Were Always Running

The guys were gathered around the beat-up old oak table playing cards as Darry walked in from work. He had been roofing all day in the blazing Tulsa heat, but thankfully it was Friday. Some of the guys were ribbing Darry saying he looked like a lobster today when he'd gotten off work. He had to laugh because he knew he did, and the sun scorched his skin so badly it was already peeling off. Luckily, he was wearing a ball cap, so his face didn't get too roasted. Soda smiled at Darry when he noticed his brother staring at the guys playing cards, "Oh, golly Dar, you sure got burned out there today." The guys looked over at him and Two-bit let a wild laugh out, "Looks like you're a baked tomato, you got cooked." Darry rolled his eyes, which led him to look at the corner of the small dining room, and he sighed heavily. He was in no mood to deal with any craziness tonight, he jerked his thumb over to where Ponyboy was, "What in the hell happened?"

Soda was about to speak when he was interrupted by an angry voice, "Soda's being a jerk!" Soda rolled his eyes, "Hush up Pony, you know the rules. No talking when in the corner, and before I was rudely interrupted, our kid brother thought it was a good idea to ditch school. He missed his last period class and went to the movies." Darry wanted to stomp his foot and yell! He knew it would have been childish for him to do so, but sometimes he was just pissed he had to be the adult. "Why didn't the school call me?" Soda shrugged. "They didn't call, Two-bit saw him walking home alone and Pony confessed. Thankfully Two was there because some socs were following him."

Steve started laughing, Soda had lost the card game and threw the cards in his face. Darry cleared his throat and the guys looked at him. "Did ya'll want to go out and come back for dinner around 6 tonight?" They knew Darry was pissed and since Pony was in trouble, they didn't want to stick around to see the kid get his butt handed to him. Pony yelled, "But Darry?! I didn't do anything bad. Just went to see a movie!" He whined. Darry felt like his head was going to explode! He was hot and tired from working all day and just wanted an ice-cold beer. Soda nudged Two, "Come on ya'll let's go to the dingo for some cokes."

He tried to lighten the mood and the guys got up. Darry wished he could go too, "Soda, I'm serious, be back by 6, and if you guys want to come back for dinner feel free to, we got plenty." He tried to soften his voice; he knew the guys sometimes didn't have food at home. This was their safe space, and he wanted to keep it that way. Soda smiled his movie star smile and whispered to Darry on his way out, "Don't be too hard on him Dar, he's just a kid." Darry laughed, "Mmmhmm." He hummed back. Just a kid Darry thought to himself and scoffed. The screen door flew open and slammed behind the guys.

Darry looked at the table still a mess with cards and Pepsi bottles scattered. He knew he was too pissed off to deal with Pony but also saw the kid wiggling in the corner. "How long you been in the corner?" He asked while picking up the bottles and cards. "Darry, too long!" Pony yelled. Darry hated when Ponyboy yelled. But figured the kid never felt heard, so he raised his voice to answer. "Ponyboy, I am standing right behind you. There ain't no need to yell," he turned to see Pony cover his butt. It was enough for Darry to chuckle, "here." Pony turned and Darry handed him the bottles. "Go put those in the recycling and take the trash out."

"But Darry it's not my turn," Darry cocked his eyebrow and Pony sighed dramatically going to do what he was told. Darry finished cleaning up the cards and decided he needed a shower. "Pony, I'm going to get cleaned up, go to your room, and start on your homework." Pony huffed loudly, "Dar, it's Friday! I don't have homework on the weekends." Something in Pony's voice grated Darry's nerves, he gave his kid brother a sharp glare. It was enough to send Pony hustling to his room.

As Darry undressed, he could see the skin sluffing off and cringed because it hurt to move. This sunburn was one of the worst he'd had in a while from work. He showered and quickly got out lathering himself in aloe vera gel. He didn't feel like spanking Pony was a good idea today, but he would if Pony had an attitude. The kid knew the rules about ditching school, and he was 15 already. Darry shook his head and chuckled, he couldn't believe Sodapop would be 18 in a few months. He opened the bathroom door and steam rushed out. The hot water helped his muscles but hurt his sunburn and he sighed heavily heading to Pony's room.

He knocked gently and opened the door seeing Ponyboy reading a book. "We've got to talk kid, want to tell me why you thought it was a good idea to ditch school?" Darry leaned against the door frame with his arms crossed over his chest. Pony looked up giving his best puppy dog eyes, "I just had a free period and thought a movie sounded nice you know." Darry laughed, "Kid, I don't know who you think you're talk'en to, you just don't use your head sometimes. You were almost jumped by those socs!" Darry felt his voice rising. He pinched the bridge of his nose and counted to three.

"What am I going to do with you Pony? We've talked about this so many times, and I'm sick of it." Darry was hoping Pony had a better explanation than just because. "What did I tell you would happen if this happened again?" Pony squeaked, "Ugh Dar come on!" Darry raised his index finger pointing it at Pony. "You said, Dar, you said, you'd skin me, okay?!" This time Pony yelled at Darry. Darry sighed; he really didn't want to dish out a spanking tonight. "Ponyboy Michael Curtis, you're really pushing it." Ponyboy huffed and rolled his eyes, "No I'm not Darry! I'm not a kid anymore, if I want to leave school I can!"

Darry looked at the clock and it was already going to be 5:00, and Pony wasn't picking up on any of his warnings. "Well Pone, I hate to tell you this kid, but when you're under my roof and under 18 you're still a kid. I was trying to let this slide with a stern talk'en too, it ain't work'en though. Get up and go get the belt, I want you back in here in 2 minutes. Don't make me come get you." Darry's voice was stern, and Pony felt anger boiling in his chest. He wanted to yell, but instead hatched a plan. Darry waited a minute then heard the screen door slam, he assumed the guys got back early, "Hey, thought you'd be back around 6?" He walked into the empty living room, and it dawned on him. He ran into his room and through the small house, just to realize Ponyboy had left into the fading daylight…