I cleaned up my work from the table and brought it back to my room knowing that everyone would start showing up. We had quite a few Christmas traditions and now that everyone was home we could get started on them! Soda and Steve were setting the table and Mom was finishing up cooking. "Do you know who all is coming over tonight?" She called out. "I made enough food to feed an army, which with all you boys I basically am."
"Probably everyone" Soda replied. He was at least setting up the table for everyone. Sure enough in walked Two-Bit. "Hello my second family!" he shouted out. "Keith, is your mom home? Go get her and your sister and tell them to join us tonight. It's the holidays and I have plenty of food." Mom called to him. She always used all the boys full names when talking to them. Dad on the other hand never did. Two-Bit stood at attention and saluted "Yes Ma'am. I will go get them and report back Mrs. C!" he turned and dashed out the front door. The Matthews only lived a few houses down so it wouldn't take long.
While he was gone, Dally and Johnny showed up. "Ponyboy you're all better!" Johnny called out when he saw me. "I finally got out just in time!" I said with a grin. Dally just grunted out a good to see you kid. Soda and Steve finished setting the table and Darry was changed out of his work clothes. We were all hanging in the living room chatting when Two-Bit came back with his mom and sister. His sister was about my age, only a few months older, but everyone wanted us to fall in love which could get annoying. I mostly just avoided her, which she reciprocated. I don't think she was interested in me. I was pretty sure she had a boyfriend anyways. At least that was the rumor at school.
Mrs. Matthews headed to the kitchen with a dish and started talking to Mom. Two-Bit and his sister came and sat down to chat with us. I was waiting for the usual teasing that always begun when I was in same room as her, but surprisingly nothing was said. Dad came into the room to say hi to everyone and then dinner was called. We had to just grab plates and sit wherever we could find a seat because there were way too many people this time. We were pretty squished in our small house. Two-Bit and Soda started throwing rolls at each other and were both yelled at by our moms. Mrs. Matthews had to head out to work shortly after eating and his sister was going to go meet up with her friends for a bit.
Once they left and dinner was cleaned up, Mom laid out a bunch of sugar cookies and frosting. This was the first of our Christmas traditions. As kids we would always decorate cookies for Santa the night before. Now that we were older it didn't seem as tuff to do. Nobody moved at first and then Mom put her hands on her hips and said "I spent all this time making those cookies and I'm not going to decorate them all, so if you want to eat one, you'll have to decorate it first. Come on humor me it will be fun I promise"
In typical Soda fashion he popped up from the floor and ran over to the table calling "I get blue first!" Two-Bit chased after him and tried to tackle him to the ground saying he wanted blue for his cookies, but missed and hit the floor. "Idiot" Steve rolled his eyes and followed Soda to the table. Slowly we all stood up. I guess we were doing this.
What a sight we must have been. 7 Greasers sitting around a table decorating cookies. If anyone saw us we would never live it down. I couldn't possibly imagine Tim's gang ever doing this. Even as little kids they probably never had. It wasn't a really tuff look, but I have to say, Mom was right it was kinda fun. We were all laughing around the table while decorating.
Dally and Darry had both just smeared some frosting on a cookie and then sat back, ate it, and were chatting about something going on around town. They didn't do any more than that. They were still too tuff for this I guess. I couldn't hear what they were saying because I was at the other end between the two loudest people on earth I swear, but it sounded like some kids were getting jumped. Everyone else at the table probably knew what was happening, but no one ever filled me in on anything. I was trying to hear if a rumble was going to happen. Maybe I could convince Soda and Darry to take me if there was one. I couldn't hear properly though because Soda and Two-Bit were loading up their cookies with frosting and making the biggest mess I've ever seen all while throwing frosting at each other. Steve had made one cookie but was mostly messing with Soda and Two-Bits 'masterpieces' as they called them. Johnny seemed to be enjoying himself, but only decorated two cookies. He was mostly just laughing at the chaos happening around. My cookies actually were looking really good. I was proud of my decorating skills.
Steve took one of Soda's cookies and shoved it in his mouth and Soda tackled him to the ground. As usual a wrestling match broke out. We couldn't be in a room for more than 10 minutes without that happening. Mom came back into the room and saw all the frosting and cookie crumbles all over the place. We all froze not sure if she was going to be angry about the mess. She broke out in a smile saying "and you boys thought you wouldn't have any fun. Soda, Steve knock it off. All of you need to clean this up and hurry. The movie is going to start soon."
The second tradition is we always watched Its a Wonderful Life on Christmas Eve. It was Moms favorite movie. The guys would always make fun of it and talk during most of it, but I had to agree that it was a really good movie and I liked that it always played on TV each Christmas Eve. We starting cleaning up the mess and put all the decorated cookies on a plate. Johnny was surprised by how good mine looked and Soda just ruffled my hair saying he had the most talented little brother in the world.
We all sat down on the couches and floor just in time for the movie to start. Mom had made a bunch of popcorn and hot chocolate as well. Everyone watched the first half, but then as usual Soda couldn't sit still anymore and him and Steve started to create trouble. Never one to be left out Two-Bit joined in. Popcorn was getting thrown around and when some hit Dally in the face he gave a swift punch to the culprit which happened to be Two-Bit. That then started it all. Soon we were all wrestling around. Mom quickly lost control of the room and Dad was laughing his head off watching us all. Next thing I knew Darry had me in a headlock and was instructing me on how to get out. He whispered that this was the first part of my training. I tried following his instructions when I heard a crash.
Everyone seemed to look over at the noise. I'm not sure who did it, but the lamp that had been broken last week that somehow the guys had managed to fix had just broken once again. We all knew that was the end of this. Mom stood up and didn't look too happy. She liked having our traditions and was already in a poor mood that we weren't watching the movie. "Boys enough!" she called out in an exasperated yell. "Either sit and finish the movie or leave. No more rough housing tonight." We all disentangled ourselves. It wasn't normal for Mom to get this mad, but the guys did get kicked out every once in awhile. They weren't kicked out in a bad way where they were uninvited or not still fully loved, they were just kicked out and told to take things out of the house when they got too loud or rambunctious.
Dally was the first to stand and say "well I'm going to head out. Johnny you wanna join?" Dally would always take Johnny out whenever Mom got mad. It wasn't often, but Johnny didn't like it when Mom yelled so Dally usually got him out of there. Johnny nodded and stood up to follow Dally. Mom knew how sensitive Johnny's home life was and had tried to do so much to make it better. If we hated Johnny's parents it had nothing on Mom's feelings. I could tell she felt bad already. She didn't like to yell especially not when Johnny was around. "Johnny, honey, I'm sorry. Merry Christmas. Please come by tomorrow. You too Dallas." They both just nodded and Johnny gave Mom a grin. I know Johnny loves my mom probably more than his own mother. "We will! Thanks for dinner and dessert Mrs. C!" he called as they both walked out the door.
Two-Bit then looked at the clock and stood up as well "My sister is probably going to be home soon. I should probably head out too so she isn't alone on Christmas Eve." Mom just nodded at that and we said bye.
Steve realized he was the only one left and guess decided to leave as well. He stood up "sorry about the lamp Mrs. C. I should probably go check on the old man. I'll be over tomorrow though" and he left as well. Mom let out a sigh. Dad rubbed her back saying "it's alright honey. I'll fix the lamp in the morning. Lets finish the movie. All those boys will be back tomorrow to drive us nuts." Mom let out a small laugh. "I just hate being the bad guy but you boys push me to my limit sometimes." Darry, Soda, and I all looked at each other. "Sorry Mom" we all said almost simultaneously. Then Soda continued "that was probably my fault. But now I'm ready to finish this movie! Lets see if he can remember the true meaning of Christmas this time!" We all laughed at that and finished the movie.
Once it ended Soda grabbed me by the arm and whispered in my ear "ready for the last Christmas Eve tradition?" I burst into laugher. "Soda no not this year!" but he was serious. We were doing this. Darry must have overhead us cuz with a skeptical look he said "really? Are you two ever going to grow up?"
"What's the fun in growing up Dar?" Soda shot back with a grin. "I believe you were the one to start this anyways! It was all your idea so don't pretend like you've always been a boring grown-up" Soda teased back. With that Soda hauled me to my feet and we ran to his room. I sat on his bed while he started rummaging through the closet. Darry walked in and rolled his eyes at us. "Come on help us Darry! It will be more fun! Go get the camera!" Soda said to him. Darry rolled his eyes again, but to my surprise he actually left and headed towards where Mom keeps the camera. Soda had the box he was looking for and we all headed back into the living room. I gabbed the plate of decorated cookies as we walked by the kitchen table.
With that, all three of us started setting our trap for Santa. This all started after we got our family camera years ago. The idea is when someone grabs a cookie off the plate, we have it rigged up with jingle bells that will ring which will wake us up. The camera is then all set up so all we will have to do is run out and press the button to get a picture of Santa. Before we had the camera we would sleep on the couch in the hope that we would catch sight of him. Darry came up with this camera plan years ago because I think he liked sleeping in his bed instead of the couch and he convinced us this was better because we would have photo proof.
Dad came into the room and looked at the set up "ah think you are going to get him this year boys?" he said with a sly grin. "I think this will be our year!" Soda replied with a laugh. I just chuckled at the ridiculousness of it all, but it still brought back memories and made me excited for tomorrow! "well you boys should probably get in bed if you want this to work" Dad told us. It was late, but now with all the fun things we've done I was feeling way to excited to go to sleep. I nevertheless went and got ready for bed.
As I was leaving the bathroom, Soda grabbed me and pulled me back in his and Darry's room. Darry was already laying on his bed. "Come on Pony lets stay up all night!" he was bouncing on his feet. He then dragged me to his bed and started whacking me with his pillow. Darry got out of bed, grabbed his pillow giving Soda a whack in the head with it as he walked by and said "I'm not staying around for this. Pony I'm sleeping in your room. You too enjoy your festivities. If you stay up too late though you wont be able to wake up on Christmas morning" and with that he walked out of the room.
Soda and I started an all out pillow fight and then shortly after Mom was at the door. "I see you are switching up rooms for the evening. I was surprised to find Darry in your bed Ponyboy." she took in the room and the feathers floating around. "alright you two. Since it's Christmas I'll let you share tonight, but come on settle down it's time for bed." Soda jumped in his bed and I went over to Darry's. She came and tucked me in and then said goodnight to both Soda and I. Dad walked in and said goodnight as well. They turned off the lights and then left.
Once they were gone Soda whispered to me "Hey Pon. What do you think you're going to get for Christmas tomorrow?" I flipped over so I was looking at him across the room even though it was too dark to see. "I don't know. hopefully a new book maybe. What do you think you're getting?" Soda let out a laugh. "Oh I found all the gifts last week. I already know what we all are getting" he laughed again. I couldn't believe it! This kid was crazy, but that's why I loved him. "I think you're going to like your gifts tomorrow Pon." and with that I heard him roll over.
"Goodnight! Merry Christmas!" he sleepily called out to me. "Night Soda" and with that we both drifted off to sleep.