Divining Rod

Chapter 4

A Call To Karen

"Yaahhhhhhh!"

Fingers crawled over me like fire ants, digging into my skin in ways only my brothers could know were pure torture. I torqued as if hit by an electric current, jerking all over the bed in a fruitless attempt at escape. Not that they'd know the torment they were putting me through, as I couldn't stop laughing to save my own life.

"Quit! Uncle! Uncle! I give up! Stooooooooopppppp!"

"Ha ha, got him again!" Soda's voice claimed victory.

"Yeah, maybe he'll learn to get up the first time we call him! Ponyboy, you gonna get outta bed now?"

"Yes, yes.. no more... I give up," I continued, trying to catch my breath while panting hard. The bed shifted as Sodapop and Darry got off. I looked over, Soda was combing his hair at the mirror and Darry was already out of the room.

"So, whacha got planned while me and Darry slave away at our jobs?"

"Shoot, I dunno. The place is starting to smell kinda funky, maybe wash the clothes piling up around here."

"I was hoping you'd say that. I'm out of socks again."

I looked at his feet. "Hey, those are mine!"

"Yeah, thanks for letting me borrow them." A screech of tires outside signaled Soda's ride. He grinned at me. "Be thankful I still have some underwear left. Bye!"

I made a face. I might share a room with him and even a bed, but we don't share everything. I disentangled myself from the sheets and headed down the hall. Darry was fixing his sandwiches to take to work and looked up.

"So you did decide to get up, huh? Look, I'm leaving you with the grocery money. Keep in mind that this is all I have until next week, so don't spend it all on chocolate. Meats are usually marked down after two, and check the special's bin over by the seafood counter..."

I sat down, listening to him give me the same speech he gave every time me or Soda went to the grocery store. I already knew the layout, where the sales were, where the discounted canned goods were... but I didn't bother reminding Darry of this. He'd just get annoyed, tell me to pay attention, and start over again.

"Think you can handle it?"

I nodded. "Yep. But how am I gonna get it home?"

"Call Two-Bit when you're ready to go." Darry grabbed his tools and hardhat, handing me a list and a wad of cash. "He said he'd be hanging around."

The house was quiet three minutes later. I looked at the clock, it was barely after seven. Ain't no way I'm gonna get going this early on a Saturday. I went back and crashed in bed again, stretching out to all four corners while burrowing beneath the sheets. I didn't come back up until the sun streamed in from the tops of my blinds. The clock said ten, so once again I dragged myself back to life.

Searching under the bed and in the corners of the room, I collected our dirty laundry. There were a few things in the hamper but the majority was sorted into dirty, sorta dirty but could still pass if necessary, and clean. Items that fell into the first two categories went to the washroom. The other stuff I put away. While Soda's and my clothes were a seek -and- find adventure, Darry's was more straight to the point. His clothes were always put away; the dirty in the hamper and the clean in the drawers.

While that was going, I did the dishes and cleaned the kitchen some. When it came time, I cycled the clothes... wet into the dryer, dry onto the couch to sort and fold later. Around one, I pocketed the cash and headed to the supermarket.

I'd long ago gotten accustomed to the looks adult shoppers gave me. Usually they were older women with little kids of their own trailing behind them up and down aisles. Still, I got lost in my own little world, picking out the cheapest canned goods, going over the reduced-for-quick-sale meats, and perusing the fruits and vegetables for anything marked down. In time, I had a basket full that should last us a week or so and headed to the checkouts.

After bagging it and rolling the buggy to the phone booth on the corner, I called Two-Bit for the ride home.

"Hello?"

"Oh, hey Karen. Is Two-Bit home? It's me, Ponyboy."

"No, he ain't here. Him and Kathy are out. Said he'd be home tonight though. Anything I can do?"

I looked at the basket, knowing I'd never get it home on my own. "No, just.. if he calls or something, tell him I called. Okay?"

"Sure Ponyboy. Bye."

I hung up, chewing on a nail as I tried to figure out what to do next. I called the station, getting Ben, one of the other guys working with Sodapop and Steve.

"DX, Ben speaking."

"Hey Ben. Is Sodapop there?"

"Yeah, but he's in the pit. Want me to take a message?"

I winced, knowing my other option was probably still mad at me for yesterday. Still, another glance at the cart and I'd rather take my chances. "How about Steve?"

"Nope. He left to tow someone. Anything I can do for ya, Ponyboy?"

I sighed. "I wish, but unless you can leave the station for a bit, I don't think so."

"Sorry kid. I can't go nowhere till quitting time."

I tried Tim's number, wondering if Curly might help, but ever since he got out of Juvie after breaking into the liquor store, he's not been the same. I was pretty sure he was on something, but just not sure what. Didn't matter, no one was answering anyway. I called Karen back.

"Hey, Two-Bit didn't magically call, did he?" I doubt I hid the sarcastic desperation in my voice well enough.

"No," she laughed. "What's up? You sure there ain't nothing I can do?"

"Only if you don't mind hauling a lot of canned goods and cold meat."

Fifteen minutes later she hopped off the bus carrying two backpacks in her hand. "Here, I thought this might make it easier on us."

"Smart thinking." And it was. I'd never have thought about bringing backpacks to carry some of this stuff in. Together, we looked like mountain climbers with huge packs on our backs and our arms loaded with two sacks each, but we managed. "That ain't too heavy for ya, is it?" I didn't want her to have to carry the heavier stuff, but I was already straining under my own load.

"Nah. I can manage."

I didn't usually hang out with her, being that she's thirteen and in seventh grade. By rights, I'd only be in eighth grade myself if luck – or fate, depending on how you look at it hadn't intervened.

"You looking forward to summer?" I asked, simply to be saying something.

"Yeah. Anything to get me away from teachers and books for a while. You?"

"Same here. I was hoping to get a job, but so far I haven't found anything that might pan out."

"Darry won't let you go to work?"

"I haven't asked him." I didn't explain that Darry gets kind of angry when anyone insinuates he can't pay our bills. The battle he and Sodapop had when Soda decided to quit so he could work full time still hits a raw nerve in me.

"You're smart, I'm sure you can find something."

I grinned, a little embarrassed. "Thanks. Here's our stop." I pulled the string and the driver pulled over. We managed to get the bags home without dropping anything and while I put the stuff away, she hung around in the living room. I'd forgotten our clean clothes were still piled on the couch, underwear and all.

"Jeeze, sorry bout that," I muttered, feeling my face get hot as I scooped up the clothes and took them to my room, dumping them on the bed.

"It's okay. You forget, I do the laundry at my house. Two-Bit's such a slob."

"He doesn't wash his own stuff?" I asked, never having thought about it before.

"Shoot no. I doubt he even knows where the machines are."

"Well, I uh," I rubbed the back of my neck, not really sure what to do next. "Thanks for helping me out. I really owe you..."

She waved me off. "Don't worry about it. Besides, I was bored hanging around the house all day. It gave me a reason to go outside. But, I sort of have to get going..." she threw her thumb over her shoulder at the door, and stepped backwards to leave.

"Yeah, and I'd better get to that laundry done before my brothers show back up."

I watched as she headed up the street to her place then went to my room, flipped on the radio and started in on the mountain of clothes waiting on me.

XXX

Calla Lily Rose