Here we go:
The Smallest Curtis
Chapter Seven
Sophie sat in her father's old armchair looking through a magazine. Though she could only read a few words, here and there, she was greatly fascinated with the pictures of all of the models and nice looking boys. She liked the clothes that they wore and the poses they sported. In her mind that pictured herself posing in nice clothing and having a serious look on her face. That'd be easy for her.
"Soapy," Soda cried as he walked through the door. Sophie didn't take her eyes off of the magazine. She was fascinated with it. The people inside looked so stylish and interesting. Sophie liked it. "Soapy!" Soda cried once again as he picked her out of the armchair and sat her down in his lap. As this occurred the magazine was tossed up into the air and ripped on the landing.
"Soda!" Sophie complained, "I was looking through that magazine. Now it's ruined." Her eyes looked sad and Soda instantly felt bad. There weren't many things that his sister liked to look at or play with. But when she found something she liked the boys tried not to ruin it for her.
"Sorry, Soapy," Soda said as he walked over to the magazine. It was an old issue of Seventeen that their mother had kept from when she was a girl. He didn't know that it had such value until it was broken…whoops.
Sighing Soda tried to make up for what he had done but Sophie didn't forgive him. She stalked off into her room and fell onto her bed. She knew that she was overreacting a bit but it wasn't just the ripped magazine that was bothering her. She had seen what bad shape that Johnny was in. It killed her. And it got her thinking…what it her brothers come home looking like that from the rumble. Sophie still didn't know where Johnny and Pony had gone and she dared not to ask. She didn't want to know. She didn't want to remember that night. It was too painful for her.
"Sophie?" knocked Soda. His voice was full of sympathy and Sophie knew it.
"Yea," she replied wearily.
"Can I come in?" he asked.
Sophie walked over to her door and opened it allowing her brother to come in. Soda was calm and didn't say much, at first. He just sat down next to her on her bed.
No words were exchanged. Sophie didn't feel like talking. And Soda was trying to think of something to say. He didn't know what to say.
"Two Bit said that you and Pony and him went to see Dally today," Soda said suddenly, breaking the silence.
Sophie nodded in reply. "He said that you pretended to be Dally's kid sister. Said ya did a darn good job of pretending to cry." Sophie cracked a small smile at this and nodded. "Also said that ya talked to Johnny."
Sophie lowered her head to the ground. That was the last thing she wanted to talk about. Poor innocent Johnny. She hated the fact that he was in the hospital because she loved him. And it made her sad to see people she loved in pain.
"I know it probably hurt ya real bad to see him like that, Sophie," Soda said softy, tears appearing in his eyes. He and Steve had gone by after work to try and see him, pretending to be his cousins. They finally got in. And the way he looked really spooked the two of them. Soda could only imagine what it had been like for his little sister.
Swallowing hard he continued, "Johnny was sayin' that ya talked to him for a bit. He couldn't talk much but by the way he sounded he seemed really happy that you had stopped by." Sophie nodded. In all truth she was happy that she had found him. Though she hated the way he looked, he was still good old Johnny.
"Sophie," Soda said softly as he noticed her eyes tear up, "I'm so sorry that ya had to see him like that. But I'm so happy that ya cheered him up. He seemed to happy at the sound of your voice." Sophie's eyes watered up even more. He was glad for only one reason. She had allowed him to do something. She didn't want to allow him to do this particular thing but by the way he looked she knew that it would be better for him. He was already in so much pain. What she had asked him to do would make all of that pain go away.
"Guys," Darry interrupted, "We gotta get ready if we wanna rumble tonight." Soda's face lit up at the sound of a rumble. Running off behind Darry he left his sister in her room to think.
Sophie thought about death. She wondered where people went when they passed away. Was it heaven? Was it outer space? Was it a land where everything was perfect? Sophie tried to picture where her parents had gone. She tried to picture them in a nice place where they could watch over her and her brothers. She wondered: were they happy?
A little while later Sophie evolved from her room and watched the boys get ready for the 'rumble'. In the pit of her stomach she felt nerves rumbling for them. She hated the idea of her brothers getting punched.
"So where is pipsqueak goin' while we're gone?" Steve asked as he lifted a weight. Soda shrugged and looked to Darry for the answer.
"I asked Dally if she could stay with him at the hospital," Darry replied as he pulled on his tight black t-shirt. Sophie laughed at what a braggart her brother was. He loved to show off his muscles in any way, shape, or form.
"All right," Soda said as Pony came out of the bathroom. He was in a cold sweat from his fever but was trying to play it off as if nothing was wrong.
"I don't think ya should be fightin' Pony," Darry complained. He didn't want his little brother to get any sicker. Plus he was looking a lot weaker these days. He had lost a lot of weight while he was gone.
"Awe, c'mon Darry! Let the boy fight!" Soda complained. He wanted his little brother there with him.
Darry agreed just as long as he stayed close to him and made sure not to fight anyone too much larger than himself. Pony agreed.
As all this was happening Sophie sat patiently on the couch waiting for someone to take her to the hospital. She wanted to see Johnny again since Dally would probably break out and go fight.
"C'mon, Soapy. I'm takin' ya over to the hospital," Soda said as he and Steve rode out to his car.
Soda's DayLooking out over the back porch Soda remembered that night. Every day he'd remember that day. It was a day that changed his life. Forever….
Next chapter, I swear! I didn't want to include the complete drama yet but I'll probably write it tonight. The next chapter will most likely be the last we see of the past (unless I decide to add one extra part) but I do warn you: it's going to get sad.Thank you to all that reviewed:
Two BitGortezDarkdestiny2000- did you figure out what she said to him? If not I will be revealing it in the next chapter…no worries.
Not-that-kinda-gurl
Miru Amai- your review had me cracking up! Lol.
x-CelluliodTears-x: oh I'm so glad that you like Sophie. I love her too (even though I made her up). She based a lot on my little sister and little cousin. They have really helped me a lot in making her character.
Ale Curtis-Carter
Dreamer for lyf- ya do, do ya? Well this twist took a lot out of me so I don't know…lol :)
