The next morning Mom woke me up like usual. She never let us sleep the day away even on weekends and breaks. Said there was too much living to do to sleep all the time. Dad and Darry were already at work, they only got Sundays off, and Soda was no where to be seen. I went into the kitchen and Mom set a plate with eggs just how I liked them down in front of me.
"Where's Soda at?" I asked as I started to dig in. "He went with Steve to that new DX station that just opened up down the road. They are going to see about getting a job there" she called from the sink while cleaning up.
Soda was getting a job? Why? That's not really his style. Besides Darry, no one else in the gang worked. We were all a little young. Well, Two-Bit was old enough for a job, but that was never going to happen. I would be working before he ever would be. "Why are they getting a job?" I asked.
"Well you know Steve has always been good with cars and he thinks with the store just opening, now is a good time to get his foot in the door as a mechanic." That made sense. Steve sure had a talent with cars as much as I hated to admit it. He had fixed up both of our cars many times in the past. Whenever one of the cars starts to make a strange noise, Dad always has Steve take a look at it before taking it to a garage. Since Steve was about my age I don't think either car has ever been to a garage to be fixed since Steve can usually patch it up. Soda is pretty talented as well, but he doesn't have the same passion for it. I think he just knows stuff because he is always around with Steve. Auto shop is their favorite class at school so I guess he had picked up quite a bit there as well. Steve also mentioned saving up for his own car so I guess it makes sense that he is looking for work.
"Yeah but why is Soda getting a job too?" I called back. Steve made sense, but Soda didn't need to work. He didn't have the attention span to be in school, why would he think sitting at work would be any better?
"Because Steve is getting a job." She said as a matter of fact. Ok yeah I guess that was a stupid question on my part. Whatever one of them did the other was sure to follow.
"Are you going to get started on that homework today?" Mom asked finally finishing up the dishes.
"Yeah I don't have any other plans" I replied handing her my breakfast plate and then heading into my room to get started. I spent the rest of the day studying. This was going to be a boring break that's for sure, but it will be worth it when I pass that test and can move up.
Eventually Soda came home and so did Dad and Darry. The gang didn't come over for dinner tonight I guess. Soda announced over dinner that both him and Steve were hired at the DX and they would start working this Monday and then would go part-time a few hours after school in the new year. He seemed pretty excited about it. Darry was actually pretty happy for him. I think it's because Soda often borrowed money from Darry.
It being Saturday night, both Darry and Soda went out. I asked if I could come, but they said the party they were going to was only for high schoolers and older and they wanted to talk to some girls and couldn't watch me. Man I couldn't wait until I was in high school. I tried to explain that I didn't need watching, but Dad stepped in saying that me and him could watch a movie tonight instead. My brothers left with Soda excitedly explaining how he was going to talk to Sandy tonight and get her to fall in love with him, while Dad and I found a movie playing on TV.
The movie ended around 11pm, but the boys curfew wasn't until 1am on Saturdays since no one had work the next day. I think Dad still felt bad that I didn't get to go out so he let me stay up until they got home. Mom headed off to bed though. She wasn't one to stay up late. We started watching something else, but I ended up falling asleep on the couch. Ok maybe I wasn't old enough to stay out all night and party, but I wasn't going to admit that to anyone.
I ended up waking up to the front door being opened and laughing from both my brothers. I was too tired to open my eyes though so I kept laying there willing myself to actually wake up.
"shhhhh" Dad called to them. My brothers stopped laughing and I knew they were looking at me. Ok, Ponyboy. open your eyes. Don't let them know that you couldn't stay awake. They will never stop treating you like a kid then. I really tried to open my eyes and sit up, but sleep was just calling to me and I couldn't break free.
"Kid couldn't hang then?" Darry whispered and Soda let out a chuckle. Ok that was it. They weren't going to get away with teasing me when I was asleep. I started to shift and my eyes fluttered open.
"I'm awake. I'm awake" I very drowsily said as my eyes started to shut again. Dang. This was not going well in my favor. But you try studying for almost 8 hours straight. It's tiring work!
Darry, Soda, and even Dad laughed at that. Traitor. "Sure you are kid" Darry replied.
"So how was it boys? Make good choices? Did you get the girl Pepsi-Cola?" Dad asked.
I could tell just by Sodas voice that he was bouncing on his feet and must have a grin plastered on his face. "She's perfect in every way Dad! You wouldn't believe it! She's beautiful and smart and her eyes light up when she laughs at my jokes! We talked all night and then might have kissed a little when I walked her home after the party" he triumphed.
"Yeah that's why we are a few minutes late. Lover boy over here disappeared to walk her home without telling me. I spent 20 minutes searching the party for him until I found Steve and he told me where he went." Darry playfully teased.
"What was I supposed to do Darry? Let the damsel in distress walk home in the cold dark alone? Who would she kiss goodnight if not her knight in shining armor?" Soda joked back. Darry and I think maybe Dad laughed at this. I couldn't tell with my eyes still closed. Those two didn't just look similar, they also had the same laugh.
"Well good job on getting the girl Soda. I trust that you were a gentleman and treated her with respect throughout the night? No son of mine will be disrespecting any woman." Dad said in his sternness voice. "Isn't that right Ponyboy?"
"mmmmhhhhmmmm" I very sleepily replied. They all chuckled at that one. Dad wasn't strict on much, but when it came to how to treat a woman he did not mess around. I wasn't into girls yet, but I still was around for the same lectures that my brothers got...well mostly. Not the detailed dating lectures yet, but I knew those would be coming soon and my face would heat up just thinking about it. "Alright boys. It's late. Come on time for bed." Dad announced.
I heard shuffling around as they all stood up, but I wasn't able to move. I was drifting back to sleep again. I vaguely heard Dad call for me to get up, but I didn't respond this time. I couldn't. I was being sucked back under by sleep. Next thing I knew I was being lifted in the air and carried to bed. "Come on kiddo lets go to bed" I heard Dad whisper while holding me. I heard my brothers let out another snicker and heard one of them call me a baby. Whatever. I was too tired and was happy that I didn't have to walk to bed. Being small had its advantages I guess. I was out like a light the second I was laid in bed.