In Sickness and In Health

Chapter 11

Steve's POV

This is so weird, I think to myself. Darry is like an older brother to me, considering me and Soda have hung out almost all the time since as long as I can remember. Something else that throws me off is what he was wearing. I don't know if I've ever seen him in anything besides jeans and the kinds of plain t-shirts that he wears to work. Now, I see him in sweats, no shoes just socks, and a highschool football t-shirt that had all the players' names on the back. He seemed so much younger, almost like he looked four years ago. Soda stands up and open the door to the bathroom. "Don't look at me," I hear Darry plead in a higher voice than usual. "Oh please, Darry, you've seen me throw up loads of times," Soda retaliates walking into the bathroom. "Thanks for the pancakes," I grunt at Pony. Ponyboy looks slightly surprised at me thanking him, but goes back to normal responding, "No problem."
I've been trying to get better at being nicer to Pony, lately. It's getting easier, too. He's been maturing. The bathroom door opens and Darry walks out with Soda behind him. Darry's shaking, but looks over to us and greets, "Mornin', guys." I smile and Two-Bit waves grinning. They both walk back into Darry's room.
"Ready to go to school, Pony?" Two-Bit asks."Yeah, just about," Ponyboy says standing up and washing dishes.
Soda's voice travels from Darry's room asking, "Hey, will one of you bring a pancake and some water back here for Darry?" Pony goes to dries his hands so he can bring him a pancake, but I try to keep my nice streak going and offer, "I'll take it."
"Alright," says Pony going back to doing the dishes. I pick up a plate with a pancake and fill up a glass of water. Walking into Darry's room I see Soda taking his temperature. "Darry, your temperature went up. You're at 104.3 now. I can't leave you alone," Soda explains. "Don't worry so much, Soda. You'll be back in the afternoon" Darry says. I walk in further and am still feeling real nice so I say, "Why don't I bail on school and work for you in the afternoon so then you take the afternoon off, Soda?" "That'd be great. Let's do that," Soda finalizes and either Soda's reassuring voice convinces Darry or he secretly was hoping someone would stay home because he shrugs in agreement and lays back down pulling the covers up. I give the pancake to Soda who sets it aside and wipes Darry's forehead with a wet washcloth and Darry just looks so frail. I walk away thinking of all the times Superman took care of me growing up- from getting sick while I'm at their house to when I was real little and scraped my knees on the concrete, even later in life with stab wounds from rumbles- and hope I can take care of Superman.