Chapter 37

"What do you mean Doc?" Soda spoke up.

"I mean that I think you two are doing a good job with what I think the problem is with Sara, but I'm not sure that we can do much more than what is already being done."

"But you said that it was serious." Soda stuttered over the serious part.

"Yes, Sodapop, I did, because I think in a lot of recent cases it has been pretty serious. But see the thing is, is that most patients that are being diagnosis these days with what I think is happening to Sara, well they are mostly adults."

"Just spit it out Doc, what's wrong with our sister?" Darry was tired of this merry go ground that Dr. Robinson was on, he wanted specifics, because that's all Darry understands sometimes is the cold hard facts.

"Darry, I think Sara is experiencing symptoms very similar to acute Post War Syndrome."

"Post what?" Soda asked having no idea what Dr. Robinson was talking about. "Doc, we don't let her watch the news, she's not seeing any of the war." Darry slapped Sodapop's arm to hush him.

"I don't think that's what he means Soda."

Dr. Robinson couldn't help but chuckle. "No boys her form of it has nothing to do with the war. Post War Syndrome is a pretty recent diagnosis. It's also known as Disordered Action of the Heart. I just went to a conference in Houston on this about a month ago. There's been a great deal of research in the medical profession about this. Most research had been done on militarysoldiers, that's why it's being called Post War Syndrome. But research is starting to pan out further and this can happen to anyone that has experience a trauma. For Sara, I think that there might be two traumas that are playing out here. I definitely think that getting lost has terrified the poor thing more than any of you probably had guessed, and I think the other is that she is still experiencing the trauma from losing your folks. Has she displayed any odd behaviors? Like hiding? Or sudden outbursts? Maybe some Clinginess? Have you seen any of these types of behaviors from her lately?" Darry and Sodapop shook their heads yes. "Which ones?" Dr. Robinson asked for specifics.

"All of them." Darry confessed.

"Really? Can you share some instances?"

"Where do you want to begin?" Darry sighed. "First, she has been clingy to especially Sodapop, and some of our friends. Then the other day she threw the biggest temper tantrum because I wouldn't let her go somewhere."

"And how was that handle?" Doc Robinson asked.

Darry let out a low moan. "Not very good, I'm afraid." Darry rubbed at his forehead like it was all replaying out in his mind. "I spanked her." He managed to get out.

"First time I assume by your stance?"

"Yeah" Darry was ashamed to admit.

Doc Robinson shook his head and smiled. "It happens Darry, stop beating yourself up. You're young, you're gonna make mistakes with her. It's learning from them that makes you a better parent. So how did she react to that?"

"Umm, not good. She ran away the next day." Soda offered up.

"Wow. Really? Where did she run off to?"

"Cemetery." When Dr. Robinson just raised a brow, Darry clarified for him. "To go see our parents." Darry hated having to retell this story, especially to their doctor.

"This is all good information; it makes me feel even more confident in my diagnoses for her. I definitely think she's experiencing PWS."

"How do we cure it?" Soda questioned with concern.

"Well this is the tricky part. See, she is very young and treatment is not as simple as it has been in our military soldiers. Some doctors are treating it with prescription medicine; others are treating it with counseling. I am not ready to put her on meds for it, and counseling can get time consuming and become a financial burden. But it's up to you. I personal think that she can get over this, but it's gonna take a lot of effort on your part." Dr. Robinson stopped to make sure that both Darry and Sodapop heard him loud and clear. "I know you both heard her when I asked what makes her happy, and that you boys play a huge part in making her happy. So I know Darrel, that this is not an easy task what you are doing her for your siblings, but any free time you get, try to do family things. You're never going to recreate your past family, but it seems that Sara is urging to recapture what she can of it. I think this helps Sara feel more at ease with the trauma of losing your folks. The more she feels comfortable the less she will experience symptoms of the PWS. Getting her mind off of it will help. I want to see her again in a few weeks. I'm hoping she gains back a few pounds, and those bags and dark circles are gone from her eyes. Also I think we should look into getting her a pair of glasses. Her vision is a bit weak. Has she complained about not being able to see the board at school or see the tv at home? Anything like that?"

"She hasn't been watching too much tv here lately with her behavior." Sodapop grinned which caused another chuckle out of Dr. Robinson.

"I wouldn't imagine so." He smiled back at the boys.

"No, she hasn't mentioned anything like that." Darry admitted trying to get him back on track of treatment for Sara.

"I can recommend an Optometrist. I think you'll like him, he's a good guy." Dr. Robinson wrote the name down and handed it to Darry. "Two weeks. I want to see her back here. Got it?"

"Got it Doc. Thanks." Dr. Robinson started moving towards the door, he opened it and motioned for Sodapop and Darry to exit. Sodapop slipped out and immediately headed to find his little sister, whereas Darry was a little more hesitant. Dr. Robinson could sense it so he reached out and placed a hand on his shoulder to pause the young man.

"Darry, she's going to be fine. Just give it some time."

"It's not so much that, it's; well, about the State and all? You know this could be the determining factor if we can stay together or not."

"Darry, like I said to Sara, this doesn't even need to go there. All you need to say to Mrs. Roberts is that she's having some memories of your parents death resurfacing and that's it. More activity, more reading, coloring, drawing." Dr. Robinson paused and thought for a second of another excuse Darry could use. "Isn't Father's Day coming up? And didn't Sara just have a birthday? You could use all those things and if Mrs. Robert's requests a report than I will write basically the same thing."

"Thanks, Doc." Darry said with some relief. He knew he could trust Dr. Robinson. He always had good intentions when it came to their family. Darry shuffled down the hall and rounded the corner where he caught sight of both Sodapop and Sara sucking on a lollipop and watching the fish swim around the tank. He stopped in at the receptionist desk and wrote out a check for the visit and scheduled her follow up for two weeks. The latest he could get was a four thirty but that would be a lot easier to do than any other time. Darry turned to his brother and sister and called them away from the tank. "Hey you two, ara ya ready?"

"Sure am!" Sara said with a peep in her step. She rushed over to Darry and he held the door open and Sara slipped under his arm and out onto the sidewalk. She started down the walk towards the truck, while Darry and Soda were conversing about what Doc Robinson had mention about Mrs. Roberts. Sara was moving along and looking in all the windows of the buildings along Puckett when she came to "Consider it New" Consignment shop and she stopped dead in her tracks. There on a child mannequin was the most beautiful blue party dress she had ever seen in her life. Her mouth started drooling with ah. The dress was powder blue chiffon, with a build in petticoat underneath. The top of the dress displayed a scoop neck with off the shoulder sleeves. There was a bright white silk sash that ran around the tapped waistline. On the mannequin the dress was about tea length and just perfect for the Father-Daughter dance. Sara practically had her nose pressed up to the display window admiring the dress. Without a doubt it was one of the most beautiful dresses she has ever seen. Soda and Darry had noticed that Sara's attention was being drawn to something inside "Consider it New." But as they approached they too soon realized what had drawn her there in the first place. Sara felt their presence and turned around. "Look! Isn't it beautiful?" Neither boy could deny that it wasn't indeed beautiful but both already knew what they had just shelled out for the doctor's appointment so this was not in the playing cards right now.

"Yup, it's sure beautiful and all." Soda tried to cover up for the disappointment he was feeling knowing they couldn't afford it.

"Just like Cinderella." Sara said envisioning herself twirling and dancing around in that dress, just like she remembered seeing Cinderella do at the ball.

"C'mon Sara. We need to get going." Darry tugged on her sleeve to get her moving, but Sara wasn't budging. All she could do was drool and dream about wearing that same dress. She wouldn't even dare ask Darry to buy it for her, for she wasn't dump, she knew that they were struggling and this just wasn't a possibility, but just maybe her dream would come true. As she stood staring she recalled that Cinderella's dreams eventually came true too. Sara placed her small hand up on the window imaging that she was actually feeling the material of the dress in her hands at that very moment.

"Sara, come along." Soda tried to get her to move away from the window.

"But it's so beautiful. Wouldn't you love to take me to the dance in it Soda?" Sara had Soda caught between a rock and a hard place. How could he let his sister down easy?

"You would defiantly look wonderful in that dress, but Sara, I would take you to the dance even if you were only wearing your pajamas." Sara couldn't help to giggle at that thought.

"Ah, Soda, you're funny. I can't wear pajamas to the dance. I need a party dress, just like this one." She said pointing back at the window display.

"If you two don't hurry up, I'm leaving without you." Darry hollered as he was turning from the sidewalk to the back parking lot. Soda nodded his head towards Darry and started walking off leaving Sara to take one more look at the dress. She closed her eyes and sealed the image of the dress in her head, so as to never forget it and then hurryed off to catch up with Soda and Darry. She needed to leave the dress behind but at least she could look forward to the ice cream that Darry had promised.

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The Curtis' house was full of boys the night. Everyone had seemed to conjugate there that evening, even Dallas, which must have meant he was over his little tiff with Darry form the football game. It was starting to get late and Darry was trying to get Sara settled but on nights like this it was nearly impossible. The boys were being typical boys and were wrestling, cussing, playing cards and just being loud. In between a wrestling match and a game of rummy, Sara had wondered in and was sitting on the arm of Darry's chair when the topic of the dance came up. "Sodapop, are ya still taking Sara to the dance?" Two-Bit asked tossing his hand full of cards down and grabbing the winnings from the coffee table.

"Yeah, that's the plan if Darry hasn't changed his mind." Sara's head swiveled faster than a top that spins to look at Darry, but Darry on the other hand didn't appreciated it as much. He silently shook his head no. With that Sara's shoulders slouched and she quickly turned away from Darry.

"My little sister is trying to get me to take her too. I thought it might not be so bad if you and Sara were gonna be there."

"What the hell are you guys talking about? What dance?" Dally asked while flipping through some type of old car mag that was lying on the floor.

"The Father-Daughter Dance on Friday. I'm taking Sara." Soda said getting up to grab a Pepsi from the fridge.

"Why the hell aren't you taking her Superman?" Dally asked tossing the mag back on the floor.

"I'm working." Darry said with a flat tone.

"So you're pawning her off on Sodapop? Doesn't sound like a nice thing to do to me." Dally sounded agitated by the news he had just heard.

"I'm not pawning her off on anyone. Sodapop offered to take her, more than you would do." Darry hissed towards Dally.

"Hey Superman, sorry to ruffle your feathers here, but no one asked me to take her." Dally spit back towards Darry.

"Like you would of taken her, Dally. Give me a break. That's almost laughable." Darry loudly spoke as he tossed some junk mail on the end table.

"Yeah, Dal, I can't see you going to one of those things." Steve harassed.

"I'll go with you Dally!" Sara said softly.

"Do you even own a dress shirt and dress pants?" Two-Bit questioned getting in on the topic.

"No! But that's not the point here." Dallas said kicking at the coffee table.

"Then what is the point?" Darry smirked knowing that he had Dallas right where he wanted him, but Dallas always knows how to outsmart Darrel Curtis.

"The point is that you're not taking her Man, and you making your brother here do your dirty work for you. Per usually if you ask me." Now everyone in the room knew from the tone in Dallas' voice that what was a simple comment was now turning into a bit of a heated discussion. And when Darry and Dallas Winston get into a heated discussion you know when to shut your mouth and stay out of it, and that was right about now. The room became deathly quiet and the boys all just sat still and watched and listened to what was to happen next.

"I'm not making Sodapop do my dirty work Dal." At this point even Darry could tell that this conversation was getting a bit hot and so he checked the time and noticed that Sara should be getting off to bed. "Sara, it's time for bed. "

"Ah, Darry, do I have too?" Sara whined.

"Yes. Now say goodnight to everyone and I'll tuck you in." Darry started to get up from his chair when he heard Dally cough and mumble.

"Cop out."

"What did you just say? What did you just say to me you little shit?" Darry hollered so loud that it almost shook the house.

"You heard me." Dally said with his usually cocky attitude. Well that just about blew Darry's lid. He lunged towards the couch where Dally was sitting with his feet up on the coffee table. The group of boys watched intently as Darry went towards Dally but both Steve and Sodapop were quick to jump up and step in front of Darry to stop him. Darry slowed his forward progress when Sodapop placed his hands on his chest, but the force from Darry caused Soda to stumble back a few steps and trying to stop him.

"Darry, it's just Dal being Dal. Leave it." Soda advised. Darry stopped his advancement and listened for a second but started back in again.

"Well Dallas anytime you think you can do better, please feel free. I would love to watch it. I'll trade places with you in a heartbeat!"

"Ah, relax Superman, you're overacting again." Dally's cool voice rang out now noticing that Sara was still in the room watching and witnessing this whole rant.

"Darry what does that mean?" Sara turned approaching him, Sodapop and Steve. She looked back from Darry to Sodapop. "Soda what does that mean? Why do you want Dally to take care of us? Why Darry?"

"Go, Sara." Sodapop said still holding on to Darry's chest. "Just go get ready for bed." Sodapop instructed.

"But" Sara started to say when she was interrupted by Soda.

"I said go." Soda's stern voice made Sara jump. She obeyed his request and slowly watched over her shoulder as she walked out from the living room.

"Dar, why don't you go tuck Sara in." Soda whispered into his ear. "You need to cool down some. You know Dal just likes to run his mouth." Soda removed his hand from Darry's chest and motioned his head towards Sara's room. Darry sent one more glaring look in Dally's direction, but Dally had moved on from this conversation and wasn't giving Darry anymore of his time, besides there was some sexy lady on the tv that was more important to look at than a grumpy ole Darrel Curtis.

As Darry moved away and towards the kitchen he muttered to Sodapop. "Why can't he go run his mouth someplace else?" And with that Darry disappeared into the kitchen and then down towards Sara's room. Once Darry was out of earshot Sodapop resumed his spot along with Steve.

"Jesus Dal, why ya got to get him riled up like that?" Soda said sighing.

"Because none of you fools have the balls to do so. So I've gotta do it for ya." Dally received a bunch of eye rolls from the boys but now that the drama was done the boys started up another round of rummy, only this time they knew they need to keep it down because of Sara.

Darry was still fuming when he reached Sara's door of her room. He peaked in to notice that she was just crawling into bed. He watched her from her door as she was getting comfortable for a few seconds. Once she seemed settled he made his entrance. "Are ya all hunkered down in there?" He asked with a little grin.

"Yup."

"Good. I hope you get a good night's sleep. I'll see you in the morning." Darry tugged her already secured blankets up around her tiny frame and then added. "You know Kiddo, you did real good at the doctor's today. But how long have you been having trouble seeing?" This had been bothering Darry ever since they left Dr. Robinson's this afternoon. Sara just shrugged her shoulders. "Now, Sara, this is important, if you haven't been able to see, you need to tell me these things. Remember we talked about this the other night?"

"Yeah, I remember." She said as she ran her hands across the silk border of her blanket. "It's been awhile now, I guess. I thought it was because I was tired and stuff. I didn't want to worry you none."

Darry leaned down and took a seat on the edge of Sara's bed. "Sara, this is something important. Your health is important, and if you're having trouble seeing than I need to know. Not telling me things like this can make matter worse. We're lucky that we took you to the doctor's."

"I wouldn't call it lucky." Sara mumbled, but Darry chuckled.

"Ah, it wasn't that bad Sara. Now get some sleep." Darry started to get up when the expression on Sara's face turned from a half smile to a frown.

"Darry?" She asked.

"Yeah?"

"What did you mean when you said to Dally that you would love to trade places with him? To see him do better?" Sara stopped while Darry let out a sigh. "Do you not want us anymore?"

"No, Sara. It's just that, well, sometimes, Dally just likes to run his mouth that's all. And when he runs his mouth off to me, I take it personally. I didn't mean anything by it, just like Dal doesn't really mean what he says either." Sara cocked her head a bit and scrunched her lips to one side as if she was in a deep thought.

"So, you do want us? And you don't want to trade places with Dally? But you just threaten him because you know that you can, right?" Darry couldn't resist the laugh that came out.

"Yeah, something like that, Kiddo." Darry reached over and ruffled the top of Sara's head and then lightly pushed her back down onto her pillow. "Sleep tight."

"Don't let the bed bugs bite." She responded back. Darry flicked her lamp off and proceeded back to the door. He slowly closed it and watched Sara roll over to face the wall. As he stood there for a second still laughing at her analogy of him and Dally's fight he couldn't help but laugh inside. Darry shook his head as he closed the door completely. How was it that this kid could make him go from zero to a hundred in a few seconds, but then have the ability to make him go from a hundred back to zero again? Even though at times he thinks his life would be so much easier without having to care for Sara, its times like this that he's thankful that she's with him and not in a foster home or a girls home somewhere.