Chapter 1: Darrel Curtis May Not Be Coming Home Anytime Soon
Disclaimer: Unfortunately, I do not own "The Outsiders" or any of the Curtis' Gang. :( Sad. The real owner of "The Outsiders" is my favorite author, the fabulous S.E. Hinton. I also do not make a profit from the stories that I write here on this site.
A/N: If you like it, love it, or even if you hate it, you know what to do. Tell me in a review. I would love it if you favored, followed, and/or if you gave me (a) suggestion(s). Thank you. :)
Third Person POV (December 20, 1956)
"Mommy, where's daddy?" Little five year old Ponyboy asked. Sodapop, who was seven-goin'-on-eight and who was laying down next to Pony, nodded eagerly, his dancing, lively brown eyes awaiting his mother's response.
"He promised me that he would take me 'n Pony out for ice-cweam next week," Soda complained, his bottom lip jutting out slightly unconsciously.
Linda hated to lie. She was a piano player for her local church and an avid believer, but tonight she was gonna have to pray hard for forgiveness because she was gonna lie a lot tonight, and maybe for the next few years, or at least until the boys were old enough to understand.
But the boys are just so young right now, she thought, the tears threatening to spill over her green eyes.
"He... He'll be back soon, boys. And he loves you..." Lies. All lies. If he really loved her and the boys he wouldn't have left them all alone. Especially when Christmas was just five measly days away.
Soda, satisfied, snuggled into Ponyboy and fell asleep quickly, but Darry who was wiser at the age of twelve knew that something was off. He had been listening to the whole conversation from his place on the couch, and suspected that something was off.
"Mom? Dad's not coming home anytime soon, is he?" The young boy asked. "Did he run away like Two-Bit's dad?"
"Yeah, baby, he ain't comin' home." Telling her oldest son that his daddy, his hero and best friend, his protecter, wasn't coming home brought tears to Linda's eyes, but she had to be strong for her little boy. He was still her little boy, he just happened to be her oldest baby boy.
"Are we gonna be alright, mommy?" Darry asked, his voice helpless and longing. The last fine Linda had ever heard his voice so young was when he was four and broke his arm falling off of his friend, Paul's, monkey bars, begging and crying for his mom and dad.
"Oh, don't you worry, baby. We'll be okay," she whispered assuringly, wrapping her oldest son in a hug.
"I love you," she told him, and smiled when he whispered it back, his voice slurring with exhaustion.
X (March 31, 1958)
Along with Darrel's child support checks, in a good month Linda could have $350 to spend on things like groceries and school supplies. But on a bad month, like when Soda stepped on a rusty nail, they ate lots of peanut butter and jelly sandwiches, and even some nights Linda went without eating, just to make sure she would have enough to feed her boys, and the gang. They were all her boys, and she never minded feeding them.
"Soda, slow down on the milk," she chided, waving her finger. "Drink water between meals." She poured him a glass of water and handed to him. The nine year old stared at it like it talked to him.
"But there's no chocolate in it!" He complained. When she gave him a stern look he drank it begrudgingly.
"Too bad, Soda. Water is good for you."
And cheap...
A/N: This was the second highest voted option on my poll, which is still going by the way. Suggestions? School is starting soon. Expect writers block and an update about once a week. I'm sorry I can't be around as much, and I may start putting replies on each chapter, I'm not sure. Please review!
Aufenthalt Gold,
~Alee xXx