The juvenile court thing turned out better than I thought. Darry got custody of Pony and Soda! 

That very night, Mom drove me to the Curtis' house. As soon as we pulled in, we saw Soda storm out of the house with Darry and Ponyboy following pursuit. We got out of the car and ran after them. We ran to the lot. Pony tackled Soda to stop him.

"Damn Pony! You oughtta join football or somethin'!"

"What's goin' on?" Mom asked.

"I can't take this anymore!? You and Pony fightin' all the time!"

"I thought you two were getting along good now!?" I said.

"Shut up Jackie!"

I gasped. Soda realized he told me to shut up then bawled louder. I bent down by Soda's side and hugged him.

"I'm sorry Jackie! I'm so sorry!" He sobbed.

My leather jacket, part of it was wet with Soda's tears.

"You two been fightin'?" Mom asked.

Darry admitidly nodded. 

I let go of Soda as he calmed down.

"Where did you think you were goin?" Pony asked.

"I don't know. It's just...I can't stand to hear y'all fight. Sometimes...I just have to get out or...it's like I'm the middleman in a tug of war and I'm being split in half. You dig?"

Darry gave Pony a startled look. Soda continued.

"I mean, I can't take sides. It'd be a lot easier if I could, but I see both sides. Darry yells too much and tries too hard and takes everything too serious, and Ponyboy, you don't think enough, you don't realize all Darry's giving up just to give you a chance he missed out on. He could've stuck you in a home somewhere and worked his way through college. Ponyboy, I'm telling the truth. I dropped out because I'm dumb. I really did try in school, but you saw my grades. Look, I'm happy working in a gas station with cars. You'd never be happy doing something like that. And Darry, you ought to try to understand him more, and quit bugging him about every little mistake he makes. He fels differently than you do. Golly, you two, it's bad enough having to listen to it, but when you start trying to get me to take sides. We're all we got left. We ought t be able to stick together against everything. If we don't have each other, we don't have anything. If you don't have anything, you end up like Dally...and I don't mean dead, either. I mean like he was before. And that's worse than dead. Please, don't fight anymore."

"Sure little buddy. We won't fight no more," Darry said.

Soda looked at Pony.

"Pony, don't start crying. One bawl-baby in the family's enough."

"Alrighty boys, now with that settled, let's go back to the house."

"Race you!" Pony said.

We ran to the house.