Chapter Six

Ponyboy and I each grabbed a box and went inside with Casey who introduced us to her mom, Mary Lynn, and told us all about her mother's obsession with Elvis Presley. She said we should plan on hearing Elvis records blaring from her mama's hi-fi every night. Casey wasn't kidding either. Her mom had no less than five framed pictured of Elvis and every record he ever made, both albums and forty-fives. Mary Lynn was a pretty woman and looked more like Casey's sister then her mother. I made mention of it and quickly learned that Mary Lynn was only fifteen years old when Casey was born.

Casey also introduced us to her Uncle Al. He was the one who had helped them move and drove the truck. He was really appreciative of Ponyboy showing up to help and paid him five dollars for helping to lift all the heavy furniture. Ponyboy and I stayed until every last box was in the house then we said our goodbyes. Before we walked out the door Mary Lynn told Casey that she didn't have to stay home and unpack, so Casey followed us out.

It was late in the afternoon so we headed up the street to check if Johnny or any of the gang were in the lot. As we walked Casey asked. "So what does your pa and mama do?"

I stared at the ground, but I knew I would have to answer this question a lot. "Our parents died earlier this year."

Before I could elaborate Casey had let out an inhaled screech and placed her hands over her mouth in surprise. "Scout. I am so sorry for bringing that up."

I looked up at her, she was a good four inches taller than me. "It's ok. You had no way of knowing."

Casey dropped her hands from her mouth. "What happened? If ya don't mind me asking"

I looked forward at Ponyboy. I could tell he was listening, but not looking to be a part of the conversation. "They were killed together in a car accident about four months ago."

"So do you live over there with your grandparents or something?"

"Nah, we don't have any extended family." I stuffed my hands into the back pockets of my jeans. "I live there with my brothers. Darry, my oldest brother, is our guardian."

We walked across our street and into the lot where Johnny was sitting on the old car seat chatting with Two-Bit. "Wow that's gotta be weird having your brother as a guardian. So how many brothers you got?"

"Three." I looked ahead at Ponyboy as we met up with Johnny and Two-Bit who had stood up to meet Casey. "Darry, Soda and Pony, I'm the youngest, but only by seven minutes." Pony laughed because I always let people know I was just barely the youngest. Sometimes I would say if Pony had any manners he would have let me go first and then he would be the youngest.

Casey looked at me out of the corner of her eye. "Ya'll was serious about your brother's name being Sodapop?"

Pony and I both laughed and I answered. "Serious as a heart attack!"

Casey smiled wide at Two-Bit and Johnny as we introduced them. "Hey ya'll it's mighty nice to meet ya."

Upon hearing Casey's dialect and drawl Two-Bit couldn't restrain from copying her. "Well it's mighty fine to meet up with ya too!" Everyone laughed. Even Casey, who was flattered by the attention he was giving her. Casey fit into the gang perfectly. She had a quick sense of humor and even made Johnny smile a few times.

Together the five of us wandered back to our house. Casey and I led the group up the front steps and into the house. Sodapop came walking out of the kitchen with a handful of mail and Casey stopped dead in her tracks with out warning causing a pileup in the doorway. "Oh my my! Scout who is that!" She spoke to me quietly.

The gang laughed and Soda smiled wide as I introduced her. "Casey this is my brother Sodapop, Soda this is Casey, she just moved into the neighborhood."

Soda walked over and held his hand out to greet her. Casey stepped out of the way as the gang pushed past her and grabbed at Soda's hand. "It is a real pleasure to meet ya!" Soda had to pull his hand back from her. "Are you single?" Casey flirted with him and asked, "Cause if your not now, you won't be in a minute after I ask you to marry me."

"No I'm spoken for right now." Soda laughed and looked over at me. "Scout where did you meet her?"

"In the backyard."

Soda was still laughing as he handed me and Ponyboy the pieces of mail he was carrying. "Here are your report cards. I got mine too, but we all know what mine says."

I looked over at Pony. In a way the two of us were competitive with our grades. We opened our envelopes and pulled out the report. Casey looked over my shoulder and yelled out. "Holy crap! Are those your grades or a someone stuttering the alphabet?" I looked at her funny wondering if she had thought I had the wrong report card. Before I had a chance to read each class to myself the girl grabbed the card from my hand and announced the grades out loud. "A, A, A, A, A, A, A-, whadya get an A- in … gym class!" I pulled the card back from her and she laughed. "Come on even I get an A in gym. How'd ya get grades like that?"

Two-Bit wandered over and peeked at the card for himself. "Casey… ole Scout and Ponyboy are what ya might call geniuses. In the book sense at least."

Soda tried to look over Ponyboy's shoulder. "What did you bring home Pon?"

"Who cares?" Ponyboy said with annoyance and the gang knew I had better grades than him. Ponyboy wouldn't openly share his grades so Soda and Two-Bit took it upon themselves to wrestle him to the ground and steal the report card from his pocket. Ponyboy yelled out for them to leave him alone, but they wouldn't. Soda managed to pull the card from his pocket as Two-Bit held him to the ground.

I snatched the card and ran to the fireplace where I couldn't be reached quickly if Pony escaped. Johnny moved like he was going to snatch the card away but Two-Bit called him off and Johnny listened. I yelled the grades out loud as Pony grew silent. A, A-, A, B," I paused and knew that grade was the reason Ponyboy was tight lipped. I read the last three grades without the lack of enthusiasm I had before. "B, A-,A." I looked down at my brother who was released from his hold, probably out of pity. Pony stood up angry at himself. I tried to make it all better. "Awe Pony, these grades aren't that bad."

Pony and I knew better than that. Darry had been on our case from the day mom and dad died to be sure we brought home A's. Ponyboy took the card from me. "Easy for you to say, Darry aint gonna chew your head off at dinner tonight."

Soda and I looked at our brother and spoke the same words. "Darry ain't gonna be mad."

Pony's anger grew. "The hell he isn't! He aint gonna accept any excuses I have and he ain't gonna like the two B's I got. Especially when Sissy didn't bring any home."

Two-Bit and Johnny knew Pony was right and that Darry would be anything but pleased. "Hey ah… Johnny why don't you and I walk Casey here back to her house…"

Johnny quickly took the hint. "Yeah sure. See ya'll later." Johnny lead the way out the front door as Darry was coming home. Two-Bit grabbed Casey's arm and led her out. On the front porch Two-Bit introduced the two. Through the open window I could hear Casey speak as the three headed down the street. "Dang! He is good looking too! I oughta ask my mom if I can stay overnight there a few times a week. I am sure…." She rambled on until she was out of earshot and we couldn't hear her.

Darry walked in laughing at the girl. "That your new friend Scout?"

"Yeah, she moved in down the street today."

"That's great!" Darry said and he meant it. I knew he was really happy that I would have a girl to hang out with. My oldest brother strung his tool belt over the back of a dining room chair and noticed the two empty envelopes from the school on the table. He picked them up and studied the names. "How do the report cards look?"

Soda spoke up first. "Not good Darry!" Soda tried to add some humor by shaking his head in dismay. "I didn't even get F's this time. I got all incompletes."

Darry smiled and slapped Soda on the shoulder. "Don't worry about it little buddy, you're doing just fine in my book."

I winced at the comment because I knew Ponyboy wouldn't be getting off that easy. I tried to figure out if it would work best that Pony go next or me, but before either of us could speak up Darry called my name. "Scout? How'd you do?" I handed the report over to him and he smiled. "Looks good, only two A's and an A-. Maybe next year you could get those A's up a little higher… but an A- in gym? What's up with that?"

I smiled. "I don't know? I guess I just don't try really hard at sports."

Darry didn't argue, "Ok baby girl, try harder next year alright?" I agreed and looked over at Ponyboy who had his card rolled up in his hand. Darry looked over his shoulder at Pony and stretched out his hand. "Last but not least?"

Pony begrudgingly handed the card to Darry and mumbled. "Last and least."

Darry took the card and stared at it in silence for well over a minute. Before our oldest brother could speak Sodapop tried to run interference for Pony.

"It's not that bad Darry. Ya know with mom and dad dying Pony just had a hard time getting his head together at school and all."

Darry did that shifty little laugh where you know he is thinking something but planning on saying something different. "Your probably right little buddy, but Scout didn't have a hard time keeping her grades up and her classes are harder than Pony's."

"Not really Darry I…" Darry stuck his hand up to cease my speech and he turned toward my twin. He ranted on and on about Pony needing to pull his head together and think more. He pounded the issue of college and that he and Soda weren't going to be able to help us much and we needed to get into college with a scholarship. Darry was even quick to use himself as an example. Darry worked hard in school both physically and mentally and he still couldn't find a way to make his college dreams a reality.

Sodapop and I stood by ready to stick up for our brother if we had to, but Darry had all relevant points and he really wasn't yelling as much as he was pleading his case. A few minutes later Darry stopped his preaching and went to his room. Soda and I walked over to Ponyboy and Soda told him that Darry's yelling wasn't that bad then Soda went to the kitchen to get dinner started.

Ponyboy looked down at me and mumbled. "Yeah right it wasn't that bad. I only got two B's and Darry never even bothered to say good job for the five A's."

I looked up at Ponyboy and smiled hoping to cheer him up. "Hey Pony. Good job bringing home five A's"

My brother looked back at me with a frown. "Yeah right."