Autumn Leaves

Chapter 38

Jigsaw Pieces Coming Together

XXX

"Darry, phone!"

Soda put the receiver down and went back to making dinner. I had just gotten out of the shower, ready to dress and go out again to the warehouse for yet another few hours of moving boxes. Whomever it was, I didn't have time for idle chatter.

"Pony home yet?" I asked before picking the receiver up.

"Not yet," Soda answered.

Damn that kid brother of mine! It's gotten so I didn't even know what he looked like anymore. I'd catch a glance at him sleeping in his room after I got in from the warehouse, then see him again for a few minutes before he ran out the door for school, but that was about it. From that point on I was at work while he was at school all day, basketball practice in the afternoon, then off to various places to study well into the evening. He never seemed to be home for the few minutes I'd stop in between my jobs. Unless it was Sunday, I just never saw him. It seemed no one knew where he was but him.

"Hello?" I said into the receiver, obviously still fuming about family issues.

"Darry, is this a bad time?"

The soft sound of her voice registered and I stopped to regroup.

"Evening, Michelle. Sorry, it's not a bad time, just a busy one. What can I do for you?"

"I was wanting to know if I could steal you for an evening. Maybe tomorrow for dinner? My treat."

"Dinner? Gee, Michelle, that would be great, but...."

"Go! Darry, go to dinner with her! Go!" Soda hissed at me, motioning with his hands as if he was scooting me out the door already. I hesitated.

"But.... what? Darry?"

"Sorry, Soda spilled something in the kitchen, snagging my attention. I'd love to. I can pay though...."

She laughed. "Well, it's not really my treat, but my employers. The hospital gives its employees gift certificates for area restaurants, mine is for a place called Rosewood's. It's semi-formal, will that be a problem?"

I thought quickly … conjuring up my closet's contents in my mind. I had my court clothes, they'd work, and for once I could wear them to something of a happy event. "No, I'm sure I have a jacket and tie I can wear. Tomorrow?"

"Unless you want to go out Thanksgiving night, but I thought you'd be busy with your family then. I have to work the weekend after Thanksgiving and won't be able to see you. I'd uh, I'd like to see you, if you're not busy or anything."

I smiled. "I'd like that too. Fine, dinner sounds great. How's six?"

"A little early. I made reservations for seven though." She laughed a bit. "I was hoping you'd say yes, so I went ahead and booked it. I know it's rather forward of me and I really hope you don't mind. Seems the place is booked up a lot lately. It's been hard getting in."

"No, that's fine. Seven sounds great. I'll pick you up at six thirty." Soda was smiling at me with a much too- happy grin; annoying me to no end. I tossed my shoe at him and he went back into the kitchen, out of reach of anything else I could toss.

"See you then, Darry." She hung up and I went to get my shoe back.

"You can stop radiating happiness now, Soda. It's just a dinner date, that's all."

"A second dinner date. Gonna take flowers?"

I was ready to ram my fist down his throat if that's what it took to shut him up, but decided against it. I just got my fist out of a cast, and he was still having soreness. "No, it's just dinner. We're not dating, so flowers would be a bit much, don't you think? Strike that, I don't want to know what you think. And what are you making?" The boiling noodles in the pot were blue. Blue! What the heck? "When are you gonna learn to stop screwing with the food?"

"It's called adventure. Have some, live a little. Pony eats it."

"That's because it's all that stands in the way between him and starvation. Speaking of starvation, go get grocery for me since you ain't going to rehab tonight. Have one of the guys take you." I looked at my watch and turned to leave. "I don't have time for this, I gotta go to work. When Ponyboy gets home, tell him I want to know just where he's been hiding at these days. He needs to cut out this disappearing act. Thanksgiving is gonna be here soon, and I ain't gonna have him spend the entire five day holiday missing in action. Got me?"

He nodded. "I'll ask where he's been going again, but I haven't exactly been getting answers."

"Then ask harder." I said firmly. Soda stirred the noodles and I grabbed my coat, heading out again.

XXX

"Well, what shall we get?" Two-Bit was looking over the selection of beers but I pulled him along past that. "Hey, I thought you said we were shopping for Thanksgiving dinner!"

"We are.... beer ain't on the list, doe-doe brain." Soda said with a half smile.

"So, exactly what's on the list, Soda?" I asked, absentmindedly looking at a package of broth.

He looked at the list Darry had made up before going to work. "Hamburger, chicken, can of pumpkin, …."

Two-Bit and I exchanged a look. No turkey. They'd always managed before to have turkey, even if it was a small bird, but this year was just about the hardest they'd had it, money wise.

"Two-Bit, you uh, you been keeping an eye on Pony at school for us, right?"

"As close as I can, you know that. Why? He sneaking off for a little six seconds of bliss in the janitors closet now? Remember those days, Stevie?"

"Quit calling me 'Stevie' unless you want to eat my fist." Still, I grinned, doubting the kid was that adventurous. Those were stunts me and Evie, Soda and Sandy, and Two-Bit and Kathy played. Who would the kid be fondling? Damn, now I couldn't get that picture out of my head.

"Shut up, moron. No, I just can't get a handle on where he's headed off to every afternoon. Darry's been getting on my case about it."

"Well, I ain't tailing him in the after-school hours. He's got basketball practice. Closed sessions, remember? Coach won't let anyone in the gym during that. Why, he in trouble?"

"When is the kid not in trouble?" I sighed, now looking at the magazine rack for something new. I hated shopping. Boring. Only wrinkled up old ladies spent this much time matching coupons to products then cross referencing them against lists in the store.

"Lord, I hope not. Darry's under enough pressure without more stress hanging on him."

After Soda had everything crossed off the list, we all traipsed over to the registers. It was more than they'd bought in a while but with the holidays nearly here, every store in town would be closed. Two-Bit did the unloading, giving both mine and Soda's sides a break from the bending. Bout time he did something useful.

I watched it all go up; two boxes of Cheerios, two gallons of milk, carton of eggs, other assorted normal stuff, then the hamburger and chicken. The bagger had it all in three bags, not including the milk.

"$37.28" she said. Soda blanched a bit, sighed, opened his wallet and stared. Crap, he ain't got enough. I pulled out my wallet grateful I had my pay on me but before I could open it, Soda handed over two twenties. She handed him the change and we left.

"What was that all about?" Two-Bit asked, obviously noticing his expression too. Soda stayed silent with a troubled look on his face until we got in my car.

"Either of you been padding my wallet?"

"No, but if you need some dough...." Two-Bit said, reaching in to his jeans to get his worn leather bi-fold out.

"Steve?" Soda asked me, that look still there.

"Sorry, buddy. What's up?"

He shook his head. "Darry gave me the money for the grocery last night. Gave me thirty dollars. I'm sure it was only thirty, ten for each of us. I didn't have any other cash in my wallet either. You guys sure you ain't pulling one over on me? Give it up if you are, jokes over. Two-Bit?"

He laughed. "Hell no, Sodapop. Why?"

"Cause there's still over twenty in my wallet now, even after getting the grocery."

He stared at me, but I didn't have any answers. Well, none that made any sense.

XXX

I was tired. I looked at my house, noticing the lights on in the windows. I heard the radio on, something by Bob Dylan playing. I wished I could crawl in my window, plop on my bed and go to sleep, but something told me that wasn't going to happen. I steeled myself and opened my door.

"Well, looky who's home." Two-Bit teased.

"Time?" Soda asked.

"11:17. How'd you do that, Soda?" Steve asked.

Soda looked at me while he shrugged. "Just a good guess. Evening, Ponyboy. Where ya been?"

I swallowed. One was easy to bluff, but not a roomful of people. "Same place I've been all month, out practicing."

"Yeah," Soda said sarcastically. "Practicing."

"Maybe the kid's seeing someone." Steve sneered. I glowered.

"No, I'm not. I said I was practicing." I pulled the basketball out of my bag for emphasis and tossed it at him. He deflected it, knocking it into Two-Bit's beer, felling it.

"Hey! Ain't no reason to waste a beer, kid."

"Then leave me alone." I snipped and headed to my room, shutting the door behind me, ignoring the catcalls chasing after me.

I heard chairs scrape the floor, some general cursing and laughter, then quiet. A while later, there was a knock on my door. I hadn't moved from where I lay, sprawled out on my bed, still fully clothed yet already half asleep.

"Pone?" Soda called into my dark room. Not even the lights were on in the hallway.

"Hmmph?" I mumbled.

He sighed, came over and sat next to me on my bed. "What's going on? Don't give me no story about playing basketball in the middle of the night either. I never thought you'd lie to me. You, of all people, to me. Fess up. Are... are you doing something you ain't supposed to be doing?"

I opened my eyes and looked at him in the darkness. "No, what would make you think that?"

"Because there've been too many strange things going on around here, things Darry and I can't figure out. You're the only variable in the equation."

"You never should have quit school if you remember those terms, Sodapop. Go back and get your GED." I muttered as I scrunched deeper into my sheets.

He laughed quietly. "Maybe I will, one day." I felt him rub my back, and had to admit I missed that. "Now, where have you been hanging at every afternoon and evening?"

I wanted to tell him. I wanted to so badly, but my resolve won out. "Can't say. Sorry, Soda."

"You don't trust me?"

"Of course I do. But this time, you gotta trust me." I answered softly. The pattern he was kneading into my back changed and I relaxed more.

"Is it anything illegal? Just tell me if it is. Somehow, Darry and me will fix it."

"Uh uh. I ain't doing anything..." yawn … "illegal. I promise you that."

"Did you put the money in my wallet?" he asked quietly. I answered before I could think about it.

"Mmmh hmm." I murmured. He lifted the back of my shirt and I tugged it off the rest of the way, then flopped down on my pillow while he continued his magic.

"Where'd you get the cash from?" he carefully asked as he pried the tension from my back and shoulders.

I was cognizant enough to not answer very truthfully. "I had it saved up."

"Saved from where?"

I didn't answer, everything getting foggy.

"Pone, where did you get the money?"

"Work." I slipped.

"Mrs. Nixon? Did she send it?"

I heard him, but he was too far away for me to answer. He called to me a few more times, getting more and more distant each time, then I felt warmth cover me and silence prevail.

XXX

I'd been too light handed. Just when I thought I could get some answers, the scales tipped and he fell asleep. I covered him up and left his room, the guys hanging at the doorway eavesdropping the whole time – just like I knew they were.

"You knocked him out?" Two-Bit asked, astonished.

"Yeah, didn't mean to do it that fast though. I almost had him. Damn."

"Well, at least you know where the money is coming from. The kid's bringing it home." Steve whispered.

"That's not the important part. I still need to know what he's doing to get the money." I answered in a low tone.

"You don't think the kid's involved in.. well, anything bad, do you?" Steve asked, for once showing genuine concern. I didn't want to even consider that possibility. Yet.

"God, I hope not," was the best I could answer.

"So now what?" Two-Bit asked. I shrugged.

"Keep pecking away until I get some answers. It's all I can think of for now."

XXX

"Where's Pony at now?" I called over my shoulder as I slapped some aftershave on my face.

"Off again." Soda answered me from the doorway, a kitchen towel slung over his shoulder. "His note said the library would be closed over the holiday and he had to do more research on that paper. I don't know what paper he's working on, but from all the research he's been putting into it, it'd better win the Nobel Prize or something." Soda went back to the kitchen.

"You get the mail yet?" I yelled.

"Naw," he yelled back. "Busy."

I rolled my eyes and headed outside to the box. The electric bill was due any day now and I was dreading it. Last month I had a hard time paying it, not having Soda's income to help make ends meet. It wasn't going to be any better this month either - and this date I was going on in an hour certainly wouldn't help. No matter how hard I budgeted, the amount we needed was more than what I could bring in alone.

That being the case, I felt like I should call Michelle and beg forgiveness as I bailed on our date. Money was just too tight. The only reason I didn't was she had been too good to Soda while he was sick, and that was a kindness I had to repay. It didn't help that she was fun, interesting, and engaging to be with.

I opened the box, seeing the dreaded electric bill shoved there, sandwiched between the phone bill and the water bill. Trouble came in three's, I thought. I took a deep breath and slid my finger under the flap and opened it, then stared at the amount due.

At first I thought it was great, being less than half of what I'd expected. I'd turned the thermostat way down last month to lower our costs – despite everyone's obvious discomfort. Sure, the house felt like a meat locker at night, but with enough layers of clothes and extra blankets piled on to hold in the heat - coupled with the fireplace roaring all the time, it was passable. Neither brother complained, probably knowing I simply didn't have the money and were kind enough not to point that out. They just endured the cold like I did.

But when I looked at the bill again, something just didn't make sense.

"Oh gawd, now that's an expression I don't like. How much?" Soda asked as I came back inside, still reading the bill. I looked up at him.

"Have you …?" I stopped mid-sentence and looked again even closer.

"Have I … what?" Soda asked as he came over.

"Wait, there's a credit on here. I know I only sent them the amount owed. Had to take it in the office even, as it was already late. Who paid a credit?"

"You know it wasn't me. How much was the credit?" He looked over my shoulder reading the bill at the same time.

I ignored him, calling the electric company office. Too many things weren't adding up. First the bank, now this.

"Hello, I need to speak to someone in accounts receiving please." Soda just looked at me, an odd look of his own rooted there. A second later, some woman picked up.

"My name's Darrel Curtis. I just got my bill and there's a credit listed. Can you tell me anything about that?"

"Hold on." The woman put her hand over the receiver, muffling out her voice. Another lady came on.

"Mr. Curtis? I took the prepayment a few days ago. Is there a problem?"

"Can you tell me who paid it?"

"I didn't get his name, sorry."

"Can you describe him?" My nerves were frazzled and my patience at an all time low.

"A teenager, looked like. A little over five foot tall, short reddish brown hair, fit. That's bout all I remember about him. That help?"

Oh. Yeah. It. Helped. "Yes, I think I know who did it. Thank you."

"My pleasure. Have a nice day."

I hung up without saying a word, seeing nothing but red everywhere I looked.

"Sodapop, where the hell is Ponyboy?"

"Oh shit. What'd he do now?"

"He's been making deposits on the bills. I bet he's also the one making deposits on my checking account! I wonder what other accounts he's screwed with? And where the bejesus is he getting the money?"

"Calm down, Darry. Just hold it a minute..."

Soda stopped mid sentence and stared, motionless and paling.

"What? So help me, Soda.... if you know something...."

He shook his head, swallowing some but still looked stunned. "Darry, I swear, I don't know nothing. Now, you got a date to go on. Get dressed and go. We'll deal with this when everybody's home and had a chance to cool off. Now go on."

I didn't move, too pissed to make my muscles function.

"Darry, I said go!" Soda insisted with more authority than I'd ever heard him possess. I was still fuming, but I didn't have time to rant. Soda was right, it was going on six and I had to get dressed. Without saying a word I turned and headed to the bedroom.

How someone so young and small like my brother could cause this much devastation in his wake was beyond me.

XXX

Calla Lily Rose

Happy Thanksgiving everyone. I know everyone is probably looking forward to holidays and breaks from school or work, but I'd appreciate some meaningful reviews. Thanks! Calla