Autumn Leaves

Chapter 37

Prying

XXX

"Ted."

"Beth," he said in an uncomfortable greeting. "So, how've you been?"

Holiday songs played softly on the jukebox. It's late, and except for the drunk in the corner, they are the only two customers in the joint besides the teenage waitress who looked liked she was in her fifth month, and the busboy who doubled as the cook when orders came in. Elizabeth - Mrs. Mathews to some, Beth to others, Mom to a select few; was on her way to work but had agreed against her inner voice to meet him.

She eyed him warily. "Fine. I've managed."

He sat hunched over, not able to look at her as she sat across from him in a booth. "I left you in a lurch all those years ago, I know. I'm sorry bout that, but telling you I was leaving wouldn't have made it any easier, either."

She sipped her coffee and watched him, holding back the urge to hurl the scalding liquid at his face. He had no idea how leaving her with two kids to feed and no money to do that with had hurt.

"So, uh, how're the kids?"

"Keith is fine, as is Karen. They're both still in school and are both doing well."

He was silent a moment, fiddling with a sugar packet. Inwardly, she laughed at him. In two seconds she had already sized him up. He was weak then and still hadn't changed. Weak and cowardly, always running from any problem, never there for her to count on.

Why she ever married him in the first place was a mystery. Oh yeah... that night almost twenty- two years ago in the back of his Ford. He'd said he'd pull out, and he had ... just a little late. Two months later, puking in a school toilet, she knew what it meant; all her dreams were over.

They were married quietly by some man her father knew and lived in a run down, roach filled apartment until he finished high school. A few months later, he got a job working third shift at the newspaper – as a janitor. A few more months after that, she was holding their newborn son watching life seemingly pass her by.

While all he'd ever gotten was his high school diploma, it was still more than she had and he threw it in her face every time. "You need me, Beth, I'm all you got!" For the longest time, she thought he was right.

Then one day, years later, during another of his verbal abuse tirades, she'd had enough. His hateful words suddenly rang empty. She didn't cry, didn't seem to even care. She'd stood there with her chin up and shoulders squared, glaring at him with defiance in her eyes. Enough was enough, and she'd endured years of 'enough' already.

For once, a look of fear had formed in Ted's eyes. He'd taken one uncertain step back, then a moment later took another one. A long, stormy silent pause later and he'd turned, walking out the door. She'd thought he'd be back like he usually was, but until that phone call a few weeks ago, she hadn't heard a peep out of him. She was finally on her own, now with two small kids to manage, their daughter having come along nearly eight years after Keith.

It had been hard and many times she'd wanted to give up, but the faces of her kids sleeping in their beds drove her on to do whatever she could to give them a better life. It was an uphill battle from the start. She hadn't finished school, had no skills, and with two kids in tow, almost no one would give her a chance. Then she met Beverly Curtis, who's three boys became Keith's closest friends, and Samantha Scott, who looked after Karen for her while she worked. The tightness of the community ten years ago had allowed her to keep her job and slowly etch out a life for her family, but it had been a struggle the whole way. Now with Ted looking at her, she knew he'd never grasp how strong a woman she now was after everything he'd either put her through or left her with to handle on her own.

"Have you given any thought to my request? I'd really like to see them. Let them know their old man still loves them."

She glowered at him but kept it civil. He had no idea what love was.

"You can come over, that day and that day only, but I can't guarantee the reception you'll have. I won't sleep with you, so don't even think it. You're there to see your kids, and I can't promise Two.. Keith will be there. He's already told me he's not willing to come, and I won't make him. He's a grown man now." A better man than you ever were, she added silently.

He nodded. "Fine. I understand. Thanks, Beth." He got up to leave, getting the waitresses attention as he did so. He slipped her something from his pocket and walked out the door, disappearing into the night.

"Everything okay?" The waitress asked, fatigue of her own registering all over her face.

"Fine. How much?"

"Ten cents," she answered. Mrs. Mathews pulled out her coin purse and handed her the money then headed off to work. Thanksgiving wasn't far away, which meant more customers were at the bar - and every minute she sat here, money was going to the other girls; those with curvier hips who also lacked the crows feet on their faces.

XXX

As I stood in line with nothing to do, my thoughts wandered back to last Sunday.

Soda had tried to help me tune the piano, but seeing as how he A) didn't know how to tune a piano, B) kept asking what my rush was – which I couldn't tell him even if I wanted to, and C) couldn't bend down to adjust the hammers and pedals, I basically did it on my own. It took the better part of the day, leaving very little practice time before Darry got back in, but when I was done it chimed with clarity again. I think Mom would have been proud.

I was still amazed I was pulling this off. Not that this was exactly easy. Twice now I had seen Two-Bit near my bus stop when I was supposed to be getting on, and once I saw Steve and his girl swapping spit close to where I was supposed to be getting off. I was constantly running – either to the bus, from the bus or between buses at the transfer station. Only one thing was certain, I'd be ready for track in the spring!

"Next, please," the lady said with consternation. Obviously she'd called on me at least once already with me not paying attention. I stepped forward and handed her the deposit slip and the money.

"Sorry, Mr. Curtis, but the account is temporarily closed." She said, handing me back the stuff.

I looked at the teller, confused. "Why?" Anxiety built up, wondering if Darry had overdrawn his account.

"I'm not at liberty to say. You're on the account as an authorized member, but not as the primary holder."

I could tell by the look on her face she wasn't going to budge, so I pocketed the money I'd intended to deposit and headed home, bugged by everything. I wanted to help, but I knew if I gave Darry the money, he'd only get upset – then put an end to my helping out. Now what? I walked a bit, passing a few offices on the way. I looked around, watching cars and people passing for a while, thinking of what to do when a billboard for the electric company we used got my attention - and I smiled. If I couldn't put the money in his account, I could put the money toward the bills directly. Genius!

"Payment, please," I said to the woman at the desk of Tulsa General Electric fifteen minutes later.

"Account number?"

"I don't know the number, but I want to pay some on the bill coming up. Can I do that?"

"Sure, you can prepay, if that's what you wish to do. It will come back as a credit on your next bill and you'll only owe the balance. Is that what you want to do?"

"It'll go against the next bill... right?" I had no idea what she'd just said. Obviously, she thought I was stupid, as she rolled her eyes and nodded. "Yeah, then that's what I want to do."

"Name the account is under?"

I gave her Darry's name and our address, she looked it up and took my payment. I had a lot of money, the tips were good and got better each night. I only gave her a little over half of what I had, knowing Darry'd notice if I paid off the whole bill. I got a receipt and put it in my wallet.

"Thanks," I said, leaving. At least the power would stay on another month.

XXX

It was finally the Saturday before Thanksgiving, but I was already looking forward to the break. I needed sleep.

It was a busy couple of weeks, where the days marred from one to another, and what I was doing got lost in the shuffle. I was at school during the days, trying to remember what chemistry lesson I was taking and try to make it make sense before it muddled with calculus and blurred Spanish. Half the time I wasn't sure if I was coming or going, I only remember trying desperately not to get caught.

I rode the bus to Rosewood's Monday thru Thursday, usually after going to basketball practice and then up to the public library to study. I wasn't lying about anything I was doing after school, I just didn't tell anyone everything that was going on. If my grades fell, Darry would know and I'd be done for. If I at least managed to keep my grades up, he shouldn't complain quite so much when he found out. And I knew he would find out. Eventually. He wasn't dumb, just too busy working all the time to notice anything going on right now.

I also paid a bit on all our bills, going to various offices all over town. I paid enough to make good dents, but never paying off the whole amounts. I pocketed what was left over, hoping at some point to slip it in Darry's wallet if he ever left it laying on the counter again.

Friday I had my games - away or home, it didn't matter. Sometimes the guys showed up, sometimes they didn't. Darry never did.. not since the opener. I understood though.. he was working to keep our lights on and food on our table. If he missed my games, so what? At least I had a home to go back to.

Sunday was home time. Darry didn't put in hours at the warehouse so I couldn't skip out of the house easily. Besides, I had to show my face around the place sometime .. otherwise, they'd ask questions. That was the only day that sort of felt normal; we'd all sleep in, someone would cook, then we'd clean the house and roughhouse around a bit, albeit far less than our norm since Soda was still on the mend. It wasn't like our old days - when Darry'd clothesline me, holding me down while tickling me until I'd scream uncle, but at least I'd see him smile some. Worry seemed to cloud everything now.

Between school, basketball and Rosewood's, I was exhausted. Musical tunes played in my head when I was supposed to be listening to my teachers; and last week I'd missed several easy passes that ticked off my coach so badly he pulled me from the game for nearly ten minutes.

I was thankful this was only going to last another four weeks. I suddenly had a greater appreciation for how hard Darry worked.

The bus pulled up and I got on, riding on towards our neighborhood but getting off a few stops early at the grocers. We were nearly out of everything again, but there was no way I was going to shove any oatmeal down my throat if I could help it. I got a handbasket, knowing whatever would fit in it would fit in my backpack until I made it home.

I got some cereal, eggs, half a thing of milk (a whole gallon wouldn't fit) and some other staples; then went to the line. Once everything was paid for, I crammed it all in my backpack and headed home, carrying my books in my hands. Thankfully, no one was around at home, allowing me to put the stuff away without being noticed. I'd considered another trip back to the grocers once I had everything put up, but changed my mind. Darry would notice. Instead, I headed off to study and rest up. I'd have to split soon anyway to catch the bus over to Rosewood's.

XXX

"Hey Darry, did you get the milk?"

"No. Why, we need any?" he called from his room. I stared at the half gallon in the fridge. Who would buy a half gallon of milk? We go through it so fast, usually we get two gallons at a time. A half gallon was a tease!

"Uh, yeah... looks like it. So you didn't get this?" I asked again, closing the fridge door and looked at him down the hall. He came to see what I was talking about.

"No, Sodapop, I didn't buy any milk. Maybe one of the guys did. Bout time they started replacing what they take. I ain't a soup kitchen. Ask Ponyboy, he should've been here today. Lord knows he's been spending every other minute of his time somewhere else all month. Where's he now?"

"No idea." I answered absentmindedly. The milk bothered me. It made no sense for anyone to get a half gallon. It was stupid and insignificant, but I couldn't get my head over it.

He looked at me, pulling on his boots. "Well, I gotta go to work. Hog tie him if you have to, but make him stay home tonight. I don't need him getting into trouble."

I looked at the clock, it was nearly seven. Something nagged at me, telling me Pony wouldn't be home until half past eleven; in fact, I was willing to bet on it. "Sure, Darry. As soon as he gets home, I'll park him in a chair and tie him to it. Is a hog tie anything close to a clove hitch or a square knot?"

Darry gave me a look that said shut up, and left.

XXX

"Michelle, what did you get?" Carmin asked me. I looked in the envelope and pulled out a slip. This was a stupid ritual, instead of just giving everyone the same Thanksgiving bonus like they did at Christmas, the hospital executives try to "guess" what each employee would like based off each department head's suggestion. Mine obviously thought I had no life; as for the third year in a row, I received a gift certificate for a book from the local bookstore.

I gave a half-hearted grin, knowing it was a gift, afterall. They didn't have to do this. Other nurses, nurses who were married and had children and therefore had no time, got the good stuff. I laid it down by my cup, disappointed as usual. "Gift certificate for a book at Sonnets And Spines. You?"

"Oh!" she exclaimed with genuine surprise as she pulled out her slip, "a gift certificate from Rosewood's! Have you eaten there?"

I shook my head. "No, it's a little too upscale for me to go to just to eat alone."

"Yeah, but how about that guy you were seeing?" Maxine teased me from across the table. I'd made the mistake of telling Carmine about my date, and she had let it loose around the department. She hadn't really meant to, she was just happy for me considering I hadn't really been the outgoing type. Wearing grandma's ring to keep it that way proved it well enough.

I blushed. "I only saw him once, and besides, he's busy working."

"Well, here," Carmine said, shoving the slip in my hand. "Take him out and have a good dinner. Now you have no excuse. It's paid for, all you two need to do is show up and eat."

"But this is your gift..." I protested. She smiled and took my slip for the book.

"And now I have a book to read! Just what I wanted!"

I was speechless, looking at the two of them gang up on me like this. A call bell went off in one of my rooms and I got up.

"You guys are so gonna get me in trouble!" I grumbled with a smile.

"Just make sure he pulls your chair out and is nice to you, cause if he isn't, we'll fix him if he ever comes back to our ICU!" Maxine teetered, nearly spilling her coffee.

XXX

Calla Lily Rose