Summer Adventures

Ch 21

Road Trip VS Picasso

XXX

"Two-Bit, shut the fuck up!"

I had been stuck in my car with Two-Bit for over two hours now. During those two hours, I had come to one very blatant conclusion... Two-Bit – cannot - sing. Can't carry a tune, can't even hum in tune. Forget even knowing the words. And after two hours of listening to him be off key on every song on the radio, I was ready to leave him behind at the next truck stop. Problem was, I was pretty sure Darry would notice if I came back without him. Maybe if I swapped him for the kid? Well, Darry and Soda would be happy, sure... but then that social worker woman would notice. What other choices did I have? Maybe I could shove him in the trunk? Naa, that wouldn't work either. I was sure there was a law against it, somewhere. Besides, the latch got stuck sometimes. With my luck, he'd get stuck in there.

"Aww, whassa matter, Stevie? This clean country air not settling in your lungs well enough?"

That reminded me... I reached in my shirt and pulled out a smoke. "Where the hell is this place, anyway? You are reading that map Darry gave us, ain't ya?" It didn't give me much faith knowing he'd been holding the map upside down for the last fifty miles or so. I only knew I was somewhere on the right road, having looked at it myself carefully before beginning on this wild Pony chase.

"What? This thing? Sure I am. Have a little faith, Stevie! It's about another hour down the road. And that's just to get to Hollis. We still got to find a phone book and get that Nixon lady's address."

"Crap." Another hour with Two-Bit? Maybe I could sue the state. Somebody needed to compensate me for this torture. The gas money Darry'd given me sure wasn't enough. Although.. I'd never really take a dime from him and keep it. I'd eat his food and sleep on his couch.. sure... but I ain't taking Darry's hard earned money. I still had what he gave me in my pocket; I'd sneak it back to Soda once we made it home tonight.

Two-Bit laughed. "They sure found a far away enough place to stash him. Guess they wanted to make sure he didn't just turn around and walk back."

He was silent for a while, which I was grateful for. Then, just to ruin it, he spoke again.

"You think the kid's okay?"

I looked at him. "No reason to think he ain't. Why, what makes you think somethings up?"

"Nothing. Just wondering. I mean, its just been a long time since we heard from him, is all."

"He probably got the same lowdown on the 'don't call, don't write,' rules Soda and Darry got. You know he wouldn't do anything to risk it. Not unless he was in trouble. The kid's smart. He won't screw up his chance to get back home." I was reasonably certain the kid was smart enough to not screw himself over any worse than he already was.

"Trouble? Who's gonna pick on him out here? I doubt the soc's even know this place exists! Hell, until this morning, I didn't know it existed."

"Two-Bit... the kid ain't in trouble. He'd have called Darry for help if he were. Or Soda. Or one of us. Or, as a last resort.. he'd even call Tim. In any case, he'd have called if someone was doing him wrong. Point is, he won't do anything to screw his chances of getting back home. That's all I'm saying." Damn, now I was worried. Just like Two-Bit to plant the seeds of a bad idea in my head. He was too serious. How long had it been anyway since he'd had a drink? I reached over and slugged him across his chest.

"Hey, what was that for?" he asked, rubbing the spot.

"For making me think somethings wrong, you jerk. Ain't nothing wrong, so just shut it."

Two-Bit smiled. "See, I knew you liked the kid... just as much as the rest of us. Anyway, he better not be jacking with the ground rules. I have a feeling the State ain't gonna give him much rope to hang himself with if he does screw it up. And after all the dough Darry and Sodapop have laid out to get their house in better shape than it's ever been, if Pony does screw it up, Darry'll come out here personally to chew him out!" Two-Bit opened up my glove box and started rifling through it. "Wonder how they're doing with the painting?" he asked, absentmindedly.

"I'm sure they're doing a better painting job than we would've done. And just what the hell are you doing in my glove box?"

"A-ha! Found them! Looking for 'gloves', of course!" he teased as he pulled out the rubbers I had shoved in there a month or so back.

"Why the hell are you lookin' for those? You manage to arrange a date at the next stop? I'll gladly give you the whole bunch of them and let you out! Otherwise... get the hell out of my glove box! Put those back and get out of there. Come on, man, I don't go through your car, now do I?" I was getting pissed, and began to consider my options of leaving Two-Bit behind again.

"Oh relax, Steve. Ain't like every other guy over sixteen years old in America ain't got a pack of those in their car's glove box. I had two packs in mine."

"Two?" I looked at him in disbelief. No way was he getting that much action.

"Yeah, one for use, one for show. I do have a rep to protect, ya know. I'm bored is all. Road trips suck after the first hour. We've been at this for over two now. And any time you wanna go through my car's glove box... you can be my guest. Might even find my lost registration in there. Besides, now that I think about it, my car's been squished flat by that tree... remember? Even I can't get into my glove box." Pause and a sigh. "Guess I gotta start hunting a new set of wheels."

"Then you better start hunting... oh, I dunno, a job. Cars cost money, Dim-Wit, even the worst death trap on wheels costs something." I think his mom paid for his last set of wheels.. just to get him out of the house.

Something caught his eye, cause he suddenly had a curious change in posture. "Oh tuff! Elvis... on 8-track! You didn't tell me you had the King in here!"

"That's because there wasn't a reason till now to tell you. And quite frankly, there still ain't a reason to tell you. The player in my car don't work anyway, just the radio. I'm good with engines, but the cassette deck needs hands other than mine." Papers started spilling out of my glove box the more Two-Bit went through it. "Two-Bit... seriously man, get out of there, and make sure all my stuff gets put back."

"Alright, alright," he mumbled as he crammed the stuff back and shoved the door shut.

I stretched back, tired of driving. It only depressed me to think I would only have to turn around and head back for home in a few hours. If that kid wasn't there... I didn't know what we were gonna tell Darry. Or Soda for that matter. The looks on their faces when I showed up on their doorstep this morning was the most hopeful I'd seen either of them look in over a week.

"We need you and Two-Bit to take a drive," Darry explained. "Pony's staying near Hollis, with a Mrs. Nixon. Go find him, see how he is and make sure he's doing okay. If he needs anything, get it. Let him know I'm doing everything I can to get him home, and that we'll see him as soon as we can."

There was more to their message.. their eyes said volumes more. I understood. This wasn't a request you turn down. Besides, some part of me wanted to see the kid, too. Two-Bit and I were on the road within fifteen minutes.

"Hey, Steve.. look," a road sign stood out next to a bare road : Now Entering Harmon County. "Finally!"

"Yeah, now we just gotta find a phone book." My eyes scanned the area, but nothing was out here. Just a flat ribbon of road ahead of me.

"Sure ain't nothing out here! Good lord, where do these people even go to …. I dunno... do anything?"

"Will you shut up already?" I squinted, looking far in the distance. "Look, there's a gas station." A small faint dot of a building came up on the horizon, much to my relief. "I'm gonna fill up... again... while you run in and get directions to town. Better yet.. see if you can find a Mrs. Nixon in the phone book with this phone number." I handed him the slip of paper that Darry had given me, and after I pulled in, Two-Bit headed off inside while I filled up. I topped off the tank and was waiting behind the wheel when he finally came back out.

"Good news, her place ain't far. Just another twenty minutes or so down the road. Cashier gave me directions."

"That's good." I sighed. Two-Bit handed me a Hershey bar and a Coke. He also had one of each for himself.

"Here, figured we could both use a pick- me- up."

I looked at the candy, knowing my buddy better than to think he paid for it. "Did you lift this?"

He smiled. "Now Steve... don't ask questions you don't want answers to."

I sighed. He was the master at lifting, that was for sure.

XXX

"Hey, Steve... get a load of that!"

Two-Bit nearly skewered my neck as he pointed out past my window. I slowed down to check it out, and nearly ran off the road. I pulled over, wanting a better look than my glance had given me.

"I never would have believed it. Damn, look at him!"

"Yeah, I see him, I see him." I never would have believed it myself if I didn't see it with my own eyes. "Wow."

XXX

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XXX

"Still no answer?" I asked, looking at Darry. He'd been trying the number on the hour every hour since we got this Mrs. Nixon's information. What the hell was going on over at her place anyway?

"No, and watch what you're doing. Paint ain't all that easy to get out of the carpet when it dries."

It was only a half-hearted chastisement. He was just as anxious as I was to hear Pony's voice again. He came over and once again picked up his paintbrush. He insisted on doing the front wall with the windows himself. I was working on the living room side of the wall that separated our room from the living room. I got a rag and wiped up the drips from my brush, then kept on with the roller.

"Wonder where the guys are by now." I said, just to break the silence. We had the radio on, but it wasn't really loud. It just provided enough sound to break the uneasy silence.

"Well, it's only been nearly two hours. Unless Steve is going some crazy speed, I doubt they've made it there yet." Darry said, working the small brush over the trim.

"How long should it take?"

"Maybe three. I told them to call after they got there... whether they found him or not."

"They'd better find him," I muttered... a bit too loudly.

"Soda, they will do the best they can. Stop putting all your energy in worrying, and get your mind back on the paint."

I tried... but it wasn't easy.

Another half hour or so went by, and Darry'd finished the window trim and wall he was working on. I had finished mine also. I went to grab a drink and Darry picked up the phone again. I had gotten so used to the routine of waiting while it rang, then having Darry hang up. This time... it was different.

"Hello?... Hi, um my name's Darrel Curtis... I was told that my brother was staying at this number... Ponyboy Curtis? Yes, I would. Thank you."

Darry looked at me and smiled. I went over to eavesdrop as much as I could. "She's getting him. He ain't in the house. He's outside somewhere."

"What's he doing..."

"Shh..." Darry wouldn't even let me finish, waving his hands to silence me.

"Hey little buddy, how ya doing kiddo?"

Darry's face lit up as I guessed Pony answered him.

"Did you get the book? … I knew you were smart enough to figure that out. Are you eating? I don't want you getting any skinnier on me, you hear? … Yeah, right."

Darry laughed. I wondered what was so funny. I gave him a look, to which he just rolled his eyes and kept on talking.

"How are you?"... "No, really Ponyboy.. how are you? Holding up okay?" …. "Hey, is she listening in?"... "No?" ... "Outside, huh?" ... "In that case, is she being good to you? She ain't hurting ya, is she?" … "That's good. Look, Soda's about to go ballistic over here wanting to chat, so hold on..." "Here," he said to me, handing me the phone.

"Pony?"

"Hey Sodapop. How ya doing? I miss you."

My heart nearly leapt out of my chest hearing his voice again.

"I miss you too, kid. How ya doing? How's that arm? It didn't get infected did it? After all the alcohol Steve poured on it, it shouldn't have."

"Well...."

"Po-ny," I heard the catch in his voice. "What happened? You okay?"

"Oh, I'm fine, really. I did have to get it looked at again, though. Some country doctor took out Steve's handiwork and fixed it up the right way. Stitches came out yesterday. Got a tuff scar from it. Can't wait to show it to you."

"I can't wait to see it. How's that woman treating you?"

"Mrs. Nixon? Like I told Darry, She's cool. A nice lady, actually. Loves to bake. I ain't never seen so many cupcakes, muffins or loaves of sweet bread come out of one kitchen. I think she feeds the whole town." He laughed, and I smiled, missing that laugh of his.

"Soda?" he asked, his tone dropping softer as if he were whispering.

"Yeah, Pone?"

"Am I... am I ever gonna come home?"

My eyes caught Darry's. He had been leaning against the sink, swirling a Pepsi in his hand while I talked, obviously doing his own eavesdropping.

"Ponyboy, don't ever doubt that we won't get you home. This is just a temporary thing. Darry and I bout have the house all back together... course.. when you get back we'll need your touch to make it complete, ya dig?" I laughed a little, knowing how worried he was and hoped to calm him some. He'd allowed it out in his voice, certainly knowing I would catch it. Realizing how truly worried he was nearly broke me. "But yeah, kiddo, we will get you home again. As sure as you are a Curtis... you belong here with us." I took a breath, refocusing. "Pony, how are you sleeping? You getting any rest at night?"

"Yeah, I'm... I'm getting some."

Again, words and tones that said something other than what was said.

"Those nightmare's hitting you again, ain't they?" My fingers were twirled into the cord of the phone, knowing what his answer would be.

"Some. I just... I miss you. I'm doing … okay though."

Damn it! He needed me, and the closest I could get was a phone call. Even prisoners get visits. I felt like a prisoner forced into solitary for something I didn't do. I could only wonder how Pony was really feeling, but knew no matter how bad I felt... he always took things worse. And felt them worse, too.

"Just …look, when they happen, when you need me, close your eyes and try to relax. This will be over soon, Pone. Then we can come get you. Okay?"

Darry was holding out his hand for the phone.

"I gotta go, Pone. Darry wants to talk again. Hold on. I love you, Ponyboy. It won't be long. Here's Darry."

I handed him the phone again and went to wash my face in the kitchen sink. The cold water was desperately needed, lest tears start making an appearance.

"Pony... you doing okay?".... "Look, I have some friendly faces on their way to check on you. Hang tight, little buddy. It won't be much longer. You need anything? Money or clothes or... anything?" … "Okay then. I hope to see you soon. I love ya, kiddo. You know that." …... "Mmm hmm. Bye."

Darry put the phone back, and for a moment, neither of us said a word.

"Well, he seems to be doing about as well as I could hope. That seems to be a decent woman he's staying with. At least O' Donovan put him someplace good. I was hoping it wasn't a group home. He'd only end up sick and depressed there."

"You been to the group home, Darry?" We'd been threatened with that place more times than I care to count.. but in all that time, I never really went to go check that place out for myself. I guess I figured the longer I stayed away ... the less our chances of ever ending up there.

"Yeah. I went. Right after Mom and Dad died. I had some paperwork to do there concerning you guys. It wasn't pretty. Kids everywhere... all ages, mostly depressed." He took a swig of his Pepsi and had that distant -deep in thought- look. "Some of the younger ones played on that pathetic playground equipment. The younger teenagers dealt cards or just sat around. The older teenagers had started to get that same look Dally had. That's part of the reason I fight so damn hard to keep you both out of it. It ain't no place fit for kids as smart as Pony... or with functional, usable skills like you. Both of you will have a much better future than any of those kids. I was hating to think of him in one of those somewhere in the state." He finished his drink and put the empty bottle in the trash. Then he looked past me, at the clock on the wall. "We better get back to work before the paint dries in the pan."

And so we painted, this time getting the rest of the room done much faster than the first half of the room took. Darry was already in the bathroom, spreading spackling paste over the holes and cracks that appeared in there while I moved on to the hallway. He joined me when the bathroom was done … and by the time I stopped to actually use the bathroom, the place looked like it had a horrible case of white measles.

"You wanna do the bathroom or you want me to?" I called out.

"Don't matter, just don't spill the paint. It needs to get done tonight, though, so it can dry. We're gonna need the shower in the morning and the humidity wont work with wet paint."

"Fine, I'll do it, if you don't mind finishing the hallway." I said. I would rather keep busy, getting around all these faucets, cabinets and switches rather than boringly going up and down in the hall for another half hour or so.

"That's fine. Then we need to stop for the night." A half hour later when he'd finished, he stepped back and looked at the hallway, dining room and living room. "Not bad, Sodapop. Not bad at all."

I came out of the bathroom, having finished half the room. "Yeah, looking good."

He laughed at me. "I thought I said to get the paint on the wall. Not on your head! Go on, let me finish while you wash up and find something for us to eat for dinner."

"Sure. I wonder where Steve and Two-Bit are. They had to have gotten there by now."

I looked at my watch. Sure enough, it was nearly five o'clock. They should be calling anytime with some report on Pony. Overdue, in fact. Yeah, I believed Pony when he said he was fine, but Pony could go a week without eating and not think anything of it. I needed other eyes - eyes I could trust - to tell me how he looked. This Mrs. Nixon... I didn't know her. Steve and Two-Bit... they were like family. Them I could trust, until I could see him with my own eyes.

Whenever that would be.

XXX

Calla Lilly Rose