talking in the truck,which I borrowed from Darry. We kissed and then one thing lead to another. I just happened to have protection on me, thanks to Soda..", Pony says
"Soda, do you want to explain this to me?", I ask
"The kid needed protection.", Soda says
I just rolled my eyes.
"Damn, you were six months older than me.", Soda says
"High five, you were six months older than Soda other here.", Darry says
"So you aren't mad", Pony says
"It's part of becoming a man.", Darry says
We sat talking until around three am. We enjoyed ourself and most importantly the stressful events of today were forgotten. After nearly losing Soda, we just needed things to bet better. Things had definitely had gotten better, Soda was fine and I had a date with the prettiest women I had laid eyes on. Pony was a junior and he was becoming a man that was for sure.
I know understand what it means to be a parent after raising these two for three years. I know for a fact, someday I want to be a father to my own children.