I rolled over trying to block out the sun. I'm not getting up I told myself. You don't have work today Darrel, it's not normal to be up this early. The house was sure quite but not that damn bird that was outside squawking like a dying donkey. I pushed myself up into push up position staring my blue checkered sheets.

"Auhhhhhh" I let my hands slid out and my body feel back on to the sheets. "Shut up bird." Then there was silence, I closed my eyes attempting to get more shut eye and of course seconds later there was that squawking.

"I'm up already!" I got out of bed and stalked down the hall into the living room. My father was sitting there smoking. He was supposed to have kicked the habit a long time ago; my mother hated it.

"Dad, where's the shot gun at?" I asked casually.

My Dad put the paper down and took the cigarette from his mouth. He gave me the most puzzled look that'd I'd ever see him give anybody even my brother Soda. "What for?"

"There's a bird out there and it won't shut up." I grumbled. I glanced out the window and saw Johnny sitting on the couch my eyes met his and he slid deeper into the couch. I took notice to his new black eye. Poor kid, it must have been his father that did that.

"Hey kid." I said.

"Hi." Johnny replied staring at his shoes.

"I don't mind you going bird hunting, but I don't think I neighbors would take to kindly to you shooting off your riffle at innocent birds in your underwear first thing in the morning." Dad laughed.

I grabbed the sports section from his paper and stormed off into the kitchen to grab some coffee. Mom was in there mixing pancakes talking to none other then Dallas Winston. It amazed that when ever she talked he would listen. Mom could calm Dally down and manage to make him come to his senses, I bet if it wasn't for her he would have been dead somewhere or in jail more than he already was. I walked right up to Dally and shoved him out of the way.

"Blocking the coffee." I mumbled.

Dally gave me the finger the minute my mother turned around. I sent it right back to him with a grin. Dally smirked.

"I'm out of here. Thanks for the couch." Dally said.

My mother turned around and grabbed Dally's chin. "What we talked about Dally just think about alright. You sure you don't want breakfast?"

"I will and no thanks." He walked out of the room and waved for Johnny to follow and of course he did. Johnny worshiped the ground Dally walked on. I sat down at the table with coffee and the sports section spread out in front of me.

"Darry, we should be home around ten thirty. Make sure Pony is in bed and Soda is at least settled down. Pony has done his homework make sure Soda does his. And please Darry spend the day with your brothers. You're leaving soon and I know how it gets work, training and parties; they hardly see you it's only one day." Mom practically begged me and if I resented spending time with them. I actually didn't mind it.

I smiled. "I will."

"Thank you." She kissed the top of my head.

I went right back to reading my paper in peace and quite.

"Morning son!" My dad shouted putting me into a head lock. He jerked me up out of the chair. I cussed him out. Dad just laughed tightening his grip. I escaped his headlock and put him into a full nelson like always it was followed by a string of curse words. We fell to the floor in a wrestling match. I guess my part time roofing job really paid off. Dad was starting to struggle usually he put up a better fight.

"You're getting old Pops." I laughed.

"If you two wake up the boys!" Mom exclaimed.

"Why is it Dad and Darry can say those words but if I say them I get my mouth washed out with soap?" That was Ponyboy's voice. Dad and I picked ourselves up off the floor. He gave me a guilty look. I sat right back down in my chair. Dad smacked the back of my head playfully.

"The second I get back I'll show you a thing or two about what this old man can do." He warned.

"Sleep and eat." I said under my breath but Dad didn't hear. He just rubbed Pony's hair walking out to the living room.

"Anyone going to answer me?" Pony asked. Great, I could tell just by the tone of his voice that he was grumpy. Ponyboy turned thirteen not that long ago and he was starting to act like a teenager. I wished now that dad and I would have been quieter.

"You're still a runt that's why." I went back to reading about the game.

"Morning!" That was Soda; he's the only kid I know who can have energy this early in the morning. Soda hopped up on the counter to "assist" Mom with the cooking. In Soda's case that meant either putting sugar in it or dying it some weird color.

"Sodapop Patrick Curtis!" Mom exclaimed. "What did I tell you about messing with my cooking? Huh? What did I say was going to happen the next time?"

Soda just grinned full heartedly hoping off the counter. Mom grabbed him around the waist.

"I don't think so! I'm going to beat the tar out of you."

"You can't I'm bigger than you!" Soda laughed.

"We'll see about that!" Mom ranted. I swear if she was going to do anything she was going to smother him with her kisses. Soda screamed sliding out of her grip on the floor and put on a show like he had been poisoned and was dying.

Mom looked at her pancake batter and then down at Soda. She shook her head. "What am I going to do with you?"

"We could sell him to the black market." I suggested. "There might actually be peace and quite around here then."

Soda stuck his tongue out at me. He sat up and leaned his head against Mom's knees.

"They would pay us to take this one back. Pony no Pepsi until after breakfast you don't need the caffeine." Mom said.

"Why not? Dad and Darry drink coffee and that has caffeine in it?" Pony said matter of fact tone. I couldn't see the look she gave Pony but she must have given him something because he put the Pepsi back in the fridge. I wish she would let him have a Pepsi; anything to make him less grumpy.

"Here try this." I gave Pony a sip of coffee.

He made a disgusted face and swallowed it hard. "I'll stick with chocolate milk."

I smirked.

"Mama." Soda looked up at her.

"Yes."

"You're going to have to keep me. I think." He grinned and I could tell just by looking at my mom she had melted. If she was even truly ever mad at him to begin with she wouldn't be now. All it took was a smile or that smile gone and Soda could get away with murder.

"Of course baby, set the table Pony go get your Dad." She said.

I got up to get more coffee and to take a look at what Soda did to the pancakes. They were purple and the empty chocolate chips back told that there was going to be a little kick in our blue berry pancakes. I shook my head. I heard Pony ask my Dad why they were going to be so late tonight. Dad was explaining to him that Mom and Kathy talked too much. Mom heard him too and she didn't exactly like it. She looked down at the pancakes and then to my and held her finger up to her lips, she did the same to Soda. Dad was going to get a little surprise. Mom put the pancakes in the middle of the table. Dad like usually got to them first.

Dad studied his plate for a brief second." Learn to mix colors did we, Pepsi Cola."

Mom put a napkin up to her face to hide her smile. I winked at Pony to warm him not tell Dad. I slowly put my head down and Soda squirmed. Dad how ever just took a gigantic bite of his pancakes and made a sour face.

"Chocolate." He stated and we all just lost it. He looked at Soda. "Son, you're going to be the death of me."

After breakfast, they barked out there orders for the day. Me, Soda and Pony got stuck with the dishes. I watched as the door shut my stomach flipped. I pushed it away thinking it was probably Soda's sneaky ingredients. As we finished up the dishes, the guys poked their heads in.

"Who is up for football?" Two-Bit hollered.

"Go on, I'll finish up around here." I told them. They both ran out of the house and I could hear the happy shouts disappear into the lot. I got a couple of calls from my friends asking them if I wanted to go out but I turned them down. I walked outside to join the gang. I saw them in the lot. Of course Soda and Steve were on a team which left Pony and Johnny on another the two smallest ones luckily they had Dally and Soda and Steve had Two-Bit. Pony's team was getting its assed kicked that was for sure.

"Darry's on our team!" Pony shouted he ran over to.

"That doesn't make it fair then! You've got four and we've got two." Steve shouted.

"I don't really think putting Johnny and Pony on a team is fair either."

"Dal, switch teams make Steve happy." I said but I wasn't finished. "We'll win anyways."

"Yeah right we are up by twenty!" Soda said.

I just grinned and the game started. We played football until the sun went down. Who won? My team; I grabbed Pony threw him over my shoulder and ran home. Once we got to our lawn, I spun him around real fast and then took stairs by three and leapt right into the house.

"Alright, real man's game now." Dally held up a deck of cards. Poker, I pulled up a chair along with Soda, Steve and Two- Bit.

"Darry, we are going for a walk." Pony said nodding toward Johnny.

I looked outside it was kind of dark out. This neighborhood wasn't exactly a good place for boys like Johnny and Pony to be prancing around at during the night time. "Not to far be back in a half hour."

They both just gave a nod and headed out the door. I shook my head.

"Wonder what they are up too." Soda said. "They've been kinda quite."

"Johnny always is, moron." Dally pointed out.

"Same with Pony." I sorted out my cards.

Two-Bit out of know where just burst out laughing. We all stared at him.

"What?" I asked.

"Johnnycakes are real quite and so is Pony that has to be some great conversation right there."

The rest of us just looked at each other and laughed. When Pony and Johnny came back they were both quite which made some of the guys snicker. We played cards. I guess I never really realized how fast time went by. I took a single glance up at the clock. Ten thirty.

"Ponyboy, go get ready for bed! Soda did you do your homework?"

Soda just nodded. "Yeah, it's done."

He was lying but hey if he lied to me what could I do.

"I better go. The sister is home alone and hate to be at night. I'll give you a lift Steve." Two-Bit threw his cards down and picked up his beer.

Hey, Johnny let's head over to bucks or some place." Dally said.

Johnny just jumped right up off the couch and followed Dally out. This left the three of us.

"Hey, Darry aren't Mom and Dad supposed to be back by now?" Soda asked. He sounded really worried. I got that sick feeling in my stomach the one I got from that morning after breakfast.

"They said around ten thirty. Give or take a while." I answered.

"Night Soda, Night Darry." Pony yelled from his room. I got up and checked to make sure he was in bed. I didn't want my parent's coming home and finding him wide awake. I'd get it for sure then. "Soda, bed little buddy."

"Alright." He grumbled.

I lay back on the couch and turned on some crazy T.V movie. I slowly drifted into sleep.

I heard pounding. "First the bird now the door!" I mumbled maybe Dad would get it. The pounding started again. I checked the clock, who would be coming into our house at one in the morning. I got up and there was no blanket on me. If any of us ever fell asleep on the couch, Mom would cover us up. My stomach knotted up. I got up and answered the door.

"Darrel Shayne Curtis Junior?" A silver haired man dressed in black pants and a black button down shirt asked.

"That's me."

"I'm detective Jacobs."

"Its late sir what are you doing here?"

"I'm not sure how to put this son, but your parent's are dead."

"Darry? Are Mama and Dad home yet." Pony came into the living room rubbing his eyes. He was in boxers and my old shirt. Mama, he used Mama. None of us called her Mama anymore unless we were sucking up or sick or something along those lines.

"No baby. What are you doing up?" I tried to keep my voice as normal as possible.

"My stomach hurts, I can't sleep." He explained.

"Come here. Ponyboy." I called. I extended my arm out to him. He walked right into and took notice to the detective standing there.

"What's going on?"

"Baby." I got down to his level. I looked at him. He was confused he glanced from me to the detective. "Mama and Dad, They aren't coming back." I said.

"There was a train wreck. Your parent's died on impact." The detective continued.

"NO! You're a liar!" Soda screamed. I didn't even see him back there.

"I wouldn't lie to you. I need you to come identify the bodies tonight as soon as you can." Detective Jacobs said. "I'm sorry for your loss boys."

I went numb. I heard Soda break down sobbing and I could feel Pony trembling in my arms.