Jenny and Guest: Hey, no I'm not WITS. I read her a lot when I was little, and my writing style took after her own a bit...the way I think a lot of potential writers styles take after those they read, so thank you for the compliment. :D You can see this that style of first chapter with the my YoungJustice Story Falling Stars. The idea was inspired what I remembered from that story...it was really good -read it religiously in High School...Lordy that was years ago. But it won't be just like it...it can't be since we don't know how it ended. It was so sad when I looked for the story one year and saw it deleted. So inspired by, not copied. Wendy is purposely a very different charater than Audrey was...Wendy is sadder, more mature, and thoughtful than Audrey was in the beginning I think. After all, she is a older sibling in a family that lost their mother. She kinda has a Soda role.
HappierThanMost: Hello HappierThanMost. I'm a big fan of your work so I was blow away to see your review. Thank you for your kind review, it was so thoughtful. Yes Wendy lost of her mother is a big part of her character. I figured that in order relate to Johnny and the other boys, Wendy would have to understand lost and pain, and that kind of pain open her mind a little in regards to people.
Guest: Here is that next Chapter! Hope you like it.
Lovetoread75: Johnny is my favorite as well. :D
Alaster Boneman: The Outsiders is my favorite book form 1965. It's really great. The movie too. And if a a family moves to a place where friends are, old friends who helped you move they then yeah, they help with your stuff.
Chapter II
S*S
Even in the dying days of August, when the whole world was painted in rustling gold as evening crept into Tulsa, the air remain hot and oppressive thick. Oh, signs of Autumn were teased at them in the wind, but Mother Nature seem to be flirting with Father Time, holding off Fall just a little bit longer for a one last blast of fun.
Naturally, Wendy and her family had heard of the Rodeo...and the twins had spent many fun days in the years-past riding brooms and broken branches, pretending like any pairs of red-blooded little boys that they were Cowboys (well, after they got done being Pirates, Indians, Soldiers, and Circus Ringmasters.) So when Mr. Valance invited the Allen siblings to come see genuine cowboys in action...well, the twins' eyes had nearly left their sockets and rolled along the floor, replaced there by fireworks. They were out the door and running for the car like Speedy Gonzales across the Mexican boarder, before Dad had even agreed to let them go.
Of course, he did, on the condition that Connie drove them, and the twins minded their sisters and Mr. Valance as they would him. In all her life Wendy had never seen the boys so obligating. They really, really wanted to go, she mused, peering at Sam and Eric's refection in the review mirror, as they vibrated with delight in the backseat. Like a pair of maracas. She couldn't remember the last time they had smiled so widely.
And she actually was smiling a bit like a kid herself, from the moment the side door open and the smells of hay, popcorn, and cotton candy wafted through the air. Course, It didn't last long as she was forced to grab hold of the boys' arms as they whooped and tried to race away.
"Hey! Hold it! You heard Dad, you have to stay with me and Con," she said, while she struggled to hold them.
"Ah, come on Wendy-" Sam whined, as he and Eric both keep tugging against her hands- albeit half-halfheartedly.
"Do you want to get lost here? We'd never find you!"
And Lord know that was the truth -People of all ages seemed to have come from all over Tulsa to take part or watch the Rodeo events. Good glory, it seems that very grounds were shaking under their feet. And she was suppose to let two ten year olds run loose here? Not likely.
Eventually the boys came around to seeing it her way...mostly because Wendy refused to move until they had cried "Uncle" on the subject and they were dying to go. Under the condition that they could go beyond visual sight of the girls or each other, they headed for the show.
Connie was smirking with a lifted eyebrow, and Wendy scowled up at her.
"You could've helped a little you know."
Connie clucked her tongue, pretending to consider that.
"I could..." she drawled out, tossing her curls over her shoulder carelessly. "But you so much better at it than me. And its too much fun to watch."
"Glad I could entertain," Wendy muttered, before smoothing out her blue flannel blouse and dropping the matter. She refused to let it ruin her day. And what a day it was. The sun was out, and a breeze was picking up. Wendy had never seen so many horses in her life; beautiful, powerful creatures. Most of which were twice as tall as she was. Glory, and the skill of their riders, not to mention their nerve, to even get on those beasts, was simply unbelievable.
Sitting up in the stands with a hot-dog in hand, Connie's cool eyes suddenly lit with interest. "Wendy, isn't that-"
But the announcer beat her to it.
"Alright folks, next up on the barrel racing, here's our own Tulsa native Sherri Valance!"
Wendy nearly drooped her coke. Cherry?! For a moment, she thought they hadn't heard right...Cherry, who was immaculate with her nail polish, her clothes, her hair...a Rodeo star?
But there was no mistaking that ponytail of flaming hair, flying behind her friend as Cherry rode her mount at a brilliant pace round her barrels. The twins eyes were like moons.
"Wendy, your friend's a cowgirl?!" Eric exclaimed in awe as he and his twin watch the redhead go, go, go.
"...Apparently," was all she could think to say. After all, the evidence was right before them. And she watched with unabashed fascination. For the first time in all the time Wendy had know her, Cherry's face was utterly free of any masks or hiding. Instead their was a fast joy, furious glee, and total concentration. The smaller girl was half surprised the horse's hooves weren't trailing fire.
S*S
As if that wasn't enough of a shock -or reason to have a heart attack- the saddle bronc followed after barrel racing. If Wendy ever had any remaining questions about the sanity of these people, it was laid to rest then and there, six feet under, and stone cold in its grave. Doubly so, when Sam and Eric's eyes glowed like Fourth of July sparklers; gleeful as they watch grown-folks with the sense of billy goats willing mount angry horses, that then tried to buck them off as soon as the gate was open. Apparently, staying on for all of eight or more seconds was considered an accomplishment.
Specially of you didn't brake an arm or crack your head open. Good Lord.
So naturally her brothers loved it.
Of course they do, Wendy thought wearily.
"That's what I'm gonna do when I get big," Sam declared, with a regal nod. "I bet I could go a whole two minutes!"
"I could go more than that," Eric countered immediately. Sam stuck out his tongue.
"Could not!"
"Could too!"
"Could not!"
"Over my dead body," Wendy grumbled, as another unlucky fellow went flying off into the dirt. Connie coughed, though her lips tugged suspiciously upward.
"You know, I'm having more fun than I thought I would," she commented casually.
Wendy huffed, and crossed her arms tightly. "That's because you like others people's misery."
Connie shrugged, but didn't deny it. "Hey, that they way of the world, hon. if it happens to you its a Tragedy. If it happens to someone else, its Comedy."
Wendy shook her head. What a way to view the world. Sometimes she wondered at her sister.
S*S
Despite Connie Allen's philosophy, even she look shaken by what happened near the end of saddle bronc. Though at first, it started out with her typical scorn when the next rider's names was announced over the loud speaker. To be fair, Wendy was taken back as well.
"Back for his second year on the bronc, here's our own Sodapop Curtis!"
Connie laughed, a short and harsh sound that took time to get use to. "Sodapop? That can't seriously be his name, can it?"
Wendy was trying to figure that out as well. "Well...Cherry's real name was what was called when it was her turn...so I suppose so."
Connie shook her head. "His parents must be a pair of circus freaks to name a kid that. You think he has a sister named Popcorn and a brother named Camel?"
"I think it's sounds neat," Sam piped up. "I'd wouldn't mind being named Sodapop. Sounds like fun."
"You say that, but that kid probably had a tough time on the playground," Connie replied.
The gate hadn't open yet, and the black-brown steed looked ready to burst forth like a Headless horseman of Sleepy Hollow. Wendy involuntarily clenched her seat. Maybe it was just her imagination. But that horse just seemed nastier than previous one. Maybe just a bit mad even, if a horse could be mad. Sodapop Curtis didn't seem to mind though -no...he was grinning as his climbed aboard. Even looking up and waving at the crowd, tripping his hat to them, revealing wheat-gold, slick back hair.
Connie leaned forward in her seat, fingers trailing along the collar of her shirt, the green of her eyes changing from mocking to appraising. "He's a doll, don't you think Wen? Could give James Dean a run for his money."
Wendy scrunched up her nose at her. "I thought he was just a Circus freak, Con?'"
"He is," her sister confirmed. But her eyes gleamed. "But he's a cute circus freak."
Wendy sighed. "Well let me know when the wedding is, alright?"
"Ha, ha."
"There he goes!" Sam exclaimed as the gate swung open. "Holy-"
Holy was right. Heart in her throat, the scene before them reminded Wendy of the religious painting she would see in church -the ones of golden hair Archangel Michael fighting the dark, brandy color devil. And that horse was possessed. That was all there was to explain it, as it as it screamed and bucked, eyes rolling wildly. The whole thing lasted roughly...ten seconds. Maybe. But it seemed longer. And Sodapop Curtis look like he was having the time of his life the entire time. At one point, he held both his hands in the air.
Yep, he may be a doll, but that one was crazy. Certified crazy. Jesus, Mary, and Joseph...
Though, crazy didn't seem to help him any when that horse finally manage to buck him a foot in the air, making a shout rise up from the audience, before coming down hard on his side. Immediately, he scrambled out of the equally crazy beast. But there seem to be something off with his ankle as he tried to get to his feet. But he managed to make it to the fence, where two men helped him over.
He hadn't stopped grinning the entire time, and paused to rise his hat to the crowd one more time before turning on his way. The twins were on their feet, performing a mini war dance in celebration.
Wendy dropped her head into her hand. On second thought, maybe all boys could be certified crazy. Maybe it was in the blood.
One thing was for certain, if she ever came to the Rodeo again, she be skipping the saddle bronc.
S*S
This belief was tripled when the announcement came that it was time for bareback bronc. What little blood was left in her face was gone after that, and she was pretty sure her stomach had just high-five her tonsils. She stood up.
"I 'm going to get another coke," she muttered. She had to out of there. "Anybody want something?"
"Some more popcorn, Wen," Sam answered. Eric nodded besides him. Connie shook her head. "I'm good...take care."
"Thanks," Wendy answered, before she half walked, half stumbled, down the stands, mercifully before the first crazy rider got on the saddle-less horse.
Getting away from all the people and the cheering went a long way to helping her heart beat slow, and her vision to stop spinning. And she took the opportunity to just walk along, taking in less exciting things to see...the ones that weren't life-threatening. It was very nice, the green gold grass rustling softly between stands of vendors offering merchandise. Some of them were very nice pieces. Very nice. And there was everything from artwork to jewelry. Wendy's Dad had given her ten dollars to spend on herself and her siblings, more than enough to get a little something for herself along with the snacks.
Immediately her eyes were drawn a booth run a very pretty lady, with braided wheat blond hair. What was apparently her son was inside, a boy with slick back reddish hair and a large drawing pad, currently finishing a portrait of another lady. One who Wendy recognized as Mrs. Sheldon -Bob's mother. There was another boy as well, a darker one in a blue jeans jacket half hidden in the shadows, like he was waiting for something. Or hiding.
"There you go Ma'am," the boy said politely as he finished the last touches with color pencils. Ripping it free from its siblings, he handed it over to the customer, who took it promptly and spent a good long moment gazing at it.
"Well, I can't believe it-"
The boy squirmed in the uncomfortable way Wendy knew very well, it was the same way she shuffled whenever she let someone read her stories. "Is somethin' the matter Ma'am?"
Mrs. Sheldon allowed the moment to drag out a little longer before she burst into a wide grin. "Hardly hon, this is wonderful."
And it really was. Somehow, the boy had captured the shifting colors of Mrs. Sheldon's lively hazel gaze, the warm pink of her cheek. "You have a gift young man. A regular Michelangelo."
By this time, the boy's ears had turned nearly as red as his hair, but his mother beamed proudly behind him, resting her hands on his shoulders.
"Yes, Ponyboy always been artistically gifted. We're very proud of him-"
She said some more things after that, Wendy was to stuck on the name to hear them...Ponyboy?
Sodapop?
Cherry. Was giving out strange names a habit in the southwest, or just in Tulsa? Honestly, she was starting to feel like she was in a Grimm fairy tale. Who knows, maybe next I'll meet a pair of sisters called Snow White and Rose Red.
This was too interesting to ignore. Before she knew it, Wendy was making her way over to the booth, right after Mrs. Sheldon departed with a few more kind words of praise.
"Hello there," the lady greeted her, smiling brightly as Wendy stood before her humble wooden table. This booth wasn't the most fancy of stands, but it had a homey feeling to it that Wendy liked at once. "Would you like your portrait drawn up? Only fifty cents."
Wendy bit her lip, considering...the offer was tempting, but she couldn't stay way from Connie and boys too long. God knows Con wouldn't really watch the twins. "I'm not sure Ma'am -just how long would it take?"
The lady open her mouth to reply, but her son beat her to it.
"Not long -ten minutes...twenty minutes tops," he told her with an air of having it down to a science. A little arrogant, but not aware of it. But his eyes were guileless. He wasn't much older than the twins...twelve years old, maybe.
Making her choice, Wendy was just about to reach for her pocket when the blond lady sudden peered over the top of Wendy's dark head...and blanched.
"What happen!?" she exclaimed, darting around the table to a collation of approaching figures. Ponyboy and the blue jean boy looked up at the alarmed in her voice, and quickly followed her as Sodapop Curtis was half pulled, half carried towards them by the two men that had pulled him from the arena, who looked so much alike, Wendy assumed them to be brothers.
"Hey Mom," Soda smiled at her...though it looked more like a grimace of pain. He was very pale. "I'm fine-"
"The medic thinks he pulled a ligament, Molly -" one of the brothers told the lady. "We've got to get him to the hospital."
Molly nodded quickly, grey-green eyes flashing. "Right, right...Darry give me the keys. I'll get the car."
As the younger brother fished around his own pocket, Molly stepped closer to her son, running her fingers through the dark gold hair they shared with each other. Back by the booth, leaning against it, Wendy' body twitched, as some green, vaporous sensation crawled it way up her spine and over her skin, boiling in her stomach to the point where she had to look...anywhere else. Just anywhere.
Eyes flying away, they swept the tops of the few trees available, the patches of grass...a pair of worn, battered sneakers, apparently held together by mud at the seams. Curiosity tugged at her attention, distracting her from the places her thoughts could not go. Not today. So she followed those sneakers as they nervously stood a few steps away from the rest of the group. With them...but not fully belonging to them.
Wendy blinked, her head tilting, fascinated. Without thinking, she lifted her head see just who those sad, lonely looking shoes belonged too. The owner turned out to be that thin lackey shadow in the blue jean jacket. The other boy at the Curtis booth. He was maybe half a head taller than her, thin as a whipcord, but also strangely strong looking in his tenseness, his hands shoved nervously into his own pockets. After a moment, he stiffen suddenly, and turned his own head, like he had sense her gaze, bringing black eyes to meet her own.
Alarmed, and a bit embaressed, Wendy redden and looked away again, so fast that she didn't notice the blue jean shadow do likewise, with simular wariness.
When she looked up again, the Curtis family group was gone.
Reviews make me happy, so tell me what you thought and I'll update sooner. So I've never been to a Rodeo, how was it. Did it feel real enough. And obciously, this was the first look at some of the boys, how was that.