Chapter 12: Child Support (Darry's Point of View)
I have to admit that the kid is something else. He doesn't act at all like I would expect a twelve year old to act, but I guess that's part of having Dallas as a brother. I can't help but wonder how much time Dally has actually spent with the kid, since they do live an hour or so apart. Speaking of Dally, he's been on edge all day. I know it's 'cause he's expecting us to blow up at him, but I've decided I'm not going to. I mean, sure, I'm mad. But I don't think it's fair to be mad at him. After all, he wasn't the one that slept with my mom.
"Shit! It's a good thing we're not playin' with money or I'd be broke." Lexan yells. He and the guys are playing poker, and he really isn't all that good. He sure has a mouth on him though. I'm glad that him and Soda and Pony are getting along. Pony is taken to him the most. I think it's because Pony's never had a younger brother. I just hope he doesn't pick up any of Lexan bad habits.
"Here, deal me in." Kate says, sitting down beside Soda. She's still dressed like stripper, but I'm coming to the conclusion that maybe that's just her style. Or I don't know, maybe she is one. I'm not sure I like her very much though. She's not that great of a guardian, letting Lexan drink and cuss like she does. She seems nice enough though, and I don't say anything bad about her since she's Lexan and Dally's sister.
"Hey Lexan, you think you can get over you allergies for a night, and have dinner with us?" I call from the kitchen. He looks at me, and then at Kate.
"It's up to her, she's my ride." He answers finally, resuming his card game.
"It's fine with me." She answers.
"Hey uh, you guys want to stay the night?" Dally asks. I shoot him a concerned look.
"I mean, at my house. Dad's out of town for a while, gone who knows where, so you won't have to worry about him." Dally explains.
"Sure, that's fine." Kate answers, giving me a friendly wink. I think she knows she's not on my good side. Lexan on the other hand, doesn't seem to have a clue.
"Why don't you stay here?" Pony asks Lexan. I'm surprised that he asked that, since Pony is so quiet and Lexan…isn't. I wouldn't guess they'd get along.
"Um…okay." He actually answers. "If that's okay with Darry." He adds. I'm just glad that he's calling me by my name now, instead of referring to me as your brother like he has been.
"Is that okay?" Pony asks me.
"Sure." I answer after some hesitation.
"You can say no if you want." Lexan tells me. I knew I had waited too long before answering.
"No it's okay. Really. It's fine." I tell him, sounding like a wind-up doll. Dally must sense my nervousness, because he comes into the kitchen to 'help me with dinner'.
"Hey, you okay?" He asks, smiling as he slaps my back. I nod.
"Yep, fine." I answer unconvincingly. Kate comes in here a second later.
"Watcha cookin'?" She asks.
"Just roast, mashed potatoes, that sort of thing." I answer, running my fingers through my hair. She gives me a sideways glance, then looks at Dally.
"Hey, ya know, after that stunt Lexan pulled at his old school, it might take a while for him to be able to go back. Maybe he would like to go to Pony's school." Kate states, taking silverware and actually setting the table.
"Really?" I ask, looking at Lexan who is still playing cards with the guys.
"Yeah, I don't think he would mind." She answers.
"I don't know Kate-" Dally starts.
"Well I do. I think he would like it." She answers, cutting him off. "Besides, and hour and a half is a long ways a way. He won't be able to see his brothers very often if he stays in Broken Arrow. All four of them."
"Yeah but his friends are there." Dally protests.
"His friends are morons, and I'm sure he can make more." She answers quickly.
"But your job is there." He answers back.
"Well, I never said I was going to move here." She states. I look at her seriously, finally understanding what she's been trying to get at.
Dally's Point of View
"Can I talk to you outside?" I say to Kate, grabbing her arm and pulling out onto the Curtis's front porch.
"Are you out of fuckin' mind?!" I yell. "What're you trying to do here Kate?"
"Dally, he just found out that he had three brothers he never knew about. I can't just pull him away from them. In Broken Arrow it's just the two of us. We were only there because of this whole mess anyways. There's no reason for him to stay gone now." She answers back. It takes all the energy I have not to reach over and strangle her.
"Kate, do you understand what you're saying?" I yell.
"Yes. I'm saying that Lexan should stay here with his brothers. You see the way Darry looks at him. He wants him here, and he obviously doesn't approve of my parenting skills." Kate explains. I shove my hands in my pockets, then take them out and fumble for my cigarettes.
"Kate! Lexan doesn't hardly know these people. Not to mention, the Curtis's barely have enough money to hold together right now." I say, feeling like I'm ready to explode.
"I'll send them money. Darry's better at this guardianship thing than I am-" Kate argues.
"His parents just died Kate! Do you understand that? Their parents just died! Like a month ago! You can't expect Darry to take care of this kid! You just can't!" I yell.
"Well, what if he wants to?" She asks back calmly.
"Yeah." Darry says from the front door. "What if I want to?"