Darry's Adventures In Parenthood

The Realization

                                Chapter 1

It was Ponyboy who noticed it first. Johnny's weird behaviour. It was at the Curtis house that it happened. Two-Bit was watching Mickey while eating a whole chocolate cake and drinking beer. Darry's cake perhaps.

Steve and Soda were at the table arm wrestling as always and Steve laughed as he beat Soda

"YOU CHEATED!" Soda yelled rubbing his arm with a scowl.

"Did not!" Steve quipped snatching the money from behind Soda's ear.

"You did! And it hurt my arm."

"Quit your griping, Sodapop. You're fine." Darrel 'Darry' Curtis Jr. replied walking by.

Suddenly, everything stopped when Pony suddenly yelled, "Darry! Something's wrong with Johnny!"

Darry sprang into action and ran over to the two boys, his fatherly and brotherly instincts kicking in. He thought one or both of them were hurt.

"What's wrong?" Darry asked kneeling down. Johnny was crying.

"I don't know, Dar. Alls we were doing was playing and then Johnny started crying. Now that I think about it....he seems to feel wet. And I smell something weird."

Darry got on his knees, ignoring the cracking joints then he lifted Johnny's chin so they were staring at each other.

"Johnny. Johnny can you tell me what's wrong?" Darry asked, a hint of worry in his voice.

"No," Johnny mumbled, rocking back and forth.

"Why not?" Asked Darry as he frowned.

"No. No. Don't want to be hit."

"Johnny you know I will never ever raise a hand to you or any of the guys."

"No punishing?" Johnny asked, dark eyes meeting Darry's own.

"Nope."

A moment of silence before Johnny whispered, "I had an accident...."

".....An accident?" Darry asked, a sinking feeling in his stomach.

"I peed myself." Whispered Johnny.

It was then that the gang realized something was wrong with their friend.