47. Races

Johnny came over with Dallas around noon, both of them looking for lunch. Steve had gone off somewhere while we were at the doctor but he trailed along after them. Darry made chicken and Johnny joined me on the couch. Thankfully, both Sodapop and I had managed to pull ourselves together, him taking a shower and me washing my face to get our faces to look less like we'd been crying. Didn't exactly make us look tough.

Dally ruffled my hair roughly, knocking me back against the couch. "Hey kid," he greeted on his way to the kitchen where Darry was still cooking. Soda chuckled, watching him go.

Steve caught the screen door before it could slam shut, giving me a wide-eyed look as he kept an eye out for Darry. I pointed at the kitchen and he let the door shut gently. "What have you been up to?" I asked Johnny as Steve and Sodapop headed out onto the back porch, probably to talk. I didn't want to talk anymore. Not about me or Richard or any of it.

"Been at home, mostly. Looking for a job."

"Yeah?" I asked, surprised.

"Yeah. Thought it'd be nice to have some money for once."

I chuckled. "Yeah, think Darry would let me get one too?"

"No way!" He snorted. "Not for another year at least."

"Well, if you get a job, put in a good word for me in a year, would you?"

"Sure." He glanced around, making sure we were alone. "What's going on? You slept all day yesterday…you feeling any better?"

"Yeah…went to the doctor this morning. Had to have tests and stuff, but apparently I'm gonna live." He grinned. "Got to wait for the tests, and I've got to gain weight. Feel fine though."

"Good."

"Sodapop was pretty freaked," I told him softly. I didn't mind telling Johnny. He wouldn't go blabbing to anyone. "I thought he was mad, you know…since I lied to him about us getting jumped by those guys. He wasn't though."

"Heck, I could have told you that. No way he'd be mad at you." I shrugged a little and he nudged me. "I don't know if Sodapop could get mad at you."

I grinned. "Yeah? Remember when I drew all over his homework?"

"You were what, six?" he laughed.

"Okay, remember last year when I got us caught sneaking home after a rumble and we were both grounded?"

"Well…that was…"

"Remember when you and me stole that booze from Dally and him and Soda found us about passed out in the lot?"

"Okay he wasn't really mad…he was more worried that time." Johnny laughed, glancing around to make sure Darry hadn't heard. It had been right before my parents had died, but Darry would still be pissed if he heard we'd pulled a stunt like that. Dally had been real mad, and it had only been Sodapop that had kept him from beating the shit out of us. Instead he'd dragged me home and thrown me into bed, giving me aspirin in the morning and warning me that if I ever did something stupid like that again, he'd knock my block off.

"Who was worried?" Sodapop asked, stepping into the living room, scratching the back of his head and dropping onto the sofa beside us.

"Nobody. Johnny's been looking for a job," I told him, hoping to distract him.

"No," he told me simply.

"What?"

"No, you aren't getting a job."

"I said Johnny…"

He grinned. "Yeah, I heard you. But I wanted to put a stop to it before you got any bright ideas. You ain't getting a job, not until you're at least sixteen. Maybe not even then."

Johnny snorted, nudging me. "Told you."

"I didn't ask…"

"You did earlier."

"Mr. Williams called," I told him, trying to change the subject again and fighting the urge to glare at him for ratting me out as Soda dropped a hand on my shoulder.

"Really?" He perked up a little.

"Yeah. When I was asleep yesterday. Darry answered. Mr. Williams said he'd call back."

"How do you think the rumble went?" Johnny asked, scooting against the back of the couch, arms crossed. "Anyone heard from James."

"Nope." I shook my head. "I hope it went alright…"

"How are things at home, Johnnycakes?" Sodapop asked him, keeping his hand on my shoulder like he thought I was going to disappear. Maybe he thought I was…maybe it wasn't irrational. The social workers were going to come visit soon, and they could still take me away.

"Fine." Johnny shrugged. "They barely noticed I was gone. Ain't said much to me since I've been home."

"You can stay here anytime you want, you know that right?"

"Thanks Sodapop." Johnny grinned, laughing when Soda reached out and ruffled his hair.

They hung around the rest of the day, Steve and Soda heading outside to mess with the truck after a little while. Darry went into the kitchen to make some dinner and Dallas went with him, the two of them talking about football or something. Johnny and I had rifled through my bookshelf, finding some stuff to read. We could have gone to the library, but neither of us wanted to leave my house. I felt safe here. I was with my brothers.

The phone rang a few minutes after Darry and Dal went into the kitchen and Johnny and I both froze, staring at it wide eyed until Darry showed up, clapping me on the shoulder then grabbing the phone. "Hello?" He answered, looking defensive already. Dallas leaned in the kitchen doorway, arms crossed. Johnny and I glanced at each other, the books forgotten in our laps. "Yes, this is."

Dally shot Johnny and me a look and I shrugged.

"Okay." He paused for a second, then nodded, saying okay a few more times and looking relieved. After a minute, he smiled a little. "Good. Okay, thank you. Okay…bye." He hung up the phone, running a hand through his hair. "The doctor," he explained.

"Yeah?" I asked as Dallas headed back into the kitchen, apparently not all that interested in my health.

"Said the tests came back normal," he explained, reaching out and gripping my shoulder. He'd lowered his voice some, but I didn't care if Johnny heard. "You just need to gain some weight, but with Sodapop making cakes everyday, I don't think that'll be a problem."

"Will they tell the people from the State too?"

His happiness seemed to die at the reminder and I hated myself for it, dropping my eyes. "I'm gonna call Officer Charlton…let him know what they said. They'll probably tell the State too," he told me quietly, pulling his hand back.

"I'll tell Soda," I offered, standing up and trying to force a grin. Johnny jumped up too, trailing after me as we headed out to the driveway where Steve was doing a backflip off of the hood of the truck while Soda sat on the ground, laughing and jumping to his feet, about to climb up on the hood to try. I waited, leaning against the porch and watching my brother jump backwards off the hood, hoping Darry didn't happen to glance outside and have a heart attack. He was always telling Steve and Soda they were gonna bust their heads open.

"You wanna try?" Steve called, hands in his pockets. Soda's eyes went real wide and he shook his head.

"No way!"

I snorted. "Better not." I crossed my arms and leaned on the truck, Johnny shoving his own hands in his pockets, both of us facing Steve and Soda. "Doctor called. Said everything was fine," I told Soda who grinned, running a hand over his face then gripping my shoulder.

"Good." That was all he could say…I knew he was thinking about what kind of shape I was in…my back and my arms…I looked like a walking skeleton someone had tried to beat to death. And I hated it.

"Darry's calling that cop to tell him."

Soda just nodded, but Steve cut in. "What about the State? They gonna come here or what?"

"Sometime this week," Soda told him, dropping his hand and sobering. Before we could talk anymore about that, Dallas came out with an old football in his hand, grinning at me and nodding. I hesitated for a second, then held out my hands, catching the pass he flung to me, then taking off. Soda laughed behind me, and I heard him right on my heels. I made it to the fence then threw the ball to Johnny who was there, ready to catch it. The teams established without us even having to talk about it, we played, tackling each other until Darry called us in for dinner, shaking his head at how dirty we'd all gotten, but not scolding. As I walked by, he squeezed my shoulder, smiling a little and pointing me toward the bathroom.

After dinner, we all drove to the racetrack, me riding with Darry and Johnny while Dal, Two-Bit, and Soda rode with Steve. I sat in the middle of the truck between them, picking at my nails until Darry put his hand over mine to stop me.

"You sure you're up for this Pone?" he asked, pulling into the parking lot that was crammed full of cars. We managed to find a spot in the back while I assured Darry that I was fine. Johnny jumped out of the truck, me following right behind him as we walked through the parking lot and toward the track.

Soda and Steve walked up ahead with Darry, Dal and Two-Bit chatting behind them, and me and Johnny brought up the rear. My brothers glanced back at me pretty often as we made our way through the field packed with cars. I ignored them, talking with Johnny instead and wishing things would go back to normal sooner rather than later. I knew they were worried…and I guess they had a reason to be. But I didn't want to think about that. Johnny asked how I was and I told him I was fine, then he thankfully moved on to wondering out loud how things were going in New York and telling me about the places he'd applied for jobs.

Usually when we all hung out, I did more talking, sometimes even talking for Johnny when someone asked us something. He didn't mind…he was pretty quiet usually, and I wasn't exactly chatty unless it was with Sodapop or just Johnny by himself, but now he was talking more than me, looking pretty at ease. I guess being away from his family and being by ourselves in a strange city had made him more confident or something. He was applying for jobs by himself and was walking around, not looking around for people who might beat us up or jump us. He wasn't as tall as me, but he was taller than before, and he laughed easily while he talked, standing up straight.

We stayed at the race for a couple of hours, Two-Bit and Steve betting on which cars were gonna win. Steve even got a guy to let him drive his Mustang and won a race against a socy looking guy that swore and acted like he wanted to start a fight after he lost, but there were too many greasers around. Darry stood up beside him, Soda on Steve's other side, and the soc backed off, swearing at him again and storming off while the other greasers laughed.

Steve was being pretty nice to me, which kind of freaked me out. I kept waiting for him to screw with me or say something about me tagging along, but he didn't make a single snarky comment all night. He even asked if Johnny and I wanted to ride along during one of his races, but Darry nixed that idea immediately, looking freaked out. I thanked him but told him Darry might have a heart attack. My brother knocked me in the back of my head, but threw his arm around me immediately after, holding me tight like he thought I might actually try to go with Steve. Instead, Dally rode along while Johnny and I watched from the sidelines, Sodapop grabbing a couple of cokes and passing them out.

Johnny stayed over that night, sleeping on the recliner. Steve stayed too, crashing on the sofa, and it was early when the phone rang, pulling me out of sleep. Soda had his arm around me once more…my brother hadn't wanted to let me go. Usually him and Steve would have gone out somewhere after the races, staying out until late and stumbling in sometime around two or three in the morning. But last night he'd come to bed with me at just before midnight, leaving Steve in the living room.

"You could have stayed out with Steve if you wanted to. Darry's here," I'd told him as I pulled the blankets up to my neck. He'd just thrown his arm around me. "I'm fine, Soda. Really. You ain't gotta babysit me or nothing." I hated that Soda thought he had to watch after me like this…that I was keeping him from doing what he wanted while he sat around worrying about me.

He'd rubbed my back, and I'd heard the smile in his voice. "What, you wanna get rid of me or something? Got a hot date?"

I'd snorted. "No, 'course not."

He'd rolled over on his back then, sighing a little. "I missed you so much, kiddo," my brother had murmured. "Glory, it was hard not having you here. Every morning I woke up…and it hit me all over again. That you were gone."

I'd turned over, putting my arm around him, and he'd pressed his forehead to mine for a second before pulling away. "I just…I don't want you to miss out on stuff because of me."

"I ain't missing out on anything, Pony. Things will get back to normal soon. Just…stay close for a little while, okay?"

I'd grinned, nodding and staring up at the ceiling for a moment before closing my eyes and giving into sleep. "Yeah, okay. I will."

The phone woke me at around six in the morning, and I groaned, rolling over, then standing up. Glancing at the clock that read 6:31, I found Steve and Johnny both covering their faces with pillows, trying to get away from the ringing, and picked it up. "Hello?" I answered, rubbing at my eyes.

"Is this Ponyboy?" the voice on the other line asked, and I felt the hair on my neck stand on end, wishing I'd let Darry answer.

"Who's this?" I asked, glancing at the sofa. Steve, catching my tone, propped himself up on his elbow, rubbing his eyes and watching me. I was glad he was there. I mean, no one could hurt me over the phone, but it was still good to know someone was around to take over just in case.

"This is Mr. Williams."

"Oh," I sighed in relief, leaning against the wall by the recliner. Johnny pulled the pillow off his face, giving me a bleary, confused look. I knew he'd asked for our number and everything but I was kind of surprised that he kept trying to call. I figured he must really care about us. "Hi, Mr. Williams. This is Ponyboy."

Johnny sat up at that, leaning in.

"Good morning, Ponyboy. I hope I didn't wake you. I wasn't sure of the time difference."

"Oh, no…I mean, yeah, but it's fine," I told him, honestly glad to hear from him.

"I spoke to your brother but he said you were asleep…is everything okay?"

"Yeah…everything's fine. We're all fine. Johnny's here too," I said when Johnny stood up, trying to hear what was going on.

"Good. I wanted to make sure the two of you were doing okay."

"Yeah, we're both okay…" I sat down on the arm of the recliner while Johnny sat back down beside me. "Is everything alright there?"

He hesitated before answering. "Sue was pretty upset when you two left without saying goodbye. Marcus too, but he understood better than she did." I winced at that. I really did feel bad. I'd been in such a hurry to get home I hadn't given her as much thought as I should have. She'd been real nice to us…gotten us that job. "As far as I can understand, him and your friend James fought with a couple of boys from the east side."

"They win?" I asked, glancing at Johnny who looked as worried as I did.

"Yes, I believe so. A couple of Marcus's friends got roughed up, but everyone's okay."

"Good." I looked over at Johnny who nodded, apparently having heard all of it. Steve was leaning in, keeping an eye on us, but his eyes were drooping, and it was obvious he wanted to go back to sleep. I wished we could have spoken to Marcus or one of the other guys, but it made sense they weren't there at…eight-thirty in the morning? I wondered if Sue was there but didn't ask. He told me anyway.

"Sue won't be in for a few hours…she wants to talk to the two of you, but I didn't know if you'd want me giving out your number."

"Uh…sure you can give it to her. That's fine." Johnny reached out for the phone and I nodded. "Johnny wants to talk to you."

"Of course."

I passed the phone to Johnny and sat on the couch beside Steve who scooted over a little. "Any news?" he asked, wiping his face and yawning.

"Not really…James and his guys won the rumble. That's about it." I shrugged. He gave me a kind of a weird look and I remembered that I hadn't told him about that. "Oh…uh…Johnny and I got jumped a few times…there were some guys making trouble for our boss and we got on their bad side. So James and our boss's nephew and some of his friends were gonna get together and have a rumble."

He nodded at that, looking over me critically. "They hurt you too bad?"

I thought of the bruises wrapping around my ribs and shook my head. Steve had been real cool but I didn't want to risk any smart remarks. "Nah."

Johnny talked to Mr. Williams for a few minutes, then held the phone out to me. I yawned, grabbing it and holding it to my ear.

"Ponyboy?" he asked.

"Yes sir?"

"Are you boys sure you're okay?"

I thought about telling him about the doctor and the social workers, but we didn't know him that well, so I just assured him that we were okay, and told him I'd call back sometime to talk to Sue and maybe the other guys. Then I went back into the bedroom, leaving Steve and Johnny in the living room and crawling back into the bed.

Soda grunted and rolled over, stilling when I pulled the blankets back over us. In some ways it still didn't feel real. I was home. It was all over…the boy's home and Richard's house and New York. I was home. I was with my family. For now, I got to stay with my brothers. I gripped Sodapop's shirt, scooting closer to him and resting my head on his shoulder. I was home. I was home. It was so wonderful to be home and safe…to be with people who cared about me.

Sodapop muttered something, blinking blearily at me as he woke up. "Ponyboy? You okay?"

"Yeah," I assured him, scooting closer, and he put his arms around me, rubbing my back.

"You sure, kiddo?"

"Yeah. I'm sure."

He hummed, not sounding like he believed me, but he let it go, closing his eyes, and we managed to sleep for another few hours before Darry came in and woke us up.