FOREVER CHANGED
CHAPTER 26
EPILOGUES 1-4
STEVE RANDLE AND EVIE
Steve graduated high school and worked at the DX until he was drafted in August of 1967, a month after he turned 18. He proposed to Evie the day he got the notice and they were married two weeks later at the courthouse. The wedding was small, witnessed by their parents, siblings and the gang; Sodapop was his best man and Sandy was the Maid of Honor. Evie found out she was pregnant less then a month after Steve left.
Steve and Soda went off to war and fought side by side for over seven months, when a land mine went off on patrol killing three men in their platoon, and severely injuring Steve. He was airlifted to an evac hospital where the amputated his left arm and tried to piece his small intestine back together.
He came home, a few months after Soda did…..addicted to morphine and alcohol. Steve tried his best to keep his addictions from his family and friends, but they knew. Not long after his return home, Evie left Steve after he punched her in the face and threatened her with a knife during one of their fights…all in front of their toddler son; Curtis Steven Randle.
After staying with Sandy and Soda for a few months, Evie went back to Steve. He got himself clean and sober and even found a job, stocking shelves at the local grocery store. Things were looking up for the couple, until the nightmares started again; the stress of family life became just too much for Steve to bare. He turned back to alcohol and drugs, this time getting hooked on the illegal kind and once again, began beating a very pregnant Evie and now little seven year old Curtis.
This time, Evie threw him out, Soda tried to help his best friend, but nothing worked. To make matters worse, Darry and Maggie, along with Johnny alienated Steve and wouldn't go over to Soda's house if he were there.…they didn't want anything to do with an angry drunk who beat his wife and child.
Evie gave birth to a healthy baby girl, who she named Jennifer Ann. A few days after the baby was born, an obviously strung-out Steve, burst into the hospital, demanding to see his daughter. He pushed a nurse and assaulted a doctor before security subdued him and the police took him into custody.
No one heard from Steven Randle for four more years….until one cold winter night in 1979. Evie woke up to the ringing of the phone, eleven year old Curtis stood right next to her as the caller informed her as to what had happened. Steve's body was found behind some seedy hotel, the cause of death, an apparent drug overdose.…he was just thirty years old.
Evie never remarried, she lives alone in the house her and Steve bought right after they were married. She works as a counselor at a shelter for victims of abuse. Curt is divorced with two sons, and Jenny's married with three daughters.
KEITH 'TWO-BIT' MATHEWS AND MARCIA
After loosing one friend and seeing what fighting did to the other, Two-bit Mathews, finally grew up. He gave up fighting in the rumbles and his wayward lifestyle and replaced it with night school. He was the sole daytime caregiver for Johnny once he came home and worked hard at his job, overnights in hotel maintenance.
Two-bit and Marcia began dating seriously in the fall of 1966, they were engaged a year later and married a year after that, once Marcia graduated from college. In April of 1972, Marcia gave birth to the couples only children; Michael Keith and Miranda Louise…..who they affectionately call 'Mickey' and 'Minnie'.
Two-bit quickly worked up the job ladder and became head of maintenance for the entire hotel chain in 1976, without the help of his father-in-law and is currently retired. Marcia graduated college with a teaching degree; a degree she still uses today, more than thirty years later….making her the most loved kindergarten teacher at Adams elementary school. The couple stays in touch with their friends, getting together every week, for Sunday night dinner. They also love traveling and spending time with their three grandchildren.
CHERRY VALENCE AND RANDY ADDERSON
Cherry Valence left Tulsa after graduating in June of 1967 for California, where she was quickly hired as an actress on a popular soap opera. She worked as an actress and model for some years before returning to Tulsa for her fathers funeral in 1973. That's where she caught up with her deceased boyfriends, best friend.
Randy Adderson graduated college in 1970 with a degree in architecture. He returned to Tulsa where he immediately found a job at the most prestigious firm in town. But working there wasn't fulfilling enough, so he joined up, part-time, with a little known contractor and his partner and together the three brought many special projects to life.
Cherry and Randy began dating, not long after her fathers funeral. They became good friend with the gang, due to the marriage of Marcia and Two-bit. The two were married in the spring of 1976 and welcomed two daughters into the world; Sara in 1978 and Kate in 1981. They still live in Tulsa, where they anxiously await the arrival of their first grandchild.
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AUTHOR'S NOTE: Hey guys, vacation was crazy.…now I need a vacation from my vacation. But yeah, the kids go back to school in a few days…so then mom gets to rest.
I've missed writing so much. This one was short, but there are things I didn't add, because they would give away some of the 'secrets' of the others in the gang.
REVIEWERS: OMG, you are all soooo sweet. Thank you for reading my story and giving it such wonderful reviews. To: Kawaii-Chibi-Kai, ivy45663, WhoaaReall53, iheartponyboy33, Maddiecake, outsiderslover93, SamSammySamantha, TheBee'sKnees and theultimateoutsider….your praises mean so very much to me…Thank you!