Hello greasers…hope you enjoy this little story, feel free to review it makes me smile to read them. Enjoy Jewelie
Chapter 2
Darry paced around the small house and racked his brain to where the kid could have gone. He was tired from working all day and this was the last thing he needed. As he went to the kitchen counter grabbing his truck keys, he heard the screen door open. He looked, hoping it was Pony, and was greeted with yelling. Soda had a hold on Ponyboy's crook of his elbow and was shaking him fiercely, "Listen here, you will go to our room!" Pony thrashed pushing against Soda as Steve blocked the screen in case the kid decided to bolt. "What in tarnation is happening out here? Pony where the hell did you go?" Darry yelled so loud the house felt like it rattled. Pony had been gone for about 15 minutes, so he thought for sure Soda caught him walking down the street.
Soda turned to look at Darry and had a busted lip, his tongue jutted out to lick the blood away. Pony looked guilty and looked at the carpet holding back tears. Darry approached them and gently grabbed Soda's jaw turning it so he could see his kid brother's lip. "Please don't tell me what I think happened, happened?" his voice was low and dangerous. Steve yelled out angry, "Pony punched Soda right in the mouth when we tried grabbing him on the street." Pony whimpered, "I'm sorry, I thought you were socs trying to attack me." Soda snorted, "Yeah, cuz socs would call your name out." He squeezed Pony's arm harder, "Ouch Sodapop, stop you're hurting my arm." Darry was so angry he wanted to slap Ponyboy, but he refrained. Instead, he peeled Soda's hand off and grabbed Pony's shoulder.
Pony tried to look away, "You listen here, you are in so much trouble that if I were you," he shook his shoulder gently, Pony looked into Darry's eyes, "I'd take my hiney into my room and act like you're sorry. You got me?" Pony felt two years old, but he knew he was in enough trouble. So, he nodded his head and slowly walked to his room. He gently shut the door and threw himself into his pillow starting to cry. Darry let out a breath he had been holding in grateful for once Pony listened and turned to Sodapop.
"So, how'd you get ahold of him?" Soda laughed, "Swear Dar, it was like hog-tying a wild animal. Kid was so cagy and pissed off." Darry cracked a grin, "I'm sure it was." Soda told the story of how he and Steve decided to come back a little early and saw a kid in a gray hoodie. He thought at first it was just another greaser but as they drove closer, they realized it was Pony. When Soda approached him and yanked on his hoodie to get him to stop walking, he sucker-punched Soda. "At least the kid can fight…. but damn Dar if I didn't want to punch back." Darry nodded, taking in the seriousness of the situation, and nudged Soda's shoulder gently. "Want to help make dinner?"
Soda smiled, purple mashed potatoes it was then. Steve sat on the couch watching some old western as Darry cooked with Soda. They ignored the fact Pony was in so much trouble and just talked, mostly about Soda's birthday. Darry wanted to do something special, 18 was a big birthday. Darry remembered his parents went all out for him. They took him to a nice steak house and gave him a pair of his Fathers best cufflinks. His father said he was a man now; he needed a good pair for college. Darry knew Soda wouldn't go to college, but he needed a gift just as good. Dinner was almost done, "Soda, I gotta go talk to Pony, have Steve help you set the table."
Even though Soda was pissed at what Pony had done he still was the baby of the family. "You ain't going to whip him now, are you?" Darry chuckled, "Nope." He popped the P, "There isn't enough time, dinners almost ready." Soda shook his head in agreeance and half-smiled. "Good." Darry shook his head in amusement, Pony could hit Soda, but the world would stop if Darry spanked Pony. These kids, they were crazy. Darry walked to Pony's room and could hear his brothers sobbing but he was unfazed. He'd heard Pony cry a lot these last few years and wrong was wrong. He opened the door and closed it walking to Pony. He sat on his bed, gently rubbing his back, "You're sure upset about how you ran off and then hit your brother." It was more a statement than a question.
Pony sniffled looking up at Dar, his face splotchy red and eyes were swollen, "Yes sir, I am." Darry put on his stern face, "Good, it should and when I say you don't use your head this is what I mean. What did you think would happen when you ran out of here?! Thank Jesus it was Soda and not them socs from earlier." Darry stopped rubbing his brother's back and pinched the bridge of his nose. Pony knew Darry did this when he was angry. Pony sat up, "I just didn't want a strapping Darry, I just went to a movie earlier." There was a whine in Pony's voice that grated Darry's nerves. Darry rolled his eyes, "Pony nobody ever wants a strapping, but then to leave, just cuz you're throwing a fit. I'm so angry, stand up."
Darry was going to give the kid something to cry about, he hated when his Daddy said that to him but now, he understood it. Pony's eyes got large, and he started crying again, "No Darry please! Steve's out there with Soda, don't." Darry stood up grabbing Pony's arm tugging him up and tucked him into his right hip. His kid brother would sit on a sore ass for dinner as part of his punishment. Pony tried to squirm away, but Darry had a tight hold on him. Darry raised his hand high, and it crashed down over the seat of Pony's jeans. Pony yelped, and the sting was immediate, "You will never run from me when I'm going to punish you! You will do as your told and if it happens again Ponyboy Michael Curtis, I will switch you. Do you understand me?" Pony was crying so hard he choked on his saliva coughing and sputtering out a yes sir.
After Darry's hand started to sting and tingle, he consider stopping. He had spanked Pony about 14 times, a perfect warm-up for his after-dinner strapping. Pony's skin burned and he cried so hard he was exhausted. It had stung something fierce but as Darry righted him and hugged him, he felt uneasy. He stuttered out, "Is it over?" Darry laughed wildly, "Oh hush now, after everything you've done? What do you think? Go wash your face and hands. Come out for dinner." Pony groaned; he knew that would have been too easy.
The cold water felt nice on Pony's warm skin, and he dried his face on the bathroom towel. He took a couple of deep breaths in and opened the door. Soda was there grinning and opened his arms. Pony didn't waste a second throwing himself into Soda's hug. "I'm sorry Soda, I didn't mean it! Honest, I didn't know it was you." His apology was whispered out hastily. Soda laughed, "I believe you." He started guiding Pony to the kitchen and kissed his forehead, "Did our mean older brother hurt you?" He cackled. Darry rolled his eyes, these two were thick as thieves. "Ya'll sit down, let's eat already. It's been a long day and I ain't in the mood."
Pony sat down gingerly, and Steve tried to contain his snicker. Soda talked their ears off about cars and how he was going to the Dingo tomorrow to meet a new girl. Everyone smiled at that, after Sandy, it took him a while to date again. "Steve, you got somewhere to go tonight?" Darry asked because he wanted to spare Pony some embarrassment. Since Pony didn't have school tomorrow it was the best time to strap him, so he could sit properly by Monday for school. Steve nodded, "Yeah, I'm staying at Evie's tonight, Soda you still coming to the drive-in tonight?" Soda shook his head, "Nah, I should stay in case a murder happens." Darry laughed at that as Pony moved his fork across his food. "No one's getting murdered, you can go Sod if you want to."
Soda saw how upset Pony was, "No it's okay Dar, I'm just going to stay in. Steve, we lost track of Two though, can you make sure he's good tonight?" Steve said yes and decided he needed to go. Pony had hardly touched his food and Soda cleared the plates, but left Pony's. "Hey kiddo, you need to eat a little." Soda's voice was soft. "Soda, he knows what's expected of him. Don't be a brat Ponyboy, eat your food." Pony's stomach was in knots and the idea of eating made him feel sick. "But Dar," Darry understood it. Who would want to eat when they were about to get their butt spanked so he sighed, "Sodapop, please save his plate until after we get back." He pointed to Pony, "You will eat dinner afterward, you got me?" Pony knew it'd be better if he agreed, "Yes sir."
"Now, go get Daddy's belt in my closet and I'll be there in a minute." Darry stood up and Pony's face fell. Soda turned to face Darry, "Darry, you wouldn't." Darry gave Pony a look and he got up to do what Darry asked. "Sodapop, stay out of it, you got me? Finish up them dishes and go sit on the porch if you don't want to hear it." Soda shook his head but didn't need a strapping of his own, so he walked out the front door. He slammed the screen door behind him. Darry angrily walked out the door, "Really Sodapop Patrick Curtis? Do you think this is easy for me to do? I wish Daddy were here to do this not me!" Darry tried not to yell too loudly. He didn't need the neighborhood in their family drama. Soda sat on the swing, looking up at Darry. "I know, but it still pisses me off."
Darry opened the screen door and Soda got up heading into the living room. Darry grabbed his elbow and popped the seat of his jeans a few times. Just enough to give a sting and turned Soda to look at him, "You done?" Soda sniffled not from the pain, but from his heart aching for Pony. He knew his Daddy's belts wicked sting, "Yes Darry." He looked at the carpet, "Alright, you can head back outside if you want." Soda nodded and cautiously opened and shut the screen door walking outside so he could sit in the humid night.