This is a rewrite from my other story Beginnings. I am taking it back to before the parents died, and then I am also going to make somme changes to the plot. I am hoping to attract more people and to write a better story. Please let me know what you're thinking. I think this is going to be more successful
"I'm real proud of you son," Dad put his hand on my shoulder helping me straighten my tie. He was a real sentimental kinda guy. My mom always said that was what attracted her to him. He wasn't afraid of expressing his emotions. "Not many kids around here graduate, let alone get a scholarship to play ball. You're a real good role model," he wasn't crying by all means, but he had that twinkle in his eyes that made me know it was a possibility.
"Thanks dad, you know I didn't get here on my own," I smiled patting him on the back. "Oh I think your mother can take most of that credit! She's been behind the scenes all these years," he was right, my mom was always on top of everything, because my dad worked so dang hard, but he made it to most my games, and was my go to guy about everything.
"Well I'll be damned," Two-bit hollered as my dad and I walked into the living room where everyone was gathered.
"Keith, I expect you to be on your best behavior today. It's not everyday you get to celebrate you first borns accomplishments." She wasn't scolding Two-bit or even nagging him really, she wasn't really like that. She didn't really hound anyone. She probably knew there was no use in doing that. Kids around here didn't respond to ridicule because we were all so use to it.
"You look like a blueberry," Dally snickered.
"As far as blueberries go, you're a cute blueberry!" Meghan kissed my cheek. Meghan was something special for sure. She wasn't lucky to have a good home life like we had. She hung around here a lot, then we kind of started dating. We'd been going steady for about 6 months now. I wasn't all that sure she loved me any more than she loved my family, the kids included. She would go to the movies with Pony, and she pretty much introduced Sandy to Soda. She was graduating too, but her Dad ran out on her and her family after her mom got pregnant, and her mom couldn't come to graduation because she was working or something.
"If we don't leave we're going to miss it!" Pony stuck his head in from the porch. Leave it to Pony to be on top of everything. He was a goody goody that way. He hated getting in trouble or letting anyone down. He was probably more reliable than anyone else in the gang.
"Let's go then!" We all piled into my parents truck. Soda and Pony sat in the back Meghan and I sat in the back seat with Mary and my parents drove. The rest of the gang got in Two-bits car and followed us.
"Darry, I got dibs on your room," Soda said through the open window.
"I ain't gone for an other month Soda, don't be counting your chickens before they hatch," I couldn't help but laugh. I knew over my mom's dead body would she let anyone move in my room. I wasn't even going to be an hour away, I knew she'd leave it hoping I'd come home a lot.
"You'll be next Mary, this time next year it'll be you in the spot light. You know Soda, now that Darry's going off to school he's not going to have a lot of time to help you with your school work, so your going to have to work extra hard. I want to see you graduating in two years too," leave it to Dad to aggravate Soda about school every chance he got.
"Hush, you know he's been working real hard, that's all we want from any of them is to do their best, so don't you start," Mom defended him like she always did. Soda was having a real hard time in school. He almost had to take summer school, but he squeezed by and got a D off of dumb luck, or so he said. Mom was so happy she made a cake. Not dad, it wasn't that he wasn't happy, but he just didn't understand why Soda hated school the way he did. Pony was skipping a grade and moving into high school next year, and Mary. She did okay. She was passing everything, but she had failed classes before, and she had caused my parent some stress, but not as much as Soda.
"Alright, I'll see you when I walk across the stage," I leaned in through the window and kissed my moms cheek.
"You can bet your ass that you'll get the most cheers, and I bet they won't only be from us Dar. You're quite the big man on campus!" Steve climbed out of the car with Evie on his arm. I will admit that through football I had made a lot of friends. Tulsa wasn't really all that big anyhow. Being a football player helped me make friends with Socs even. Then of course I had the gang, and Tim and I go way back, and then the cheerleaders. Since I didn't do too bad in the classroom, I even had some good relationships in the classroom. Today was going to be a littler sadder than I thought. I quickly ran into some of my buddies who were all just ten different kinds of excited, so my worries faded fast.
"Can you believe it's here man," Brad fist bumped me.
"I know after all these years, can't say I believe it," I agreed, But I couldn't fight my smile.
"I don't know what I'd do if we weren't going to play together again for the next four years. Believe it or not Curtis we are living the dream life!" Brad shook my shoulders before leaving to go get his place in line. He was right. We had been talking about playing college ball since we were old enough to know what college ball was. Brad didn't need the money like I did, but he was just excited to be going to college. Not many of the guys on our team were going on to college probably 5 or 6 socs. Then a handful would go to a community college, and the rest would work at a mill. Some would just never graduate, after 4 years your can't play football anymore, and at that point most of them would just drop out Not many wanted to go on to college. It probably wasn't that they didn't want to, it was that they weren't expected to.
The next thing I knew it was my turn to get up and give my speech. I had day dreamed through the other speeches. Pony and I had that in common, we could think about nothing for hours.
"If I have learned anything through out my time in Will Rogers is that you can't get through it alone. You need teachers to give you knowledge, parents to give you guidance, friends to share the success with, a team to challenge you, a coach to mentor you, and you need brothers to keep you on your toes. I have the honor of taking what I learned down the road with me to continue living my dream and to grow into the person my parents always told me I should be, and I did not get to do this alone. We are a community, we are a family, and even at the end of today and we all go our separate ways, we must never forget the unity we established over the last four years, and we should use it as fuel for the rest of our lives. Parents, teachers, teammates, friends of the Class of 1957, I tip my hat to you for getting each of us here. Every praise, words of encouragement, lecture, and even the occasional kick in the seat is what made this possible, so we all thank you," I looked up to my family. I saw my mom crying, my dad was beaming, Pony looked so inspired, Soda and Steve were checking out the ladies, and the rest of the gang were all watching me like they were placing bets if I was going to puke or pass out. I really meant them, in my speech. Because those ten people had been there through it all.
The principal patted my back and I went and took my place back in line. We all then lined up and got our diploma. I was 7th in line being early in the alphabet. It felt like the principal held my hand for a while, "it's been a rare pleasure," he told me smiling real big. He was a good man. Steve kept his promise. I heard Steve and Two-bit especially, but there was a roar of applause while I walked across the stage. I couldn't stop smiling.
My dad pulled me into a big hug, and my mom kissed my cheek. "Congratulations Dar," Soda meant it too. Him and I hadn't been talking the way we use to since we both got girl friends, and with school being so busy towards the end of the year. But I knew everyone talking about my graduation, and Pony skipping a grade while Soda may have to repeat was causing a strain, so I was glad he look happy. Maybe he too was inspired, and we would be here in two years.
"Great speech Dar, even better than you practiced!" She kissed me real long. I wasn't even embarrassed by it. She was something else.
"You talk awfully good for a hood," Two-bit nudged me.
"Yeah, Glory Dar, giving us a bad reputation using big words like that!" Dally added in.
"Congratulation Meghan!" Pony spoke up interrupting the guys.
"Aw, thanks Pone," she hugged him as my mom patted her shoulder.
"Let's hurry home and beat your friend Dar," Mom held my hand. Mom invited my whole football team and their families over to our house, along with the gang of course. However, I knew most of them wouldn't come. A lot of the guys had plans to get out of Tulsa, others were just planning on spending the say with their families too.
Dad was on the grill and the rest of us were dispersed in the crowd.I was glad everyone was there to share the day, honestly I probably wouldn't see many of my old team mates again. After my teammates left and most of the gang left with their girls too, I sat on the steps of the porch while my parents were in the swing, "thanks guys, today was real nice."
"You bet champ," was all they said. My mom still looked at my dad the way that Meghan looked at me, and my parents had been married for 20 years.
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After Darry's graduation life didn't slow down for long. I started my new job at the DX with Steve. Darry worked on roof's with dad trying to earn a little bit extra money before school started. Mary had the same waitressing job she always had, her and Meghan worked together at the Dingo. Darry had to leave early for football training, and we were all pretty sad to see him go. We all said we were going to spend more time with him before he left, but we all just got so busy. Pony hung around him a lot at night. They would read together or talk about books. I think Pony got a little lonely because besides Johnny none of us really hung out with him, or not the same way anyhow. He was younger, and wasn't interested in girls or cars for that matter. If we all went out together he would come, but mostly he kind of did his own thing. Which wasn't really a problem. He dug drawing and writing and stuff. No one else really did, except Darry a little. So they spend a little bit of time together at night. I knew Pony was going to miss him. We all were. But it was easy to watch him got because we all knew he was happy. He was getting to go to college. That was huge. We were all so proud
"Promise me you won't work too hard," Mom was holding him in a long hug.
"I won't mom," he assured her. I didn't know if I believed him. He worked his hardest no matter what.
"Now listen to me boy," Dad held his chin as if Darry wasn't bigger than him. "This is your shot. Don't blow it, cause if you do come hell or high water your ass will be up there roofing for the rest of your life, and you deserve better than that." My father hardly ever swore, so he was really trying to get Darry's attention.
"You know I won't let you down," Darry hugged him. My dad's face softened.
"I know you won't," he agreed.
"Don't get so big you forget the little people," I told him as he pulled away from dad.
"Never," he ruffled my hair. "Pony, you make sure you keep writing, and tell me about it when I call in a few days okay?" Pony smiled like he won a nobel prize.
"You better get on the road, beat the traffic," Dad encouraged. Darry turned back to Meghan. Everyone back up and gave them some space, but Pony and I made sure to ease drop.
"Meghan," Darry started.
"I'm not going anywhere Darry." She interrupted him.
"Meghan," he said again.
"Unless you meet someone else at school, I'm right here waiting for you. I'll save up my waitressing money, and I'll come up and watch you play as much as I can." I wasn't sure how Darry felt about it, but he was smiling so I figured he was pleased.
"My familly is coming to watch me play in two weeks, you should just hitch a ride," he gave her a long kiss waved to the rest of us, and he was gone. I knew he was only a couple hours away, but I already felt different. When someone's gone the family just isn't quite the same.
Sandy came over a little bit later. I hadn't told her yet, but I loved her. Her daddy didn't like me much, and I was trying my best to play it right by him. I always took her back before curfew. I always told him where we were going, hell we hand't even had sex. Soda and Evie had sex all the time, not to mention Dally and Sylvia or Two-bit and Kathy.
"I know you miss him, but just remember you're going to see him in two-weeks. And you never know, maybe one weekend you can go and stay with him. He can show you what college is like." She sat on my lap.
"Yeah, maybe." Sandy knew that I didn't like school. She knew that no matter what my parents said I couldn't and wouldn't go to college. That's why I was so excited I got the DX job. My parents said it was going to be a distraction from school, but honestly the DX was the only chance I had at a future. My parents didn't get that, but Sandy did. She was so happy for me when I got it, she made me dinner. She was something special.
"Soda, are you really moving into Darry's room?" Pony asked me from his room.
"Nah, I was just messing with him." There was noting wrong with my room, except for it was a mess. My mom use to hassle me about it, but she gave up on that.
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A parent measures their success off of the success of their kids. So, I was a pretty proud mamma when Darry called saying his first day of classes went well. Mary, Soda and Pony start back school today. Pony was nervous last night when he went to bed. I asked his father to talk to Soda to encourage him to help Pony out. Although Pony and Soda got along, sometimes Soda didn't include Pony, and although Pony would never say anything I knew it upset him. He was nervous. I knew Mary would watch out for him, she had a soft spot for Pony, but Mary wasn't really known to have the best friends.
"Morning Pony," I smiled as he came downstairs.
"You sure you don't want me to trim you hair a bit before you leave son, it's awfully long ain't it?" His dad was mostly playing with him, he knew Pony like it long and greased. Boys will be boys.
"Dad," Pony whined.
"Oh hush, there will be no bickering at this hour!" I laughed as Mary walked in the kitchen. I exchanged a look to my husband hoping he wouldn't start nagging on her too.
"Myra," he started, that was his nick name for her. "You don't need all that make up you have your mamma's face, and it is beautiful the way it is," he kissed me, and of course I smiled. Every woman likes it when their husband calls them beautiful, but I understood why Mary rolled her eyes.
"Honey, I think you look real nice, Franklin will be sure to notice," I gave her arm a squeeze.
"It's Franki Ma," she corrected me the way she always did. "He's picking me up for school, so please dad, be nice to him!" She kissed his cheek the way she always did. Mary knew how to manipulate her dad. I always worried about Mary, because she was quiet, and we never really knew what she was up to. Plus, she was friends with Angela Shepard who had a reputation. They had been friends grade school, so I knew there was no real chance of them growing apart anymore. I always wished she would just become with Steve and Two-bit and their girl friends, but they all hardly even crossed paths. Darry and Meghan had gone out with Mary and Franki a few times, but not as much as Steve, Evie, Soda and Sandy had. I didn't know much about Franki other than he's a Brumbly so most of 'the gang' doesn't like him. Mary couldn't care less what they thought.
Now Sandy she was real good for Soda. She was smart and honest. She was a good girl with good intentions. She was going to go somewhere, probably be a nurse like her mamma. I was real happy when she brought her home. She wasn't high maintenance like Evie was.
I worried about Darry staying together with Meghan, because a part of me hoped he'd never come back to Tulsa. Of course I'd want him to live close, but I think it would do him well to go out into the world. I told Darrel Sr. that I thought he would be a real good lawyer the way he never backs down from a fight, but he told me he had to figure all that out on his own. If we told him he would just do the opposite.
Soda came downstairs wearing the same clothes I was pretty sure he wore the other day, but I figured there was no use in arguing. "Morning Mr. and Mrs Curtis Franki said from outside the screen porch.
"Come on in son!" Darrel Sr. Said from his chair drinking his coffee.
"Hey, guys," Franki gave them a wave, and they both grunted responses, neither were morning people. Soda was usually better than this, but I knew he was dreading school.
"We better get going," Franki kissed Mary's hand walking toward the door.
"Isn't she our ride?" Pony asked with a mouth full of eggs.
"He's right Mary, now that Darry's gone they're your responsibility," Darrel Sr. didn't look up from the paper. I stopped reading the paper with all the talk of a possible war. I didn't want to start my day thinking about it, and I certainly didn't want to end my day thinking about it.
"I have to work after school, can they walk home, or mom can you pick them up?" Mary turned and face me.
"Mary we talked about you and working,and we said school and family comes first." Darrel Sr. said before I could step in and say that I could pick them up.
"How come she can work during the week and I can only work weekends?" Soda spoke up.
"Soda, I'm older! I've had this job since I was 15!" Mary let go of Franki's hand.
"She makes better grades than you," Pony spoke for the first time this morning.
"Stay out of this Pony," Soda and Mary said at the same time.
"I can drive the kids, I can take them home after I drop Mary off, no problem," I knew Franki meant well, but Soda and Pony weren't really for that.
"That will just have to do for today, we'll discuss this tonight, ya'll go ahead now." I smiled at the eye roll Soda gave Pony.
"Don't call them kids Frank, they can't stand that!" She whispered to him, but I heard him. The grin he gave her gave me the feeling that he did it on purpose.
"Soda come here for a second would you please," I asked him as everyone else left.
"Yeah Ma?" He asked picking up his stuff.
"School is only as bad as you make it baby, so please promise me you will at least try to enjoy yourself. You deserve to be happy." I held his cheeks with my hands really hoping my words were sinking in.
"Yeah, I'll try," he gave me a small smile pulling away.
"Mary Ann, you are coddling him. He needs to learn how to suck it up and do what you don't want to do!" Darrel Sr. Grumbled putting his glass in the sink before heading off to work.
"I just don't have to have to fight with him for the next couple years like we had to last year Darry. School just isn't his thing!" I told him like I had many of times.
"Honey, I don't want that either, but I don't want him working a job he hates because he didn't get an education." I knew he was implying he hated his job roofing. He never plainly said it, but you could tell it was implied.
"I know, we're just going to have to get creative with that one," I handed him his lunch as he kissed me before leaving like the rest of them did.
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"Soda, I didn't mean that you weren't smart. That's not why I work more than you." Mary turned in her seat and looked at him as we pulled out of the drive way.
"Yeah, but you are." Soda snapped at her. Soda was a real pain in the ass sometimes. More so than Pony, because at least Pony didn't talk. But every time Soda spoke it was useless. I only offered to drive the little trolls because I wanted to look good in front of her father. Her parents had real strict dating rules, and she's always been real serious about sticking to them. So we hardly even made it to second base. But I figured if I held my cards right we'd get enough alone time that we'd be able to go farther. A buddy of mine dated her for 2 months and he never made it all the way. She ended up dumping him, so I made it a personal goal of mine to make it all the way with her on my terms.
"So, I make a little better grades than you, so what? What does that prove, that I know how to say what the teachers want to hear.I can't apply it like you do at the DX, so quit feeling sorry for yourself and go find Sandy." Mary turned back around. I gave her an annoyed look but, she ignored me.
"Want me to help you find Johnny?" God forbid is Mary didn't start fussing over Pony now.
"No, I think I can manage," Pony got out running after Soda.
"Okay mom, your kids are fine, can you pay me a little attention?" I put my had on her thigh.
She raised her eye brows and leaned in to kiss me, "That's more like it!" I slid my hand in between her legs and she started to tense up. They all do at first.
"Franki not here, huh," She whispered pulling away.
"Of course, only the best for you baby. What about this weekend? I know a place, can you tell your mom your staying at Angela's?" I kept kissing her hoping she would answer with out thinking.
"I don't know baby, we'll have to see. I'm working," she picked up her stuff and got out of my car.
"I'd make it worth your while I can tell you that!" I followed her.
"Oh, I believe you. I'd rather just go to a drive in, and do it there, I don't think I can just lie to my parents like that, ya know?" By it I wondered if she meant sex? Because if she was willing to do it in my car I was fine with that. Most broads aren't though, so I would have to shred lightly in this new territory.
"I just want to give you the best," I sucked up to her. She was dumb enough to buy it too."Thanks baby," she smiled.
"Check and mate," I thought to myself.
They always started school on a Thursday, giving us only two days for the first week. Probably because they didn't want to scare us away by starting too soon. So, I only had to wait two days until mine and Mary's night. I had been doing a lot of work for her and her family, it better be worth it.
Mary and I didn't have any classes together, I told her that was an accident and the school must have messed up my schedule, but I actually did that on purpose, because after we do the deed and get real good at it, we'll break up and I just don't want to look at yesterday's news everyday.