Author's Note:

Hello everyone! I know it's been awhile since I last updated this, but I finally figured out what to do with it! I know I really need to work on Fire Day, but that chapter just won't agree with me! I will force myself to write it. Just be patient with me!

Money

Darry's P.o.V

I sighed as I looked at the bills. Both the electricity and water bills were due, but I needed to get more food. I knew my check would cover both bills, but I wasn't sure how far Soda's check would go for food. Damn, I really need to get a raise. Either that or I needed my check from working at the hotel to come faster. I was just a bus boy and that don't pay much, but it would definitely help.

"Darry, what are you doing?"

I almost jumped out of my skin and looked up to see Pony. He looked worried and I really don't like it when Pony looks worried. "I'm just trying to figure out the bills baby, nothing that you need to worry about." I said before going back to worrying about it myself.

"Are the bills sick Darry?" Pony asked. "Can't ya just give them some medicine to make them feel better?"

"The bills aren't sick Pony." I said, running my fingers through my hair. "I have to pay the bills, like you have to pay the lunch lady at school for your food. If I don't have enough money for them, the people who send the bills are gonna take that stuff away."

"You can pay them, right Darry?" Pony asked.

"I can pay the bills Pony." I said, looking back up at him. "I just got to figure out how I'm going to get enough food to fill your tummy for another few weeks."

"Doesn't Soda pay for the food Darry?"

"Yes, Pony."

"And he gets his money when you do, right?"

"Yes."

"Then why are you worrying about the food Darry?"

I was about ready to slam my head on the table. "Because I'm not sure Soda has enough money to pay for all the food." I said.

"Oh."

Pony went up to his room after that. I sighed in relief. I love the kid, but he certainly has a lot of questions! I turned my attention back to the bills. I should have twenty two dollars left after the bills were paid, so I could give that to Soda so he could have enough to pay for the groceries. If we run out, I've got another fifteen dollars saved up in my dresser drawer.

There was a loud crash from upstairs and I knew it was from Pony's room. Dear God, if that kid broke the lamp again he's going to be grounded for the rest of the week.

When I got into the room, the lamp was still on the table and all things breakable seemed to be in place. I looked at the floor and saw the little wooden toy box that Dad had given to Pony before he died. It was tipped over and most of Pony's toys were thrown across the room. "Ponyboy Michael Curtis, what did you do?"

He came crawling out of the toy box with a smile. "I pushed over the box so I could find it!" Pony shouted.

"Find what?"

"Hold out your hand and I'll give it to you!"

I rolled my eyes and held my hand out. Pony put whatever he had found there and back up. When I looked at my hand I felt guilty but touched. Pony had obviously been saving this money for a while.

"There's three dollars and seventeen cents." Pony said. "Do you think it'll be enough to help get Soda some food?"

"Sure it will Lil' Colt." I said, ruffling his hair. "But why were you saving up that money anyway?"

Pony blushed and looked down at the floor. "I heard you and Soda talking about how you were supposed to go the college but you didn't have enough money." He said. "So I started to save some so you could go back. But that isn't enough to go back, is it Darry?"

I pulled Pony into a big hug. "I won't be going back to college for a while Pone." I said, tears threatening to spill over. "But I'm mighty happy that you were thinking about me."

"It's nothing Dar." Pony said. "I like helping you, even if I got to wash the dishes."

"Got something against the dishes?"

"I wouldn't if Two-Bit would stop leaving beer in the cups!"

"What wrong with that?"

"He'll come by before I dump them and spill them on my head if Soda isn't there."

"Do you want me to beat him up?"

"Can I watch?"

"We'll see about that Pone."