For new readers to this story please note this is a sister story. Landslide is the fourth story entry with a character named Scout Marie Curtis, a.k.a.-Sissy
In my brother's gang they often called me by my nickname, Sissy. My oldest brother Darrel actually gave me the name when I was about seven. All of the boys in the neighborhood wrestled and played rough... Darry always told me to get into the game. One day I told him I didn't want to get hurt and he has called me Sissy ever since. For the longest time my parents thought he called me Sissy because I was the little sister. They were not to happy to hear the truth later that Darry was actually teasing me
- Story excerpt from Family Bond
Scout is the 'seven minutes younger' twin sister to Ponyboy, her intelligence and common sense levels are higher than her twin's yet she is more analytical like Darry and less creative then Pony. She is very quiet and shy and not a "greaser girl". She is tough when she needs to be, but prefers to stay clear of violence whenever possible. She gets along very well with all of her brothers, even Darry.
At the beginning of the summer she met a girl named Casey who taught Scout how to be less of a 'tomboy' and more of a woman. Casey and Scout got along as well as Johnny and Ponyboy or Steve and Sodapop. Two weeks prior to Landslide Casey convinced Scout to skip the weekly football game and go to her house to have her nails painted and read woman's magazines. Scout agreed and she became involved in a traumatic family situation in which Casey's father, Duke Dobbins, shot his daughter then turned the gun on Scout. "You never heard anything, you never saw anything." Duke said as he stood in the middle of the room and looked down at me.
I tried to answer him through my intense fear. "Never … saw …."
"Damn straight you didn't." Duke smiled causing his mustache to lift. He raised his hand up revealing the gun. I couldn't take my stare from the darkness of the barrel. Duke pulled back the hammer on the gun. I closed my eye's tight, and shook. In the distance the sound of an approaching squad car caused Duke to curse out loud and flounder in his decision. I opened my eyes to see him pace nervously then he reeled around toward me and pointed the barrel of the gun in my direction, BANG! – excerpt from Escalation
Scout physically survived the attack on her life, but mentally and emotionally her wounds were still open. Before she could fully recover Ponyboy wandered in past curfew launching the biggest fight Ponyboy and Darry had ever had. In a moment Ponyboy darted out of the house, leaving the family bond in pieces.
My heart jumped as Darry struck Ponyboy out of anger. My twin's body was propelled to the floor by the impact. For a second no one in the room drew a breath…Ponyboy leapt up from the floor and bolted out the front door.
I wanted to yell to my brother as he ran past, his eyes welling with tears, but all I could muster was a soft spoken call, "Pony?" Before I could speak again Darry and Sodapop ran to the door. I spun around on the couch, propped up on my knees and peeked through the blinds just in time to see my brother disappear into the darkness…
"Sodapop, you know I didn't mean too?" Darry began to plead for forgiveness. "I would never mean to hit Ponyboy or any of you. I just reacted." …
… I stood before Darry with angry tears flooding my eyes. "You did mean too! …I can't believe I ever stuck up for you! All those nights of telling Pony how much you cared for him were a waste! Ponyboy was right all along, you only kept us two around because Soda wouldn't forgive you if you didn't. You don't really want us here. You never did!" I hurriedly wiped the tears from my eyes wishing I hadn't given Darry the satisfaction of making me cry.
"I bet you're happy now that Pony's gone!" For the first time in a long time Darry was speechless. He stood there and his mouth moved slightly but no words could come out. I watched him carefully as he suffocated from my words… It wasn't until that moment I noticed Darry's lip quiver. I looked into his icy cold eyes and saw the whites begin to flood with red. I froze in place and became aware of the unstoppable stream of tears on Darry's face. He was crying. Not just a little, he was ready to break down and cry out loud... – excerpt from Landslide
The days pass without Ponyboy at home and the family is challenged as Sodapop's hear is shattered, Scout is an emotional wreck and the gang can't get a break as Two-Bit gets jumped and Dally arrested. Finally, Scout realizes she can no longer stay at home waiting for her brother to return. She must go and find him. In the early morning hours she sets out to find him and does so with the unexpected help of Dallas. Her happy reunion with Ponyboy soon goes up in smoke and all four of the friends battle the blazes to save the children and each other.
"Ok he's free! He's free, get out of here!" Dallas yelled at me and hoisted Johnny up underneath his armpits to drag him out.
I turned to exit the inferno and mistakenly exhaled a large amount of toxic smoke. Gagging for fresh air I stumbled through the burning wood and embers toward the exit before falling to the floor in a fit of coughs. I looked up through the smoke at Dally who leaned Johnny's limp body out the window to be caught by the teachers below. I struggled to stand as cinders singed my hair ... Dally noticed my struggle and grabbed a hold of my sweatshirt as the wooden floor began to lurch beneath us.
"Get … out, Scout!" He coughed and yelled as the wind from outside blew through the tattered building causing the fire to swell and the temperature to rise. To shelter me from the raging flames Dallas Winston wrapped me in his arms. With the brightness of the firelight I could see Dally's jacket and arm were badly burned. I turned my head to him in fear and looked into his now protective eyes…When the strong wind passed the flames were reduced and Dally hoisted me off the floor and heaved me out the window. I landed with a thud on the hard ground below and gasped for fresh air. In seconds Dallas was beside me on his hands and knees searching for the same breath as I was and cursing the burnt skin on his arm. Suddenly the sound of gunfire went off and the two of us covered our heads for safety.
The sound triggered memories for me that I would have rather forgotten. I tried to stand up in a hurry to flee, but the motion and lack of fresh oxygen made my head swirl and soon the world disappeared into a sea of darkness.
Scout returned with her friends to Tulsa and was reunited with her family. The next day she was relieved to have the gang home again, even though things looked glum for Johnny after her, Two-Bit and Ponyboy went to visit him in the hospital. Scout opted to spend the afternoon at the DX station with Sodapop and she was soon reunited with a handsome blond headed boy who had befriended her only days before when she was caught alone in a thunderstorm.
I studied Sodapop as he took care of his new customer's car... I cleared my mind and glanced up at the popular blond boy a second time only to have him catch me looking…I watched him approach. I could tell through his fancy clothes and jacket that he was muscular and athletic. "Scout, right?" He took one hand out of the pocket of his jacket and casually pointed at me…It was Owen Jasper from the cemetery. I half smiled as my stomach turned nervous. "Yeah," …
Owen plopped down on the curb next to me as if we were good friends. "You weren't in school Friday like you said you'd be."
I remembered the day he dropped me off at my house. I told him I would see him at school the next day. "Yeah… I kind of made other plans."
"I'll say! I read about you in the newspaper this morning." Owen looked across the lot at his friends then back to me…
"O!" The tall redheaded boy in the Lettermen's jacket called out. "We got plenty of girls! Let's go!"
Owen looked at me with his ocean blue eyes, "I gotta go. We've got plans for tonight." The boy stood up and looked down at me one last time. "I better see you at school on Monday!"
I stood up and looked into his eyes, "you can count on it." I told him with a smile.
He walked backwards a few steps to keep me in his sights, "you better be there or I'll be pretty disappointed," then he turned and jogged back to his friends. He hopped into the backseat of the convertible and a few girls piled in around him hoping for attention. My heart fluttered with excitement and I couldn't wait for the weekend to be over.
But the evening would only end in tragedy for everyone in the gang as Johnny dies, Dallas is shot to death in front of his friends, Ponyboy collapses and Scout loses her mind.
The sound of the shots echoed through my mind. I heard Darry berate the officers then Ponyboy mumbled. "… Johnny, now Dallas…" My brother's words caused me to turn toward him, the sound of bullets whizzing through the air, still clear in my ears. I watched him collapse to the pavement. I turned back toward the approaching officers and saw Duke Dobbins standing among them. I saw the smoking gun in his hand and the edges of his black handlebar mustache curl up as he smiled. I convinced myself Duke had killed Dally! He had shot Ponyboy! He had driven Casey from my life. "You bastard!" I screamed with every ounce of energy and hate I had in me. "You killed her! You killed her and now you killed them!"
Hot tears flowed from my eyes and each of my muscles filled with rage as I charged at the man. I grabbed a hold of him, punching, kicking and scratching as violently as I could… Quickly his friends grabbed my body and pinned me to the wet street. I struggled to get free but the men seized my arms and pulled them behind my back… Darry watched in shock as the officers wrestled me to the ground. "Let her go! She didn't mean it…!" He begged the policemen, but kept his distance just enough to not anger the officers.
"Get her in the car!" One angry officer yelled as he wiped a stream of blood from under his nose.
"You can't haul her away!" Two-Bit's voice cracked as he walked up to Darry's side.
An ally, Mr. Ottavi, appears and saves Scout from being sent away. Instead, she joins her brother in the hospital for recuperation. She recovers just in time to attend Dallas and Johnny's funeral where she would again meet a boy who would begin to change her life. I hope you will join others in following Scout along her journey in Aftermath.
The very beginning of this saga begins with the story Family Bond followed by Coming of Age, Escalation , Landslide and now Aftermath. If you enjoy sister stories or any story that is written well you may just find this series to be amazing, entertaining and able to keep your interest, others have. I hope you enjoy!
Disclaimer: This fanfiction entry is based on the book, The Outsiders by S.E. Hinton. Many of the characters in this story are her creation and I thank her for creating them and allowing so many writers to borrow them for our writing hobby. Many of the characters in this are my original creation as well.
AFTERMATHChapter one
Owen Jasper was a gentleman as he held the car door open for me to get in. I sat down and folded my hands in my lap while he shut the door. Being in his car felt uncomfortable. Everything was new and well kept. There were no rips in the seat cushions or rust on the floorboards like the cars I was used to riding in.
The young man started the engine and pulled away from the side of the road. Slowly, we crept through the cemetery. This time I remembered where my parents were buried. I looked at their small markers as we drove past.
"I bet it's tough… missing them everyday." Owen tried to start a conversation. I swallowed hard to hold back tears and didn't answer. Owen was patient and waited another block before he spoke again. "That's a pretty big bruise on your cheek there. Does it hurt much?" I put my hand to my face to hide the mark, but didn't answer. The boy was persistent. "It's not fair. All this happening to a real nice girl like you."
For days I had been rationalizing the week's past events in my mind. I watched the buildings pass by for another block before I joined the struggling conversation and muttered. "It's all my fault."
"What's your fault?" Owen's face held a look of confusion, "the bruise?" .
"No, Johnny and Dally's death. Hell, probably even Bob Sheldon's."
"How is any of this your fault?"
I turned and looked toward Owen, tears in my eyes. "After my mom and dad died the judge wanted me out of my neighborhood. They wanted Darry to put me up for adoption, but I was too selfish. I wouldn't let him do it."
"I don't understand… what does that have to do with any of this?"
"Don't you see? It only takes one small event to change the course of time. If I would have done what was best, everybody's lives would have been different." I spoke in a murmur. "Darry would have been able to work just one job, so he could have looked after Ponyboy and Sodapop better. I would have never been jumped by the Socs, never been in Casey's house when her dad showed up, never shot at. Darry and Ponyboy would have never had the fight that led up to today and my friends would still be alive and happy." I wanted to stay composed in front of this boy I barely knew, but I couldn't and I started to sob. "I screwed it all up!"
"Whoa, whoa, whoa! Scout, I know you don't believe that." Owen pulled his car to the side of the road so he could turn towards me. " I don't know you very well, but you seem to be a close knit family. I'm guessing having you gone from their lives wouldn't have made them happy at all." Owen paused for a response, but I didn't give him one. Taking a chance he moved over to my side and slowly put his hand on my shoulder. "Come here. My family has been in the funeral business a long time and my father always says talking and crying is all a part of grieving."
I heard the young man's words and I knew he was right. I leaned into his chest and smelled his expensive cologne. The scent reminded me of the Soc who held my arms behind my back while his friend punched me in the face. The memory of getting jumped reminded me of the Socs trying to drown Ponyboy in the fountain. Holding Ponyboy in the freezing water led to Bob's death. Bob's death led to the Socs and Greasers planning the rumble last Saturday night. The rumble! I pulled away from the Soc and wiped my eyes with my sleeve. I stared the boy down. "Where were you Saturday night?"
Owen furrowed his brow. "At the movies with my friends…why?" Before I could answer, he figured out why I was asking. "No, no, Scout. I wasn't at the rumble on your side of town. I don't have to fight." He smiled hoping to lighten up the conversation. "I don't have to, I play football."
I thought back to Ponyboy asking the gang why they liked fights and how Ponyboy hated the thought of missing the rumble. Heck, I was even in a fight before. It was a fight for honor just like the rumble. As I stared into his blue eyes, I wondered if Owen thought of himself as even better then usual Socs. Maybe he considered himself a "Super Soc" as Two-Bit would put it. Wanting to know the answer I asked defensively. "You got something against boys who fight?"
"What?" Owen shook his head. "Listen Scout, you're taking this all wrong. I didn't go to that rumble because I didn't see the point in it. Those guys who showed up to fight for the Socs just aint got nothing better to do, and that's sad. And before you start in on me I don't blame the greasers for being there. You all got it tough and it isn't fair that a few dozen kids with rich daddies keep coming by your neighborhood and rubbing your noses in it."
I stared at Owen; amazed he understood the two worlds so well. Suddenly, I felt ashamed for thinking he was a Soc who wanted nothing more than to teach the greasers a lesson about social hierarchy. "Maybe I oughtta go home now." I said, disappointed in myself.
"Fine, if you really want to go home I'll take you there, but I really just want to go to Rusty's with you and put all of this behind us." Owen grabbed my chin with his fingers and turned my head so I had to look at him. "Scout, all I want is to get to know you better. From the first time I saw you in class I've been asking everyone I know about you. I know my timing kind of stinks, but I don't want to wait any longer. Dig it?"
"Okay," I said softly. "Let's go to Rusty's."
"Good choice!" Owen's wide grin filled his face and he drove on to the diner.
When we arrived at Rusty's diner, I couldn't help but remember the day of mom and dad's funeral and how Darry had met up with all of his old high school friends. I consciously made sure Owen and I didn't sit in the same booth as Darry and I had, and when Owen put a nickel in the jukebox I was careful not to play the same song.
When we sat down the lunch hour was over and school hadn't let out for the day. It was nice being in the diner with out a large crowd of kids around. I ordered a Coke, Owen had the same with a cheeseburger and fries on the side. He ate just like my brothers, a lot in a little amount of time.
We sat across from each other and the line between Soc and Greaser faded away. For more than an hour we talked about my life and his. I told him about how my family loved dancing in the living room and day trips to the country. He asked about when I was jumped and if I ever talked to Casey anymore. He told me about the history of his Great Grandpa opening up the first funeral home in town over one hundred years ago and how he was expected to take over the family business someday. I asked if he really wanted to and Owen said he would, once his football career fizzled out.
"You ought to come to our game this weekend and watch me play." Owen beamed with pride.
"I might, if Ponyboy is better." I said as I finished my third Coke. "I'm sure one of my brothers will come with me. All three of them enjoy a good game of football."
"I'd like that," Owen said and the ringing of the metal bell that hung over the door drew our attention away from each other. In walked the first two carloads of Socs, and I immediately felt myself feeling self-conscious in my hand-me-down clothes.
"Jasper!" A stocky, dark haired boy in a letterman's jacket called out and led the group of kids through the diner to our booth. I pressed up against the window wall in an effort to look small, if not invisible. I read the loud boy's embroidered name on his coat, David. "Man! I heard you skipped school today to go work a burial for those hoods from the north side of town. I bet that was one greasy crowd."
Owen looked to me. I could tell he was disappointed in his friend's words and Owen could tell I wished I was greasy enough to slide under the table and disappear, but he wouldn't let me. "David, do you realize if it wasn't for those two boys I may have had to leave school to work the funerals of a dozen six-year-olds?"
"Hey man, don't get all defensive!" David said in a cocky voice. "I'm just saying the town's probably a lot nicer without those two hoods around."
The comments made me upset and I struggled to hold my anger inside. Fortunately, I didn't have to be the one to make a scene because Owen snapped at the boy. "Why don't you find somewhere else to sit?"
My jaw dropped open as David shook his head and walked away with a few of his friends. A handful of Socs stayed behind, wanting to join Owen and I in the booth. As soon as there was room to squeeze in, two pretty blondes slid onto the bench with Owen to fight for his affection. My side of the booth filed up with a guy and a gal. The tall red-headed-boy, I recognized from the DX station, pulled up a chair at the end of the table. I read the name on his jacket, Peter.
"Why is it Dave's always walking around with his foot in his mouth?" Peter asked to Owen.
Owen looked over to David who was at the counter ordering. "Cause he's dumb!" Everyone at the table laughed, except me. Watching the new kids, I could tell they adored Owen. I couldn't blame them. He was adorable with his suit coat off, his black necktie hanging loosely around his neck and his white shirtsleeves casually rolled up.
The girl next to Owen had long blond hair pulled back in a barrette. Her green eyes glistened as she wrapped her fingers around Owen's biceps and baby-talked to him. "Really though, Owen, why would you go to that burial?"
My date glared back at the girl hanging on his arm and changed the subject. "Charlotte, I want you to meet someone." Owen looked across the table at me and pointed, one by one, to everyone in the booth. "Scout, this is Charlotte, Bethany, Peter, Mary, and Matt. Everyone, this is Scout Curtis." The group was quiet for a moment. Silence wasn't rare after people heard my name, but this was a different type of silence. Everyone recognized me from the newspapers and knew what side of town I came from.
Charlotte whispered loud enough for everyone to hear. "O, she's a greaser."
I was humiliated. I looked away from Owen's friends at the table, and wanted to run, but the kids on the bench next to me blocked my escape. I couldn't hop over the back of the bench because David and his friends had piled into the booth behind us to listen in to the conversation.
Owen didn't look my way, but he chided the girl loud enough for everyone to hear, "Charlotte, you're not too smart yourself! Maybe you ought to just keep your mouth shut from now on?"
Charlotte and Bethany's mouths dropped open in disgust. Then Charlotte pushed Bethany out of the booth and to her feet. The blond beauty threw her long hair over her shoulder. "Peter! I need a ride home."
Coolly, Peter reached into his pocket then flipped a coin into the air. "There's a dime, call yourself a cab." Both girls turned away in a huff as the dime landed on the floor and rolled away.
Owen looked across the table at me, noticed my flush face and tried to get my attention. "Scout? Scout, don't worry about those two. They're just…" He didn't know what to say.
David leaned over into my booth and arrogantly spoke into my ear just like Dally would have done to harass a girl. "You're the sister of that kid, Ponyboy, who killed Bob Sheldon. Aren't ya?"
Angered, I kept my vision out the window and drawled back. "Pony didn't kill that boy! That boy and his friends were killing my brother and Johnny didn't have any other choice… it was self defense!" Rage built up inside of me and I knew in seconds I would be bawling. To avoid further shame I had no choice but to get far away from the situation. My only exit was over the table, so I took it, just like any good greaser chick would.
I stood up on the bench, walked across the table, and as soon as my feet hit the floor I ran out the front door. Avoiding any public area, I headed straight for the alley behind the diner. I ran as fast as I could in my tight shoes, but with the pounding of my footsteps and sobs I didn't hear the boy gaining on me in speed. He ran up next to me and in one swift motion he wrapped his strong arms around my waist and hoisted me off the ground to stop my forward motion. I let out a scream in fright.
"Where do you think you are going?" Owen asked, slightly out of breath.
He set my feet back on the ground, but I couldn't bring myself to look at him. I tried to hide the tears streaming down my face as I sobbed. "Back to my side of town. I don't belong here!"
"That's just baloney Scout!" You can go wherever you want, whenever you want. Nobody owns this side of town!" Owen kept his arms wrapped tightly around my waist so I couldn't run off again. His voice was soft and sincere. "Listen, I'm sorry for what they said, just let me take you home. I don't want you to walk all the way home, that just wouldn't be right."
Before I could respond a young man's voice called from behind us. "O, is everything cool?"
I kept my gaze in the opposite direction of the approaching boy and Owen turned toward Peter. "Yeah, everything is going to be fine."
Peter stepped closer to us. "I don't mean to interrupt, but the gal at the diner was screaming that she was gonna call the cops since you ran out without paying the check. I would have covered for you, but I don't have any money with me."
Owen threw his head back in disbelief. Now he had another problem to deal with. My date sighed and lowered his head so his long blond bangs shadowed his eyes. "I'll go back and take care of it." Owen loosened his grip on my waist. "Pete, will you wait here with Scout?"
"Yeah, sure." Pete said kindly.
Owen turned back to me. "Don't run off, savvy? I'll pay the bill, get my car and drive you home." I shook my head 'yes' and tried to inhale my sorrows. Owen jogged down the alley back to the diner.
I had preferred Peter went with him, but like a good friend Pete stayed close to watch me. Trying to avoid any more confrontation I crossed the alley to sit on a step outside the receiving door of a building. My chaperone crossed the alley to stand near me. He kicked a few rocks and stuffed his hands into the pockets of his jacket. He spoke in a friendly voice trying to lighten the mood. "So… you're the infamous Scout Curtis. Boy, I tell ya, Owen hasn't shut up about you since the first day of European History class. He's always hated history till this year." I wiped my eyes and looked up at Peter. He was over six feet tall with hazel eyes and light freckles to match his red hair. He smiled back at me. "Ever since the day he gave you a ride home from the cemetery he's been wanting to ask you out on a date, but of course it just wasn't the right time."
"Oh yeah?" I said hoarsely and tried to make a joke. "Guess he was waiting for a worse time." I mustered a smile.
Peter laughed softly. "Yeah…well actually after reading the article about you saving those kids he was worried you might have to go off and live in a girl's home like the paper said. So I guess he figured he didn't have a whole lot of time left." Peter shrugged his shoulders. "The one drawback to growing up in the funeral business is that you are constantly reminded of how short life can really be."
Peter's comment recreated an uneasy feeling again as we remembered the short lives of Johnny Cade and Dallas Winston, but in different ways. Both of us were relieved when the silence was broken as Owen pulled the car down the alley. Peter escorted me around to the passenger's side of the car and, like a gentleman, opened the door for me. "It was nice to meet you, Scout," Peter smiled gently.
I climbed into the car and turned back to Owen's friend. "Nice to meet you too, thanks." I returned the smile; Pete shut the door and the car pulled away.
Owen looked over to me. "Scout, I am so sorry about all of this. Sometimes…"
"Thanks for taking me out," I interrupted to take the pressure off of him. "All in all, it was good to get away from everything for awhile."
Owen was relieved he didn't have to continue to make excuses for the other kids. We didn't talk much on the ride home. I think we were both trying to figure out what we were doing with each other. The match up seemed out of place and would surely have more conflicting moments, in social circles, if it were to continue. Owen finally spoke when he pulled up in front of my rundown house. "I hate to ask this, but…" Owen grinned and his blue eyes sparkled again, "will I see you in school tomorrow?"
Under the circumstances from the past week, I had to giggle. "You can count on it." I said and climbed out of the car. Owen watched me walk through the fence and didn't pull the car away until I was safely inside the house.
Closing the front door behind me, I noticed the silence. I walked into the dining room and considered calling out for Sodapop, but a note on the table stopped me.
Ponyboy is feeling better, we all laid down for a nap. I will make dinner when I get up. Darry
I slipped off my shoes and tiptoed down the hall to peek into Soda and Pony's room. The two of them were sound asleep. Wondering if Darry was actually sleeping, I walked back to his room. I quietly turned the doorknob and opened the door a crack. My brother was still dressed in his clothes and sleeping on top of the covers. Silently, I pulled the door closed and walked to my room. I slipped off my sweater and climbed into bed. I fluffed my pillow under my head and fell fast asleep, dreaming of how lovely Owen Jasper had been.