No, it's not the end yet, but the end is near. Just a few more chapters. I think the ending will be a surprise to everyone, but you're free to guess what will happen. Thanks for any reviews
When Dally offered to take me up to Windrixville, I was handing a customer his coke. His unexpected presence nearly made me spill it. I fumbled and managed to retain my balance before that could happen, thank goodness.
"Glory Ana, since when have you been clumsy?"
I only gave an embarrassed laugh as a reply, simpering as I felt my cheeks getting hot.
"I'm going up to see the guys, you wanna tag along?"
"Really?" my eyes widened at the prospect of getting to visit a town I hadn't seen in so long.
"Sure, just don't talk so much."
I did talk a lot once I got going, however, I didn't find this little comment to be necessary. I knew good and well from our first encounter that the boys were quiet and thus talking would only make them more nervous than they already were. They must be a nervous wreck, having killed someone and all. There were rumors flying all over town. I heard they'd run off to Texas, of course, I knew that wasn't true.
I took off work early, then we drove up there. We had to stop and see the boys before I would be able to visit my grandparents' graves, but I didn't mind.
Dally whistled, someone responded. We proceeded into the creepy church building. They had to stay here? How is this better than jail? I stifled a squeal as a rat scurried past my foot.
The boys rose sleepily, Pony seemed overjoyed to see Dally, even though he did comment on, or better put, insult his hair. They'd both cut their hair, and I thought Johnny looked better without hair covering his eyes, but Pony just wasn't meant to be a blond. The poor kid had to cut his hair and dye it.
"I know it don't look good, but don't rub it in." he grumbled at Dally.
"It's not so bad," I offered in an attempt to make him feel better. He only shook his head in response. No, he didn't believe me.
The change in their hairstyles weren't the only changes. They had lost some weight and had grown pale. I had to agree with Dally when he made that point.
They conversed for a short while. Pony had too many questions, whereas Johnny, who'd committed the crime, said nothing. Dally handed Pony a letter; it was from his brother, Sodapop. Dally had told me about the Curtis brothers on the way here. I wondered why two of them were given such odd names.
I'd glimpsed at the letter. The hand writing wasn't really neat, but I could make out faintly the words 'awful sorry' and 'didn't mean it'. My dad occupied my thoughts for a long time after that. When I was little he would set me up on his shoulders and we'd walk around like that, it was something especially useful when you were in a crowd.
My dad worked at a law firm, I think. He never talked much about his job. He had a horrible temper that wasn't ignited very easily or very often. He let a lot of things slide, but when he was angry he was scary.
We took the boys out to eat, and until the time of arrival, I was reminiscing sweet childhood memories, the memories where my parents loved me and each other.
We pulled up to order. I was willing to pay for myself, but Dally refused to let me.
"But they need it more than I do."
"They're not my girlfriend, are they?" he'd smarted and turned to order me a sundae. He could be difficult with anything, couldn't he?
"I know you two are wondering why I'm here…" I began once the car was put in park, twirling the spoon in my ice cream. They sat in the back, gorging themselves. Dally was just as much of a pig. None of them had eating manners, but I found that it hardly mattered to me. The girls weren't much better.
"They don't need a reason…" Dally had said between bites. It was muffled from food.
I ignored him and continued.
"I'm not just following Dally around everywhere; my grandparents lived here before they died. I don't mean to intrude or…"
"It's fine." Pony said after a gulp. I gave him a smile before turning back around. Dally looked a bit ticked, he gnawed at his sandwich, ripping it with his teeth like a canine. I rolled my eyes and took small bites of my sundae. I ate about two hearty meals a day –breakfast by Monica, and a meal prepared by myself at the restaurant for lunch- so any extra wasn't needed.
Once Dally had finished he marveled at the boys. They were still eating.
"You'll get sick if you eat too much." I warned.
"Take it from nurse girl here," Dally said, gesturing to me. I chuckled.
He then went about explaining the current situation, all of which I knew. There was going to be a huge rumble, and some girl Pony had met at the movies after I left happened to be the girlfriend of the boy Johnny had killed. I didn't understand it, but Dally said she was spying for them, that she was on their side.
When a silence began to linger I sensed something had gone wrong. I looked around to see that if I hadn't done something to upset them and saw that Johnny kept repeatedly opening and closing his mouth like he was physically unable to speak. At last he did.
"We're goin back and turnin' ourselves in."
The words didn't stun me, only Dally's reaction did. He nearly gagged. He started ranting and cussing up a storm. I sat silently, blinking slowly. I had to agree that they did have a good chance of getting off easy, it was self defense and all. I'd never say this to Dally though, because I knew his intentions. He was only trying to protect them.
Johnny went on for another minute or so. Dally tore out of that parking lot, infuriated.
We were on the road, and he was speeding.
"You're going to get us killed." I snapped, reaching over for his hand. He smacked it away roughly. I was sure everyone heard the snap, even over the roaring engine.
I winced and held my hand to my chest, then tried to pretend it didn't bother me.
"Shit Ana, lemme see your hand." He'd slowed down. I held it out, grimacing at my index finger. It looked crooked. He drew in a quick breath and ran a hand through his hair after examining it. The boys in the back stayed quiet.
"Johnny," he began in a pleading voice. I stared forward, wanting to yell at him because it was not my nature to play the battered wife who was forever patient, even though it was a part I had to play sometimes. If he was going to turn into my dad – the constant yelling, arguing pointlessly, and abuse, I'd leave him. I learned from my mother that staying doesn't help.
"Blast it Johnny, I'm not mad at you. I just don't want you to end up like me. You get hardened in jail…"
Dally had adapted to jail, because he was tough, but I noticed that he paid a price for the life he lived. He didn't want Johnny to be like him, and even though I loved him, I didn't want that for puppy dog eyes Johnny either. He was too sweet.
"We'll stop by the graveyard on the way back." Dally muttered to me. "I didn't mean to hurt you Ana, I didn't think you were so…breakable."
I didn't smile this time. I sighed, leaned my head back, and tried to cope with the pain. It stung worst than anything.
Dally took my left hand, the uninjured one, and held it, stroking it with his thumb. I didn't open my eyes. When Dally was like this, in those rare moments, I was in sweet bliss.
"Glory, it's on fire!" I heard Dally whisper, promptly letting go of my hand. My eyes flashed open to observe the church engulfed in flames, excited people standing around it. My nostrils flared as the smell of smoke fill them. The dark fumes floated and danced their way up into the sky. I heard Dally yelling for the boys to get back in the car, but they didn't listen. I continued to survey the scene before me, feeling something was out of place.
"Don't you dare leave this car." Dally snarled. He slammed his door shut and rushed over to the building.
The boys had gone inside. It was only then that I heard the wailing of 'children' tearing through the air. Children, fire, church, the boys…
I jumped out, disobeying Dally's orders. I completely forgot my hurt finger.
Kids, who were stained black by smoke, were being lifted and handed out the window to Dally. Dally said nothing to me. He kept yelling for them to forget the kids and get out, but they didn't, no, they couldn't until the last kid was running and crying for his mommy. I thought I'd make myself useful and examine them for cuts or bruises, but what happened next didn't permit me to continue this.
Pony came out, coughing, Dally's jacket, which was on his back, in flames. Dally put it out by beating Pony on the back, but he also knocked him out in the process. I bent down and turned him over, leaning my ear close to his face to check for breathing. I felt for his pulse. He was living.
A scream followed. I knew who it was, and I knew that the roof, that old damned roof, had collapsed on him. All I could think was to try to help Pony, because there was no way I could handle Johnny's sort of injury, and I tried to ignore the repetition of 'it was the stupid cigarette' that echoed inside my head. I blamed the cigarette for all of this, because the smokers didn't do anything do deserve this.