Chapter 10: Dally's new job
They drove in silence.
Dallas looking at the Dashboard and listening to his ever faster heart beat that seemed to fill his ears.
They drove for what seemed like an eternity.
Then there was crunching gravel and then they stopped.
Dallas allowed himself to look up. They were at Bucks.
This didn't make him feel any better.
Buck was kinda stupid, and a coward but he loved to align himself with powerful people. He was dangerous in his own way because he lacked any moral standards whatsoever.
Mr Curtis got out and waited, so Dallas assumed he was supposed to do the same.
He followed him into the bar.
It was a Saturday night, so it was busy and Buck was chatting away to some very drunk and questionably dressed ladies.
Buck looked up at Darryl senior as though he was expecting him, they shook hands and walked towards the back room, where Buck did his "deals".
Dalla's apprehension grew. But he followed them and shut the door, as he did so Buck noticed him for the first time and Mr Curtis cut in
"Buck, this is Dallas- the kid I was telling you about- Dallas, this is Buck, he's looking for farm hands"
Buck and Dallas both behaved as though his was the first time they had met.
Turning to Dallas, Mr Curtis explained (unnecessarily) that Buck owned ponies and put on races. One of his hands had just returned and another was moving across state in a few weeks. He was looking for someone reliable and that had brought Dallas to mind.
Buck looked a bit surprised still. He knew Dallas as a JD type, Tim's buddy and a runner for suspicious objects. He'd never thought to ask him about his other skills and qualifications, but having someone around who knew the deal could only be a good thing.
You could practically see the cogs working.
Dally was worried that their cover was blown by Buck's stupidity, but Mr C didn't seem to be worried by Buck's bizarre reaction.
"…He's been working up at the Ranch with me until the winter- you've had my written recommendation letter and one from the ranch owner too- but he's living all the way out of town so he might need a room too."
Dallas was annoyed that Mr Curtis seemed to have made a working arrangement for him without actually asking.
However, this arrangement was good for him too so he kept the bubbling annoyance at bay.
Buck looked at Dallas "so, you'll be needing a room here and you'll work hourly for me looking after the ponies? You had good references so that won't be an issue, if you want the job you can start next Monday."
Mr Curtis cut in before Dallas could reply "Buck, what will you be paying him per hour?"
Buck considered this. Dallas was useful and also Tim's friend, both of which warranted a goodish rate of pay. But he didn't want to seem to keen..
"$2.50 per hour and the room included." He decided out loud.
Dally nodded "See you a week Monday then Sir.."
They all shook hands and then they walked back to the truck.
They got in and shut the doors, Mr Curtis started the engine but didn't move the car out of 'park'.
"Dallas"
"yes Sir?" Dally asked thinking this was when he was going to get chewed out at the very least.
"I'm sorry to be the one to tell you this Son, but it looks like your father won't be keeping his job much longer. I arranged this because I didn't want you to be going without but you know our door is always open to you. We'll go and collect your things and you can stay as long as you want at our house. We'll see your Father in the morning to explain every thing, he won't be sober enough at the moment to remember this conversation… I know this timing isn't ideal, I wanted to catch you when you came back with Soda so that I could talk to you before hand…"
Mr C trailed off. He looked genuinely sad and awkward all at once. Dallas supposed for a second that his wife usually did all the emotional pep talks, and broke bad news gently.
Dallas was genuinely shocked. Although this was a long time coming he wasn't expecting to end up homeless.
Fear bubbled away in his chest.. "They said the state would take me away.." he thought but he reasoned- no-one had visited in almost 6 months since he moved from New York, so probably no-one ever would. It was suck a big move that perhaps he'd just been lost in the system.
Dally mulled this all over as they drove back to his old house. It was still empty, dark and cold, as it had been before Christmas and Dallas noticed that the present Mrs Curtis has given his father was still by the sofa. Perhaps no-one had been home at all…
Dally made for his bedroom but was stopped by Mr Curtis "Son, Is there anything you'll need me to help with?"
Dally just Snorted back a laugh and composed himself.
"No Thanks, I'll only be a few minutes" he managed to reply whilst thinking bitterly to himself that his worldly possessions all fitted in a duffle bag 6 months ago, they'd probably manage to fit again now…
It didn't take him long to pack everything he owned.
He also roughly folded all the linen from his bed- including the patchwork blanket- he supposed they were really his fathers but he didn't know if buck would be providing him with any and he knew he couldn't afford to buy them again. Worse, he thought, would be having to put out the Curtises or Tim's family to borrow any. Technically being homeless but employed in 8 days time he could just about bare.
Having to beg and borrow basic items he didn't think he could take.
Dally didn't have much but he was tough, resourceful and proud.
Bag packed and sheets in arms, Dallas re-appeared in the main room of the cabin, where Mr Curtis was stamping and rubbing his hands against the cold.
He Sighed when he saw Dal and remarked softly "We'll need to get some ice on your face when we get home…"
Dallas roughly dumped the bag and folded items on the sofa and walked to the kitchen.
From the cupboard of mis-matched and very chipped crockery he selected the least damaged plate, bowl, mug and then one knife, fork and spoon. He didn't want to have to borrow eating utensils from Buck's- He'd already seen what that kitchen looked like and had sworn to himself he'd only ever drink the bottled beers.
He then walked to the closet beside the bathroom and pulled out a few towels, adding these to the ever growing pile of items.
Dallas hunted for the things he needed in silence but with purpose. Mr Curtis watched sadly, saying nothing. He had always wished that he and his wife could have provided more for their sons, but he dearly wished now that they could afford to feed another mouth. He knew that this situation was less than ideal, but he couldn't think of any other arrangement that could be pulled together with enough immediacy.
They could call social services, but they'd just take him away as he was starting to get settled- if they could even arrange something that quickly as the kid would be homeless in the morning.
Besides, they'd called them enough about the Cade boy, but had ended up with him living at their place more-or-less because of their lack of action.
Mr Curtis sighed.
Dallas re-appeared with the coffee canister and some tools to use around the yard.
He stuffed these iyems into the top of his duffle bag and scooped up the pile of blankets.
Mr Curtis collected the remaining items and they carried them out to the truck.
It was really dark and much later than he'd planned to be getting home.
As they'd pulled up the front door had been thrown open and the boys all piled out onto the porch only to be shoo'd away by Mrs Curtis back into the brightness of the sitting room.
Dallas was grateful, he didn't feel much like entertaining others right now. Or trying to explain anything.
He realized that he had a headache, and wondered absently when it had started.
Today had been pretty awful. One of many experiences he would be very glad to forget.
He was pulled away from his thoughts by Mrs Curtis opening the truck door on his side- looking up he realized that he was alone in the cab, her husband was walking towards the house carrying all of Dallas's belongings.
"Honey, We need to get a look at your face and get you all patched up" She said gently, patting him on the leg to get his attention.
Dallas jumped a little at the unexpected contact.
He climbed silently out of the truck and followed her into the house.
Mr C had done a good job of crowd control. He explained as they entered the empty sitting room that for the week, Darry and Soda were to share a room- So Dallas would have the use of Soda's room over the next week- so Steve and Soda were moving the spare mattress and whatever soda needed for the week into Darry's room. Darry was moving his things to make space for Soda and he had expressed that there was an urgency in Dalla's bedsheets being washed to Pony and Johnny who'd dutifully gone to fill the twin tub.
"It'll just keep them out of the way until you're feeling a bit less overwhelmed"
He explained handing the first aid kit to his wife and indicating that Dallas should sit down on the sofa.
She carefully and gently cleaned Dallas's face, put a bandaid over his eyebrow and gave him an ice pack. They both knew it was bit late for ice- the swelling was there for all to see- but it was a kind gesture all the same.
Darry walked into the sitting room and nodded to Dal as a greeting. "I'll put your bag in your room- I've told Pony and Johnny to make the bed so the lord only knows what that'll look like…" He rolled his eyes at Dal as he snatched up the duffle bag and walked back towards the bedroom.
Mr Curtis returned with a baloney sandwich, which he seemed to have brought because he didn't really know what else to do.
Dallas ate it really slowly even though he was too numb to be hungry, pleased to have an excuse not to have to say anything.
Darry returned first, asking if anyone needed him to do anything. He sat next to Dally on the sofa- Dallas on the left by the arm and Darry right next to him in the middle.
Initially Dal felt his temper flare, there were 3 seats on the sofa Darry didn't need to practically sit on his lap- and 6 chairs around the kitchen table and a vacant recliner.
He closed his eyes and inhaled slowly.
He had to keep himself together.
Today had been awful. He didn't need to make it worse. Just get through the remainder of the evening, and then go to bed.
When he opened his eyes he realized that someone was talking to him- Dally turned towards the source of the noise and found Steve staring at him.
Before he could engage his brain Darry had replied and Steve scurried of towards the kitchen.
Soda and Two bit re-entered the sitting room, closely followed by Johnny and Pony who both looked fairly horrified when they saw the state of Dallas.
It was then that Dally realized what Darry was trying to do.
Dally was on the arm of the sofa nearest the front door, Darry next to him and the end nearest the hallway to the bedrooms was empty. By positioning himself there he could intercept questions and requests from the others and shield Dally a bit from their unintentional staring.
This dawning realization was replaced with a rush of gratitude.
Steve came back, bringing Dallas a pepsi from the fridge and Dallas just wanted to laugh.
Darry was a genius.
Eventually everyone had asked their questions and expressed their outrage. Mostly they'd all talked over each other. Dally had just watched unless asked something and Pony had sat there wide eyed taking in every tiny snippet of information.
Johnny had kept sneaking worried looks at Dallas. It had annoyed him until he reminded himself that Johnny probably empathized.
Some time around 1am everyone had calmed down enough to go to bed. Darry had taken Dallas to Soda's room, shielding him from his younger brothers questions and exuberance.
He brought Dally some joggers to borrow to wear to bed- Which Dallas was very grateful for- He doubted he could lay hands on anything much right now and had been fully prepared to sleep in his jeans.
He had also brought him a towel.
"I'm sure you remember the drill around here for Sundays- Get up around 9am, Mom will do pancakes or eggs or something and then we make ourselves scarce until a late lunch/early dinner type thing- if you're up before that get a shower before Soda uses all the water…"
Darry paused and put his hand on Dalla's shoulder.
"… Remember that you're family to us here- Everyone cares about you- but if anyone's getting at you just tell me, I'll sort it"
With that he patted Dally on the back and exited the room.
Dallas just stood in the same spot for a few seconds. His mind running much too fast.
He was grateful for Darry's support and how kind everyone was being. He supposed that this was what it was like to have a real family.
Where people look out for you all the time, not just when it suits their interests or they need something.
He thought about his own absent father.
About his mother who never wrote.
About all the people he thought he could rely upon who he'd met on the streets in New York.
Up until now, every time something had gone wrong he'd had to figure it out all alone.
When he really needed someone they simply weren't there- unavailable Physically, mentally or emotionally.
Now, he had people who would look out for him and he felt overwhelmed and terrified that he would be proven wrong.
"Eventually", he reasoned to himself "The will leave just like everyone else and I will be alone again."
He tried to shake the thought from his head.
He pulled off his clothes and pulled on the jogging bottoms from Darry and climbed into bed.
He lay there in the half darkness, the light from the streetlamps illuminating the ceiling through a crack in the curtains.
He fought with his negative thoughts and insecurities and eventually fell into a restless and disturbed sleep.
All his dreams ended in his abandonment, isolation and fear.
In the end he gave up. Noting the time on Soda's alarm clock to read about 5:30am.
He pulled on his jacket, checking the pockets from smokes and matches and made his way out to the front porch.
Shivering he smoked his way through the pack until he was able to watch the sunrise, lighting the horizon purple, then red, then orange.
Anything to occupy his mind on something less negative.
Dallas considered himself extremely resilient because he'd never really needed anyone.
The previous day had challenged his own self perceptions and made him realize that he was vulnerable.
It wasn't a feeling he was enjoying very much.