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Darry had just got home from work, hopping from the truck to the porch as quick as he could. Rain hadn't been predicted today, but it had been falling heavily since midday and the front yard was basically one giant puddle. He entered the house to find Two-Bit and Ponyboy in the living room, giggling over something on the floor.
"Hey, guys."
"Hi, Darry." Ponyboy looked up at his older brother, who was currently bending down to take off his soaking wet boots. "Uh, don't get mad…"
"That's not a good way to start a conversation, Ponyboy."
"No, it's nothin' bad! I just…uh…" He suddenly scooped a bundle off the floor and held it out for Darry to see. "I found her out in the rain."
The older Curtis glanced up to see a tiny mud-splattered kitten meowing softly in his brother's hands.
"Poor thing was struggling in a puddle," Two-Bit interjected. "Looked half-drowned."
"I couldn't leave her there! She – "
"Ponyboy," Darry finally interrupted. "Do y'all really think I'm so hard-hearted that I'd get mad at you for saving a kitten?"
His brother flushed, slightly guilty.
"Well, I guess not… Sorry, Dar."
Darry ruffled his hair on his way to the kitchen, sending him a soft smile.
"It's not the first cat you've brought home, Pony. Remember the one you found when you were eight?"
The young teen brightened.
"Oh, yeah! Mom helped me clean up its cut paw then she took me with her when we drove the kitty to the shelter."
Ponyboy carefully rubbed the tiny cat with a towel, drying her off and cleaning the mud from her white fur.
"There," he announced. "All better."
"Ya gonna keep her, Pone?" Two-Bit asked, stroking her gently.
Darry glanced out the kitchen and Ponyboy met his eyes with a wry grin.
"Don't worry, Darry. I'm not that attached. She's cute but…" He shrugged. "I'm more of a puppy person. But even so, I don't feel right setting her loose in the rain. She can stay the night, right, Dar?" he asked. "Then we can take her to that shelter tomorrow?"
"Whatever you want, kiddo."
"We're back!" a voice hollered and Soda came crashing into the house, accidently letting go of the door so it very nearly hit Steve in the face as he followed behind.
"What the! Soda!"
"Sorry, Stevie. Hey, what you got there, Pone?"
Ponyboy held her up towards him.
"Kitten. She was out in the rain."
"Aw, she's adorable!" Soda booped her nose playfully. "I remember the first time you brought an animal home, Pony. Mom wasn't impressed when a frog hopped out ya jacket pocket."
Ponyboy flushed as the rest of the gang laughed, including Darry, who came to lean in the kitchen doorway with an amused smile.
"I'd forgot about that. Took Dad a good half hour to catch it." Darry glanced at his youngest brother. "Hey, Pone, you tried feeding the kitten yet?"
"No, not yet."
"Try putting some milk on a saucer, she might take it."
Ponyboy followed him into the kitchen, leaving Soda to coo over the tiny furry bundle that was now prancing around the floor. Darry was digging ingredients for dinner out of the fridge and handed his brother the milk. The youngest greaser filled a small plate and carefully carried it into the living room, setting it down on the floor. The kitty smelt the milk instantly and bolted over, nearly landing in the liquid as she started lapping.
The rest of the evening passed normally, despite the apparently very curious kitten bouncing over everyone as they hung out in the living room, watching TV and playing poker.
When everyone started heading out and heading to bed, Ponyboy lined an old cardboard box with a blanket and set the kitten inside. He placed her safely in the corner of the living room next to Darry's chair, out the way of any late night – and possibly inebriated - visitors. Then, like his brothers, he headed to bed.
***
Soda stirred slightly and opened his eyes, unsure what had awaken him. He sleepily reached out an arm… only Ponyboy's side of the bed was empty. He sat up, confused, right as his younger brother slipped back into the room, grinning to himself, before he noticed the middle Curtis.
"Sorry," he whispered. "Did I wake ya?"
"No. What you smiling about?"
"I just went to check on the kitty."
"And?"
Ponyboy grinned wider, then glanced at the doorway, before motioning Soda to follow.
Curious, Soda got off the bed and stepped out into the hallway.
He opened his mouth to ask his brother what was going on, but Ponyboy quickly put a finger to his lips.
"Shh."
He beckoned Soda down the hall and gestured to Darry's slightly ajar door. Soda could hear Darry's voice, low and soft, and as they drew closer he could see through the doorway to where Darry was sitting up in bed, the kitten jumping playfully on his lap.
"Aww," Soda cooed, and Ponyboy hurried pushed him back into their room, concerned Darry might realise he was being watched.
"Darry's always liked cats," Soda mentioned as they got back into bed. "He played with that other kitty you found all evening. He was real sad after Momma took it to the shelter."
Ponyboy propped himself up on one elbow as he looked over at him.
"I don't remember that."
Soda yawned.
"Darry always asked for a pet kitty every birthday and Christmas when we were real young. He stopped once he were old enough to realise we couldn't have one 'cos they made Dad sneeze." He paused and sat up, suddenly thoughtful. "But there's no reason he can't have one now." Soda turned and looked at Ponyboy, doubtfully. "But he said to take her to the shelter, right?"
"Actually, Darry never said anything about the shelter. I did." The younger boy sat up. "Do you think he would actually want to keep her?"
"Maybe. He were playing with her while we were watching TV. And he has her in with him now, meaning he had to go get her outta the living room."
"Soda, I don't wanna make Darry sad by taking away this kitty." The youngest Curtis laid back down, thinking hard. "Ya know, if we whine enough about keeping her, he'll probably let us."
Soda hesitated.
"True. But I don't want him thinking we only want her for us. He deserves to have something special of his own and if that's gonna be this lil' furball then I want him to know that she's his. Not ours. I dunno if that makes sense – "
"I dig, Soda. I do."
"Then it's settled," Soda announced, curling under the covers with another yawn. "Darry's getting a cat."
***
The white ball of purring fur was curled up on the arm of Darry's chair when they woke up in the morning. Darry was in the kitchen, making breakfast.
"Just in time, guys."
They ate together at the table, then Darry took a saucer of milk into the living room and set it on the sidetable beside his chair. The kitten immediately hopped up to start drinking and Darry sat down and picked up his newspaper. After a minute or so, the kitten jumped back in his direction, landing on the newspaper and batting at it, making the oldest greaser chuckle slightly and scratch her head.
"Hey, Darry," Soda started, leaning in the doorway. "I've gotta go into work this morning. I'm dropping Pony off at the library on my way, so we really don't have time to take the kitten to the shelter."
Darry looked up at him and shrugged.
"That's fine."
Soda paused.
"Maybe we'll take her tomorrow."
"Whenever you have time, little buddy," he replied, distracted as the tiny creature nearly tumbled off his knee.
Soda took a deep breath.
"You know, Darry, we don't have to."
Darry looked up, forehead furrowed.
"Whatd'ya mean? Just let her loose in the street?"
"No, I mean… You could just keep her."
Darry suddenly glanced away.
"We don't need a cat."
"No, we don't need one. But you want her. Don't you?"
Darry absentmindedly stroked the kitten as she tried to pounce on his hand.
"It wouldn't be fair."
"Why?"
"I ain't got time to look after a kitten. I'm barely home as it is."
"Me and Pony will help," Soda urged, glancing at his younger brother as he entered the room.
"I'll feed her after school," Ponyboy offered.
"And if he has track, I can do it before I head to the DX. And the gang are always popping in and out. It's not like the house is empty for days on end. She won't get lonely."
Darry smiled slightly.
"So basically you two want a cat."
Soda met his eyes and shook his head slowly.
"No, this ain't about us. It's about you."
Darry frowned.
"Me?"
"Darry, when's the last time you did something for yaself? You work two jobs to keep a roof over our heads. I know for a fact you've skipped meals to make sure me and Pony have food. We get to go out with our friends and have a good time, you're always too tired. And even if the gang comes here, you are usually cooking or cleaning or getting stuff ready for the next time you have to climb into your truck for another gruelling day at work. When's the last time you did something remotely selfish, just for you, because you wanted to?" Darry just looked at him for moment then glanced away. "But you want her. And I'm sure I can speak for Pony also when we say that we want you to have her, and we'll do damn well anything to make that happen."
There was a few moments of silence.
"It ain’t right for me to keep her an’ expect you guys to help out," Darry replied awkwardly.
"Are you kidding? With everything you do for us, and for the rest of the gang, without so much as a complaint, do you really think we’d care one bit at returning the favour?"
Their older brother finally looked up at him again, then his gaze shifted over to Ponyboy.
"Keep the cat, Darry," Ponyboy told him firmly. "Ya've already got a name for her, right?"
Darry suddenly looked sheepish and Soda couldn't help but grin.
"So what did you call her?"
"Mabel," the eldest Curtis replied, voice barely above a whisper. "I dunno why – "
"Hi, Mabel," Ponyboy breathed, dropping to his knees besides Darry's chair and petting the kitten as she purred and kneaded at Darry's jeans.
Soda flung himself down on Darry's other side and gently scratched the kitten's head.
"I'm sure Ponyboy can put his creative talents to good use and make her a comfy bed."
***
Ponyboy struggled to make the perfect bed for little Mabel, the cardboard one now an offensive eyesore now that she was here to stay. He continually kept making then dissembling it as he found better items and was struck with new inspiration. Eventually he realised it was a fruitless project anyhow. Mabel always curled up on Darry's bed each night, sometimes on his stomach, sometimes on his feet, even occasionally on his pillow.
And that's where Mabel slept. Even after she grew and could no longer fit into the palm of Darry's hand. Even after Soda left for war and Ponyboy left for college. After Darry's new wife moved in, and his first son was born. Mabel always slept, right there, in the first place she found home.