Chapter 7:Darry
Dallas watched, leaning lazily against the side of the school building and the Curtis truck pulled into the already heaving school parking lot.
It was evening, and as it was late in the year, already getting dark.
Mr & Mrs Curtis got out whilst chatting, waved to Dally and they were then followed by Ponyboy and Johnny into the football stadium.
Pony would have liked to have sat with his Brother and his friends, who had all piled out of the back seat of the truck, but obviously this was not permitted.
It was a high school event and his parents had enoughpresence of mind to know that what the older boys discussed might not be suitable for the younger children's ears. Pony and Johnny would obviously have disagreed, but this was the option- Come and sit with us, or stay at home.
Dallas laughed inwardly, he couldn't imagine his parents being able to stop him doing anything at that age. But then, they'd never really wanted his company either.
Something of what he was thinking must have showed on his face as Soda pulled a grimace too.
"I know man, we're here after hours! Who'd have thought it?"
He grinned
"I know it's kinda weird but it means a lot to Darry when we come out and support him – and there are scouts here tonight from some of the colleges."
Dally just nodded.
He'd never been to a School sports event before.
He also didn't really know Darry.
He'd sometimes meet him going in or coming out of the Curtis house, or catch him on the journey to and from School. He was 3 years older than Dal and pretty intimidating to look at.
He was in the same year as Tim, who'd dropped out long ago. The two got on pretty well.
Darry always nodded at him on clapped him on the shoulder when he saw him, but that was as far as their friendship thus far went.
Darry was clever, good looking and always surrounded by Soc-y girls, Cheerleaders and football players. He wore his varsity jacket over his jeans and tennis shoes and didn't grease his hair.
None the less, he came from the wrong side of town to be properly popular and was ribbed by his teammates for chatting with his greasey friends and brother in the halls, but it didn't stop him from doing so.
Darry was always cool and charismatic. Laughing off the jibes or ignoring them. For the most part, the guys in his year knew him well enough and respected his field performance to just let him get on with it. But they clearly disapproved.
None of the teachers had a bad word to say about him- and poor Soda was often admonished by his teachers "Why can't you be more like your brother? He's so hardworking/smart/organised/good at timekeeping/doesn't cause any trouble/ turns his homework in on time…"
Soda just laughed it off every time.
Walking towards the stadium keeping pace with Dally (Two bit and Steve rough housing behind them so there ignored the swearing and occasional painful sounding thump) Soda continued to chat away to Dallas. The boys found Dally pretty easy to talk to (Or rather vent at) because he didn't really say much or show many emotions. He'd just nod and smoke and store the information for use later.
Not in a vindictive way- unless it was someone giving his friends trouble and he'd make a mental note to break some of their fingers- but also useful in finding out more about the dynamics of the group, other gangs, people to watch out for and Tulsa in general.
Dally had finally found acceptance.
He wasn't about to put his foot in it but saying or doing the wrong thing.
"When I first came to high school it was really weird.." Soda continued as Dal lit another cigarette "… The coach was really excited as he thought he had another Curtis for the team, Darry's Maths teacher was excited because he's top of the class and she hoped to have another genius and the cheerleaders kept patting me on the head and calling me adorable. Honestly, I've never felt so much of a let down as a did in my first semester here.." Soda paused here his usually cheery and smiley countenance clouded ".. It was OK though, I was good at shop and OK in Phys ED but I wasn't good enough to go out for anything. Darry helped me with my homework but eventually his Soc-y friends realised I wasn't one of them and when I started greasing my hair they avoided me in the halls or called me names. It was tough. But Dar was really nice about it…"
He trained off. The boys found some seats together at the back of the bleachers- Greasers were an unusual sight at School events and the 4 of them were seriously outnumbered.
At the back, on an end, near an exit.
Those were the seats to have.
The band marched, the cheerleaders cheered and the game went well. OR at least, was a home win according to the commentators.
The boys fined out before the very end of the match- keen not to be caught up anywhere- Especially Soda as he was here with his Family.
"We're going to Dairy Queen after this if you wanna come?" Two bit asked Dal as Steve and Soda were engaged in some game that involved shoving.
Dal considered this.
He didn't have anywhere really to go but he didn't want to crash a family gathering.
"You think that'll be OK?" He asked nonchalantly
"Yeah, we always go after the game- Darry'll come meet us there and then he goes off to some house party on the other side of town. Mr C usually drops him off and we walk home. It's pretty good fun- After you can come stay at mine if you want if you're worried about getting home?"
"Sure, thanks" Replied Dally, offering two bit a cigarette to seal the deal.
By the time they'd walked there, they arrived after the rest of the Curtis household even though Darry had had to shower, get changed and get out past hoards of screaming girls.
The managed to squeeze into a booth, and somehow Dallas ended up sat between Two bit and Darry.
Whilst the waitress was taking the enormous order, Darry grinned at Dal- "So, what did you think of the game?"
"It was OK" Dal replied, he wasn't really a football fan and didn't really know what he was supposed to comment on.
Two bit just laughed and stated "Dar, you've just taken his varsity football match virginity- he might need some time to recover!"
Dally scowled, not liking being the but of the joke when he didn't know where it was going. Darry just laughed too.
"I do appreciate you guys coming out for games but I always worry. I'm glad you were there to look out for my brothers"
Dally felt the red creeping along his usually pale cheek bones and nodded as Darry continued ".. Tim only says good thing about you and the boys have told me everything you've done for Pony, Johnny and Curley- I'm just sad it's taken me so long to get to thank you for looking out for them myself"
"Any time man" Dally quietly drawled.
Two bit jumped in "What about me?!"
"Yeah, what about you- All you do is eat my mothers chocolate cake and make a mess of he sitting room!"
Two bit put on a mock hurt face "Excuse me! Do do far more than make a mess of only the sitting room. I give the kitchen and porch a go too!"
As Two bit and Darry bantered back and forth Dally just listened.
He'd never met anyone like Darry before who broke the social rules- the rules where different in Tulsa- more defined than in New York. He wished he could know what it felt like to belong to all the social groups, but then considered that perhaps Darry, like himself, didn't truly belong in any.
An oddity.
A fish out of water.
An outsider wherever he went because he was clearly different and didn't conform to the standard expectations of a Small, narrow minded town.
He considered this whilst eating, ending up being the last to finish.
Dallas had a new respect, perhaps even a kinship with Darry because they both didn't fit anywhere. And the both didn't care. They made the best of it as social chameleons and listened carefully. Learning the rules and trying not to put their feet in it.
Dallas resolved to spend more time with Darry- and to perhaps ask Tim about him.
