Very strained as soda pop had to drop out of school and start working to help keep the house afloat after the loss of both of their parents. But they're all very close brothers and care about each other a lot.
Life's hard for them, Sodapop needing to drop out to get the money they need for living. It's stressful but the brothers have friends who make it somehow fun, their friends are their family as they struggle through their stretch of life.
