He paused to wipe his forehead with the back of a forearm, glancing toward the porch. Soda was there, sitting on the top step, a half-eaten apple in his hand. He wasn't reading, wasn't talking, just watching Darry work. It was a sight that had become common since the night Soda had nearly lost an eye to a falling limb while they were clearing the back pasture. Soda had always been the active one, the one who couldn't sit still, but lately, he seemed to be making a concerted effort to just... be there.
Soda stood up, brushing off his jeans. "Let me take over for a bit." cherish these times ch 3 dartred work