Chapter 25
The Curtis' house was full of life that Saturday night. All the boys had an opportunity to go out but they all chose to stay home together. Johnny and Two-Bit and even Dally showed up for the evening. Everyone was joking, and fooling around, some wrestling matches even happened. The boys even got Darry to join in on a few. The boys even tossed Sara around a bit, Sara of course loving every minute. She was one of those girls the rougher the better. But of course, Darry had to be the party pooper and make the boys put her down so that she could get ready for the tub.
"Really, Darry? Can't it wait?" Sara pleaded with Darry.
"Nope. Get in there little lady."
"Oh. Poop!" Sara yelled out. This caused a roar to erupt throughout the living room.
"Better, watch that mouth!" Darry warned grabbing Sara by the arm to get her moving to the bath tub. "The rest of you knock it off." If he was going to scold Sara, he figured it wouldn't hurt to warn the rest, as not to instigate anything further.
"Man, it could have been a lot worse, Darry. Think about it." Dally shouted down the hall to Darry.
"No, thanks, to you, Dallas Winston." Darry knew how to give it right back to Dally. "Now, Sara, we do not need a repeat of last night, do we?" Sara shook her head no. "You will let me help, tonight." It wasn't a question, more than it was a demand. Darry was clearly remembering that awful task of last night.
"Ok. I will yell when I'm ready. Deal?" Darry chuckled at how these younger Curtis's where so good at making deals.
"Deal!" Darry walked back out to the kitchen. He had to tackle those bills, but with the amount of noise in this house right now, there was no way he would be able to get them right. He would push them off until tomorrow, it was Sunday, and the Curtis house was usually a little bit calmer. Soda was walking over to the refrig to grab a couple of Pepsi and some beers for the boys.
"Hey, what is this?" Soda just noticed the article that Darry had placed up the night before. Soda grabbed it off the refrigerator and walked back out to where the boys were. "Pony, you are in the paper! You're famous!" Soda was scanning the article. "My brother, the famous track star." Soda handed the article off to Johnny who wanted to see it. Pony himself, hadn't even had time to read it yet.
"Wow, Pon that is excellent. Nice job." Johnny was now handing it to Dally.
He took it and of course had a comment or two about it. "Go figure, you have to share the lime light with a god damn Soc. God forbid that article talk about the success of just a greaser!" Dally tossed the article on the coffee table. Pony bent down and swiped the article up before anyone else took it. Darry was watching the boys when Steve got up and walked over to refrig and open it to grab for another beer.
"Hey, Dar, there is no more beer left, or Pepsi." Steve hollered out.
"What the hell guys? Where did all my beer go? I just bought a 6 pack last night, and a 6 pack of Pepsi. You boys need to start drinking healthy drinks, other than Pepsi and beer." Darry shook his head in disbelief.
"Healthy? What have you turned into the surgeon general or something?" Dally shot at Darry.
"All I am saying is that it wouldn't hurt for everyone to drink more water and milk. Something actually healthy for you."
"Beer is very healthy for you, Darrel Shayne Curtis. For you information it has grains, and water and vegetables." Two-Bit said.
"Vegetables?" Darry and Soda said at the same time.
"You, know, parsley, and basil."
"You dip shit! Those are herbs." Steve added into the conversation.
"Well, aren't those like vegetables?" Two-Bit was being dead serious. The group of boys started laughing.
"O.k. Two-Bit. Yes, they are kind of like vegetables. Maybe I should make you find out what beer is actually made out of first thought, before I allow you to drink any more of mine." Darry said still chuckling.
"That is just craziness." Two-Bit responded to Darry's threat.
"You're crazy!" Soda added.
"You All, are crazy. Stay out of my beer from now on." Darry warned.
"Darry! I'm ready." The boys heard Sara's voice carry in from the bathroom."
Soda slapped Darry's shoulder. "I'll get her."
"Where were you last night, when I could have used your help then?" Darry gave Sodapop a playful shove.
Sodapop pushed open the door to the bathroom to find Sara sitting in the tub just splashing the water around a bit. Sara heard the creak of the door opening; she looked up with surprise on her face, "Soda? I thought Darry was coming?"
"I'm giving him the night off. He deserves a night off, right?" Soda crouched down next to the tub. "Squirt some shampoo in will you?" Sara started to squirt shampoo into Soda's hands when it came out to fast."Woah…woah.." Sara shot Soda an apologetic look. He started to message the shampoo into Sara's hair when she called his name.
"Soda?"
"Ummm?" Soda answered like he was concentrating on Sara's hair.
"Can you talk with Darry about my hair?" Sara looked concern, but was keeping her eyes closed so no shampoo dripped into them.
Soda was giving Sara a puzzling look. "Why do I need to talk with Darry about your hair?"
"Last night while you were out, I washed my hair by myself, and somehow got a big knot in it. Darry said he was cutting it because of the knot." Soda, knew that Darry had wanted to cut it off now for a few months, but Soda had been the one to always talk him out of it. But Sara was giving him her pleading look, and Soda didn't want to disappoint her.
"I'll talk to him. Maybe he will change his mind." But as Soda was sitting there thinking about it, maybe it wouldn't be such a bad idea to at least get it trimmed up some. Darry has been the one trimming up her bangs when they fell in her eyes, maybe he can take an inch or two off the back. "You, know, Sara, it might not hurt to cut it just a little bit." Soda now was trying to convince Sara. "Ok, let's rinse." Sara dunked her head back into the water in the tub. As Sara was rinsing, Soda was thinking that it would be so much easier on everyone throughout the summer. For he wouldn't want to wake he up every morning just so he could get her hair up. Just maybe Darry and him could talk Sara into this. Sandy was talking to him just the other day about cutting hers off into this cute little hair style called, "a bob." Sandy even showed him a picture of what it would look like. That would look real cute on Sara, and it wouldn't be in her face. "Ok, done." Soda just sat there for a minute, looking at his sister, glad that everything between them was all cleared up now. Sara caught Soda just watching her.
"What is it, Soda?"
Soda smiled down at her, "You are and o.k, kid. You know that?" Sara's face light up like a light bulb.
"So I've heard." Soda just shook his head at her.
"Here's your towel. Dry off and get your pajamas on." Soda turned to walk out the door, but on his way out he grabbed her brush and added, "and when you're done with that come on out and I'll brush out your hair." Soda had disappeared back to the ruckus that was coming from the living room. It looked like the boys had started a game of poker.
"Is she finished?" Darry was asking from his chair watching the boys with their poker game.
"Yup." Soda was pushing Two-Bit down on couch. It was easier to brush out Sara's hair if she was sitting on the floor in front of his. Soda turned to Darry. "Darry, Sara mentioned that you told her you wanted to cut her hair. Was that just a threat or are you seriously considering it?" Soda knew how often Darry used threats with her and Pony to get them to do things he wanted and they didn't.
"You can't cut her hair!" Two-Bit shouted over to Darry from the couch.
"You don't have a say in this, and yes, Soda I think she needs it cut."
"Since when don't I have a say?" Two-Bit now, was just trying to egg Darry on. "Why does she need a haircut? It looks fine the way it is."
"Because she is going to be home with Pony all summer, and unless Pony wants to go to beauty school, it will be in her face all summer long. I can't stand it when it is hanging in her face. Plus.." Darry's words were cut off again by Two-Bit.
"Well, how short? It has to be at least longer than Pony's here." Two-Bit grabbed Pony and knuckled rubbed the top of head.
Soda was the first to engage this conversation, he thought it was time to step back in. "I think she should get it cut. Maybe one of those bob cuts." The boys were giving Soda a look like they had just seen an alien. "You know." Soda started showing the boys with his hands. Soda shot Steve a look of help here, and Steve his buddy jumped in and saved his ass.
"Oh, yah, Evie wants to cut her hair like that way. She showed me a picture the other day." Steve shrugged his shoulders. "I bet it would look good, just think Soda, you won't have to play beauty parlor with her anymore." Steve threw some cards towards Soda.
"I don't mind it so much. It makes Sara happy." Soda said in a soft voice.
"I'm happy!" A bouncing Sara came around the corner dressed in her pajama with her long wet hair swinging around her back. Sara slipped past Pony and Johnny who were sprawled out in front of the t.v and hopped over them to get to Soda on the couch. She plopped down on the floor beside Dallas who was leaning up against the couch as well.
"What are you guys playing?" Sara asked looking at the boys who had cards in their hands.
"Poker." Dally responded.
"Can I play?" Sara asked with peppiness in her voice.
"No." The boys all answered at the same time.
"Why not? You let me play flip the cap." Sara whined.
"Yah and look where that got you!" Steve snapped at her. "Besides you need to know how to count first."
"She knows how to count, doofus!" Pony was quick to defend his sister's intelligence. Sara was smiling at Pony for coming to her defense, but it didn't stop her from nagging at the boys to play.
"So, can I play?" She asked again looking back and forth between Dallas and Steve. Knowing those would be the two to agree.
"Not tonight, but maybe we will teach you this summer." Dally answered for the group.
"Promise?" Sara was a little disappointed.
"No, I don't make promises. But if I told you I'll teach you, than I will." Dally told Sara.
"Sara, would you just sit still so we can get this done." Soda was trying to still his sister.
"See, Soda, if she gets it cut no more of this shit." Steve said drawing.
"It's not that bad, Steve." Soda was trying to cover up, so that Sara's feelings didn't get hurt none.
"Just think it will free up more time for you, like now, you could be playing a hand." Steve pointed to the draw pile.
Sara jaw just fell to the floor. "Wh…wha…what? Is it true?" Sara's head swiveled back and forth between looking at Soda and Darry, looking for answers.
"I think it is best for summer." Darry spoke up first.
"But, Soda, you said you would talk to Darry for me. You said." Sara could feel the tears starting to form in her eyes.
"Sara, it is just hair. It will probably grow back before school even starts back up again." Darry kept trying to tell Sara it was for the best, but Sara wasn't having any part of it. Sara jumped up from the floor and stepped over peoples legs and when she had a clear path she flew off to her room.
"Nice job, there Dar." Soda leaned back against the couch tossing the brush onto the side table.
"It's just hair for Christ Sakes." Darry said leaning back in his chair.
It was when Johnny spoke up for the first time that night, that the boys remembered that he was in the room. "But, remember." Johnny said with confidence in his voice, "one thing about greasers is we take pride in our hair. And she is smart enough to know that. It could be what she might be thinking." Johnny didn't make eye contact with anyone in the room, but his statement was well heard amongst the boys. And all knew it was absolutely true, and no could deny it, not even Darry.
"She is not a greaser! I will not allow her to grow up thinking she is." Darry huffed out loud.
"Hate to tell you this Dar, but no matter how much you don't want her to be a greaser, she already is." Dally said what everyone in that room was thinking. "Not much you can do or say that is going to change that." Dally had just thrown down his cards. Dally's statement had just gotten Darry's goat. Darry looked like he was going to blow smoke. He stood up from his chair and went out onto the porch, letting the screen door slam behind him. He stood against the porch railing trying to take in the cool, night air and hoping that he could control his anger.
"Nice job, Dal." Steve was picking up everyone's cards to shuffle for a new game.
"Hey, it was the Kid here who started it." Dallas was pointing a finger towards Johnny. Soda glanced over at the front door. He could see Darry with his arms folded across his chest, leaning on the porch railing and just looking out in the darkness of the night. Soda decided he would go out and grab some fresh air himself. He got up off the couch and pushed open the screen door, but to keep their conversation private he shut the front door behind him.
"Go, back inside, Sodapop." Darry warned not wanting to talk to anyone right now.
"Nope, I need some fresh air, so you're stuck sharing the porch with me." Soda sat down on the first step on the porch.
"Soda, you don't even have any socks or shoes on." Darry said looking down at Soda's bare feet.
"Don't care. Besides Dar, when do I every have them on?" Soda was trying to at least crack a smile on Darry's face. But Darry didn't smile and just let out a "ha"
"Come on, Dar, you know what Dallas was saying is just talk." Soda was going to attack the subject. Darry finally caved in and pushed Soda's shoulder so that he would move over and Darry sat on the next step down from Soda.
"Soda, you know I am busting my ass to keep this family together. Part of keeping this family together is to make sure that it is done right. And Mom and Dad would want Pony and Sara raised the way they were raising us. And that means with dignity, morals and respect, and not turning into some god damn hood like Tim, Curly and Angela Shepard." Darry couldn't believe he just said that out loud. For the Shepard gang would have their back if they needed it for something, but it was true, they were hoods.
"Darry, do you honestly think that Pony is going to be a hood? I mean, look at the kid. The only hood quality he has is that he smokes too much, and that his hair is long and greasy. He is to smart, too sensitive, to innocent, and jez, now he is Mr. Super track star. And as far as Sara, I mean, she can be a little spitfire, that is for sure, but she is sweet, and kind, and loving, those are not hood qualities, Dar. There both to damn smart to even go down that road. Plus Dar, between you and me, we'll break their legs before letting that happen." Soda playful punch Darry in the arm. Darry was now pressing his palms of his hands up to his forehead. "Darry, you are doing a fine job with both of them. We both can honestly say it is not easy, and gosh, we are not perfect, Mom and Dad seemed perfect to us, but you and I both know they had their own flaws. We are going to screw up, Dar. Look, I even screwed up yesterday with Sara." Soda was trying to get Darry to laugh, but he didn't.
Darry started talking to Soda in a solemn voice, "You know where I found Sara this afternoon?" Soda shook his head "yes" knowing that he and Sara had already talked about this, but he just let Darry continue. "She was lying in Mom and Dad's bed holding Mom's senior picture. It made me realize that I am not doing enough for her. I need to make sure I do this right. I don't want to disappoint them."
"Darry, I already talked to her about this. I think she gets it." Soda tried to reassure Darry that things are fine.
"I just want more for them! And I am not sure that I can provide it! You and I know damn well that if Mom and Dad were here almost all this shit that has happened this week with her and you would have never happened if they were still here."
"You don't know that Darry." Soda paused "It could have. I mean maybe, but you can't be thinking that way."
"Oh, shit, Sodapop, do you ever think to yourself what am I doing?"
"All the time, if you're not here reminding me so." Soda joked and was elbowing Darry.
"No, I mean it." Darry looked up into the stars that were shining brightly above. "Sometimes I wonder if I am doing the right thing with Pony and Sara. I sometimes think that I should of let them had the opportunity to have a family. A real family with a Mom and Dad. Sara needs a Mother. I see it every day. And Pony needs a Father figure even if he wouldn't admit it." Sodapop couldn't listen to anymore from Darry.
"Don't ever say that Darry! They don't need a Mom and Dad. They need us and even though I sometimes hate to admit it, I need them too. It makes it easier some days to have them here. Could you imagine our life without them? I mean don't get me wrong there are plenty of days, like yesterday, that I wished I had more quiet time, or not having to make lunches, or wash hair, or read bedtimes storied, or brushing hair, or be woken up at 1,2 o'clock in the morning. But then again it would be 10 times as worse, having an empty house, not tripping over toys or moving books out of the way, or sitting at an empty kitchen table. Dar, I wouldn't even know what to do with myself. So please, don't ever think that way."
Darry was quiet for a minute, and then he spoke. "Your right, little buddy. I just get down on myself sometimes. Thinking I am doing this all wrong." Soda reached down and put his hand on Darry's shoulder.
"Darry, anytime you need to talk about this stuff, just ask. You can't keep it all in. Hell, if it wasn't for Sandy and Steve, I would of gone crazy months ago." Soda was laughing again, but he knew that it was true.
"Sure, little buddy" Soda sat there for a few more minutes, before standing up.
"You should go talk with Sara about the hair thing. I can come with you too, if you think it will help." Soda offered.
"I'm going to stay out her for a few more minutes." Soda stood and looked at Darry, but then decided to leave him there for a few more minutes. He opened the door back up.
"Not too long, though Darry." Soda walked through the door, not closing it behind him. He wanted the noise of the house and the warmth of the house to linger outside to Darry. To remind him that he was needed inside.