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It was the day after Thanksgiving. The oranges and reds of fall were quickly swapped for the bright lights and peppermint smell of Christmas. Darry had always been a little extra about the holidays, and it only got worse after the Curtis parents died.
Darry came back the Saturday after Thanksgiving with a handful of grocery bags. There was the usual stuff. Eggs, milk, chicken, etc. But as Ponyboy was filtering through the bags for a pack of gum he was promised, he pulled out a small box of puppy-proof lights.
“What’re these for?” He asked, holding them up for the group to see. Darrel shrugged. “The one’s from last year blew the fuse, remember?” He said casually, continuing to empty the bags into the pantry.
“Yeah, I get that. Why are they dog proof?” He asked again, pointing to the small photo of a Labrador in the corner of the box. Soda hopped up from the couch, snatching the lights from his brother's hands.
“Darry, are we getting a puppy?!” He asked excitedly. Soon enough the whole group of boys were on Darrel’s tail (pun intended) about a new dog. Darrel rolled his eyes, taking the box and setting it back on the counter.
“We are not getting a dog.” He said surely. The boys booed, causing Darrel to sigh. Time for another lecture.
“We can’t afford a dog, and I doubt any of you could take care of it.” He scolded, going back to the grocery’s.
“So you got them just to mess with us?” Two-Bit asked sadly, leaning over the counter. Darrel laughed.
“I should’ve. But no, these were just cheaper than the other ones. Not to mention that you guys act like animals.” He laughed at his own joke while the others were moping.
They helped put up the decorations and a puppy was never mentioned again that day. Or the next, or the day after that.
But when the night of Christmas Eve slowly faded into morning, Darrel Curtis was nowhere to be seen.
Sodapop had woken up at about 5am that morning. He decided he’d make a good breakfast and give Darrel a break for once (he had also forgotten to get him a present but that’s beside the point.)
But when he went into his older brother's room to turn off his alarm, he wasn’t there. He didn’t let it bother him too much. Maybe he was out getting stuff for dinner, seeing as they always did a big dinner Christmas night for all of the boys.
Soda was midway through some pancakes when he heard the door slowly open. It was clear Darrel was trying to be quiet. Soda could hear him toe off his boots and tiptoe towards the living room.
All that went to shit when he saw Sodapop in the kitchen. Darrel gasped, causing his younger brother to turn around. Just as Soda was about to ask where he was, he saw the puppy in his arms.
“Don’t.” Darrell whispered. Soda stared at him, then down at the dog, back up to Darry's face, back down to the dog.
Darrel sighed. “You can pet him.” He said quietly. Soda smiled, pancakes forgotten as he fussed over the dog.
“So much for not getting us a puppy.” Soda laughed as Darrel handed him over. Darry rolled his eyes. “Yeah, yeah. I had enough of you boys whining.” He shrugged.
“I thought they were too expensive?” Soda asked quietly, weary of his brother just down the hall.
“Usually. But the Shepard’s dog had ‘em and Tim wanted them out. Didn’t cost me a dime.”
Soda smiled. “Pony’ll be happy.” Darrel laughed, ruffling his brother's hair. “They all better be. That dog almost pissed on me twice on the way here.” Sodapop laughed, settling the small shepherd dog on the floor.
He and Darrel hung around in the living room until Ponyboy finally woke up. He didn’t pay the dog much mind at first, sitting down on the couch next to his brothers.
“What’s the Shepard’s dog doing here?” He asked casually. Darrel laughed.
“It ain’t the Shepard’s dog.”
Ponyboy raised a brow, staring at him with confusion as the cogs turned in his head. He gasped when he picked up on it.
“No way! Really?” He smiled, taking the poor thing in his arms.
“Yeah. Thought you boys needed a guard dog.” Darrel shrugged, smiling as well.
“Do the guys know?” Pony asked. Darrel shook his head. “Not yet, but it's about the time they usually show up.
As if on cue, they all heard the front door creak open. Ponyboy let the puppy go, chasing after it as it ran to the door.
It was Johnny. Ponyboy got to see the look on his face when he first saw it.
The boy's eyes widened. He scooped the dog up in his arms, giggling as it licked his face. “Since when did you guys have a dog?” He asked sarcastically.
“This mornin’.” Ponyboy beamed. Johnny raised a brow. He looked between his friend and the dog before it clicked. “Wait- it’s really yours?” He asked incredulously.
“It’s ours.” Ponyboy smiled, ruffling the dog's fur. Darrel and Soda appeared in the doorway not a minute later.
“I see you’ve met our new pal.” Soda smiled. “Y-Yeah. What’s his- hers- what’s it’s name?” Johnny finally asked.
The three brothers shared a look. “Well uh- we haven’t thought about that one yet.” Ponyboy replied guiltily.
“It should be something everybody agrees on-“ Darrel began.
“What about Rin-Tin-Tin?” Soda blurted. The three others stared at him. “What?” Pony asked, looking at his brother like he was crazy.
“Rin-Tin-Tin! Like the shepherd from those movies dad used to love- Darry back me up here!” They looked at Darrel now.
“I know what you’re talking about. But ain’t that kinda a long name?” Darry asked. Soda shook his head.
“Shhh, think of the accuracy! He can be just like the real one- we’ll call him Rinty!” Soda sounded more like he was convincing himself than he was the guys.
“Oh! Like where the north begins?” Johnny spoke up, recognizing the name. Soda smiled, clapping a hand down on the other’s shoulder.
“See! Johnnycakes gets it!” He said happily, his point finally getting across. Darrel shrugged. “As long as he can answer to it, I don’t care what the name is.”
“I think it’s nice. Rinty… suits him.” Pony smiled, finally taking the puppy out of Johnny's arms. Johnny used his jacket sleeve to wipe off his face as they all gathered in the living room.
Soon enough the whole gang knew about it, all taking kindly to the new addition (though Rinty barked at Dallas for a solid ten minutes before getting used to him). After they all opened presents and enjoyed a yummy dinner, Darrel sat them all down.
“Now, if you guys wanna keep him you’ll all have to do your part.” He told them. They all nodded, waiting for further instructions.
“He’ll need to go on walks, at least once a day. We can feed him leftovers, so dog food won’t be an issue. But we need to make sure he’s got water.” He lectured.
“He’ll be mostly an outdoor dog. That way we won’t have to worry about him peeing in the house. And Johnny,” he turned to the second youngest of the group, who sat up a little straighter.
“If you don’t mind, I’d like him to stay with you in the lot when you’re out there. You’ll be a lot safer if you have a dog with you.” Darrel said quietly.
Johnny nodded, his hand ghosting over the scar on his cheek. “Y-Yeah, I don’t mind none. ‘S nice to have company.”
As if he knew he was being talked about, Rinty hopped up on the couch and jumped on the greaser, effectively switching the mood of the room.
“I think that’s about everything. I’ll take care of any vet bills he has. Just please make sure you boys take him out-“ Darrel paused. “Speaking of, we outta get him out now.”
Ponyboy grabbed the collar and leash he was given and hooked up Rinty. It ended up just being Soda, Steve, Ponyboy, and Johnny walking him. It was much too cold for the rest of them.
Darrel made sure they were all swaddled up in coats and scarfs before he sent them off.
“You boys better be back within the hour!” He yelled at them from the door. Steve turned to him and gave him a thumbs up from the street.
They sat off to do a nice long walk around the neighborhood, running into a few other greasers on the way there.
Tim was on the porch smoking when they passed by, laughing real loud at the sight of them.
“A couple a mutts, the lot of you. What’s you name him?” He shouted to them, making the group roll their eyes.
“Rinty! Like Rin-Tin-Tin!” Soda yelled back, still walking on the opposite side of the street that the Shepherd house was on.
Tim sat back in his chair with another chuckle. “The pooch from those shitty movies? Shoulda known you’d pick a name like that.”
They did end up getting back minutes before their curfew, everyone settling down on the couch with Rinty on the floor.
They watched old VHS tapes and drank hot chocolate until they all eventually passed out.
All in all, Darrel would say it was a pretty good Christmas.