chapter 5: reminder, I own what I own and don't what I don't. if you like what you've been reading, I'd love a review:) If you dont love what youve been reading, Id like to hear that too!
Happy Reading!
Monday morning came and Ponyboy hitched a ride to school with Two Bit and Steve. I declined the offer, instead walking Hudson to the elementary school. On the way there, he was pretty quiet, but that's not always unusual for him. He can be like Ponyboy in that way, staying silent sometimes until there's something to say.
After about five minutes, I figured I would start the conversation. Eyeing his bag with his cleats and uniform, I asked "Are you excited to play football again? I know it's been a few weeks since you were on the field, but-" "Hey Curtis's!" I stopped mid sentence and we both turned to see Curly jogging up to us, his textbook in hand. Hudson grinned. "You're really going to school today?" Curly feigned hurt. "Now boy just because I don't go four out of five days of the week, doesn't mean I never go!" He grinned, making both of us laugh.
Curly and Hudson talked about football and Curly promised to come to one of his games as we reached the elementary school. "Bye Avie! Bye Curly!" He grinned, hugging both of us, and shocking Curly, before turning and running into the school.
"He really likes you, you know" I said as we continued walking. Curly shook his head. "I don't see why" I rolled my eyes and lightly shoved his shoulder. "It's cause you're tough" I teased, making him grin.
"Where's the rest of the crew?" He asked, sticking his hands in his pockets. "Pony hitched a ride with Steve and Two Bit. Wendy is taking Isabelle to kindergarten today." I pushed a few stray hairs that had fallen into my face behind my ear as I glanced at my friend. "So it's just little Avery all by her lonesome huh?" He asked, teasing me. I nodded. "Yeah, it's just me."
We talked for a bit and once we were outside the high school building, we looked at each other. "What're you doing after school today?" He asked. I shrugged. "I'm on babysitting duty. Soda and Darry are both working and since I'm watching Isabelle! we're going to watch Hudson's football game. How about you?" He shrugged nonchalantly. "It sounds like I'm going to watch a teeny tikes football game!" He grinned at me and walked off towards the building and I laughed, following him.
Before Soda dropped out, I had a bunch of classes with him. He was a year ahead of me, but was flunking so badly they put him down in certain classes. I liked having class with Sodapop, we would pass each other notes and work on our homework together. Pony and Johnny were both in my grade, but Johnny wasn't here anymore, and to be honest, Pony could be a drag to have in class. He was so particular about the way his work had to be done, that if I asked if we could go halfsies on math homework or history questions, he would look at me like I had three heads.
Luckily for me, Curly was in three of my classes. English, science, and home economics. When I had laughed as he walked in and took a seat next to me, asking why he was in home ec, he scowled and said that between flunking, truancy, and the reformatory, this was a requirement for him. I giggled as Mrs. Littleton told him the stitches on the skirt he was hemming looked like they were done during an earthquake.
After school, we walked out together and noticed a crowd forming. I couldn't see who was in the middle, but chants of "Fight, fight, fight!" Were all we heard. I tugged on Curly's arm and gave him a look that clearly said, "Don't get involved." He complied and we walked away from it and towards the sidewalk at the same time one of the partakers made it out of the mob. It was a girl who looked like she was 12 or 13, though she had to be old enough to be in high school. She was dressed in jeans and a flannel shirt, and I could see tears streaming down her face as she ran off.
"I wonder what happened" I said quietly as we watched her go. My wondering was cut short as Two bit slid up between Curly and I, throwing an arm around each of us. "Well now, shoot, would you look at this? The two lovebirds going for an afternoon stroll?" His hyena laugh annoyed the crap out of me and I shoved him off, Steve and Pony both laughing at the shocked look on his face. "Can it Two bit, we're heading to pick Izzy up and watch Hudson's football game. You losers wanna join?" I aimed that question at Pony and Steve, and Two Bit hung off of me. "My dear Avery, am I not invited?" He was so loud, people started watching his melodramatics unfold. "Would you like to come?" I sighed, raising an eyebrow. He laughed.
"I would love to darling but I've already got me some plans!" I shook my head. "Alright, that means you guys are probably heading to the diner. Listen Pony, it's straight home afterwards, okay? I'm gonna drop Izzy off on our way through and then you have to watch Huds until Soda and Darry get home. I've got plans tonight" "Yeah yeah, I know" he waved me off. "Geez Avery, I'm not a little kid or nothing!" I lightly punched his arm and grinned. "You are to me! See you later. Remember, be there by four thirty, okay?"
"Don't worry Avie-Wavy, we'll make sure little Pone-Pone is back by his curfew!" Two bit cracked himself up. I shook my head and continued walking down the sidewalk. Sometimes, I think Two bit comes to school a little drunk. Other times, I know it's just because he's high on life that he acts this way.
"You think he'll ever grow up?" Curly asked me as we walked away. "Not before us" I grinned.
"Excuse me Coach Brightfield sir, my little brother is supposed to be on the field today. Hudson, Hudson Curtis" my little brother's football coach gave me a brief glance over the top of his clipboard. "Curtis? He got suspended for fightin' today." "Fighting!" I shouted, making Izzy cover her ears from her place in Curly's arms. "Well where is he?" I asked. He sighed. "Look kid, I don't know. The office told me he got suspended. Your brother picked him up, Coca-Cola I think." he laughed to himself at his joke and I scowled. People in this damn town always think they're funny. "Anyhow, he'd of been benched anyways. He hasn't been coming to practice in two weeks." I locked my jaw. "You know damn well why he hasn't been here" I said, annoyed. "Look kid, they cut him some slack during baseball in the spring, but you can't just stop your responsibilities whenever somebody dies or a couple of thugs go missing, and he had a responsibility to be here-" I kicked over the Gatorade cooler and as Coach Brightfield continued to yell and call me "that little hussy" and every other name in the book, I turned on my heel, ignoring him.
"Let's go" I said, walking away from the field. "Where're we going Avie?" Izzy asked as Curly put her down and she grabbed my hand. "To the DX Izzy" I said. "Somebody's got some explaining to do."
"What do you mean Buck?" I asked, following my boss around as he collected gas money from a real nice blue Chevy. "Soda took him with him on his break. The bozos went riding, I guess to the diner. He should be back in a little bit." I groaned. "If he's suspended from school, he's grounded! He doesn't get to go on no joyride!"
"Avery, have you ever known Soda to turn down a ride?" Buck quirked, making me sigh. "No, but now I have to sit here and wait for them to get back." He laughed, glancing over at Izzy and Curly as he explained to here what the different tools were. "Does your little friend wanna earn a buck? You three can make yourselves useful and go polish the glasses for tonight" he nodded towards the pool half and I thought about it. Cleaning would keep me busy, and Izzy loved "helping" Buck. "Okay" I nodded, calling them over and walking inside.
Izzy knew how to clean glasses because she had done it a hundred times before. Sometimes I was working the counter when I was babysitting her. I was shocked the first time I told her mother I couldn't sit because I was scheduled on shift and she said "can you take her with you? As long as your comfortable. It'll be good for her to see a girl working"
Curly, however, had probably never washed a cup in his life, let alone polished glass, so Izzy proudly explained to him just how to do it. "Why are we doing this again?" He asked after about the fiftieth glass. I laughed. "It's taking my mind off how dead Soda's gonna be when he gets back here" I reminded him. We continued polishing. Soda was now twenty minutes late coming back from his break.
"What exactly is the issue?" Curly asked, pausing and watching me as I continued to polish. "I mean, I got a kick out of riding around in a cool car as a kid. What's the harm in that?" "The harm," I spoke up. "Is that Hudson got in trouble at school today, for fighting, and he should be grounded. Soda, as the responsible adult in the situation, should have put that before his own selfish desires and airgo, I would've been here to pick Hudson up and he could've gone on his break afterwards."
Curly shook his head. "Avie, my wrist hurts!" Izzy whined. "That's okay Iz, you did a good job. Go play the pinball machine, okay?" She grinned and ran off. "I think you're over reacting Avery. Besides, Soda's older than you, doesn't that mean he gets first say?"
I shook my head, about to answer, when the door rang and I looked to see Pony, Hudson, Soda, Steve, and Two Bit trail inside, all hopped up. "Now I gotta fix both tail lights man" Steve scowled, walking past them and towards me, heading to the break room without even a hello. "Where were you guys?" I asked, arms folded across my chest as I leaned against the counter. Soda smiled. "we went for a ride Avie. What's wrong?"
"Avie's mad at you, that's what's wrong" Izzy spoke up from the pinball machine. "She said you had sponserbilities and you messed them up for a stupid joyride." "Aw come on Ave" Soda started. "We were just trying to cheer Hud up-" "rewarding him for getting in a fight?" I asked, glancing at my youngest brother. "Avery, it was nothing like that! I swear it!" "It doesn't matter what it was like, Hudson, you can't be out here fighting! That's the quickest way-" "It wasn't my fault!" He shouted, his chest heaving up and down with anger.
"When Miss Lewinski made a big deal about The fact that I was absent for the last two weeks, I ignored it. When Tony Michaels called me a loser and made me spill my lunch, I ignored it. But when Bradley Logan-" Mitchell's little brother. "-pushed me down in the hallway and said I would end up like Dallas if I wasn't careful, cause I was worthless greaser trash, I wasn't gonna just lay there and take it. I hit him five good times before we got separated. He's got a big black eye and a bloody nose and all I has is a few scratches on my cheek!"
I sighed, the energy in the room suddenly gloomy, and leaned down, tracing the patterned marks on his cheek. "Well then" I smiled. "You sure look like one tough kid." Hudson smiled and threw his arms around my neck.
After hearing about what happened at school, I couldn't really be mad at Pony and Soda anymore, for taking Hudson out. However, I was angry with Tim for doing something so stupid with my kid brothers in the car.
As Pony and Hudson sat on the porch eating some dessert and watching Darry fix the truck, I got together what I needed. I wasn't lying when I told Pony I had plans earlier, I just decided they would wait until after dinner.
"Darry, it's like the cop was daring him to do it!" I rolled my eyes as I heard Pony explain what had happened with Tim. Tim Shepard is a grown man. Tim Shepard can make his own decisions. I don't care if Paul Newman himself dared Tim to do it, he shouldn't have pissed the cop off. Things can turn south real quick for us greasers, and I would've never forgiven him if he got himself killed in front of the boys, just like Dallas.
I sifted through the vegetable drawer in the fridge until I uncovered what I was looking for, the four bottles of beer Dally hid a few weeks ago. Darry didn't know it was there. I told Dally it'd be safe there, and that since I wasn't much of a drinker, there wouldn't be a reason for me to snitch or steal it. I only had a few sips here and there from bottles the gang left lying around the house, and to be honest, I hadn't quite yet enjoyed the taste of alcohol.
But these were mine now, and I needed them for where I was going. I stuck them inside Dally's leather jacket and zipped it up right as Sodapop came tumbling through the kitchen. "What're you doing?" He asked. I jumped, startled, and shook my head. "Nothing Soda, what're you doing?" He gave me a look that said, 'I know you're hiding something.'
"I asked you first, Avery Jane" I grabbed an apple off the kitchen table and walked around him. "Well I know what you were doing in the car with Katy Picker. If you forget whatever it is you think I'm doing I'll forget whatever it is I know you were doing. Deal?" He sighed but nodded and I grinned, taking a bite out of my apple and stepping onto the porch. "Darry!" I called out, interrupting their conversation and making all three of them look at me. "I'm going for a walk. I just need to think."
"Okay Avery, but be back no later than 8:30," "yeah!" Hudson interjected. "It's your turn to read to me!" I waved them off and continued eating my apple as I walked down the street. A car was heading for me, a car that was way too nice to belong to anybody in this neighborhood, and I tensed up as it came towards me. I stared at the driver as he passed, and realized with a drop in my stomach who it was. I turned to see him pull into our driveway, and Darry walking towards him and saying "Lewis?!" Confirmed my suspicions.
I only thought I would be drinking one of those beers tonight.
I was wrong.
Two beers deep and one on the way was where I was when somebody else joined me in the cemetery, sitting down next to me. "That one for Dallas?" He asked, gesturing to the bottle laying next to piece of wood acting as a makeshift headstone. "Help yourself" I said, staring at the wood. "But I'm not speaking to you"
Tim Shepard opened his bottle with ease, in the crook of his right elbow, like he had years of practice. Because he did.
"You mad at me Winston?" He asked, taking a sip. I laughed, shaking my head. "Nah man. I ain't mad at you. Nobody gets mad at the great and mighty Tim Shepard, now do they?" I took another swig out of the bottle and rested my chin on my knees, which were pulled up to my chest.
"I get it. This is about that little car ride we took today, huh?" I didn't answer him as he watched me out of the corner of his eye. "You can say it Avery. Go right ahead. But I didn't do nothing that cop wasn't deserving. Do you see the way those socs think about us?" I stayed silent, taking another sip of beer. Tim got angry. "Do you see the way those cops treat us-" "of course I fucking see the way the cops treat us!" I snarled, angry at him. "That's why I'm angry at you!"
I chugged the last bit of beer in my bottle and tossed it away from me. Tim chuckled. "Well I'll be, how can you think the victim is the perpetrator". "That's rich" I snorted, wiping away the tears that had begun to fall. "You're a lot of things but you ain't a victim Tim." He leaned back, polishing off his bottle and chucking it the same place I had mine. "Then explain to me darlin', why you're angry"
I took a deep breathe. "You egged him on. He shouldn't have given you a ticket, but you egged him on, Tim. You busted up a taillight and for what, so he could bust up your head?" His smirk read amused as he said, "I see, you like me kid" I snorted. "God no. I just don't want another stupid punk to go and get himself killed in front of my little brother."
As soon as the words left my mouth, the tears fell steadily, and Tim nodded.
"Like Dallas did" he spoke, already knowing the answer. I nodded, audibly crying now as I covered my face, shaking my head.
"Why'd he have to do that, huh?" I asked, slamming my hands on the pile of dirt that housed my brother. "Why huh? Why? Why'd you have to kill yourself? Why'd you leave me all alone?"
As I cried, Tim surprised me and moved closer, tentatively placing a hand on my shoulder, rubbing it, then transitioning to wrapping me in his arms as I sobbed into his shirt. Tim Shepard wasn't Ponyboy Curtis. He didn't always know the right things to say. But unlike what I had thought earlier that day, he also wasn't an asshole, and made an effort to comfort me, even though it made him uncomfortable.
I don't remember what we talked about as I cried, but I remember him stroking my hair and speaking to me in a calm voice, and I remember that as soon as I had gone from full out crying to sniffling, he saw just how many bottles of beer I had consumed. "Your brother's gonna kill you" he mumbled under his breath as he helped me stand up."what were you thinking?" I went from sad to giggly in an instant. "Relax Timothy, it's just a little beer" I slurred, poking him in the chest as I stumbled a few steps.
"If you shhhhhh, Darry will never know the difference!" Tim caught my hand as I reached out to put my finger to his lips, and shook his head.
"This ain't gonna work doll, hang on a second."
I squealed as he picked me up in a fireman's carry and headed the ten minutes home. I spent the whole time giggling about the little tiny patch of gray hair Tim had just above his ear, and singing very off key.
When we got about a block from home, he gently placed me down on the ground and held my shoulders till my head stopped spinning. "Are you able to walk the rest of the way?" I nodded, hanging onto his arm as we passed house after house.
Once we were outside, I peered in through the window to see Darry waiting in his chair, reading to Hudson. "Oh no" I moaned, placing a hand on my head. "What time is it Tim?" "Nine o clock" he checked his watch. "Shit" I mumbled. "I'm late. We walked closer to the house and I suddenly got angry again. "I don't care if I'm late!" I exclaimed, turning to face Tim. "Just cause Socy Darry says to be home by eight thirty, that don't make it law!"
Tim paused. "Socy Darry?" He asked. "Yeah!" I snorted, annoyed. "Lewis stopped by on my way out the door today. Who knows why. But let me tell you something Tim, Darry knows better than to trust those socs anymore, not after what they did to me. And if he knows what's good for him, he'll stay away from l-l-loser Lewis!"
Tim froze, staring into my eyes, and I realized I had said too much. Tim didn't know what had happened. Heck, the only people that knew were mama, daddy, and Darry. That's why it had hurt so much to see Darry talking to him. It's almost like he forgot the fact that we were greasers and Lewis was a soc. We just shouldn't mix.
"You're drunk" Tim muttered, helping me up the steps. "And you best start asking him for forgiveness." When he reached out to open the door, it opened itself. Someone had beat him to it. "Sodaaaaaaaa!" I drawled, giggling. "Long time no see!" Sodas jaw dropped as I stumbled forward and he caught me, wrapping an arm around me and bringing me inside.
Tim followed us, closing the door behind him. Darry got up from his chair, anger on his face. "You go and get my baby sister drunk, Shepard? How many did she have?" Tim shook his head as I laughed, reaching up and tugging on a piece of Sodas hair that had gotten out of place. "I didn't get her drunk, I found her drunk." I giggled as Soda helped drag me over to the couch. Tim was talking quietly with Darry, though I couldn't quite hear what they were saying, as Soda and Hudson stood over me.
"Soda, is she gonna be okay?" He asked, reaching out and touching my face. "She'll be fine buddy, she's just gonna be in for a rough night-" as if on cue, I reached out and grabbed the little trash can, spewing my guts into it. I wish I could forget the look on Hudson's face. Disgust and- disappointment.
After Tim left, Darry tucked Hudson in and then sent Pony to sleep in my bed. Soda and Darry sat in the armchair and on the coffee table, watching me as I laid out on the couch in pain.
Soda had placed a cool rag on my forehead and had put a package of crackers on the table. Darry was silent, calculating, and I didn't like it.
"What were you thinking Avery?" He finally spoke up, disappointment clear in his eyes. "You aren't a drinker. You should've known you wouldn't hold it!" I winced, the pounding feeling in my head strong as Darry's booming voice went continued. "And what would have happened if it wasn't Tim who found you, huh?" I sniffed. I'm not sure if I was still drunk or if I was sobering up, but Darry's words hurt.
"I'm not a baby Darryl, I can take care of myself" I spoke, moving to sit up and immediately crouching over the garbage can again.
"I can see that" he sarcastically responded.
"Dar,' Soda started. He didn't listen. "Don't you ever think Avery? You were alone on the outskirts of our side. Anybody could've seen you and picked you up. Another greaser, a damned Soc-" "oh but as long as the Soc is like Lewis it's okay, right Darry?" I spat out, hatred emanating from every word. Darry gave me a hard stare as Soda looked confusedly back and forth between us.
"That's not fair Avery, he wasn't involved-" "but he could've been!" I shouted, tears streaming down my face. "I was just going out tonight to share a beer with Dallas, but low and behold here comes Mighty Lewis to save the day! How could you even let him here after-" "After what?" Soda asked quietly. The teachers at Walker Ridge high school always wrote that Soda just wasn't a smart boy on his report cards. That simply wasn't true. It wasn't true then, and it wasn't true now, as I could see the wheels in his head turning.
"Nothing Soda, get to bed" Darry chided. "After what?" He spoke louder, anger lacing his words. "Nothing! This has nothing to do with Lewis-" "Bullshit!" I shouted. "That's bullshit Darry and you know it! What happened to, 'I'll never let a soc come between us again' hmm? What happened to 'Don't worry Ave, I'll always protect you!" The tears streamed down my face as the events from that night three years ago came flashing back to me.
His hands. His cold hands. His wicked grin.
"Avery, did he jump you?" Soda wouldn't give up, as he sat next to me and wrapped an arm around my shoulder. "It wasn't Lewis" Darry stated, standing up and heading towards the stairs. "And Avery, I've told you before that I'm sorry about what happened. But we can't go backwards. He's got an opportunity for me, which means he's got an opportunity for us. And sometimes, we have to work with people we'd rather forget in order to move forward. It wasn't Lewis, that's what matters."
With that, Darry stomped up the stairs, and a minute later, I heard his bedroom door slam.
"But it could have been" I whispered, looking up at Soda. "What?" He asked softly, pushing my hair away from my face and cupping my cheek the same way mom used to. I leaned into my brother. "It wasn't Lewis, but it could've been" I whispered. Soda, pain evidenced on his face, wrapped his arms around me and leaned back.
He stayed with me for the rest of the night, holding back my hair as I puked, forcing a few crackers and a sip of water into my mouth every so often. But he didn't ask again about what I had meant. He could tell I didn't want to talk about it, not then. And to be honest, I don't think I wanted him to know. Because if he did, it just wouldn't be the same.