Pony knocked on the door and a random person he didn't recognize answered.
"Yes?" She asked looking him over not seeming pleased with what she saw.
"I'm here to see Cherry."
"Okay come in." She said still looking at him uncertainty written all over her face.
The three boys walked in feeling extremely out of place. The house was filled with funeral attendees dressed in expensive outfits. The house looked even larger inside making it no easy feat to find Cherry.
"So how we gonna find her?" Johnny asked.
"Guess we just look around." Soda said eagerly.
"Ya sure we can just wonder round the house?" Johnny asked.
"Well what else we supposed to do? We could ask someone I guess." Pony suggested.
"Who knows if they'd tell us though? I say we just look around. Bound to find her one way or another."
They didn't really have many other options so they agreed. Meanwhile Cherry was up in her room relaxed only at the fact her father had left Maggie with her. She was tired of everyone telling her how sorry they were. They couldn't be as sorry as she was. It was easy to give her sympathy when they all still had their mothers. Well most of them. She was sixteen years old and without a mother. That was too young in her opinion. She knew for a fact Maggie being four years old, that she was too young to be without her mother. She kept thinking it as if it would somehow return her mother to them. If only that were so. She didn't believe in fairytales. She grew out of them long ago.
Maggie who'd been playing on the floor as if nothing in the world was now sleeping on her bed. Cherry felt fresh tears leave her eyes now. There was no reason to hold them back any longer. She'd tried to be strong for Maggie. To create an illusion that everything was fine. She was usually a bad actress, this time she'd felt she'd given the performance of a lifetime. She wished Marcia were here but her parents had elected not to come by the house after the service. The only one who even remotely understood her wasn't here. She wiped her tears as she heard her bedroom door squeak.
"Soda don't just go in."
Soda? She recognized the voice as well.
"Ponyboy?"
She was shocked as Pony, Soda and Johnny were standing in her doorway.
"Cherry." He greeted back.
"What are you three doing here?"
"I really wanted to come see how you was doing." Pony said honestly.
"So you came all the way here in soc territory to come to my house?"
Cherry was touched he'd done that for her. That Johnny had done that for her. That Soda who didn't know her was also here.
"Sounds dumb I know." Pony confessed.
"No I'm glad you came. All of you. I'm grateful."
"We are sorry. We know a little what its like." Soda said with a sad smile.
Something about it melted her heart. She was grateful to feel another emotion besides the pain and emptiness she currently felt in her chest.
"I'm sorry for your loss as well. "She said looking at Soda first then Pony.
"Don't be it was so long ago." Soda grinned.
"You never get over it though do you? I don't think you have. I don't think I will. I already know that."
"No but you get used to it. Move on as much as ya can. Try to smile and live how they would want ya too. Sort of." Soda said with a chuckle.
"Oh this is my little sister Maggie." She said gesturing to the sleeping child.
"She's just a kid." Pony said.
"A little thing." Johnny said sadly.
"Yeah she's four years old."
They were all quiet as they processed the information.
"Well we just wanted to stop by and offer condolences." Pony said.
"Thank you." She said gratefully hugging Ponyboy.
Then she in turn hugged both Johnny and Soda. Surprising them all. They'd all hugged her back after a moment's hesitation. Then they left. How strange three greasers had so sincerely offered their condolences to her. It hadn't seemed forced or expected as it had with the others.
"See ya."
Soda said with a smile as the three of them let themselves out. Some people were looking at them weirdly but otherwise it seemed to go well. They got into Soda's truck it headed back to the house.
"Darry still at work?" Pony asked.
"Nah actually he has a date."
"A date?!" Johnny and Pony said at once.
"Ya know how handsome girls think he is"
"Yeah but he don't usually date em"
"Apparently this girl is different. Seems like love is in the air lately.'
"Whatdya mean?" Johnny asked.
"Well Dal and Sylvia are back on again. Don't know how long that will last. Steve and Evie just keep getting closer and closer. Two-bit always seems to have a girl around."
Ponyboy wondered what it was like for Soda to see Steve with Evie. She was a little unlikable when you first met her. But all in all she was okay. She was also Sandy's best friend. Ever since she'd moved away pregnant with another man's kid Soda hadn't been the same. He was slowly moving on but Pony could still see the pain in his eyes. He had plenty of prospective dates but didn't seem interested in any of them. Pony had liked Sandy so it was still hard to believe what she'd done.
"Ya think anyone saw us in their territory?" Johnny asked looking out the window
"If they did they weren't in Cherry's house. Anyway we aren't walking so they can't get to us."
"I wouldn't wanna start trouble on the day of Cherry's mom's funeral." Johnny said sadly.
Soda couldn't get the look of pain on Cherry's face out of his mind. He had seen it on his brother's faces and his own face after their parents died. He wished he could stop the pain he knew she was feeling. And for Maggie who likely didn't understand what was happening. At least they still had their father. He'd make sure they were safe and taken care of.
The last of the funeral guests left leaving Cherry and Maggie with their father.
"Cherry where were you most of the afternoon?"
"Upstairs trying to get Maggie to sleep."
"Didn't I tell you to make sure the guests were alright? I didn't tell you to hide in your room all day."
"Some of the guests told me they would take care of it and that I could go rest and take care of Maggie."
"I don't care what they said. I told you to stay out there and serve the guests."
"They weren't here for a party dad."
"What did you say?"
"Nothing"
"What did you say to me? You think I don't know what's happened today? My own wife's funeral?"
"I understand but they told me I had it. Someone had to look after Maggie"
"Well clean this mess up!"
He was loud but at least he was letting it go for now. Maggie clutched her favorite doll in her hand as she walked up to her sister.
"Where's mama?"
Cherry looked at her in shock. Of course at four she couldn't possibly understand everything. Cherry willed herself not to cry as she got down on her knees in front of her sister.
"Maggie honey mommy is in heaven. You know where went today?"
"Her funeral."
"Yes do you know what that means?"
Maggie shook her head.
"She's already in heaven. It was just us saying our last goodbyes. She is always watching over us though. Over you. She's going to take care of you."
"Where's heaven?"
"In the clouds."
"Can we go up there to see her in an airplane?"
"I wish we could. I really do. She wants us to be happy though and be good for her. She might visit you in your dreams."
Maggie reached her small hands up for Cherry to hold her.
"Now let's put you to bed."
"I don't wanna."
"I know sweetie but you have too. Dad will get mad if you aren't in bed."
The next morning wasn't a school day so Cherry was sent shopping at the grocery store with Maggie. Grocery shopping was the last thing she wanted to do. She'd rather lay in bed all day and cry. She'd only just buried her mother yesterday. But her dad had been insistent so here they were. Cherry had written a list of items she'd need to pick up. Maggie sat in the buggy though she'd wanted to walk. Fearing she wouldn't be able to keep up with her Cherry had said she could hold the grocery list.
"Woah you got a kid?"
Cherry was already stressed enough so she just glared Dallas Winston when he smirked at her along with Two-bit.
"Guys knock it off that's her little sister." Pony said in annoyance.
"Kid sister that young?" Dally said cocking his head.
"Maybe she will be a looker one day too." Two-bit said grinning.
"Guys lay off she just lost her mom a few days ago. Buried her yesterday."
"Man." Two-bit said shaking his head. Even Dally seemed to change his tone momentarily.
Maggie didn't say anything but began pointing at Two-bit and laughing.
"Hey kiddo am I funny?" Two-bit asked leaning his arm on the buggy.
He began playing peek a boo with her causing both Cherry and Pony to smile.
"Man if I let a little kid turn me soft like that." Dally said in distaste.
"You sure have a way with kids." Cherry said grinning
"I have a kid sister myself." Two-bit informed not looking away from her.
"Hey there." Pony said as Maggie looked at him.
"Hey." She said shyly as she hid her head in her arms.
"I'm Ponyboy what's your name?"
"Maggie she said". She said smiling.
"That's a real pretty name. I'm Two-bit and this here is Dally."
"Don't show her me she might be scared."
But as Maggie looked at him she didn't seem scared at all.
"I wanna see your necklace." She said pointing to the one Dally wore around his neck.
Pony and Two-bit didn't think they'd ever seen him take it off.
"Sweetie it's not nice to tell someone you want to see something that isn't yours. You could ask but I don't think he takes it off." Cherry told her gently.
She found herself sounding just like her mother. She'd have to be Maggie's mother now. But what sixteen year old was truly prepared to be a mother?
"It's alright she can see it." Dally said taking it off his head and handing it to her.
He wasn't sure why he did it. He had never let anyone touch it before. Maybe because like him she didn't have a mom any longer.
"Put it on me." Maggie said enthusiastically.
"Maggie." Cherry said in a gentle warning.
"Please put it on me." She corrected herself still eagerly looking at it.
"Honey I don't know if Dally wants anyone wearing it."
"It's alright she can." Dally said shrugging.
"Oh okay." Cherry said carefully placing it around Maggie's neck.
"So ya out this soon after the funeral?" Dally asked curiously as Maggie played with his necklace.
"Yeah we needed groceries. My dad is too….upset right now to go so I did."
"Ya always could get someone to do it fer ya." Two-bit said as though it was simple.
Like her dad would agree to that.
"Well I didn't want to trouble anyone."
"Pony here would do it fer ya no problem."
Cherry smiled at Pony.
"Where's Johnny and Soda?"
"Why you asking about Johnny?" Dally asked.
"Ya know Soda?" Two-bit asked.
"Most people know Soda. And he, Johnny, and Pony came to see me after the funeral. It was real nice of them." She smiled at Pony but his face paled.
"Wait you three went over to her house? On soc territory. You idiot does Darry know about this? Why would Johnny be over there? Ya should know better Soda should."
"We was in the truck so it was okay." Pony said rolling his eyes.
"Darry know?" Two-bit asked.
"No he don't." Pony said briskly.
"Oh I'm sorry. I didn't know saying it would cause problems."
Cherry felt horrible as she hadn't been thinking at all. Perhaps if she'd been in the right state of mind she might have.
"Ya don't just go to some soc's house like that. Ya could have been jumped. Ya should know that. Johnny especially."
"We were fine." Pony said dismissively. "No one saw us."
"He was just checking on me. They were checking on me and I would hate to get them in trouble. I'm sorry." Cherry said apologetically.
"It aint your fault. You got nothing to apologize for." Two-bit assured her.
"Cherry."
They turned to see Marcia who now had a deer in the headlights look on her face. Her sisters followed behind her curiously.
"They twins?" Two-bit asked looking at them in wonder.
"No their just identical genius." Dally said in annoyance.
"Hey Pony." Josephine said smiling at him.
"Hey Josephine." He said grinning.
Pony had never thought he could tell them apart. For some reason he had always felt a pull towards Josephine that he couldn't explain.
"Hey Marcia." Two-bit said nodding to her.
"Hey". She said back.
"Well will let the girls talk." Dally said shrugging.
"Maggie give Dally back his necklace."
Maggie pouted but gave it back.
"See ya kid." Dally said putting a hand on her head.
"See ya." Two-bit said waving at her then the girls.
"Bye." Pony said smiling.
"Cherry I'm surprised you're here so soon. Are you okay?"
"Yeah I'm doing okay."
"Cherry I hate to ask you this. Well my parents are making me. Josephine, Jackie can you take this list and pick up things for the house?"
They looked at her like she was crazy but did what they said.
"Marcia you don't usually do the shopping." Cherry said in confusion.
"Cherry I have to ask you something."
"Okay sure."
"I'm going on a trip with my parents. And they were wondering if you could watch the twins."
"They're not going with you?"
"No it's just a trip for the three of us"
"Listen Marcia I would love to help it's just I don't think my dad would want them in the house. He's been having difficulty since everything."
"No you don't have to do that. We won't be gone but for a few weeks. They can stay home. Just need you to maybe look out for them till we get back."
Marcia avoided looking her in the eyes.
"Marcia what's really going on?"
"Cherry just here me out before you judge me."
"Look Pony I aint mad at cha. But I don't understand why you would do something so stupid."
Pony was surprised Dally usually only reserved that tone for Johnny. Since they'd nearly died things had changed.
"Soda did it too."
"Yeah but I'm only a year older than Soda. And with Johnny it's different. Yer still a kid. I gotta make sure yer being smart about things."
"Dal we only wanted to offer condolences."
"Yeah couldn't ya have called on the phone or sent a card or something like that? Not actually go over there?"
"Two-bit help me out."
"Sorry kid I'm with Dal on this. There's better ways to go about stuff."
"Look how hard things are for her. And she's taking care of a kid sister who's barely more than a toddler."
They were quiet as they headed to the DX where Soda and Steve had gotten Johnny a job. Johnny finally had enough of living with abusive parents. They didn't care enough to tell anyone he was gone. When he decided to move to the Curtis household he wanted a job. From the looks of his face Dally would be having a word with them both.
Personal thank you to ChillPillBerry and Iconic Star Child for your lovely reviews!
