Chapter 8
When the phone rang, Ponyboy didn't even bother to get up. He lived in a house full of females; there was always someone eager to race for it. He went back to the papers in front of him as Melanie came in and handed him the cordless phone.
"For you," she said. "Uncle Sodapop."
"Thanks, honey." Pony pressed the phone to his ear. "Hey."
Soda cut right to the chase. "I saw Maureen and she's definitely a Curtis," he said.
"Holy shit," Ponyboy breathed. Melanie turned around sharply and Pony waved her off, mouthing that everything was all right. "Wow. Um, do I buy cigars, what?"
Soda gave a short laugh. "I have no idea, little brother."
"I – wow." Ponyboy was not often rendered speechless. "Did you tell Corinne?"
"Yeah, and she was fine," Soda answered. "I was kinda surprised. I thought there'd be cussin' and hollerin', but she says it's not like I kept it from her, so it's cool. And Lizzy seems okay with it too, at least for now."
Ponyboy waited.
"Shayne ain't so impressed," Soda went on. "We were in the middle of talkin' about it and he went right out the door. If he shows up there, will you let me know?"
"Sure," Pony said. "We can keep him or return him, whatever you like." He crossed the kitchen and cradled the phone between his ear and shoulder as he poured a glass of water. "So what happens now?"
"Well, she wants to meet y'all," Soda said. "Are you around for dinner? We thought we'd order a pile of Chinese food and see what happens."
"Sure, of course," Pony said slowly, wondering if such a quick reunion was such a good idea. But then again, it was Soda all over, jumping right in with both feet, and not really looking around until he landed. "When?"
"It's almost four now -- how's 6:30?" Soda said. "If Shayne doesn't make an appearance by five, we'll track him down."
"That's fine," Pony said. "Hey, Soda? Are you glad about this?"
Soda paused to think about it – it was a question no one had asked him. He hadn't even asked himself. "You know what? I think I am. But I wish I hadn't been so dumb. Do you know, for months after Sandy went to Florida, I tried to figure out who it could have been? I'd walk around thinking, 'Shepard? Nah. Steve? No, he'd never do that to me, and Evie'd kill him. Johnny? He was so damn shy that was impossible. Maybe a Soc?' I wrote her, I told her I didn't care, but I never once thought, 'Good glory, she lied to you, go get her and your kid.' It seems so obvious now."
"A lot of things are obvious now," Pony pointed out. "We were kids. And we were kids without parents to guide us. Hell, Darry was practically a kid too. That also seems obvious now, doesn't it"
"I guess so. I suppose we survived on dumb luck."
"Maybe." Pony said quietly. "I always kind of thought Mom and Dad were looking out for us."
He felt a little foolish admitting it, but Soda didn't laugh. He never laughed at Pony. "That's a right nice idea," he said instead. He sighed. "This whole thing seems like it's happenin' to someone else. You're the English teacher -- is there a word for that?"
"Surreal," Pony said promptly. "That comes close."
"Surreal," Soda repeated. "Yeah. I'll see you later."
Soda's intuition was right, though Shayne himself was halfway to Pony and Suzanne's before he realized that was where he was headed.
His aunt and uncle lived in a neat little ranch. Shayne dropped into a wicker chair on the wrap-around porch without ringing the bell. Ten minutes later, Abby came around the corner and stopped short when she saw him.
"Hey Abby," Shayne said, as if he was always there.
"Hi, Shay." She looked around. "Where's Uncle Soda and Aunt Cory and Lizzy?"
"Home, I 'spect."
Abby's eyes widened. "Did you walk all the way from your house?"
"Yup." And come to think of it, Shayne thought, his feet hurt. His cowboy boots were fairly new and very tuff-looking, but not really made for hiking four miles. He bent over and pulled off his left boot.
"That's a long walk," Abby said. "Want a juice box?"
"Sure, that'd be great."
Abby disappeared into the house. Shayne pulled off his right boot and wiggled his toes appreciatively. He leaned back and closed his eyes, and when he heard the front door open, he was not at all surprised that it was his uncle, not his youngest cousin, who handed him his drink. He took a deep swallow. "Thanks."
"You're welcome." Pony sat on the top step.
"Did my father tell you?" Shayne asked finally.
"Tell me what, about your sister?"
Shayne winced. "Lizzy's my sister," he corrected.
"Hm-hmm," Pony said. "And from what I hear, this Maureen Tull is too."
Shayne dropped his head into his heads. "I just don't get it," he said to his palms. "I just don't get why everyone thinks this is fine and wonderful. And doesn't she have a family? Why does she need ours?"
"It is what it is," Pony shrugged. "Besides, why couldn't it be fine and wonderful?"
"Because," Shayne said, and his voice caught.
Pony was genuinely confused. "Because why?"
"I asked my father, if he had known, what would have happened," Shayne said slowly. "And he said he would have raised her. So … so that means no Mom. No us. Me and Liz, we wouldn't even exist." He was horrified to find tears stinging his eyes and he was helpless to stop them. "It's like all of a sudden he doesn't care about us. Like … like she showed up and she's what he'd rather have, you know? And my mother – she's not even mad about it. Her and Lizzy think this is amazing. God. How can that be? It doesn't make any sense."
"Oh, Shay, that's not what he meant."
"You didn't hear him."
Pony crossed the porch to kneel in front of his nephew. "It doesn't matter that I didn't hear him. I know that's not what he meant. I know he loves you and Liz more than his own life. Shay, buddy, think about it -- you're his firstborn, his only son. How can you even think he wouldn't want you to exist?"
"I'm not his firstborn anymore," Shayne said bitterly.
Pony mentally whacked himself in the head. There was nothing he could do to take it back. Finally, after a minute, he said softly, "I need to tell your parents you're here. We're headed over to your house in a while for dinner. You can stay here if you want to, but --"
"No, I can't," Shayne interrupted. "My dad said I had to be there." As upset as he was, Shayne would never outwardly defy his father. He respected him too much. He was too wrapped up in the self-centeredness of being 15 to understand that refusing to even discuss Maureen was disrespect in and of itself.
"Okay, then," Pony said. "I'll let you know when we're going. Come on in if you want to." As he got to the front door, he said carefully, "You know, I liked having big brothers. Maybe you'll like having a big sister."
Shayne shook his head. "Technically, she's my half-sister," he said. "And I doubt that. "It'll be like Liz annoying me, only worse."
