We stood there on the front porch saying our good-byes. Tandi and
Tommy were already in the car waiting.
"You'll call if you need anything promise?" Katie asked wrapping me in a hug.
"Yeah Katie, I'll call if I need anything." I replied returning the hug.
Katie backed away and Tyler stepped forward and pulled me into a hug.
"Hey I'll see ya around Addie, take care." He said before going to the car.
"I guess we'll see ya later ok. I'm always around for ya if there's a problem." Trent said hugging me tightly.
"Ok Trent. See you guys later. Have a safe trip home, ok?" I said smiling.
Soda draped his arm across my shoulder as we watched the car round the corner. Walking back into the house I sighed. Darry looked at me worried, but disappeared into the kitchen.
"Hey Addie you ok?" Johnny asked.
I smiled up at him and sat down on the couch between Soda and Steve. As the morning wore on I seemed to be lost in thought so much that Dally was starting to worry about me. I sat alone on the porch, a journey lying on my lap. Starring into space I wondered about my life in general, especially my future. Behind me I could here the guys playing cards, Soda was probably cheating too. I smiled at that, Soda was always cheating. Bending over the journal I began to write:
Life after Daddy is different. The gang loves me and will do anything to protect me, but I feel as if they especially Darry are burdened by my living with them. Since Katie and her oldest son Trent Malloy offered me a home with them back in Texas I have been considering their offer. I don't know maybe I'll take them up on their offer. Pony keeps lookin' at me as I'll go somewhere. I guess it's because of his parent's death and all. Oh well I'll talk ta him later.
-Addie
I sat up and watched the sun slowly set before heading inside. Everyone was at the table waiting for me so that dinner could begin. Everyone was quiet; the only sound was the clinking of the silverware on the plates.
"Watcha thinkin' Addie?" Dally asked suddenly looking up from his plate.
"Oh nuthin' Dally, I was… just spacin' I guess." I answered looking up at him.
I excused myself from the table and went to my room. Lying down I closed my eyes to think once again about my problem. A knock on the door a few minutes later brought me back to reality. I sat up as Darry walked in.
"Hey Addie, are you feelin' ok? Ya hardly touched yer food." He asked touching my forward.
I pulled back instinctively, "I'm fine Darry. I'm just tired that's all."
"I know somethin' is bothering ya. Addie don't keep it to your self." Darry said.
"Darry I feel like I'm just a burden to ya…" I started.
"Addie listen to me. Yer not a burden. We all love ya honey." He interrupted.
Darry pulled me into a hug repeating what he had said. Returning the hug I looked up at him and smiled. Smiling back at me Darry stood up and walked out of the room. Standing up I got changed. Slowly I sat down at the desk and picked up my copy of Tom Sawyer. Flipping to the page I left off at I began reading. As time wore on my eyes grew heavy by the minute. Sighing I put down my book and crawled into bed.
"I miss ya daddy, but life goes on." I whispered as I fell into a peaceful sleep.
"You'll call if you need anything promise?" Katie asked wrapping me in a hug.
"Yeah Katie, I'll call if I need anything." I replied returning the hug.
Katie backed away and Tyler stepped forward and pulled me into a hug.
"Hey I'll see ya around Addie, take care." He said before going to the car.
"I guess we'll see ya later ok. I'm always around for ya if there's a problem." Trent said hugging me tightly.
"Ok Trent. See you guys later. Have a safe trip home, ok?" I said smiling.
Soda draped his arm across my shoulder as we watched the car round the corner. Walking back into the house I sighed. Darry looked at me worried, but disappeared into the kitchen.
"Hey Addie you ok?" Johnny asked.
I smiled up at him and sat down on the couch between Soda and Steve. As the morning wore on I seemed to be lost in thought so much that Dally was starting to worry about me. I sat alone on the porch, a journey lying on my lap. Starring into space I wondered about my life in general, especially my future. Behind me I could here the guys playing cards, Soda was probably cheating too. I smiled at that, Soda was always cheating. Bending over the journal I began to write:
Life after Daddy is different. The gang loves me and will do anything to protect me, but I feel as if they especially Darry are burdened by my living with them. Since Katie and her oldest son Trent Malloy offered me a home with them back in Texas I have been considering their offer. I don't know maybe I'll take them up on their offer. Pony keeps lookin' at me as I'll go somewhere. I guess it's because of his parent's death and all. Oh well I'll talk ta him later.
-Addie
I sat up and watched the sun slowly set before heading inside. Everyone was at the table waiting for me so that dinner could begin. Everyone was quiet; the only sound was the clinking of the silverware on the plates.
"Watcha thinkin' Addie?" Dally asked suddenly looking up from his plate.
"Oh nuthin' Dally, I was… just spacin' I guess." I answered looking up at him.
I excused myself from the table and went to my room. Lying down I closed my eyes to think once again about my problem. A knock on the door a few minutes later brought me back to reality. I sat up as Darry walked in.
"Hey Addie, are you feelin' ok? Ya hardly touched yer food." He asked touching my forward.
I pulled back instinctively, "I'm fine Darry. I'm just tired that's all."
"I know somethin' is bothering ya. Addie don't keep it to your self." Darry said.
"Darry I feel like I'm just a burden to ya…" I started.
"Addie listen to me. Yer not a burden. We all love ya honey." He interrupted.
Darry pulled me into a hug repeating what he had said. Returning the hug I looked up at him and smiled. Smiling back at me Darry stood up and walked out of the room. Standing up I got changed. Slowly I sat down at the desk and picked up my copy of Tom Sawyer. Flipping to the page I left off at I began reading. As time wore on my eyes grew heavy by the minute. Sighing I put down my book and crawled into bed.
"I miss ya daddy, but life goes on." I whispered as I fell into a peaceful sleep.