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“Hey, Ponykid, you need a ride home?”
“No thanks, Two. I’m walkin’ down to the DX. Soda gets off at four today. We’re supposed to walk down to the dingo for some milkshakes.”
“Oh, what’s the special occasion?” Two-Bit asked, opening the school doors.
“I don’t know.” Pony shrugged. “Soda said just because he wanted to.”
Two-Bit chuckled. “Sounds like a good reason to have ice cream to me. Sure ya don’t want me to give ya a lift down there?”
“Nah, it ain’t too far. I’ll walk.”
“Okay.” Two-Bit said, getting into his car. “I’ll see you later then.”
“See ya.” Pony waved before walking in the direction of the gas station.
School ended at 3:15, and Ponyboy arrived at the DX around 3:30. So, he didn’t have too much longer to wait for his brother to get off work. He enjoyed coming and hanging out at the station while Soda and Steve were working, especially on weekends. Unless there were lots of customers, or girls were surrounding his brother.
When Soda started dating Sandy, girls still came to see him, just not as many. Some knew he was taken so they didn’t bother, others didn’t know, and some knew but didn’t care. Soda was always nice to ‘em, smilin’ and friendly. But he never let it go too far while he had a girlfriend.
Now that Sandy was gone, news had travelled fast and Pony swore the amount of girls coming to see his brother doubled. It had only been a month since Soda lost Sandy, so he wasn’t ready to start dating yet. That on top of losing his best friends and nearly his brother, well a new girlfriend wasn’t exactly the first thing on his mind these days.
But still, Sodapop greeted each girl with his signature smile and kind heart that he always wore on his sleeve. That’s why he was so good at the job. He’s a people person, friendly and almost too kind. Everyone in town just adored him. And that kept the DX as the most popular gas station in town, which started when Soda and Steve began working there.
Ponyboy walked through the front door, spotting Steve behind the counter and walking over.
Steve looked up from where he was wiping down the counter, nodding at Ponyboy. “Hey, kid.”
“Hey.” Pony sighed, leaning over the spot Steve just wiped down, earring a glare from the greaser. “I didn’t see ya at school today.”
“I called in sick.”
Ponyboy raised an eyebrow. “You don’t look sick to me.” Steve sighed. “Boss called me up sayin’ he needed someone to cover his shift. It’s Friday, and I get paid when I come here, so I said yes.”
“He left you in charge?”
Steve narrowed his eyes. “I’ve worked here for a year, I’m better than anyone with cars, I’m good with customers, I know how to run this joint like the back of my hand. So, yeah, he left me in charge.”
“Sooo, you’re like the manager?”
“Alright, look.” Steve put his elbows on the counter so he was facing Pony, lowering his voice.
“Leo told me a week ago that he was thinkin’ of makin’ me the manager. He said today would be like a test run. If it goes well, he may promote me.”
“Manger huh?” Pony nodded slowly. “That mean you’ll be givin’ me free stuff?” He grabbed a pack of gum off the counter, and Steve promptly took it out of his hand. “Hey!”
“No.” Steve growled, and Pony rolled his eyes.
“Where’s Soda?”
“In the garage.” He nodded towards the back of the shop.
Pony nodded and walked in that direction.
“Tell him he better hurry up and fix that convertible or I’ll fire him.” Steve hollered, not turning around.
“Okay.” Ponyboy laughed.
He found Sodapop easily – leaning over the hood of a red convertible. He’d taken his DX shirt off and was now just wearing a plain white tank top.
Ponyboy walked over to his brother, Soda not yet seeing him. He stood beside the car, staring down at the engine with all the intensity that Soda was. “Did you teach it to do tricks or somethin’?”
Sodapop gasped, jumping as he turned, barely catching the wrench that flew in the air and out of his hand, trying to grasp it with oily fingers. He took a couple deep breaths as he finally got a good look at his brother, who was now laughing.
“Glory, Pony ya scared me half to death! I almost took ya out with this wrench!”
Pony looked from his brother, to the wrench, to the car. “Totally worth it.” He said, laughter finally subsiding.
Sodapop rolled his eyes, but there was a grin on his face and he ruffled his brother’s hair.
“Sodaaaa.” Pony whined, trying to fix it, but this only caused Soda to chuckle. “How was school?”
Ponyboy sighed, looking in the car mirror and deciding his hair was acceptable. “Alright. Don’t got much homework. We’re just supposed to read the next couple chapters of To Kill A Mockingbird, but I’m already ahead cause I didn’t want to stop reading.”
“You’re ahead on homework? Sometimes, I don’t even understand how we’re related, kiddo.”
Pony smiled. “So, how badly are ya butcherin’ this car?” He leaned against the driver’s side door.
“Hardy har har.” Soda said, wiping grease on his forehead. “Needed a new alternator, so I’ve been workin’ on that for a while. Went ahead and gave it a couple new hubcaps and an oil change too.”
“Steve said if ya didn’t hurry up he’d fire you, by the way.”
Sodapop shut the hood, wiping his hands on a rag and raising his eyebrows at his brother. “Did he now?”
“Yup.” Pony replied, popping the ‘p’.
“Well, good thing I’m done. And anyway, he can’t fire me. I bring in all the girls.” Soda winked at his brother and Pony rolled his eyes.
“Well, what do ya say we head on out?” He put his blue DX shirt back on over his tank top.
“It ain’t four o’ clock yet.”
“Just fifteen ‘til, and we ain’t busy. Plus Steveie’s in charge today and he won’t mind none.”
Sodapop clocked out and said goodbye to Steve. He put an arm around Pony and the two made their way out of the back garage door.
“You got the truck or does Darry?” Pony asked, as they made their way to the front of the station. \
“Dar. We’ll walk down to the Dingo and then walk home from there. Ain’t too far.”
“Okay. Thanks for takin’ me to get a milkshake, Soda.”
“No, Problem, kiddo. What kind are ya thinkin’?”
“Well–”
Suddenly a loud blaring sound came from behind them, causing both boys to turn around quickly.
“What’s that?” Pony asked, staring at the DX with wide eyes.
“The fire alarm.” Soda answered, fear filling his bones as he noticed smoke coming from the roof.
Steve came running out a moment later, followed by two other workers.
Soda ran over to him, Pony following. “You okay man? What happened? He asked frantically.”
“I’m fine, man.” Steve looked around at the building and the other employees. “I think a grease fire started in the kitchen.” He pulled out a clipboard. “I gotta make sure everyone’s out here, and safe.” He took a pen out of his pocket. “Alright, when I call your name, say ‘here’ and say it loud!”
“Jackson!”
“Here!”
“Eli!”
“Here!”
“Sodapop!”
“Here!”
“Jacob!”
“Jacob!”
Soda’s eyes widened as he made eye contact with Steve. “”Jacob!” He yelled.
Everyone held their breath, but there was nothing but silence in the air.
Sodapop started running towards the building, prepared to go inside and find him.
“Soda!” Steve yelled, but before he could do anything, he saw Ponyboy running at full speed towards his brother. He caught up to him in a couple of seconds, grabbing him and tackling him to the ground.
“Ponyboy, what are you doin’?!” Soda yelled, turning towards his brother. “Jacob’s still in there!”
“NO! No you can’t go in there, Soda no!”
“He needs help, Ponyboy!” Soda stood up.
“STOP PLEASE!” Ponyboy yelled, grabbing Soda. That’s when he noticed the fear in his brother’s face and tears streaming steadily down his cheeks.
“You can’t die! You can’t go in, Soda please! I can’t lose anyone else. I CAN’T! You can’t get yourself killed running into a fire like Johnny did! I can’t – I can’t do it again. I can’t deal with it again, please. Not you. Please not you. Please, please I can’t lose you too, Soda. Not you. Please not you. Please!” He wrapped his arms around Soda’s waist as tightly as he could, sobbing and shaking.
Sodapop hugged his brother back tightly, feeling shocked and confused. He never even thought about how that might affect his brother. Johnny and Dally died only a month ago. And it was a fire again too…he felt so guilty for scaring his Ponyboy like that. “Okay.” He whispered. “I’m stayin’ right here, honey. I’m not goin’ anywhere.”
“I’m sorry. I’m sorry, Soda, I’m sorry.”
“No, baby it’s okay. Don’t apologize. I’m okay, you’re alright.”
“Jacob!”
Soda turned his head toward the noise, feeling relieved to see Jacob running out from behind the DX.
Steve ran over to him. “Where were you?”
“I was in the garage, walked out to the shed to grab a part for the car, and saw the smoke. I just called 9-1-1, they’re on the way. What’s wrong?” He asked, seeing everyone’s wide eyes on him.”
Steve shook his head, letting out a sigh of relief as he checked Jacob’s name off the clipboard. “Nothin’, man. We thought you were still in there. Just glad you’re okay.”
“I’m fine. Is anyone hurt?”
“No. We didn’t have any customers either, thankfully.” Steve finished up before walking over to Sodapop and Ponyboy. The poor kid was clinging to his brother like he might disappear right out from under him. He could still hear him crying quietly, as Soda rubbed gentle circles on his back.
“Y’all okay?”
Soda nodded. “He just got spooked is all.” He said, voice low. “With the fire, and me tryin’ to run inside. Opened up some wounds that ain’t healed yet.”
Steve let out a breath, sympathizing with the kid. He knew he was certainly still struggling every day. And he hadn’t been at the fire. Steve watched Dally die brutally before his eyes. But Pony was almost taken by the same fire that killed Johnny, and watched him die too. Steve honestly couldn’t believe he could get out of bed every morning with everything he’d gone through. Losing someone else would do him in too. He didn’t think any of them would survive something like that again.
They both looked up at the sound of sirens, watching as the firetrucks pulled into the parking lot.
Everyone was checked out by the paramedics, but nobody was injured. The fire was put out fairly quickly, and deemed an accidental grease fire. There was little damage done in the kitchen, the rest of the station was fine.
Ponyboy had calmed down enough for Soda to go call Darry so he could come and get them. Darry was sitting on the curb next to his brother, an arm wrapped around his shoulders.
Soda turned away from his brothers long enough to notice Steve shifting where he stood, looking nervous. He looked over at Darry, who nodded in understanding and mouthed ‘got him’, before walking over to his friend.
Steve watched as his boss talked with the first responders, feeling his heart in the pit of his stomach.
“Stevie?” Soda put a hand on his friend’s shoulder. What’s wrong?”
“I’m gettin’ fired.”
“What? Why do you think that?”
Steve turned to face Soda. “Leo left me in charge and I set the place on fire!”
“Hey, you didn’t set anything on fire, man.”
Steve shook his head. “It’s my responsibility. I’m to blame. I let everyone down.”
Soda’s heart broke at Steve’s words. His friend looked so upset, and he knew what a big opportunity this was for him. He was so excited for the chance to be a manager. “Look at me, Steve.”
Steve let out a shaky sigh, turning to look at Soda.
Sodapop put his hands on Steve’s shoulders and looked into his eyes. “You did great today. There was a serious situation, and you took charge and stayed calm. You did absolutely everything by the book. Nobody got hurt, there’s not a lot of damage. I think seeing how someone handles a situation like that says a lot, especially as a potential manager. If for some reason Leo don’t see that, it’s his problem. But just know that I am so proud of you, Stevie.”
“Really?” Steve asked, hope creeping slowly into his features.
Sodapop gave him a smile. “Well, I always am. But especially today.”
Steve finally smiled, letting out a breath of relief as some of the tension left his body. “Thanks Soda.”
Sodapop wrapped his friend in a hug, and Steve hugged him back tightly, not wanting to admit how much better he felt afterwards. But then again, Soda always had that effect on people. From his words, to his hugs, to his eyes and smile, he could make anyone in the world feel better.
They pulled apart just in time to see Leo walking over to them. He nodded at Soda, before turning to face Steve.
“Steve?”
“Yes sir?”
“You alright? Not hurt are ya?”
“No sir. Nobody was hurt, thankfully.”
“That’s what I’ve just been told. Listen, son. I just wanted to tell you how well you handled this situation today.”
Steve’s eyes widened slightly, and Soda smiled at him. “Really?”
“Oh, yeah. I talked to the staff and first responders. Sounds like ya did everything by the book, you were calm, helpful and efficient. And that’s exactly what it takes to be a manager.”
“Manager?” Steve said, feeling slightly hopeful but still cautious.
“I’d like to offer you the job, Steve.”
“What? Even after what happened today?”
“Accidents happen, son. It was a pretty minor one at that. Little damage, and the insurance will cover a new stove. You handled today better than some employees who’ve been here much longer, and are much older than you. You’re exactly who I’m lookin’ for in a manager. So, what do ya say?” He put his hand out, and Steve stood there staring at it, mouth open and eyes wide.
“Stevie.” Soda whispered, nudging his friend.
Steve looked over at Soda like a deer in the headlights.
“Say yes!” He laughed.
Steve stared at his friend for a second before turning back towards Leo, and shaking his hand. “Yes, sir. Thank you, I accept sir.”
“Excellent.” Leo smiled. “Come to my office first thing Monday and we can iron out the details.”
“Yes, sir.” Steve said, a smile lighting up his face.
Leo winked at him. “Have a nice weekend, boys. See y’all on Monday.”
Soda and Steve said goodbye to him before hugging once again. “I told you!” Soda said, laughing as Steve practically squeezed the daylights out of him.
“I can’t believe it man!” Steve ran a hand through his hair. “I really thought I was about to get canned.”
“Leo’s good people. I knew he wouldn’t fire you. He sees how great you’ll be, just like I always have.”
Steve smiled at him, giving his shoulder a squeeze. “Thanks, man. And ya know what this means now don’t ya?”
Soda raised an eyebrow.
“I’m your boss.”
“Oh, I’ll never hear the end of this.” Sodapop laughed.
Darry held a steaming cup of hot chocolate in his hands as he walked into the living room. He handed it to Ponyboy where he sat on the couch, who thanked him quietly.
Soda put an arm around his brother, from where he sat next to him, and Pony laid his head on his brother’s shoulder.
Darry took a seat in his recliner across from his brothers. “Pone?”
“Hmm?” Pony asked, staring down at the mug in his hands, running his finger over the chip on the rim.
“We need to talk about what happened today.”
Pony sighed. “I was afraid of that.”
“Look, I get that ya didn’t want Soda to run in there. Believe me, I woulda done the same thing. But baby, this seems like a lot more than that.”
Sodapop ran gentle fingers through his brother’s hair, speaking in a soft, kind voice. “Are you doin’ okay, honey? I mean – I know you’re not really. None of us are right now, but…”
“We’re worried about you, Ponyboy.”
Ponyboy took a sip of his hot chocolate. “I-I don’t even know what happened. It all feels really foggy in my head now, even though it just happened. I just – I saw the smoke, and then I smelled it. I felt like I was right back at that Church. And then Soda tried to run inside, and all I could think about was Johnny running in, and never comin’ out. Seein’ him in that bed, taking his last breath. Then-” He sniffled. “Then I saw Soda in a hospital bed covered in burns. I was so scared. So scared of it happening again. And the thought of that…the thought of going through that grief again, I can’t face it. I can’t do it. I’ve lost four people this year. I can’t lose anyone else, I really really can’t.”
Tears were streaming steadily down his cheeks at this point, as he sobbed. Soda tightened his grip around his brother, kissing him on the head. “Oh, honey.”
Darry stood, walking over to the couch and sitting on the other side of Pony, putting an arm around his shoulders. “You’ve been through so much, baby. You’re still so young. No fourteen-year-old should have to lose as many people as you have in such a short amount of time.”
“I just-” He wiped his nose. “Sometimes I get so scared that I’m gonna lose someone else. I’ll hear sirens and just, I don’t know, I'll think Darry fell off a roof or Soda got in a car wreck. I’ll see a fire or policemen and it’s like…like I’m right back to that same night when Johnny and Dally died.”
“Oh, sweetheart.” Sodapop pulled Pony closer, tightening his grip. “Why didn’t you say anything?”
He shrugged. “Sometimes I’ll be okay, really. But then one little thing will happen, and I’ll remember it all…and it just feels like I’ll never be okay again.”
“You will be.” Soda said confidently. “I know it don’t feel that way right now. And it might not for a long while. But you’ll be okay. It will get easier, less painful. That fear and pain will slowly go away.”
“And we’re gonna be right here, Pony.” Darry said. “Soda and I ain’t goin’ nowhere. We’re always gonna be here, even when ya wish we weren’t.”
“But–but what if somethin’--”
“Nope.” Soda quickly cut his brother off, knowing exactly what he was about to say.
“Worryin’ ‘bout stuff like that, Pone…It don’t do no one any good. It ain’t gonna change nothin’, and it just makes you feel pretty lousy. There’s no reason to worry about things you can’t control.”
Pony snorted. “That’s easy for you to say. You never worry about anything, Soda.”
“Yeah, but I do.” Darry said, and Pony looked over at his big brother. Darry gave him a small smile, wiping a stray tear from his cheek. “I worry ‘bout somethin’ happenin’ to y’all every dang day. No matter how tired I am, I can't sleep unless I know you’re both home and safe. All I want to do is protect and take care of ya. But sometimes I just can’t, and that’s–that’s really hard to accept.”
Ponyboy looked up at his big brother, and Darry could tell that he was thinking real hard by the look on his face. He was really trying to consider the words Darry just said, so he could fully understand them. “Yeah.” he finally said, nodding slowly. “That's – that’s exactly what it feels like.”
“And y’all think you got nothin’ in common.” Soda said with a grin, and Darry punched his shoulder.
“That’s exactly what I mean though, Pone.” Soda said. “Darry and I, we got your back, no matter what. Ya ain’t got to go through this alone. Hey, we’re all going through this. We miss Johnny and Dally too.”
“Every day.” Darry whispered. “Mom and dad too. Glory, I miss ‘em all every single day.”
“Thanks, y’all. I think – I think that really helped.”
“That’s what big brothers are for, kiddo.” Soda said, giving his brother a kiss on the head.
Pony smiled, putting one hand in Soda’s, and the other on Darry’s knee. As he sat there, sandwiched between his brothers, he felt a sense of hope – for the first time in a long time. The hurt was still there, and the grief and pain. He knew it wasn’t going to be gone instantly, and that grief and longing for his friends would always be there. But as Pony listened to Darry’s heartbeat, and Soda’s soft humming and gentle touch – he really thought he would make it through this.
He didn’t know how, and he didn’t know when. But with his big brothers, he could make it through anything. They all could, together.