Compilation of Secrets
Johnny Cade
I walk over to the Curtis's early in the afternoon. At first, when I step into the doorway, I think that no one is home. The house is quiet. Lucy emerges from the hallway, though, with a smile.
"Hey Johnny," she says.
"Hey," I respond, but I'm not looking at her.
Instead, I study the tiny hand that is leached onto her bare leg. She notices where my gaze lies and I wait for her to explain.
"She's shy," she says, and she does not open her mouth to add more as I am hoping. I know she is waiting for me to ask questions. I'm typically shy, and some days she'll do anything just to get a few extra words out of me.
A tiny blonde head pokes out from behind her and a pair of ice-blue eyes stares back at me.
"Come here, sweetheart," Lucy scoops the girl up into her arms.
I can tell that the little one is alarmed at my presence, because she buries her face in the crook of Lucy's neck and holds on to her tightly.
"Johnny," Lucy says to me.
I am still planted in the center of the living room.
"This is Shannon; Shelia and Dallas's daughter."
This comment takes me by surprise and it takes me a few seconds to respond.
"Dallas's-?" I stutter.
"Yeah," she interrupts, "It's weird, I know."
"Jesus," I mutter, and I run my hand through my hair.
"Shannon, are you gonna say 'hi'?" Lucy asks.
I can see the girl shake her head, pushing her nose further into Lucy's collar.
"She doesn't like men," Lucy informs me.
I nod. My mind is still racked with the prospect of Dally having a kid.
"Where is Shelia?" I ask, after I've sorted through my thoughts.
"Gone," Lucy tells me, "For a while, anyway."
I am silent.
"Come on, Shannon. Are you hungry?" Lucy brings the girl into the kitchen. I follow then and lean against the doorway.
"So, you're going to keep her here?" I wrap my head around this thought.
I study the girl for a second. It is so easy to spot the bits of Dallas in her blood; the hair, the unforgiving eyes. It makes me heartsick
"Just for a few weeks," She says to me.
I watch her as she balances the girl on her hip and she reaches into the refrigerator for something.
"How about some peanut butter and jelly," she says to Shannon.
The girl doesn't respond and Lucy takes this as a 'yes'.
"Then let me put you down so I can make it," she insists.
Shannon resists for a moment as Lucy lowers her to the ground, but she gives in a settles for hiding behind Lucy's legs once again.
"John, will you get the peanut butter out of the cabinet," she asks me as she spreads grape jelly on a slice of bread.
I pull out a jar of Jiff and hand it to her, avoiding getting too close to the frightened Shannon. I think that I am as scared of her as she is of me.
Lucy notices this and laughs at me.
"She's just a little girl, Johnny," she giggles.
I blush and scratch the back of my head.
"I know," I say softly.
She walks over and kisses me lightly. I am very aware of Shannon's eyes on us.
"You're crazy," she continues to make lunch.
I sit with Lucy on the couch while Shannon eats at the table.
"I'm gonna have to watch her this summer," She tells me, "School's out in a week anyway.
I am silent. Sometimes I wish I had more to say.
"Pony is gonna take classes at the community college in the afternoons," she sighs, "Why does that boy have to be so smart?"
I remember the day that Mr. and Mrs. Curtis told Lucy that Pony was going to be skipping a grade and would be in her class. Lucy was twelve, the same as Pony, but she's ten months older then him. She was furious that day. She locked herself in her room for the night. Her mother tried to coax her out and her father finally just got angry and picked the lock on the door.
Her and Pony didn't get along too well then. It still kills her that he is smarter then she is, I know it does.
"Hey you two, help me with these will ya'? Darrel barges in the door carrying two overflowing bags of groceries.
Lucy leaps up and removes a bag from his arms. I take the other and I follow her into the kitchen.
"Hey, kid, what's up?" Darry speaks to Shannon but she just continues to nibble on her sandwich.
Lucy begins to put the food away.
"It looks like you're the only one that she's talking to, Luce," Darry says as he arrives in the kitchen.
"That's understandable," Lucy responds, "I wouldn't want to talk to you freaks either."
I laugh and a secret smile plays on Darrel's face. He turns to look at her.
"You'd better watch it, mouthy," he nudges her; "You're going to get beat up one of these days."
"Go ahead, Darrel, I can take you," She says.
"Yeah right," he shakes his head, "Where's your brother?"
"Where do you think? He's at the movies," she says.
"Did Mary go with him?"
"I think so," Lucy says, "So, I'm gonna go out for a while, okay?"
"Okay," Darry heads down the hall and Lucy follows him, "but take Shannon with you."
"What?" Lucy hissed; her brow adorably furrowed, "I've watched her all day. It's your turn."
"Listen, Luce," Darry takes off his shirt and grabs a clean one from a pile on the washer, "I can't take her today. If Pony was home he could do it, but he's not. You have to watch her."
Lucy groans.
"Darry, if I take her out you know what people are going to think."
"What are they going to think?" Darry asks.
"They're going to think I'm a whore," Lucy says, exasperated, "They're going to think that Lucy's my kid."
"Then stay inside," Darry responds plainly. He moves into the bathroom so that he can slick back his hair.
"I've been inside all day!"
"I'm sorry, Luce, I've got to go. I've got to pick up Anne," he sticks his wallet in his back pocket and takes off, out the door.
"Come on, Lucy," I shrug, "We'll just take her with us. We'll go hang out in the park or something."
"Hanging out in the park is not exactly what I had in mind, Johnny," The way she leans in when she says this makes my cheeks grow hot.
I kiss her softly, daringly, because she is so close.
We walk to the park. Shannon still won't say a word as she sits in Lucy's arms. Occasionally, Lucy's arms get tired and the little girl has to tread slowly beside us.
"Okay, Shannon," Lucy prods the shy girl forward a bit, "Go play. We'll be right here."
But Shannon stands still, her glance flits around the jungle gym that is covered in screaming children.
"Come with me?" Shannon asks softly, clinging to Lucy once again.
Lucy sighs, but pulls Shannon into her arms.
"Okay, I'll come with you," she says and she turns back to me, "Listen, I've got to watch her. Just meet me in the lot at midnight."
"Darry won't like that," I say to her. She has been on Darrel's last nerve lately as it is; she can't afford to get into any more trouble.
"I won't tell him," She insists, "He'll be asleep anyway."
She kisses my cheek and turns to leave.
A/N: Thanks to my reviewers. I'll try to update sooner this time. Please review!