Have you ever looked back and realized that day to day your life has become a loop of an old record track? The song was good, a classic, but now it doesn't sound so appetizing anymore. It is worn out, tired, ready to crack.This happens to be my life right now. Everyday I go to work, take a quick 15 minute break consisting of a car ride to my next job, then finally when the sun has disappeared  home. When I get home I have to make sure everything isn't falling through the cracks and that my family are all doing fine. Its basically a third job. Especially with the siblings that have been bestowed upon me. Don't take this the wrong way, I love my siblings, Kitty, Ponyboy, and even Soda. They all have great things about them, and some not so goof things, but that's how I am too. But I am just like those records, worn out and tired. I start to lose sight of why I even do this anymore, I'm twenty years old god damn it! All I do anymore is work. You know what they say, all work and no play makes Darry a very dull boy.

   With this thought in mind I walked into the kitchen while the sun had only started to rise. Going to the table, I happened to notice another greaser on the couch. Sighing , I grabbed a quick bowl of cereal before going to rush out the door, not to be late for work. When I was pretty much out the door, there was a small call,
"Darry..." A sleepy, bed head Pony stood in the doorway of his room.

"What is it Pony?" I responded in a slightly irritated tone, wishing not to be late for work.

"Dar, have a good day at work okay?" He said with a tired smile.

"You too, now go back to bed you knucklehead." Pony went back to bed for a bit longer holding onto that grin.

  That was unexpected. Most days my walk out the door was like a  walk of shame after a one night stand, alone and dreadful. My mouth melted into a smile before I rushed to work.

   The next day I got home from work later than usual. This happens every once in a while when some idiot at work messes up and I have to clean it up. I expected the house to be dark, silent besides maybe Pony or Soda, and that I'd have to scrounge something up for dinner. What awaited me when I opened the door to see inside was unexpected. Soda had made dinner and looked to greet me with that dumb looking smile. "Darry! Your late! Have a bite!"  I sat down on a broken chair and chowed down, happy to have something in my stomach after a hard day of work.

   A few days after this I had gotten home and was making sure the house looked somewhat decent. Mom always taught me to stay somewhat clean. Gotta make mom proud. Kitty was sitting on the couch not helping me at all. She was watching TV and ignoring the person cleaning. All of a sudden she said, "Darry, come watch TV with me, this show is too funny." That was unexpected. I sat with her and watched the television for an hour. I could always clean tomorrow right?  I will admit the show was pretty funny, and Kitty almost spit her drink through her nose. It reminded me of when she was younger.

   I realized that this was why I kept doing things this. For the unexpected. For the little things like these. This is what keeps me going. I live like this because I love these idiots.


-Darrel S. Curtis