ONE:
I was seated at the table in the kitchen when my brother came in.
"Hey Soda, how did you sleep?" I asked, watching his eyes carefully. The one thing Soda couldn't control was his eyes-they betrayed him. And for that matter, I knew he hadn't slept well-I'd heard him up during the night a few times!
"Fine thanks Pony." Soda replied, avoiding my gaze and going straight to the coffee. "Why are you up so early? You do realise you've only got this week left before you start school again don't ya?"
"Two-Bit and I're going into the city." I replied. "Can you believe he's still going to be in school when we go back for the next year?"
Soda grinned. "I think Two-Bit's going to be there forever to tell the truth." He admitted. "And he loves it too!"
I smiled too, not so much at Soda's words, but more at the fact that my brother was able to smile. It had been a few weeks since he'd done that. Since he'd found out that the baby he thought was his really wasn't his. Since we'd told Sandy to get out, and she'd gone and not come back. At first Soda'd been down in the dumps. He usually was able to bounce back from things quite quickly, but this must have really hurt him. But now it seemed that he was beginning to get better, even though I knew he didn't sleep properly. I've asked this before, and I'll ask it again: How much can one family take? How much can one family go through and not crack? First my parents died, and then there was my own trouble with Johnny and the soc who he killed, and then Johnny himself dying. Then there were the problems with Sandy. I know the sayings what doesn't kill us makes us stronger, and that bad things happen in threes, but I still have to wonder. When is something good going to happen for the Curtis family?
"Why are you looking so thoughtful Pony?" Soda demanded. "A greaser on school holidays doesn't think you know!"
I laughed. "Speak for yourself." I said. "Some of us like to keep our brains from going rusty."
"What good are brains? What good is school? I mean Algebra? Do you see me doing that sort of stuff at work?" Soda replied.
I shook my head. "I don't even really see you working at work..if it weren't for Steve the place would go broke!" I replied.
Soda shrugged, not arguing the point. "Well y'all behave and have fun in the city!" He told me.
"Yeah, and you behave and have fun at work." I retorted. "Don't go sounding like Darry now will you?"
Soda grinned and didn't say anything to that. If I'm being honest I'd admit that Darry and I've been getting on a lot better lately. A lot better than before. It just seems a pity to me that something bad has to happen to make us get along better. But Darry and I are just two completely different people, and when you think about it, he has had to grow up fast and assume a lot of responsibility all of a sudden!
*****
Two-Bit arrived just after Soda had left for work. Darry, of course, had gone much earlier. He works too hard, but try telling him that! He wouldn't listen!
"How's Soda going?" He asked.
"He says he's fine, and he is during the day, but I hear him up and about during the night. I think he has trouble sleeping." I admitted.
Two-Bit nodded wisely. "I guess you can't go through something like that and not have it affect you. I mean geez, Soda worshipped that girl. She had to have known the depth of his feelings for her!" He shook his head angrily. "And she didn't care. That girl, Pony, was nothing but a low-down, dirty, good-for-nothing-"
I stopped him before he got on a roll. "Glory Two-Bit!" I said. "We know."
He sighed. "It just don't seem fair to me. Soda was hurt enough by the whole thing with you running away and all, and then this-"
"-Two-Bit!" I interrupted again. "I know. Instead of dwelling on it we should do something to try and cheer Soda up. And I guess it would be good for all of us. We've all been through a lot in the last few months."
Two-Bit cocked an eyebrow, looking impressed. "No wonder you're the one with the brains Pony! What kind of something are you thinking?"
I shrugged. "I'm not sure yet.." I admitted. "But I'll work on it!"
"Hmmm...well lets get this show on the road." Two-Bit declared.
"So," I asked as we walked to the bus stop. "Have you read that book we were meant to read over the holidays?"
"What book?" Two-Bit asked.
I shook my head. Hopeless.
The bus wasn't long in arriving, and soon we were on our way into the city.
*****
Two-Bit blew his straw wrapper at me, and I threw a chip at him. "Can't you behave? Can't take you nowhere!" I told him, in a fake stern voice.
"I always behave." He replied, reaching over and throwing one of my own chips at me.
"TWO-BIT!" I said. "If you're gonna' throw things at me, throw your own!"
"I ate them all." He said sadly, and I rolled my eyes, thinking how right Soda had been-Two-Bit would never grow up! But in all honesty, I didn't think I wanted him to. He was fun, although he could be serious when we needed him. I had to admit he was an integral part of the gang!
"Look at them. I bet they take drugs, and fight and all." I heard a girl whisper. Through the corner of my eye I saw they were looking at us. I frowned slightly, and slouched in my chair, trying to look tougher than I really was. They were both pretty enough, and not our type of girl. Although I wouldn't have called them soc's either.
"Yeah" agreed her friend. "Could you see our parents if we bought home someone like that?"
"They'd totally die!"
I glanced at Two-Bit to see whether or not he had heard. From the frown on his face I guessed he had!
"Come on Two-Bit, let's get going." I said, having had enough of the place all of a sudden. It's not that I'm not used to being called a greaser and worse things, it was that it was the pretty girl saying it! And the way she said it, like she thought we couldn't hear or something.
As we were on our way out of the place Two-Bit stopped at the girls' table. "Y'all don't have a clue do you?" He said, his voice fairly quiet and calm.
The pretty girl stared at him, and then looked at me. I saw the look in her eyes-it was fear. She honestly was scared of us!
"Come on Two-Bit. Leave it." I said.
Two-Bit shrugged. "Fine Pony, but you two oughta' get your facts straight before you go spouting off about things you don't know nothing about!" He told them.
On our way home Two-Bit complained about the two girls. I have to admit I was a bit surprised-I've never seen Two-Bit care about what people think of him. We all seem to have fairly thick skins, but most greasers do I think.
I asked him that, why he actually cared, and he couldn't properly explain it. "Sometimes I'm just sick of it all Pony. Greasers and soc's, and everyone classed as something. Forget it if you're different. It don't count!"
Pretty deep thinking for Two-Bit, I thought wryly. I was usually the one to come out with things. Maybe, I realised, I was not as different to everyone else as I had thought?
When we got back Soda was home and cooking pasta. It's easy to cook, and he does it well.
"How was your day in the big, bad city?" Soda asked us.
"Fine." Two-Bit said, and he gave me a look which said, don't go telling Soda about those girls, for some reason.
"Darry phoned-he'll be a bit late." Soda said.
"He works too hard." I muttered, but Soda heard.
"Yeah, he could do with a holiday. Matter of fact so could all us Curtis's. Even the rest of the gang are probably due one too.." Soda said.
I sighed. It was a pity we weren't rich!
"Is there enough food in there for me?" Two-Bit asked.
"Of course." Soda said. Two-Bit, and/or Steve had been over for tea a lot the last few weeks since the whole Sandy episode. I think they wanted to make sure our family didn't fall apart after having had so much bad luck!
We sat down to tea a little later without Darry, but Soda said he'd warm Darry's up or something when he got home. We'd eaten and watched television for a bit, and still Darry wasn't home. Two-Bit sighed, and got up and stretched and went home. And still Darry wasn't home. I met Soda's worried eyes, my own fear echoed in his.
'Please god,' I prayed. 'Don't let nothing happen to Darry!'
I was seated at the table in the kitchen when my brother came in.
"Hey Soda, how did you sleep?" I asked, watching his eyes carefully. The one thing Soda couldn't control was his eyes-they betrayed him. And for that matter, I knew he hadn't slept well-I'd heard him up during the night a few times!
"Fine thanks Pony." Soda replied, avoiding my gaze and going straight to the coffee. "Why are you up so early? You do realise you've only got this week left before you start school again don't ya?"
"Two-Bit and I're going into the city." I replied. "Can you believe he's still going to be in school when we go back for the next year?"
Soda grinned. "I think Two-Bit's going to be there forever to tell the truth." He admitted. "And he loves it too!"
I smiled too, not so much at Soda's words, but more at the fact that my brother was able to smile. It had been a few weeks since he'd done that. Since he'd found out that the baby he thought was his really wasn't his. Since we'd told Sandy to get out, and she'd gone and not come back. At first Soda'd been down in the dumps. He usually was able to bounce back from things quite quickly, but this must have really hurt him. But now it seemed that he was beginning to get better, even though I knew he didn't sleep properly. I've asked this before, and I'll ask it again: How much can one family take? How much can one family go through and not crack? First my parents died, and then there was my own trouble with Johnny and the soc who he killed, and then Johnny himself dying. Then there were the problems with Sandy. I know the sayings what doesn't kill us makes us stronger, and that bad things happen in threes, but I still have to wonder. When is something good going to happen for the Curtis family?
"Why are you looking so thoughtful Pony?" Soda demanded. "A greaser on school holidays doesn't think you know!"
I laughed. "Speak for yourself." I said. "Some of us like to keep our brains from going rusty."
"What good are brains? What good is school? I mean Algebra? Do you see me doing that sort of stuff at work?" Soda replied.
I shook my head. "I don't even really see you working at work..if it weren't for Steve the place would go broke!" I replied.
Soda shrugged, not arguing the point. "Well y'all behave and have fun in the city!" He told me.
"Yeah, and you behave and have fun at work." I retorted. "Don't go sounding like Darry now will you?"
Soda grinned and didn't say anything to that. If I'm being honest I'd admit that Darry and I've been getting on a lot better lately. A lot better than before. It just seems a pity to me that something bad has to happen to make us get along better. But Darry and I are just two completely different people, and when you think about it, he has had to grow up fast and assume a lot of responsibility all of a sudden!
*****
Two-Bit arrived just after Soda had left for work. Darry, of course, had gone much earlier. He works too hard, but try telling him that! He wouldn't listen!
"How's Soda going?" He asked.
"He says he's fine, and he is during the day, but I hear him up and about during the night. I think he has trouble sleeping." I admitted.
Two-Bit nodded wisely. "I guess you can't go through something like that and not have it affect you. I mean geez, Soda worshipped that girl. She had to have known the depth of his feelings for her!" He shook his head angrily. "And she didn't care. That girl, Pony, was nothing but a low-down, dirty, good-for-nothing-"
I stopped him before he got on a roll. "Glory Two-Bit!" I said. "We know."
He sighed. "It just don't seem fair to me. Soda was hurt enough by the whole thing with you running away and all, and then this-"
"-Two-Bit!" I interrupted again. "I know. Instead of dwelling on it we should do something to try and cheer Soda up. And I guess it would be good for all of us. We've all been through a lot in the last few months."
Two-Bit cocked an eyebrow, looking impressed. "No wonder you're the one with the brains Pony! What kind of something are you thinking?"
I shrugged. "I'm not sure yet.." I admitted. "But I'll work on it!"
"Hmmm...well lets get this show on the road." Two-Bit declared.
"So," I asked as we walked to the bus stop. "Have you read that book we were meant to read over the holidays?"
"What book?" Two-Bit asked.
I shook my head. Hopeless.
The bus wasn't long in arriving, and soon we were on our way into the city.
*****
Two-Bit blew his straw wrapper at me, and I threw a chip at him. "Can't you behave? Can't take you nowhere!" I told him, in a fake stern voice.
"I always behave." He replied, reaching over and throwing one of my own chips at me.
"TWO-BIT!" I said. "If you're gonna' throw things at me, throw your own!"
"I ate them all." He said sadly, and I rolled my eyes, thinking how right Soda had been-Two-Bit would never grow up! But in all honesty, I didn't think I wanted him to. He was fun, although he could be serious when we needed him. I had to admit he was an integral part of the gang!
"Look at them. I bet they take drugs, and fight and all." I heard a girl whisper. Through the corner of my eye I saw they were looking at us. I frowned slightly, and slouched in my chair, trying to look tougher than I really was. They were both pretty enough, and not our type of girl. Although I wouldn't have called them soc's either.
"Yeah" agreed her friend. "Could you see our parents if we bought home someone like that?"
"They'd totally die!"
I glanced at Two-Bit to see whether or not he had heard. From the frown on his face I guessed he had!
"Come on Two-Bit, let's get going." I said, having had enough of the place all of a sudden. It's not that I'm not used to being called a greaser and worse things, it was that it was the pretty girl saying it! And the way she said it, like she thought we couldn't hear or something.
As we were on our way out of the place Two-Bit stopped at the girls' table. "Y'all don't have a clue do you?" He said, his voice fairly quiet and calm.
The pretty girl stared at him, and then looked at me. I saw the look in her eyes-it was fear. She honestly was scared of us!
"Come on Two-Bit. Leave it." I said.
Two-Bit shrugged. "Fine Pony, but you two oughta' get your facts straight before you go spouting off about things you don't know nothing about!" He told them.
On our way home Two-Bit complained about the two girls. I have to admit I was a bit surprised-I've never seen Two-Bit care about what people think of him. We all seem to have fairly thick skins, but most greasers do I think.
I asked him that, why he actually cared, and he couldn't properly explain it. "Sometimes I'm just sick of it all Pony. Greasers and soc's, and everyone classed as something. Forget it if you're different. It don't count!"
Pretty deep thinking for Two-Bit, I thought wryly. I was usually the one to come out with things. Maybe, I realised, I was not as different to everyone else as I had thought?
When we got back Soda was home and cooking pasta. It's easy to cook, and he does it well.
"How was your day in the big, bad city?" Soda asked us.
"Fine." Two-Bit said, and he gave me a look which said, don't go telling Soda about those girls, for some reason.
"Darry phoned-he'll be a bit late." Soda said.
"He works too hard." I muttered, but Soda heard.
"Yeah, he could do with a holiday. Matter of fact so could all us Curtis's. Even the rest of the gang are probably due one too.." Soda said.
I sighed. It was a pity we weren't rich!
"Is there enough food in there for me?" Two-Bit asked.
"Of course." Soda said. Two-Bit, and/or Steve had been over for tea a lot the last few weeks since the whole Sandy episode. I think they wanted to make sure our family didn't fall apart after having had so much bad luck!
We sat down to tea a little later without Darry, but Soda said he'd warm Darry's up or something when he got home. We'd eaten and watched television for a bit, and still Darry wasn't home. Two-Bit sighed, and got up and stretched and went home. And still Darry wasn't home. I met Soda's worried eyes, my own fear echoed in his.
'Please god,' I prayed. 'Don't let nothing happen to Darry!'