Unbelievable, Dally thought as he wandered through the house following Johnny. The kid was living in the lap of luxury! Granted, it was nothing like the mansions the socs lived in, but it was pretty darn nice. He watched Johnny walking from room to room, telling him all about this object and that...... he seemed almost at home. Dally sensed his loneliness, but he was beginning to wonder if coming here may have been a mistake. Maybe Johnny did just need more time to adjust. Dally couldn't really see any reason for him to be unhappy. A twinge of something swept through him for a moment as he walked through the brightly light hallway. Johnny didn't need him anymore. He felt....useless.
He rolled his eyes at himself and shook off the feeling.
"So where is everybody?" Dally asked.
"Well, Aunt Wendy and Grandma went to the store to get some things for dinner and candy for the trick-or-treaters and Tom and Uncle Will are over at the stables taking care of the horses."
"Horses?"
"Yeah, Will and Tom used to raise race horses back when Grandpa was still alive, but now they mostly just boards other people's horses and takes in the retired racers.. so that nothing bad happens to them." Johnny said the last part very seriously.
Dally nodded. He knew from working at the races back home what happened to the old racers.
As though on cue, at that very moment the front door swung open and in walked Johnny's aunt and grandmother carrying several bags of groceries.
"Hello, Johnny!" Wendy called as she walked into the kitchen. She did not see Dally until she put down her grocery bags. "Oh! I didn't know you had company!" She smiled and started putting away some of the things in the bags.
"Aunt Wendy, it's Dally! He came to visit me!" Johnny was bursting with excitement.
Wendy nearly dropped a can of soup. "Dally? Dallas Winston?"
Dally's insides froze. He hoped she wouldn't have him on the next train out of town. But to Dally's shock, her eyes lit up and she extended her hand and greeted him warmly.
"Well, what a delightful surprise!" she said shaking his hand. "How wonderful to meet you, Johnny has told us so much about you and all his friends..."
"Uh...nice to meet you too," Dally stammered.
Wendy's expression turned to one of concern as she looked more closely at Dally. "Why, you look exhausted! Have you eaten? Did you get any sleep? That must have been a long trip for you... I'll fix you something." She was already hurrying around the kitchen, setting pots on the stove and plates on the table.
"This is my grandmother," Johnny said, introducing the elderly woman standing in the doorway of the kitchen.
"Welcome, Dallas," she said with a soft smile, shaking Dally's hand. She was much more reserved than Wendy, and something in her eyes caught Dally's interest. She looked extremely concerned about his presence in the house.
Now that's more like it, Dally thought. That was an expression he was used to from adults. Not the friendly, trusting smiles he had gotten from Matt and Wendy. He was not sure how to react to them.
Wendy had pulled some bread out of the bread box. "Is a turkey sandwich and vegetable soup all right? Will that hold you until lunch time?" she asked Dally.
Dally looked at her, trying to hide his eagerness. He was starving. "Uh, yeah...thanks."
Once she had started heating the soup, she turned to Johnny. "Now you, how are you feeling? Any better?" She felt his cheeks and forehead, checking for fever.
"I'm fine," Johnny insisted. "I feel a lot better now."
Wendy looked doubtful, but let it go. "All right. It's probably doing you good to see your friend. Dally, it was so nice of you to come! But you two had better go to sleep early tonight! You both look exhauseted! Right after we carve the pumpkins."
Dally didn't say anything, but he wasn't sure he liked being mothered by someone he didn't even know. Johnny, however, seemed to have no qualms about uttering protest.
"But Uncle Will and I were going to watch that movie, The Haunting!!" Johnny said, pleadingly.
Dally raised his eyebrows in surprise. Usually, Johnny would just clam up and do what he was told. Especially when it was an adult telling him what to do.
Wendy gave him a look.
Johnny gave her a look right back- the patented Johnny Cade 'just try to say no to these eyes' look. He didn't even know he was doing it, it just happened.
Dally watched the silent exchange with interest, knowing Wendy would not win against The Eyes.
But she held her ground for a good five or six seconds, her brow wrinkling slightly, her lips pursed. And then her expression softened and she resignedly gave in. "All right, but I don't think it's a good idea.... Will and those horror films... I don't know why he even likes those." She shuddered and went back to stirring the soup.
Dally watched her with curiosity. She looked like one of those TV moms... like June Cleaver with darker hair.
"Johnny, why don't you take Dally up and show him the other guest room where he can stay.... You are staying, aren't you Dally? We would love for you to be our guest for as long as you like."
Dally nodded and followed Johnny up the stairs.
"Here, I'll show you my room, too," Johnny said leading Dally into a small bedroom.
Dally looked around. There was a bed, a dresser and a desk. On top of the desk was the picture Dally had given Johnny the day he left. Next to the picture was a small tray of paints, a brush sitting in a cup of water and a half finished painting of a horse. Dally walked over and picked up the painting.
Johnny swallowed hard and his ears turned a bit red. He looked at his shoes.
Dally looked at him, noting his reaction. "Did you do this?"
"Uh... yeah. It ain't very good... I'm still kind of practicing."
"Ain't very good? Damn, kid! You're as good as Ponyboy!" Dally said staring at the picture in amazement. "I didn't know you could do that!"
Johnny turned even redder. "Neither did I... Ponyboy gave me the paints as kind of a going away present. I didn't really know what to do with them, but I have to take an art class at school... I guess I picked up a thing or two."
Dally looked around a bit more, then followed Johnny across the hall to the other bedroom. "This can be your room," Johnny said, proudly showing Dally where he would stay.
"Whoa! How'd you get stuck with the small room?" Dally asked, gawking at the fireplace and the massive bookshelves.
Johnny shrugged. "I picked that room. This one's too... big."
Dally flopped down on the bed and sighed. "Well, I like it. Maybe I'll be the Prince of Virginia for a little while!"
Johnny rolled his eyes.
That night, before dinner, Dally met Johnny's uncles. First there was Tom, Wendy's husband. he was a tall, kind looking man with sandy colored hair and green eyes. He had a wise and gentle way about him. Then there was Will, Wendy's brother. He was young, in his early thirties, with a small build and dark hair. Johnny was the spitting image of this uncle, but without the reckless look. Will had a bit of a wild side. Wild for a Cade, anyway. He had come bounding in the front door and started to wrestle Johnny to the floor, just like Two-Bit or Soda might have done. Johnny appeared to be prepared for this as though it were a nightly ritual, and he quickly fended Will off and introduced him to Dally. Dally already felt like he knew Will, though. Johnny talked about him the most. He liked fast cars, scary movies... kind of a grown up kid. He seemed happy for the most part, but Dally could sense a sadness about him that was carefully hidden. He was able to sense this because whatever it was, Will hid it the same way Johnny would hide his feelings from everyone. Dally made a mental note to ask Johnny about him later.
Dinner was a noisy and almost festive event. Since there was a new guest in the house, Will and Matt stayed for dinner as well. Seeming to know that Dally might be uncomfortable talking about himself to a bunch of strangers, the whole family focused the conversation around how Johnny had been doing and what he'd been up to, which was more what Dally was interested in anyway.
After dinner, Tom carried four big pumpkins into the kitchen. He cut the tops out of each one with a big knife and Will, Matt, Johnny went to work scooping out the insides.
"C'mon, Dally. Don't tell me you don't want to join in the fun!" Tom handed Dally a spoon.
Johnny looked eagerly at Dally. "Yeah, c'mon, Dal! You gotta do one too."
Dally looked hesitantly at the orange mush Johnny was slopping down on the newspaper.
Johnny caught the look and grinned wickedly. He picked up a small thread of pumpkin innards and flung it at Dally. It hit him smack on the forehead.
Will roared with laughter.
Dally looked at him in shock for a moment. Had Johnny just done that? He saw Johnny do it, but it was taking his eyes a minute to believe it.
Regaining his senses, Dally walked casually over to Johnny and reached his hand into the pumpkin. Johnny, still laughing, just cringed, knowing he deserved whatever he had coming to him.
Dally pulled out a handful of orange goop and draped it none too gently across Johnny's nose. Matt and Will were doubled over by this time and someone threw another handfull of pumpkin across the room. It hit Matt. Another handfull. The kitchen was an orange battle ground.
"Ow! My eye!" Will said through gasps of laughter as he was assaulted with a slimy string of seeds. Another handful flew through the air. It hit Tom.
"Hey! How did I get involved?" Tom reached for a handful of pumpkin and raised his arm up.
He was stopped by a loud gasp.
Wendy stood in the doorway, her mouth gaping. "Wha- Tom! What are you doing!"
"But honey-" Tom, his green eyes wide with innocence, tried pathetically to defend himself.
"Yeah, what are you doin', man?" Dally looked accusingly at Tom like he had started the whole thing.
"Wha-" Tom looked back at Dally in shock.
Johnny coughed loudly to mask a laugh.
Matt joined in. "Geez, Dad. We're tryin' to carve pumpkins here!"
Wendy folded her arms and tapped her foot, glaring at Tom.
Will was trying so hard not to laugh he was shaking.
Finally, Wendy just rolled her eyes and went to the cupboard. She pulled out a bowl and set it on the table. "No more throwing! I want all those seeds, I'm going to roast them later. Johnny, "she asked, the kindness in her voice returning. "Have you ever had roasted pumpkin seeds?"
Johnny looked at her, wrinkling his nose. "You mean, to eat?"
Wendy nodded. "Yes! They're very good! How about you Dally?"
"No," Dally was intently focused on a drawing he was making on the front of his pumpkin with a marker.
"Well, you boys are in for a treat. I used to make these for Matt every year when he was living here." Wendy said mopping up the pumpkin that had gotten on the floor.
Dally watched her for a moment. She had no idea that Johnny had started the pumpkin war and really wouldn't have cared if she knew. He glanced at Johnny, guilt was written all over his face. He got down on the floor and started helping Wendy pick up seeds.
"Oh, Johnny, stop... go back to carving!" Wendy shooed him away, laughing.
Dally shook his head. Johnny was starting to be a little more outgoing, but he still had his conscience. It was what made him Johnny.
They all carved quietly for a minute. Then Tom came around to put candles in everyone's jack-o-lanterns.
When he got to Dally, he gave him a look and said, "Thanks a lot!" under his breath.
Dally shrugged. He could tell Tom was just joking around.
Tom chuckled as he looked at the face Dally had carved. Two wide eyes and an open mouth, the pumpkin started with a horrified expression. "What happened to this jack-o-lantern?"
Dally looked innocently at him. "It's you," he told Tom. "When you got caught throwing pumpkin."
Will lost it again.
Matt yelled "Let me see!!"
"I never threw any pumpkin!" Tom yelled in mock anger.
Everyone was laughing and making all kinds of noise... it was almost like home. Dally felt a sudden pang of homesickness.
But at the same time, he had never felt this way in his whole life. Part of him didn't want to leave!
He had never carved a pumpkin- ever. Had he been back home, he and Steve and Two-Bit would either be out smashing other people's jack-o-lanterns or they would be inside harassing Ponyboy and Johnny while they tried to carve their own. What he really couldn't believe was that he was having fun! He didn't even feel that weird about the whole thing. He could let his guard down a little with these people. He had no image to protect here. He felt connected to them all some how. They had taken very good care of Johnny. They were good people and Dally respected them.
He caught sight of Johnny's grandmother watching them from the other room. She on the other hand, Dally wasn't sure about. She was smiling a little at their antics, but something didn't sit well with the way she looked at him. Or at Johnny, for that matter.
Dally shrugged it off. He had only been here for a day and already he was starting to disregard his street sense.
A/N to the reviewers:
Sodapop02.... So glad you liked that chapter!! thanks for reviewing!
Streetpanther1...Oh, I'm so glad you don't have flames! I would be sad! Thanks so much for the review! I really appreciate it!
Oblivious Misconception... Thank you so much for you kind review! I am flattered that you like my portrayal of Dallas. He and Johnny are my favorite characters (obviously!). So glad you're enjoying the story!
Bobo.... don't computers suck!! I hate when they don't work. Well, I'm glad you got to read the story later anyway. And I'm really glad to hear it was worth the wait! I couldn't wait to write it!
MissLKid... I hope you are feeling better! 4 weeks is a LONG time to be sick! And no, I've never roleplayed before. Is there an Outsiders roleplaying game? I don't know if I'd even know what to do! Thanks SO much for reviewing. I hope the story kept you entertained while you were sick!!
kimmerkay... thank you for your nice review! I am so glad that you liked the last chapter. I know I built it up for a while, so I am glad to hear that it was worth the wait. I appreciate your comments!
Lydia... Thank you so much for your wonderful review! I really enjoyed reading it. Thank you for your observation... I didn't find your comment weird at all. I love discussing stuff, so I'll elaborate. Given the lack of adult interaction in The Outsiders, I think filling the "parent role" was something that at times all the greasers did for eachother, even Ponyboy to some extent. But I think Dally would rarely be on the receiving end of that role as he was "second in command" after Darry. Actually, I hesitated having Darry use that term to refer to Dally, but in that situation, I felt he had gone into "parent" mode with Dally. I wanted to show that Dally was going through pain that was intense enough to need a kind of parental reassurance from someone- the only one in the gang who could really give that to him was Darry.