A Shot For Vengeance
Chapter 4
Eyes In The Dark
XXX
The shade of the elm trees camouflaged me well. No one saw me. I'd been sitting here for an hour now, watching the events unfold below me on the red oval track. I had tried to get that boy of mine into sports, but he'd washed out of football, and hated running. He tried out for the baseball team, but walked away from it after I spent all that money on his uniforms. If he played anything, it was basketball in the fall, but that only lasted six games until they found him and his girl in the locker room. He insisted they weren't doing anything, but the coach booted him from the team anyway. Stupid boy.
My attention returned to the field when I finally spotted him. He was shorter than most of the other runners, but when they took off, even I was surprised at his speed. Kid could run, that's for sure. His group finished their laps around the track and I watched as he returned to the infield so another group of kids could have a turn at the oval. He sat in the grass and watched, leaning over to talk with another kid wearing the same jersey he wore. He was smiling while watching his fellow classmates around him, never realizing someone else was watching him.
A whistle sounded, and the kids all got up, huddled around the coach a while, then they all broke up, headed off in different directions. I thought I had my chance, but just then some other kid walked over to him, and together they walked away, playfully shoving each other as they left the field. They both climbed in some rusty old car with a paint job so ancient, I couldn't tell what color it was, and off they went. I smiled... realizing that bottle I'd left had made its intended impression. The kid wasn't walking alone quite so much. I'd been watching him for a week now, and he hasn't been by himself yet. Fine, I could wait. He'd eventually be left alone again. And I'd be waiting. I got back in my car and headed back to work.
XXX
I pulled into my driveway amazed the cops weren't here. The stereo was on full blast inside the house, I could even hear the thump of the bass from the truck. I made it to the porch in three strides and yanked the door open.
"Ponyboy Curtis!" I yelled, but it did no good. I could barely hear myself over the music. I turned the volume down then hit the power switch, killing the music entirely.
"Ponyboy, where the blazes are you?"
I waited, but got no answer. I did hear, though, the sound of laughter coming from the back yard. I dropped my tool belt on the table and headed out the rear door, finding both Pony and Two-Bit in the backyard.
"I'm telling you, Two-Bit... you ain't gonna get that thing to work. It hasn't been started since last summer!"
"Aww, shush it, kid. I can get it to work... just needs more gas, that's all."
"What the heck are you doing with my lawnmower, Two-Bit?"
My booming voice had to have scared him, cause he stood up so fast that he whacked his head on the low hanging branch of the oak tree .. the branch Pony was sitting on. That resulted in Pony losing his balance, falling backwards off the branch, sprawling on all fours on the ground. Pony was chuckling, Two-Bit was rubbing the back of his head, and I stood there shaking my head at both of them, trying hard not to even smile.
"Oh, hey Darry. Just thought we'd get some chores done around here for you."
"Heyyy, what's with the 'we' part there? I never said I was gonna mow the grass. You only asked where the mower was." Pony stood up, smiling, brushing the dirt and dead grass from him.
"And you had to tell him? Two-Bit, give me that before you start a fire." I took the gas can from him, knowing he had probably overfilled the mower's engine already. I put the can back in the shed and re-capped the gas tank on the mower, pushing it back into the shed too.
"It ain't time to mow the grass. Hell, Two-Bit... it's not even March yet. When do you mow your yard?"
"Me? Mow?" he asked, pointing at himself.
"Never mind. Ponyboy, have you finished your homework yet?"
"Yeah, most of it. I have a little algebra still to do, but I needed a break."
I locked the shed and headed back into the house. "I don't know how you can study with the stereo on as loud as it was. Just cause the knob goes all the way to twenty doesn't mean you automatically turn it there. Understand?"
"I didn't turn it on until I was done, but sure thing, Darry. I'll stop at nineteen from now on!" He jumped the steps and went inside before I could process what he said.
That smirk on his face was infuriating. I wondered if I was this bad to our parents when I was fourteen. Somehow, I doubted it.
"Well, I guess I better get on home now, make sure there ain't no little slick greasers hanging around my place. Same time tomorrow, kid?"
"See ya in the morning, Two-Bit," Pony grinned and chucked him on the arm as Two-Bit got his jacket and headed out.
"Pony, you had your break, now go finish your homework."
"Sure thing, Darry. Oh, by the way, I made it back on the track team. Practice starts tomorrow, we meet like we did last year, every Monday, Wednesday and Friday's after school. I'm gonna be getting home late those days...just so you know."
"Sure, Ponyboy, whatever. Now go do your homework." I brushed him off and he headed down the hall. I got busy with dinner, totally forgetting that bottle, the phone call and most of all, that threat. I'd regret it later.
XXX
Man, my legs were burning! Coach had us out on this two mile run, and I could tell I still had a ways to go to get back to my old condition. I was good on the short sprints, but these distance runs were still doing me in. I tried not to show it, but I don't think it would have mattered. I heard more than one groan from my fellow team mates around me. At least we were all suffering together!
Coach had us off the track too, running around the dirt path that went around the school. Part of that path took us onto the main road, but traffic was never a problem. Enough signs were posted about runners and students... there had never been a single incident before. No one was worried... we were too busy feeling the pain in our legs than to think of cars that never came. Finally the slope of the hill leading back down to the track loomed ahead, and as a group we picked up the pace, knowing after the hill was the finish line, and the chance each of us had to rub the pain from our calves. I, for one, looked forward to it. This told me, though, I still had a lot of work to do to get ready for meets in March.
One by one we crossed the finish line, then made our way to the infield where Coach was waiting by a table with little cups of water. I grabbed one and chugged it, glad to finally have something wet in my throat again.
"Okay, you guys. That was less than par. Nineteen minutes, twenty seven seconds. Next time, I want it faster. Anyone not able to finish in less time will need to see me. You boys know you have to practice on your own time, too. Questions?"
Heck, we were all to busy trying to get air in our lungs than to speak, so we all stayed quiet. All you heard was the panting of the twenty or so of us out here.
"Good. Now go hit the showers. Dismissed."
I headed over to the bleachers to get my books and head home. Two-Bit was supposed to meet me, but he'd told me at lunch that something came up with his sis and couldn't make it.
"That's okay, Two-Bit... looks like it's gonna be a good afternoon for a walk. Besides, the coach is planning to run us ragged, I could use the walk to cool down afterward."
"You sure you don't want me to find you a ride with someone else, Pone? Darry was sort of adamant that you not walk alone for a while. I dunno what his issue was, but I don't want to end up on his pissed list. Know what I mean, kid?"
"Hey, nothings happened in so long... besides.. I'm sure it was either Curly or someone else playing a joke on me that night. It's over, don't worry about it. Besides, if you don't tell Darry I went on alone, he ain't gonna know. "
"What happened, anyway?"
I forgot, no one had told him. "Nothing major. Just something stupid." The bell rang and I had to get going, so I called over my shoulder as I headed back to class, "Tell ya about it later. Bye, Two-Bit!"
"See ya, kid"
So I was walking alone, the mile and a half to my house, enjoying the clear blue sky and the cool breeze that betrayed the coming warmer weather. I was hot and sweaty, still wearing my running sweats with my regular clothes shoved in my bag with my books. I had to have been nearly half way home when that feeling came back - a gnawing in the pit of my stomach. I turned around just it time to see a blue Mustang turn left off the road I was on. It was familiar, but I couldn't place it. I just knew it didn't belong in my neighborhood. I waited another few seconds to see if it would return, but it didn't. I didn't need a reminder to get my feet moving, and made it home in record time without seeing that Mustang again.
XXX
Pony was quiet. He made lasagna, which surprised me. I was usually the daring one in the kitchen, but he was fully involved with it when I came in this evening.
"Hey, Ponyboy. Whacha cooking?"
"Hey Sodapop. Lasagna. Or trying to. I can't really remember how dad used to make it, but it looks right, anyway."
I washed the grease off my hands and dipped my finger in the sauce. "Tastes right. Need any help?"
He never looked up, staring hard at the boiling pasta and simmering meat sauce in the two pots on the stove. Funny though, he was concentrating on it so much, I wasn't sure he was really seeing it.
"You okay, Pone?"
"Yeah, fine. And no, I think I got this. Thanks."
I whacked his back and headed out to the bathroom. "Okay then. I'll be out in a few minutes."
He was equally silent at dinner, eating slower too. Tasted fine to me, but I would have put in more cheese. Still, not bad.
"How was practice today, Ponyboy? Those shoes fitting you okay?"
Darry and I looked at him, but he was staring hard at his plate.
"Ponyboy?" Darry's louder than usual voice snagged his attention.
"Huh?" he looked up at us. It was obvious he hadn't heard a word all night.
"Practice? How was it?" Darry asked again.
"Oh, good," he took a gulp of his juice and seemed to return to the here and now. "Coach had us do the two mile distance today. We weren't that great. I'm gonna go again tomorrow after school and run it on my own, Some of the others said they will be there too. Next week, knowing Coach like I do, he'll up it to the three miler."
Darry was looking at him. "You say there will be others out there, too?"
He nodded his head. "Should be. Adam and Ben said they were gonna join me. If we don't get this practice in, we wont be ready for the three mile run that I know the coach has planned. Okay?"
"As long as there are others out there with you. Two-Bit bring you home okay?"
"I got home alright, Darry."
I noticed that wasn't exactly what Darry had asked, but I'd save it for tonight when we could talk alone.
Darry started asking me about my schedule, and as I rambled off about what my hours were, I noticed Pony had returned to that far off glance he had earlier. Something was bothering him. I'd have to find out what.
XXX
"See ya, Steve."
I heard the front door close and Soda head toward the bedroom. Darry had long ago gone to his room, but the light on under the door told me he hadn't gone to bed yet. He was usually the last one to go to sleep, unless he was bone tired. I guess it was a guardian thing. I looked up when Soda came in.
"Thought you would be out by now, ain't you tired?" he asked me.
"Yeah. I had to finish up some work, then couldn't sleep. Thought if I read some, I'd get sleepy."
Soda changed from his jeans to his pajama bottoms and crawled under the covers. I flipped off the light and lay down, wishing I could get that blue Mustang out of my mind. I couldn't figure out where I had seen it before. There wasn't anything special about it, but it bugged me.
"What's got you all distracted, Pone?"
I turned my head. Soda was leaning on his elbow, looking at me.
"Did Darry ever figure out who left that bottle on the porch a few weeks ago?"
"He hasn't mentioned anything about it. Why? Something else happen?"
"Not exactly."
"Ponyboy, don't keep secrets from me. Now what happened?"
"Nothing happened, it's just... I saw a Mustang in our neighborhood today and I can't get it out of my head. I could swear I've seen it before, but I can't place it."
"Did you see the driver? How many were in the car?"
"Whoever was driving had already turned. I only saw part of the car, but I knew it was a Mustang. A blue one."
Soda was quiet a moment, then laid his hand on my shoulder.
"Pone, did Two-Bit bring you home from school today?" his tone was not really one of a question, and I was too tired to lie.
"No. I walked. He had something come up at the last minute with his sister, had to split before school let out. I swear, if he keeps on missing class, he's gonna get held back again."
"He ain't my concern, and besides, he knows if he keeps cutting what will happen. Why didn't you call me to give you a ride after practice?"
"Aww, Soda. I've walked home by my lonesome many times before. I don't want to live my life afraid of every corner I turn. I ain't chicken, and don't want to become one, either. Besides, you were at work. Your boss ain't gonna pay you for picking me up. I don't want to be anyones special case. I got home fine. You gonna tell Darry?"
He lay back down, that look of concern etched in his eyebrows.
"No, I guess not. Pony, you just be careful, okay? I don't know if that message in that bottle was someone's idea of a joke or if something else is going on, but don't let your guard down. You call me or Darry if something don't feel right. Don't worry about my boss, your safety is more important. Okay, Kiddo?"
"Sure, Soda. And I am careful. I may be young, but I ain't stupid."
"Right, genius. Goodnight."
Soda turned on his side and fell silent. I watched the stars out my window for a while, letting their soft twinkle lull me to sleep.
XXX
Down on the corner, under the broken street lamp, idled a blue mustang, the same blue mustang that had prowled this neighborhood less than seven months before, with a different driver behind the wheel then. The driver this night silently watched the house as a light in one room went out, then fifteen minutes later another room went dark. The house was still. The only noises left in the neighborhood were a few dogs barking and the sounds of a muffled argument hidden in someone else's four walls. That reminded him, it was time to go home and face his wench of a wife, and listen to all her nagging questions. He started the engine and drove off.
Two miles down the road, the flashing blue lights behind him forced him to stop. He cursed like a sailor as the police officer came to his window.
"License and registration, please sir."
Obediently, he handed over the documents and the officer returned to his car. After a few tense minutes, the officer returned to the drivers door. Taking a long deep breath, the officer finally spoke.
"Mr. Sheldon, I pulled you over because you seem to be driving somewhat erratic tonight. Have you had anything to drink sir?"
He thought of the flask, knowing he had drained it less than an hour ago.
"At my son's grave. My boy died not long ago, his grieving mother can't even bear to leave the house still. No parent should have to bury their son, don't you agree, officer?"
The officer swallowed, somewhat taken aback.
"No, Mr. Sheldon. That's a hard cross to carry. I'll let you go with a warning tonight, sir. Drive with greater care in the future, and leave the alcohol alone until you are home. Have a safe night, sir."
The officer tipped his hat and returned to his patrol car, and a grinning Robert Sheldon pulled back onto the road.
XXX
Calla Lilly Rose
