In the morning the sun shone brightly through my window blinds. I opened my eyes and looked toward the ceiling. I was disoriented, I knew I was in my room, and in my clothes, but it shouldn't be this bright at dinnertime in the late autumn months. Realizing it was morning I rolled over to check the time on my alarm clock. Eleven in the morning! I quickly threw my feet over the edge of the bed and thought about hurrying to school in the clothes I had slept in. Then my eye caught the note in Darry's handwriting by my bedside lamp.
Stay home and look after Ponyboy. See you after work.
Darry & Sodapop.
I threw myself backwards onto my bed and wondered what Owen would think when I wasn't in class, yet again. I balled the paper note up in my hand then walked across the hall to check on Ponyboy. I flopped down in the armchair and watched him take small shallow breaths. On the floor I notice a bowl of uneaten mushroom soup with a small plate of crackers. Knowing Darry would be mad to find the food lying there, I took it into the kitchen and put the dishes on the kitchen counter. The house was still very quiet and I found myself spooked by my own morbid thoughts, so I hurried back to Ponyboy's room.
I flopped down in the armchair a second time and nearly jumped out of my skin to find Pony wide eyed and staring at me. "Dang it Pony!" I took a breath to slow my heartbeat. "Don't stare at me like that. You'bout made me have a heart attack."
Ponyboy softly laughed. "All I did was look at you. I should be the scared one."
I climbed over him and slid under the covers. "Great, here you go with the ugly jokes again." The two of us laughed then lay on our backs and laughed. "You feeling better?"
"Yeah, but I sure could use a weed. Darry told me you had a hard wee too, you feeling better?"
"I'm fine." I shrugged my shoulders. "I aint getting you anything to smoke though. You ought to quit that bad habit anyway."
"Yeah, I'll think about it." Pony said and rolled onto his side to face me. "What day is it?"
"Wednesday, I hope." I looked into my brother's eyes and feelings of elation swept through my body. I was relieved he was home and alive. We looked at each other awhile like we often did, lost in thought. "Pony, we've sure missed a lot of school."
"Tell me about it." Ponyboy exasperated.
"I think I'm gonna call the school and see if a secretary could round up our homework. Then I'll walk over and get it and ride home with Steve."
Pony's round eyes grew concerned. "Why you gonna walk? You should take the bus."
I shook my head no. "The bus goes way out of the way and takes forever. If I walk I can get there in half the time. Besides, all the Socs'll be in school, so I'll be fine."
"Suit yourself." Ponyboy's gruff voice sounded unconcerned, but I knew he really meant that he thought my idea was a bad one.
"How about I make us some grilled cheese sandwiches?" I waited for my brother's approval them went in to cook up some brunch. The two of us ate our sandwiches and stayed in Pony's bed. I did most of the talking about what home was like without him. He didn't say a word about the attempted drowning, stabbing or being on the lam with Johnny, and I didn't push. Instead he told me everything he and Darry had talked about the day before. How Darry and Sodapop almost worried themselves to death. How Darry told him I lost my mind and Mr. Ottavi appeared out of nowhere to help the family out, and how worried the two of us were that our days at home were numbered. By the time I had to leave to walk to school we were both convinced in a matter of days or weeks we would surely be sent to new homes. That scared us something awful.
I arrived at my high school with only fifteen minutes left in the school day. I entered through the back doors by the shop classrooms. I needed to find Steve. Thankfully, he was in the first classroom I looked into. Softly, I whistled long and low, ending in a sudden high note. It was the gang's whistle they often used and Steve recognized it immediately. My brother's friend turned his head to look out the classroom door and his eyes grew wide when he noticed me. I mouthed the words, wait for me after school. Steve furrowed his brow and curled his lip up on one end. I could tell he was trying to decipher my words. Seconds later, Steve figured out the message and shook his head in agreement. I headed off to the principal's office to collect the two lists of homework.
The secretary in the main office was really nice as she handed over the lists the teachers had made for Ponyboy and I. "Now you realize you aren't going to be able to make up everything." She slightly scolded me. "You two have missed plenty of tests, and there's no making those up now."
"Yes mam'" I said and walked out of the office before my willingness to catch up in school faded away. I walked through the quiet halls and could hear the occasional mutter from teachers and students talking in the classrooms. Oddly, I didn't miss school as much I thought I would. I guess my mind was just preoccupied with too many more important things. I gathered Ponyboy's books from his locker in my arms. Then I climbed the stairs to the floor my locker was on and opened the metal door. Inside, sat my knapsack full of the books I was going to need. Clear memories flooded my mind as I recalled leaving my bag in my locker and running off to be with my parents. The moment seemed as if it was months ago, but in reality it hadn't even been a week.
The sound of the school bell cued me to get Ponyboy's books into the bag so I could meet Steve in the parking lot. I stuffed the bag, buckled the flap closed and shut my locker. By the time I had turned around to leave the halls were full of students, mostly Socs. Trying to remain unseen I heaved the heavy bag over my shoulder, lowered my head and began to walk down the hall. I had only taken a dozen steps when I failed to look up. Wham! I ran right into a solid young man. The collision knocked me backwards onto my butt and my knapsack skidded across the floor a few feet away from me. Embarrassed I tried to reach for my bag and run away.
"Scout!"
The voice was familiar and I turned my head to find Owen reaching down to grab my arm. Gently he pulled me up from the floor. My face grew flush from embarrassment and maybe a little bit of it was from the affection I was beginning to feel about the boy. "Owen, I am so sorry, I didn't see you there." Once I was on my feet I turned to see Peter had picked up my knapsack and was standing behind me.
"I kind of figured that out when you ran right into me." Owen said with a laugh. "Have you been here all day? You weren't in class."
I reached up and tucked my hair behind my ears hoping it wasn't looking a mess. "I had to stay home and look after Ponyboy. I just got here so I could pick up our homework."
"Oh good, I was starting to think you were avoiding me." Owen moved his hand from my arm to my hand, which he held tightly. "Do you need a ride home?"
"My friend Steve is going to take me." I said like a fool, wishing I hadn't said that. I would have preferred to ride with Owen. I looked at the boy's letterman jacket, filled with athletic awards. "Besides, don't you have football practice?"
"Yes, but if you needed a ride home I would have given you one." I smiled at the generous gesture. I knew how important it was for players to be at football practice. Darry never missed one. Owen grabbed my knapsack from Pete's hand and thanked him for picking it up. I heard him tell his friends to head to the locker room and he would meet them there. My eyes then met with his, and he smiled, nearly making me weak in the knees. "Come on, I'll carry your bag and walk you to your friend's car." Hand in hand, the two of us headed down the steps and out to the back parking lot where Steve parked with all the other hoods and greasers.
"Sorry I wasn't in class today. My brothers didn't even wake me up." I said and wished I wasn't walking by his side in jeans and an old sweater. "I'm not sure if I'll be here tomorrow either. I kind of have to stay home and look after Ponyboy till he gets better."
"That's okay, at least I know you're not avoiding me." Owen laughed. "You didn't miss much in class. Just babble about the First World War." Owen walked confidently through the growing sea of kids from the north side of town. "I hope you plan on coming to my football game this weekend."
"I haven't asked anyone yet, but I think I can come." I looked ahead at Steve, Two-Bit and Evie who were waiting by the car, watching the two of us. We stopped a few feet away from Steve's car and looked at each other. I smiled and waited for him to hand over my knapsack. Owen stayed staring at me as the wind tossed the blond hairs from in front of his eyes. My heart beat wildly as I began to wonder if he was going to kiss me in front of everyone. Slowly, his smile widened and he lifted his eyes and noticed a sea of hoods staring him down.
"I guess I'd better get to practice." He said gently and handed me my bag. "I'll be seeing you."
"Not if I see you first." We turned and went our separate ways.
Right away my eyes caught Two-Bit's eyes that stared at me long and hard, but I had no idea why. I walked around him to get into the car and he watched me. Steve and Evie climb into the front seat, while Two-Bit climbed into the back with me.
"Sissy, what are you doing here anyways?" Steve asked and started the engine.
"I came by to pick up some homework for Pony and me. Thanks for the ride home."
"No problem." Steve said casually.
I looked at Two-Bit's glare. "What's bothering you Two-Bit?"
Two-Bit started in with me. "I knew it wouldn't be long before you turned a blind eye to where you really came from." His tone was condescending. "Guess you're too good for the likes of us now."
"What are you talking about?" I said, baffled by the comment.
"You … becoming a Soc."
"I'm not becoming anything Two-Bit!" I snapped back. "Just because I want to get good grades and make something of myself, so I don't have to spend the rest of my life in a cruddy neighborhood, doesn't make me a Soc!"
"Sure it does." Two-Bit drawled. "You think just cause you have the means and the brains you're better then the rest of us. Aint that right Steve?" Our friend stayed out of the conversation and didn't answer, but I saw Evie give her boyfriend a questioning stare.
Enraged, I yelled back. "What in the hell are you talking about? All I did was come to school to pick up my homework. You know, it's that stuff your teachers ask you to do at home to prove you're learning something!"
"See what I mean! You think you're better because you've got the smarts to be better. Forget the rest of us who just can't do what you can."
I was truly thrown by Two-Bit's sudden animosity. I looked up to Steve to see if he understood what was going on, then I looked back to Two-Bit. "Hey! Don't patronize me because I care about my future! Just cause you plan on wandering the neighborhood till you're fifty looking for handouts and free beers doesn't mean that's what all of us want out of life. If you cared one bit you could graduate and head to 'Socville' with me, but no! You just want to be lazy and hurtful!"
I was a moment away from crying when I noticed a tear form at the corner of Two-Bit's eye and then run down his cheek. I held my tongue and watched another roll down before he reached up to wipe it away. "I aint got a chance in hell. I'm too stupid! I aint even clever like Sodapop in that I can fix cars or something like that."
I was taken back by the entire conversation and mostly by Two-Bit's rare vulnerability. I blinked my eyes to determine if what I was seeing was real. I looked to Evie who was trying not to stare and then I looked back to the man. "Two-Bit, it's not to late for you to start trying. It's not that hard, I could help you."
Embarrassed, Two-Bit looked away and dried his eyes. "Nah, just forget I said anything. It's no big deal, I don't know what I'm talking about."
I leaned forward trying to look into his eyes. "I think you do. I think you should at least try. I'll help you as much as I can. You can do your homework at our house after school."
"Just forget it alright?" Two-Bit's tough façade had taken hold. "Just forget I said anything. I aint got no interest in ruining my rep anyway."
I stared at him and wondered why he had started the conversation in the first place. I eventually drew my own assumption that he was just like the rest of us. Grieving the deaths of his friends in a way he couldn't explain. I turned and looked out the window as the scenery passed by till Steve pulled up outside my house and I crawled out of the car. "Thanks again for the ride."
I pushed the heavy metal door shut and walked up the sidewalk toward the metal fence gate where I noticed a Sheriff's car pull up and park across the street. In seconds I realized the officer climbing out of the car was coming toward my house. My stomach turned queasy.
I guess the boys had figured something was wrong cause Steve's car stopped a half a block away and Two-Bit came jogging back in my direction. Steve sped off in a hurry. Two-Bit reached my side and looked at me nervously. I didn't move from my stance. He sensed the tension and tried to help. "Everything okay Scout?"
Fear that the policeman had arrived to take Ponyboy and I away caused me to panic inside and I didn't answer.
The officer silently walked towards us, eyed to Two-Bit then turned towards me. "Do you live here? Are you Scout Marie Curtis?"
My mouth dropped open and I considered not answering. My brain searched through the many possibilities of how this man knew my name. Was he here to separate my family because of the trouble Ponyboy and I had gotten into? My throat tightened and I quietly asked. "Are you here to take my brothers and me away for good?"
Two-Bit didn't wait for an answer as he barked. "No Sir! You aint taking them away. None of us will let you do that!"
The police officer looked to Two-Bit. "First of all, you have no right to threaten me in that manner. Secondly, if you are not a member of this family you are not entitled to hear any part of this conversation."
"I am family!" Two-Bit demanded. "I've known Sodapop and Darry nearly my whole life and I'm not gonna let them down by letting you leave here with the two most important people in their lives!"
Before anyone could respond our attention was drawn to the revving engine and sound of tires squealing around the corner. All three of us turned to see Steve's car pull up and Sodapop jump out of the car, dressed in his work clothes. He ran to us and positioned his body in front of me as a shield against the Sheriff's deputy. Short of breath, Sodapop asked. "Can I help you officer?"
"All I am here to do is serve a subpoena to a Scout Curtis." The officer turned a glance to me. "Are you Scout Curtis?"
"Yes Sir," I breathed a sigh of relief, he handed the paperwork to me, and walked back to his car.
"Subpoena?" Soda asked. "What's that?
I turned to my brother. "It means I have to go to court to testify for something."
"Testify for what?" Sodapop asked as he and Two-Bit attempted to read over my shoulder.
I opened the paperwork and ready the court date and case listing. "Against Duke Dobbins." I looked to my brother with concern in my eyes. I had no desire to ever see Duke Dobbins again.
"Don't you worry none Sissy. You'll help put him away and you'll never have to worry about him again." Soda threw his arm around me, and all three of us walked into the house.
Later that afternoon when Darry came home from work Sodapop told him how Steve had nearly ran his car into the DX station because he was in such a hurry to tell Sodapop that the sheriff's deputy had shone up at the house. Not being present for the whole situation really bothered Darry, but we begged him not to worry. My brother's then decided that I would need to skip school the rest of the week to look after Ponyboy.
Just before bed that evening I wandered into the Darry's bedroom and sat down on his bed while Darry worked at his desk paying the bills. He looked over at me, "What's up Sissy?"
I smiled pulled one knee up to wrap my arms around. "I was wondering if you had Saturday evening off of work."
Darry reached over and looked at the calendar lying on his desk. "Yeah, why?"
"I was thinking maybe you and I could go to the high school varsity football game together."
Darry sighed and I could tell he didn't seem interested in going with me. "Why don't you ask Soda to go with you?"
I shrugged my shoulders. "Cause Soda isn't going to actually watch the game with me. He'll end up wandering around and chatting with everyone." I stood up. "It's okay though if you don't want to go, I just thought I'd ask."
"Wait!" Darry sighed again. "I didn't say I wouldn't go. It's just that someone needs to stay here with Ponyboy." Darry rubbed his forehead with his strong hand and I knew he was still very worried about our brother. "Go find out if Soda has plans Saturday night. If he doesn't ask him if he'll stay here with Ponyboy."
I happily skipped into the living room where Sodapop was watching television. I jumped onto the couch next to him, but he didn't take his eyes off the show, Dragnet. "Hey Soda, you got any plans Saturday night?"
"No," Soda turned his head to look at me. "Why?"
"Cause I want Darry to go with me to the varsity football game, but he won't go unless you will be home to look after Ponyboy. So will ya?"
"Wait a second," Now I had my brother's full attention and he turned all the way around to face me. "Why can't I go with you and Darry stay here?"
"Because I want to go there with Darry!"
Sodapop paused just long enough for me to realize he had made the connection between my wanting to go to the football game and Owen Jasper. "Oh I get it!" He teased. "You want to go to see your new boyfriend!"
My face grew surprised that he would suggest such a thing. "Soda! He aint my boyfriend, but if you must know," I pulled a wide smile across my face. "I am going because of him."
Soda's smile matched my own and he turned back to his television show. "Okay I'll stay here with Ponyboy so you can go see your new boyfriend play football."
I laughed and lightly slapped my brother's arm. "I already told you, he isn't my boyfriend!"
I stood up and walked back to Darry's room and heard Soda's final comment. "Yeah, well … he will be."