Everything Has Changed

Chapter One, How Soda got Drafted

"Soda come play with me!" seven-year-old Ponyboy begged. I rolled my eyes, "I can't. Fourth graders get homework, remember?" My baby brother looked up at me with wide eyes, "I already asked Darry and he has more homework than you. And Mom's talking on the phone." I sighed and put down my pencil. "Okay fine... Only for a few minutes though," I agreed. Ponyboy happily skipped off to our room, dragging me behind him.
I sat down on the floor as Pony dumped out all the Legos and toy cars. We started to play and I realized how happy he was. He just wanted some attention. We built a race track with the Legos and then we raced the toy cars.
"Thanks for playing, Soda," Ponyboy said, "Darry never plays with me anymore. He doesn't love me as much as you do."
"Don't say that," I told him, "Darry loves you just fine. He is only busy, that's all."
We kept racing our cars until we got bored. I leaned back against the wall and Ponyboy laid on the floor. "You're the best big brother ever!" Pony exclaimed, "I love you Soda."
That filled my heart with happiness. I felt so grown up, even though I was only ten. "I love you Ponyboy. Never grow up."
XXX
"Hey!" someone shouted. I snapped back into the reality that I so desperately wanted to escape. "You doing okay?" a fellow soldier asked me. I nodded my head. But I was shaking terribly. I had never been this scared in my life.
I was on a ship, heading to Vietnam, along with about thirty other men. I had been drafted last month; two weeks before my nineteenth birthday. Up until now, I had been training at boot camp.
I was shocked to hear the news, but not nearly as shocked as the rest of the gang. I think it hit Pony the hardest. We were really close. Our brotherly bond was practically torn apart after hearing the news.
Before I left, I made sure that Darry and Ponyboy would get along better. We sat on the porch, waiting for someone from the government to pick me up.
When they finally came, Pony clung to me with all his strength. Darry hugged me goodbye and then had to pry Pony away from me. I got into the jeep, leaving Ponyboy screaming and crying in our front yard. Darry held onto him as he struggled to get free. He almost got away and tried to follow the jeep, but Darry caught him. Pony finally hugged Darry and I could tell that he was holding back his tears. He was trying to stay strong for our baby brother.
A tear escaped my eye as I watched them fade into the distance as the jeep drove away. That day was a living hell for me.
The man sitting next to me nudged my arm. "Hey I'm Bernie."
"Sodapop Curtis," I told him.
A smile formed on his face. "That's a cool name. Where you from?"
"Tulsa," I answered.
He nodded. I spent the next hour talking to Bernie. He was twenty six-years-old and his wife was pregnant and he was from Oakland, California. I'm pretty sure he could tell that I was nervous. "Don't worry. You'll be fine," he assured me, "My uncle was at war before and he always wrote us letters to pass the time."
I gave him a slight smile. His intentions were good, but I was still terrified. I mean, who wouldn't be? I was about to go to war.
"Are we allowed to write to our families?" I asked Bernie, thinking about Ponyboy and Darry and the gang.
"I'd think so," he said, scratching his head, "We are a free country after all."
"Four hours 'till we dock in Vietnam!" the general announced. I shook even more.
Once Bernie fell asleep, I looked through my duffel bag. I was surprised to find my mother's miniature jewelry box; I didn't remember packing that. It was wooden and had small flowers painted on the top and sides. I could still smell Mom's perfume on it. I clutched the box and realized I was shaking again.
Tears streamed down my face and I finally gained enough strength to open it. Inside was a note. I unfolded it and started reading.
    Dear Sodapop,
You probably are headed to Vietnam right now, unless you are already there. I put this in your bag to give you something sentimental in the hard times. I also packed you a journal. That way, you can write however you're feeling. You could even write to the gang if you want. Anyway, we already miss you so much. Even though I wrote this before you left, I can tell you that Ponyboy and I are getting along great. If not, we sure are trying real hard. We miss you a lot little buddy. Stay strong. We all believe in you. We know you can get through this. We'll be waiting when you get home.
                                Sincerely, Darry
P.S. I had some of the gang put a little something in your bag too.
I folded the note back up and set it to the side. I noticed something else in the jewelry box; photos. I looked through them. Some were of the whole family, some of the gang, some of just me, some of just Darry, some of just Ponyboy. I smiled as I shuffled through the pictures. The last one was of Mom, Dad and I.
That stung my heart. I hadn't thought about how much I missed them lately. More tears threatened to spill from my eyes. I couldn't believe Darry would think to do something like this for me.
I pulled myself together and closed the jewelry box. I was eager to see what everyone else gave me but I decided against it. I could be in Vietnam for years. Who knows? I decided to look through everything when Darry suggested; during the hard times.
I put the box back and zipped the bag up. I leaned my head against the wall and tried to get some sleep.
All I could think about was the gang. What if I couldn't make it back home? I shuddered and pushed the thought out of my mind as the sleep rushed over my body.
XXX