Today was Darry's birthday. He turned 20. A real adult. No more 'teen' in his age. Mom woke us all up and made a big birthday breakfast for Darry. It was egg sandwiches just the way he liked them. Soda broke out singing happy birthday at least three times that morning much to Darry's annoy. Dad and him still headed off to work at the normal time and I found it strange that birthdays were like any other day when you were an adult really.
Mom brought me to school and it was a good second day. Curly and his so called gang sat with me, but I didn't say much. Just listened as they talked about the girls in the school or about things around town. School seemed to drag on a little longer today than it had yesterday, but finally Mom was picking me up.
We got home and the house was empty. "Where is everyone?" I asked as we walked in. "They said they had to get some things for Darry's birthday. I'm sure I'm not going to like any it though." she knit her eyebrows together like she was in deep thought at that. She seemed to come back to herself and asked "can you make a card or painting or something for Darry? I want to give him something with our gift. It's a pretty big one this year" she gave me a wink like I was in on the secret, but I had no idea what they were giving him.
I always felt a little bad for Darry because his birthday was so close to Christmas. His gifts were often times combined and after the rush of the holidays, his birthday always felt a bit of an afterthought. I was grateful my birthday was in the summer because it was always warm and fun and I didn't have to go to school. I pulled out my sketchbook and ripped some paper out and got to work making him a card.
As I was working the gang all came back in. They were snickering and joking around but when Mom asked what they had gotten they just laughed some more and said they couldn't tell her. She just rolled her eyes and said they were not allowed to corrupt me in whatever scheme they had come up with. I hated when she would treat me like a baby in front of everyone. Soda just said that he would never, but gave me a wink when she turned around.
Finally Dad and Darry came home. Soda and Two-Bit broke into song when Darry walked into the house. Darry rolled his eyes and gave Sodapop a playful push and told them to knock it off. He then went into his room to get changed.
We played some poker and then it was time for dinner. Mom went all out and made Darry's favorite meal. She made tons of food. There was lots of laughing and joking around and it was a good dinner. Finally Mom said it was time for presents. Dad gave me a pat to get off his lap and then he went to the bedroom and came back with a little box. I was curious what was in it. It was just one small box.
Mom handed Darry my homemade card that she had written in. "Happy Birthday honey!" she said and he smiled as he read the card. He flipped it back to the front and looked at what I had drawn and gave me a grin saying thanks. Then Dad handed Darry the small box. The whole gang was staring at Darry as he took the box. We were all really curious what was in something that small.
He opened the box and let out a gasp. Soda jumped to look over his shoulder and also gasped and looked at Mom and Dad. Darry tilted the box so we could all see and it was a set of keys. I then realized it wasn't just any set of keys. It was the keys to Dad's truck. I was confused. Why were they giving him the keys to the truck?
Dad was standing by the table with his arms around Mom and they both had huge grins on their faces. Finally Dad said "we know how hard you have been working to save up for college and how you were worried that by the time fall came you wouldn't have enough for college and a car to drive to school. So the truck is yours! We want you to have a reliable car up at school so you can always come home and visit." Darry's mouth dropped open. He couldn't believe it. Soda and I were equally surprised. Dad loved his truck.
Finally Darry snapped out of it enough to say "but Dad, what will you drive?" Dad gave another grin and then turned to look at both Soda and Steve "well I was thinking we could go to the junkyard and find an old car and our two resident mechanics could fix it up for me! You'll have until the fall to get me a working car." Both Soda and Steve shared a glance and then with mischievous smiles agreed that they could do that. I had never seen Steve so happy in his entire life. It was like it was his birthday present not Darry's. They both started whispering about what they were going to need and making plans.
Darry stood up and wrapped both our parents into a big hug saying thanks over and over. Both Soda and Steve also jumped up and said thanks to my parents. I knew they were really going to like this new project of theirs. I couldn't believe that Dad had given Darry the truck, but I guess it's not every day you turn 20.
"Now Darry I'll still need to use it sometimes for jobs that you aren't on. But the truck is yours. You don't need to ask permission to take it on weekend nights or dates anymore." Darry grinned even bigger. "Thanks Dad!"
Then Two-Bit jumped on his chair "well I for one want to ride in Darry's new truck!"
"It's the same truck as always stupid. You've been in it before" Dally said.
"Yeah but I've never been in it when it was Darry's" he said with a grin. We all laughed and Darry said "I'll take you all for a spin later. It's too cold out there to pile in the truck bed right now."
We all agreed and then Soda made an announcement "well speaking of it being late...Darry we still have some presents to give you" and he had his mischievous grin on. The rest of the guys all started to laugh. "yeah but we left them in the shed" Two-Bit said with a laugh.
They all stood up and Mom had pursed her lips. Dad was grinning like he knew what was up but wasn't following them out. Mom turned to me "Ponyboy I need help frosting the cake" I looked at her stunned. "What? I wanna go see what they got Darry!" I whined back at her. She just shook her head and said I needed to stay and help. "Sorry Ponyboy" Soda said as he followed the guys out. Steve and Dally just laughed at me and Darry said "sorry kiddo. maybe next time" as they all walked out the door to the shed.
Johnny stayed behind. "I'll help you with the cake Ponyboy!" I gave him a soft smile. That's why he was my best friend. He never abandoned me. We went into the kitchen and helped Mom frost her famous chocolate cake. With Johnny and my help we had the cake frosted pretty fast. Mom was pulling out the candles to put on the cake when Dad waved us over.
"Why don't you two go get the gang from the shed?" he gave me a wink and I nodded and quickly ran to the door before Mom had a chance to stop me. Johnny and I went outside and right away could already hear all the boys laughing and hollering. I hated that we were missing out. I opened the door and immediately they all turned to look at who was coming in. Two-Bit was the closest to the door and threw his arms around both mine and Johnny's shoulders and ushered us in. "Now that the kids have shown up we can educate them on what it means to be a man." and then he let out a barking laugh.
Dally was in the corner with his arms crossed and had a grin with Steve next to him looking similar. They both looked ready for a show. Darry was a bit red in the face and was putting the stuff back in the bag. Soda just looked happy to be alive and was grinning so big you couldn't help but smile back. "Not today Two-Bit. I'm sure Johnny was already embarrassed with you all earlier and I won't let my baby brother see all this." Darry said as he scooped up the rest of the stuff and finished shoving it in the bag. I caught the front cover of a magazine and my ears went red. I knew Mom wouldn't like what was in that. I wondered what else the guys had gotten him. It looked like there might be a few magazines with similar content in them and it looked like there was a box, but I wasn't sure what that was.
"Oh come on Darry! I will be so fun to watch the kid squirm!" Two-Bit laughed out. But Darry just shook his head and I was secretly grateful I didn't get to see everything. Maybe I wasn't ready for all this.
"Is it time for cake?" Soda asked with a glint in his eye. Soda loved chocolate cake more than anything. We all loved chocolate, I mean who wouldn't, but Sodapop was obsessed. He could scarf down a whole cake in one sitting if Mom would let him. I just nodded and we all headed back inside. I noticed Darry left the bag in the shed. I'm sure he would find somewhere else to hide the stuff later.
We walked back in and Dad was looking at me and seemed to be holding in a laugh. He had tried to set me up! He must have known what the guys got Darry and wanted me to get embarrassed. Dad always liked to be in on a joke. Mom came in carrying the cake pretending we weren't just all outside. Soda ran and flipped off the lights and with the candles lit we all sang Happy Birthday. Sodapop and Two-Bit more screaming the song than singing it.
Darry blew out the candles and then we all sat down again and ate cake. It really was good. Mom was a great baker and chocolate was her specialty. After cake we played some more cards and then the guys all left. Darry said thanks to our parents again and I think it was a pretty good birthday. I've always liked birthdays. Other peoples more than my own. I don't love all the attention being on me, but I like eating cake and seeing the gifts others get. I think Darry was pretty happy with the day though. It seemed good to me at least.
As we were getting ready for bed I asked Darry "can you drive me to school tomorrow in your truck?" It would be way cooler showing up to school with Darry driving the truck than with Mom in her car. Darry just laughed and ruffled me hair "not tomorrow Ponyboy I have work before you start school, but maybe on the last day of school I can take you." I smiled and agreed that that would be fine. Sometimes Darry could be a pretty cool guy.