Chapter Sixteen

Casey and I climbed into bed. I fluffed the pillow under my head and asked Casey if she would be okay if I left the bedside lamp on.

"Whatever you need, sweetie." She told me.

We overheard Darry and Kathryn softly giggling together in the other room.

"Newlyweds! Geez!" Casey joked. ***

"They're a handful!" I softly giggled with my friend.

Casey yawned. "Scout honey, I sure am gonna miss you while I'm in New Mexico. I know it's hard to believe, but I aint never had a friend like you. Most of my life I either lost track of my friends 'cause we moved so much, or just pissed them off cause I stole their boyfriend!"

"Well, it's a good thing your leaving instead of stealing my boyfriend." I said with a smile.

Casey yawned again. "Shoot, no matter how hard I'd try, or how high I hike my skirt up there's no way me, or any other girl could pull Owen away from you. That boy loves you more than I have ever seen somebody love someone."

I sighed. "You shoulda met my parents. Those two were a match made in heaven."

Casey sleepily replied. "Yeah, well, the apple didn't fall too far from the tree. It would do you some good to take notice that heaven gave you the same match."

I thought about Owen and wondered if he went home to pick up Oliver's toys, or if he decided to snuggle with Olivia instead. Maybe he ended up fighting with his father over his mother's behavior. I hoped he just went to sleep since he had final exams in the morning.

"Casey?" I asked softly, but she didn't answer. I looked over at my friend, and found her already asleep.

The house grew silent. I closed my eyes and tried to fall asleep. After a minute, I opened my eyes to look around to be sure I was still safe. I closed my eyes again, and the feelings of anxiety began to grow. I tried to wipe the feeling of fear from my mind, but each attempt failed. My mind drifted to the morning at the courthouse. Maybe I shouldn't have been there. Maybe it wouldn't have mattered if I had heard closing arguments. I thought about the night before when I followed Owen up the stairs to see what his mother was doing. Maybe I shouldn't have been there either. Maybe I should give the family more space. I thought about the Northside boys in the courtroom. I knew trouble was coming, but I chose not to leave. As soon as I cleared away one torturous thought from my mind, a new one would take its place. I opened my eyes and looked around the room again. Aside from Casey, no one was there. I looked at the alarm clock and noticed over an hour had passed, but I didn't feel rested.

"Scout, you okay?" Sodapop whispered as he walked into the room. "I thought I would check in on you to see if you have been able to sleep."

"I guess I may have drifted off a little. I really don't know." I whispered back.

"Want me to rub your back until you fall asleep for sure?" Sodapop asked.

"I guess you can try, but I don't want you to stay too long 'cause you have work in the morning."

"Don't worry about me. I'll be fine." Sodapop said as he gently rubbed my back. "Scout, Darry and I had a long talk outside tonight and we decided to leave this for you if you feel you need it." Sodapop opened up his closed fist to showed me his switchblade. He slid it under my pillow. "It's here if you need it."

"I never considered carrying a blade." I slid my hand under the pillow and squeezed the blade in my hand.

"You don't have to use if you don't want to. It's just there if you need it." Soda reminded me.

I yawned and told him. "Nighttime is the worst. My stomach is in knots; my mind is racing. When I'm not worrying about myself or you guys, I'm worried about Owen."

My brother softly comforted me. "You're going to be okay. Just close your eyes and think of anything else."

I closed my eyes and asked. "Soda, do you think Delores is missing James?"

"Don't think of that either!" My brother whispered in a scolding tone.

"Do you? Do you think she even cares?" I quietly questioned.

"I don't know. Maybe a little, but not as much as we would have missed you! If he had hurt you, our lives would have fallen apart! Everything would have been different in a bad way. If he had hurt any of you, I bet the guys in our neighborhood would be rumbling with the Northsiders right now, and you know what kind of blood bath that could have been."

"I know it's wrong, but I am glad he's dead."

"I don't think it's wrong to feel that way. He caused all his own problems, and he had to live and die with the consequences. You had nothing to do with it. Hell, you didn't even kill him. It was the cop who shot him. He's the real reason why James is dead, and I bet he didn't feel bad about it. I bet he went home and told his wife and kids he was a hero for saving your life!"

Soda, was right. I couldn't think of a moment after James collapsed when the bailiff seemed to second guess himself, or show remorse for his decision.

Sodapop continued, "that's what you should be thinking about. How you were a hero today!"

"How so?"

"By stepping up and holding James at bay so everyone else could get to safety. Could you imagine how horrible it would have been if James had stabbed you then had time to attack Darry or Kathryn and the baby? You had the strength to save them, and that makes you a hero in my book!"

I sighed. "With all the emotion and commotion, it's hard to think about it that way."

"Well, I don't see it any other way, and neither does Pony! He's the one who told me you were a hero in the first place."

"Just like Johnny was our hero for saving Pony's life." I said.

"Just like Johnnycakes was!" Soda repeated my statement in agreement. "Come on now, it's getting late. Close your eyes, and I will stay with you until you are asleep."

I followed directions and closed my eyes. I stayed quiet and still until Sodapop thought I was asleep. I heard him whisper my name to see if I would answer, and when I didn't, he turned off the lamp and headed back to his room for the night.

I rolled over and looked around the darkened room. I knew I couldn't turn the light back on without alarming Soda, so I laid there quietly and the torturous thoughts continued to weave in and out of my mind between my short bouts of sleep.

I grabbed two glasses of lemonade off of the kitchen counter and walked into the living room. I looked at my sister in law, dressed in a white silk robe, the sun shining on her like she was an angel from heaven. "I brought us something to drink." I told her as the two of us sat down together.

The doorbell rang. Mrs. Ottavi's voice sang out from the foyer, "I'll get it!" I heard the door open and the lady greeted the visitor. "Right this way. Scout, there is a friend of yours here to see that you are alright."

I stood up and looked towards the foyer at the girl dressed in the finest of Sunday clothes. She wore a pill box hat and carried a matching purse.

"Cindy?"

"Hello Scout, what a shame to see you looking so well this morning." In one swift motion the young lady pulled a revolver from her purse and aimed it in my direction. "This is for James!"

I gasped for air and my body jumped awake! I sat straight up in bed. I could feel my heart pounding in my chest from the fear brought on by the nightmare. I took in a few deep breaths to calm my nerves. I smelled the scent of cooked breakfast meats and coffee in the air. I looked over at Casey. She was still asleep. I went downstairs to join the hustle of everyone getting ready to leave for school and work

Mrs. Ottavi greeted me. "Good morning, Scout. Did you sleep well?"

Before I could answer the lady, Darry jumped to his feet to check me out. "You okay? You're as white as a ghost."

"I had a nightmare, or maybe a premonition. I'm not exactly sure." I rubbed my temples as my head began to throb.

"What was it about?" Pony asked.

"Cindy. She came over here, all dressed up. Mrs. Ottavi didn't know better so she let her inside then Cindy pulled a gun out of her bag and shot me for what happened to James… You don't think?"

Pony frowned and failed to answer. I knew he had some belief that it could happen.

Darry stepped in. "It's just a nightmare. You've got nothing to worry about."

"Pony?" I pried.

"I don't know. She was pretty head over heels about him. If I hear any rumblings at school, I'll call here and let you know."

"Ponyboy! Stop it!" Darry disciplined my brother for raising my anxieties. "Scout, you got nothing to worry about, it was just a dream."

"Scout dear, I promise not to let anyone in the home without having you approve the visitor." Mrs. Ottavi added.

"I suppose so." I sighed, "It just felt so real that it's hard to shake off the dream."

"That's 'cause of your imagination!" Soda said as he poured himself a glass of juice. "I don't read all those books and stuff, so I never have nightmares like you two looney tunes. Just don't read no more."

"Seriously, Soda?" Kathryn asked rhetorically.

"Seriously! I don't read!" Soda answered with a laugh.

"Speaking of reading. Where's the newspaper?" I asked.

Everyone in the kitchen noticeably paused a moment.

Dorothy asked. "After everything, are you sure you want to read it?"

I didn't have to answer because Darry intervened, reached over and opened a kitchen drawer to reveal the paper folded inside. I grabbed the publication, and sat down at the breakfast table. I unfolded the newspaper revealing James school yearbook photo positioned next to mine, and the headline on the front page.

'Courtroom Chaos, James Young Dead at 18'

I looked away from the photos and read the article.

The trial of The State of Oklahoma versus James Young came to an abrupt end yesterday …

The article chronicled the events of yesterday morning including the arrest of four Northsiders who were being held as accessories to attempted murder. Two of which were also being investigated for possible witness tampering. The boy's pictures were lined up at the end of the article. I recognized the face of the boy who had held his knife to my throat in the alleyway by my home and the blond boy who helped him.

When I finished reading, I sat back in my chair. I thought about some of the things Sodapop said about what could have happened if James wasn't shot as soon as he was. I may have been in the hospital, or worse, on a cold slab in the Jasper mortuary.

"You okay?" Darry asked.

"I'm working on it."

"Good deal." Darry said as he reached for the newspaper.

I kept him from grabbing the paper. "Wait! I want to see the social page."

"Okay, page ten." Darry told me as he nervously watched me turn the pages.

Suspicious, I scanned each newspaper page before I turned them. Darry seemed inpatient as he reached down and tried to turn a handful of pages for me. I grabbed my brother's wrist to stop him. I wondered what he was trying to hide. I pushed Darry's hand away from the newspaper and the woman's picture caught my eye. The title of the article read, 'Socialite Charged with Assault against children'.

"No!" The presence of the article shocked me. "Darry, it's in the newspaper!"

Darry frowned, "I know, I read the article."

"What's Owen going to say? He has final exams today. Everyone is going to be talking about this!" I couldn't believe the incident had been printed in the newspaper. After years of hiding the truth the Jasper family secrets were spilled in black ink for everyone to read.

"He's strong. He'll get through it." Darry reassured me.

"Scout, darling," Kathryn sat down next to me and pleaded, "Maybe just skip right to the social page. The article about Darry and me is real sweet."

"Did you read this, or did you just skip to the social page?" I sassed.

Kathryn looked at Darry for an answer and he shrugged his shoulders. "Just remember, it's that sassy attitude of hers that forced me to call you last year."

The woman smiled and raised her eye brows. "I guess I shouldn't argue with an intelligent young woman. I just want to be sure reading all of this won't be too overwhelming for you."

I didn't know if it would, but I knew I had to read it.

'Angela Jasper, 38, was charged with one count of child endangerment, one count of assault and one count of assault with a weapon following an altercation at her home, on the south side of Tulsa, Monday night.
Mrs. Jasper, while greatly intoxicated, destroyed a child's tea table in her daughter's toy room while disciplining her daughter, Olivia Jasper, 7. Owen Jasper, 16, son of Jonathan and Angela Jasper, attempted to intervene on behalf of his younger sister. In a rage, Mrs. Jasper repeatedly struck her son with the wooden leg of the tea table causing injuries which required medical attention at Tulsa Memorial Hospital. During the altercation Mrs. Jasper additionally physically assaulted Scout Curtis, girlfriend to Owen Jasper. Curtis was believed to have no physical injuries from the altercation, but would later go on to have her life threated by juvenile delinquent, James Young (see page one). Mrs. Jasper's daughter, Olivia, was unharmed. Mr. Johnathan Jasper, husband to Angela Jasper and owner of Jasper Family Funeral Homes Inc., was out of town on business at the time of the incident.

The Tulsa County Attorney's office issued a statement that in exchange for a guilty plea, Mrs. Jasper has accepted a plea deal. She is being held in psychiatric custody until her transfer to a treatment center can be arranged later this week. Johnathan and Angela Jasper have one deceased son, Oliver Joseph Jasper, who was killed on the family property in 1961 when Mrs. Jasper inadvertently struck the young child with her car while backing out of the garage. It is unknown if the circumstances of the child's death will be reexamined.'

My mouth fell open in shock. I couldn't believe that everything Owen had worked so hard to hide was suddenly exposed as public news. "This is bad news; I should call him before he leaves for school. Kathryn, may I use the phone."

"Sure." Kathryn told me.

I jumped up to the kitchen phone and dialed the number. I pulled on the phone cord so I had enough length to gain some privacy in the dining room. The phone rang twice before Owen's voice answered the call.

"Owen? It's Scout."

Owen quickly responded, "Is everything okay?"

"Have you seen the morning paper?"

"Yeah, my dad showed it to me. It really bothered me to have to see your picture next to his. Seeing his face still makes my skin crawl."

I paused a second. "I meant the article about your mother and you."

"Yeah," Owen sighed. "I saw that one too."

"I am so sorry, Owen. Are you going to be okay?"

Owen laughed a little. "After what you've been through, I think I'll be okay."

"You're not worried about it being in the paper?"

"I don't know. Part of me is relieved that I can finally stop lying to people, but part of me is worried that everyone will know I had been lying to them. Either way, there's nothing I can do about it now. I am going to have to find a way to deal with it."

"I am so sorry." I told him.

"It's going to be okay. My dad told me they are going to transport her to a facility in Oklahoma City this afternoon. Dad wants Olivia and me to go see her after school to say goodbye, but I'm not going."

"Why?" I quietly asked.

"Because being with you is more important than saying goodbye to her."

"Aren't you worried she'll be mad?"

Owen's voice raised in agitation. "I don't care what she thinks! At this point in my life, I'm going to do what makes me happy, and she will have to figure out a way to deal with that!"

"Owen, I didn't mean to upset you." I said softly.

Owen calmed down. "You didn't. I'm just upset with her and my father, and it's gonna take me awhile to get over it."

"I wish I could be at school with you today. I'm sorry you have to deal with all of this alone."

"I'll be alright. At least it's the last day. Listen, I have to go. I'll see you after school. Okay?"

"Okay, I love you." I whispered loudly.

"I love you too. Take good care of yourself today. I'll talk to you later." Owen hung up the phone and headed off to school.

I held onto the receiver and stood still a moment. I felt dizzy, probably due to lack of sleep and hunger. I hung up the receiver.

"Everything going to be alright?" Darry asked.

"As good as can be expected." I shrugged my shoulders and noticed how tight they were which added to the pain in my head.

"Don't worry too much about everything. You know it will all get better in time."

"All 'time' seems to want to give me is misery." I muttered and buttered myself a piece of toast.

"Hey little buddy," Darry said to Sodapop, "You better get a move on if you're going to have time to drop Pony at school and make it to work on time."

"I'm going!" Soda said as he slammed a few slices of bacon between two pieces of toast to make another sandwich to take with him.

"Pony!" Darry called to my twin, "You focus on your tests today and do well. There's gonna be a lot of chatter about James, and maybe Owen's mom, but stay focused. Okay?"

"I will." Pony walked over to me and gave me a quick hug. "I'll check in with Owen for you. Try not to get worked up over things today."

"No promises." I said with a grin to hide my concerns.

Soda gave me a quick hug. "You can come on over to the DX if you get bored."

"Okay." I said even though I had no intentions of stepping outside of the Ottavi home without Darry by my side.

Darry stood up and to my surprise he said, "I'm headed out too."

"Whoa, whoa, whoa! Where are you going?" I protested.

"I am headed to work." Darry put his breakfast dishes in the sink. "I talked to Mr. Jasper last night, I am starting my position at the cemetery today."

"But who's going to stay here with me?" I asked with concern.

"Scout, you'll be okay." Darry told me as he kissed his bride goodbye. "Besides, Casey, Dorothy and Kathryn will all be here. Nothing is going to happen, but if you're really worried Two-Bit don't work 'til two today and he said he'll come over and look after you."

I felt a bit of panic coupled with sadness. I wanted my brother to stay at home with us, but he yearned to get back to his daily routine. I sat back in my chair. "Alright, but I'm going to worry like crazy about all of you today."

"Understood." Darry said, "and remember, we will be worried about you too."