Chapter 2
J.D POV
When we pull into Darry's driveway I try to remember the last and only time I came to Tulsa to meet my dad's side of the family. I was only 9 and Pat was 1 going on 2 and Mike wasn't even a thought yet. Man do I miss those days when mom was alive and dad was always smiling. Mom had been killed in a gas station hold-up and I can only blame myself. Me, and Mom were having a girls day and I wanted to get a Pepsi, so Mom went into the old DX and walked right into two thugs holding each a 9mm and shot her thinking she was a cop. The guy that shot her shot himself at the scene and the other got away. Dad still has not reached closer.
Dad got out of the car and helped me get Mike out of his car seat. I held him while dad got out the luggage from the trunk, thankfully Mikie was still sleeping. Patrick helped Dad, he was really strong for a 7 year old kid, Dad said he got it from Uncle Darry.
"Hey Dad Uncle Ponyboy is here!" I turned to see my 18 year old cousin Shynee leap pole volt style over the porch railing to greet us.
"Hi, Shynee, how has it been?" asks my dad while Shynee helps dad get the bags, taking over Patrick's job.
"It's been good, hey you go ahead and go inside Ill get the bags for ya" says the 18 year old
"Alright, come on J.D, let's go see your uncle. Pat, can you help Shynee with the bags, bud?" asked dad
"Sure Dad" shouts eager beaver Patrick
We walk up the porch steps and open the door to find a very muscular man either in his late 30s or early 40s. His hair is somewhat grey and he has worry lines on his forehead. This must be Uncle Darry.
"Hey Dare or should I say Gramps?" Dad jokes with Darry.
"Oh shut up, Ponyboy! This must be Johnny Dallas and baby Mike!" he shakes the hand that I'm not using to hold my brother.
"Hi Uncle Darrel, I go by J.D" I say. Good Lord he is like frickin' huge, he's like the Incredible Hulk!
"Sorry, J.D, so how old are ya now? 12? 13?" he jokes with me.
"14 sense March." I try to be as polite as I can for Dads sake. I know the only reason we can here, is not for the trip, it's so Dad can get his mind off Mom, but I haven't been here for 5 years and I am REALLY uncomfortable talking to Godzilla.
"Boy, have you grown! You look just like your mama." Why did he have to say that?! I looked over to Dad and he was looking to the floor taking a deep breath like he did when he was sad or tired. I put my hand on his shoulder.
"Oh, Pone, I don't know why I said that…" Darry starts
"It's fine Dare. Is that Soda pulling in?" Dad reassures his brother
"Yeah that's him. You better go out there to see him before he has a heart attack." "Alright, is there somewhere where Mikie can finish nap?" Dad asked Darry, meaning that I put Mike down.
"Yeah, your old room is fine." He answered
"J.D, would you…"
"Yeah sure Dad. Down the hall, Darry?" I asked my uncle
"To your left. Let's go see that brother of yours Pone." Uncle Darry puts his arm around Dad while I walk down the hall to my dad's old bedroom. I open the door and put Mikie on the bed. I look around the room and find a old photo on the nightstand.
I pick it up and look at it and find a young teenage boy staring back at me. He has what looks like, the picture is in black and white, light brown hair and green eyes. This must be my Dad.
He's sitting down on the porch and a handsome teenage guy has his arm around him. His hair is lighter than Dad's and he has brown eyes like Mike's left one. Uncle Soda.
There's a muscle hipped guy in the back row with brown hair that kicks up in the front. Uncle Darry.
A smaller boy that looks about my Dads age in the photo with big black eyes and jet black hair, on his face there is a scar from his temple to his cheekbone. I don't know who he is.
There is a stocky guy smiling like a goof with rusty-colored sideburns. I saw him last time I came here, the only reason I remember him is because he watched me and Pat and set our dinner on fire. I think his name was Two-Bit.
A tall guy was standing next to Sodapop. He had greasy long hair that was combed in swirls. Now I know him from the last visit here. He was the one to put out the fire that Two-Bit started. I think this was Steve.
The last person in the picture is some tough looking guy with a towhead and blond-white hair and a mean looking expression on his face. I don't know who he is either.
"J.D?" I turn around to find Uncle Darry in the doorway.
"Oh, sorry" I whisper for Mikie's sake "I didn't mean to pry."
"Its fine, kiddo ,do you want to come outside to meet the guys?" he isn't really giving me a choice.
"Sure, be there in a minute Uncle Darry." I put the picture down and followed Darrel out to meet my fathers childhood friends.
