In Sickness and In Health

Chapter 10

Ponyboy's POV

My eyes open slowly. At first I can't remember where I am, but then I heard breathing next to me. Turning on my side I see Darry sleeping fitfully and Soda snoring. I notice the sunlight gleaming through the window and force myself out of bed to get ready for school. As I fall out of bed I notice the sound of teeth chattering. I examine Darry more closely and see he's shivering, grimacing, and sweating buckets. Poor guy, I think silently to myself. After I take a shower and put on clothes for school, I walk into the kitchen and see Soda practically sleep walk into the bathroom. "Mornin', Soda," I say quietly so I wouldn't disturb Darry. Sodapop smiles at me responding, "Morning, ponyboy! hey do you think I should take the day off to take care of Darry?" "Wow, I don't know. Darry wouldn't want you to, but he probably could use you around." "Go to work, I'll be okay," comes Darry's voice from inside his room. "Dar, you're sick. You'd stay home if I was in your place," Soda came back with. I think for a moment and add, "You could work a half day, Soda." I was going to offer to skip school, but I knew they wouldn't let me. Soda thinks for a moment and calls, "Yeah, Darry, come on- it's a happy medium." "Okay," Darry manages weakly."Go back to sleep now, Dar." We hear a snore erupt from his room. "Well, that sure was fast," I comment. Since Soda and I got up earlier than we usually do, I decide to make pancakes. Getting so caught up in my cooking I don't even hear Steve and Two-Bit enter. "Morning, Curtis's! Something smells great! And-""Be quiet, Two-Bit, Darry's sick!" I harshly whisper. That stops them both. "I didn't know Darry got sick," Steve wonders aloud. "Wow, I didn't think he'd actually get sick. Sorry, I yelled coming in," Two-Bit apologizes.
"It's fine. Sit down, you two, pancakes are ready." I serve them two pancakes each and sit down to eat myself.
Soda comes out of the bathroom in his work clothes with his hair wet and combed back. "Hi, Soda!" Two-Bit whispers. "Two-Bit, how can you whisper so loud it sounds like you're yelling?" Sodapop playfully kids as he sits down next to Two-Bit and grabs pancakes for himself. We all turn our heads when we see Darry rush out of his room and into the bathroom holding his mouth and then slamming the door behind him.