Quandary ~Johnnyboy, Stevepop, Dal-Bit

The world is on fire

Still Christmas
Pony's POV:
I sent the video to a group chat with everyone in it except for Soda.

Hi guys, this probably isn't what you wanted to see on Christmas Day. Me either. But Soda's really going through something, but I'm honestly not sure if he could tell you that right now. He's needs a lot of help becoming um. Himself. Again, or maybe he was never him, but please just watch this and tell your siblings you love them. We're all brothers so we really have to make sure we don't forget about one another or close each other out. I hope you're all doing well, and if you're not please tell someone!

I hope they read that whole text and watch the whole video.
He's never gonna get better without all of us.

Me and Darry are in my room, we left the living room for Soda to sleep while Mom and Dad clean up his room.

Tommy called him and he answered on speaker.
"Hey." His voice was shakey.

"Hey, what's wrong?" Darry becomes concerned all over again.

"So I'm in my bathroom, having a big cry because um. When I got here my parents were like, 'Eve are you gonna tell Tommy your big secret before we open presents? You're really gonna confuse him if you don't.' And she physically starts shaking and sobbing and she's like 'no, I don't want to. I don't have to open my presents today. I'm not gonna tell him.' And they're really comforting her so I'm expecting them to drop a cancer bomb or something like what is this terrifying. And my dad is like, 'he's just your brother he can't disown you.' So I'm like, 'Dude, I'm your brother. I love you.' And usually when you have to tell people something important you get closer. She takes very big, noticeable steps away from me. And she says, 'My names Evan, I'm a boy. I've transitioning all year. I'm so sorry.' So I swallow back my tears and I say whatever I don't remember. And now I'm here. Because you should have seen, how scared he was. I get that I'm a big guy, but the second I speak most people realize I'm not scary. But I own brother couldn't tell me something he genuinely needed to say and I don't know what to do about it. Because Eve, I'm speaking in past tense I'm not transphobic, she was always boyish, always always very boyish, but you know in 2024 gender is a sensitive topic so I never asked her about it or anything. When she cut her hair three years ago. Or when her voice got deeper. And she didn't shave her legs this summer. But I genuinely don't even know what to do. Because Ally is crazy close with me, she was telling me about her and girlfriends sex life. Do I want to know about a fist going where in sister? No, but she's comfy enough to tell me about it. And Evan couldn't even tell me his gender. What am I doing wrong?"

Darry sighs, "nothing, he just wasn't ready to tell you. Why? I don't know. I think you're a pretty comfortable person. But you're his big brother he just didn't want to disappoint you."

"I reckon you're right. I shouldn't feel so bad he's a teenage boy. People are scary. Expectations are high.
How's your Christmas been going? Better than mine I hope." It hurts to hear the cheer in Tommy's voice knowing what Darry's gonna say.

He blows out hard, "um. Pretty bad actually. Soda he's... It seems like he has depression. Just from himself. He doesn't think much of himself actually. I'll have to send you the video. But I wouldn't watch it right now unless you'd have another big cry" Darry suggests.

"What do you mean? Soda has low-self esteem? I mean, I know yesterday he rated himself low, but I guess I just thought it was a bad day because you know. Soda's the kind of guy I would've killed to look like when I was seventeen."

"Yeah, we all would've. But you know, nobody sees themselves like how others do."

"I hate that for him. I really hope he finds help."

"Yeah me too."

They sit in silence for a moment.

"I have a surprise for you when we get home tonight." You can hear Tommy's smile through the phone.