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"Is this the residence of Darrel Curtis Senior and Mary Ann?" The look had in his eyes made him look like a rookie.

"Yes, I'm Mary," I don't know why but I stuck out my hand.

"I'm afraid there's been an accident and I'm going to need you to follow us to the hospital." Soda was now beside me with Pony not far behind.

"What happened?" Soda asked with his eyes watering. I could see the officer shuffling his feet I knew this wasn't good.

"Soda, you and Pony go get dressed then run and get Two-bit," they listened to what I said as I stepped out on the porch closing the door behind me.

"How bad is it?" I said the best I could.

"Mary Ann died on impact, Darrel Senior was fighting for his life when I got word to come get next of kin," he put his arm on my shoulder as if anything he did could comfort me.

"Ma'am, is there anyone you can call to meet you there?"

"Yeah, just let me make a few phone calls," he nodded his head. Soda and Pony came out. I was scrambling around like an idiot. Picking up phone numbers and looking through the desk drawer for the purple folder we kept all of out medical shit in.

"I'm going to get Two-bit, we'll meet you at the hospital." He told me with out looking me in the eyes.

"Pony, I'm going to change then we'll go okay?" I pretty much whispered.

"I want to go with Soda." Pony choked out. Soda and I looked at each other, he shrugged and I agreed. I went back and threw on the first thing I saw. I came back out telling the officer I was ready although I was not at all. The ride was silent. When we got to the hospital he told me something about being real sorry and giving me his card. He told me someone would be in touch, but I was not longer listening. As I pretty much ran into the hospital, I was surprised at how busy it was for 2 in the morning on a Monday.

"I'm looking for the Curtis'." I told the lady at the desk. She gave me the same sad look the officer gave me. She nodded to someone behind me, I turned to look but they come up to me first.

"I'm officer Bates, I was first on the scene after your parents accident. I'm assuming you are Mary." He put his hand on my arm pulling me out of the middle of the waiting room.

"Yes, please how's my dad?" I said through a cracking voice.

"He's in surgery. The doctor will be able to tell you more momentarily. I'll have my partner go get him now," he motioned for someone to go look.

"What happened?"

"They were hit by a train." He told me like it was no big deal.

"Oh god," I said mortified.

"I'm so sorry to ask you this, but there was no identification on the woman, and since most of the car was in flames we will not be able to find it, and we need someone to identify the body." He had a stern but sad look on his face.

"Right now?" I asked him already scared.

"The coroner is ready when you are." I was not ready. What was she going to look like? If the car was on fire would I even be able to identify her? Somehow I stood up and I followed him down the hall.

He knocked on the window and a large man pulled open the blinds. "Are you ready?" Officer Bates asked me. I nodded and he motioned for the blanket to be pulled back. With in seconds I knew it was my mom I recognized her hair, her little earrings. But there were gashes all over her face. Her eyes were closed and her skin look so pale.

"Oh mom!" I cried out seeing her. The officer pulled me into a hug away from the window and the blinds were closed. "No," I cried out.

"I'm so sorry for your loss," he kept his arm around me.

"Why did this happen?" I mumbled from his chest.

"It's a cruel world," he told me softly. I continued to cry not so softly in some strangers arms.

"Bates, the Doctor is ready to talk," his partner from earlier came in.

"Are you ready to go?" These questions he asked me might as well be rhetorical because I was not ready, who would be ready for this? "Your brothers just arrived as well." I didn't know if he told me this as a warning to get it together for the sake of them or not, but I took it that way. My mother was dead, my dad is fighting for his life, I'm the oldest I needed to be able to handle this. I took the deepest breath I have ever taken and I followed him out.

"Family of Darrel Curtis Senior?" The doctor called like he was taking roll in class.

"Yes," I told him as Soda and the gang all stood up.

"We're not sure what the extent of his injuries are just yet. He's in an emergency surgery to relieve some swelling to his brain. We removed his spleen and he has lost a lot of blood. I'll be in touch," he squeezed my shoulder and pretty much ran away.

"What about mom?" Soda asked. I felt a knot in my stomach that made me want to pass out.

"Guys," I pretty much whispered. "She didn't make it, it was quick and painless." I added that last part I hoped it was true.

Two-bit hit the wall with his fist, and I looked up to see if the police officers would do anything about it, I think even the fuzz had a soul. Pony leaned into Soda and sobbed and Soda slid down the wall to he floor. I looked at my family and it broke my heart.

"Miss," a nurse tapped my arm. I turned around and looked at her.

"The hospital pastor is here, would you like to talk to him?" I didn't even have time to think before Steve interrupted me.

"What do you want to do pray about it? Where they hell were you when this happened!" Steve hissed.

"Now's not really a good time, I need to make some phone calls," I looked up.

"Here's my number," he placed it in my hand and held it, "I'm so sorry for your loss." I nodded my head not knowing what else to do.

I moved back to a chair who which was in front of a wall. I leaned my head against the wall with my left hand touching my temple. Two-bit and Steve pulled Soda and Pony up off the floor.

"Johnny, Pony, why don't ya'll go take a smoke break, it'll be a while before we hear anything." They agreed and Two-bit followed with out me even saying anything.

"What do you want to do man," Steve nudge Soda's arm.

"I don't even know," Soda's eyes watered again. I don't know what made me stand up and go over to him but I did.

"Some how, some way, it will be okay," I told him as he sobbed. I could feel his tears soaking into my shirt. Steve shifted uncomfortably, and he eventually left, but not before I too saw the tears streaming down his face. You know it's a sad day when you successfully get a bunch of greasers to cry. Eventually Soda and I sat down in the chairs. He was leaning over the seat putting his head on my shoulder. My head was spinning thinking about what was going to happen next. However, I didn't see this coming. Steve turned the corner with Sandy on his arm. I smiled when I saw them. I was neither Steve or Sandy's biggest fan, but still the gesture was a nice one. Soda light up when he saw her. Maybe it was true love.

"Sandy, how'd you get here?" Soda stood up.

"Steve knocked on the door, woke up my parents and told them what happened. It was real brave. They didn't hesitate to send me over. My mom said she'd make breakfast in the morning, or in a few hours I guess," Sandy sat on his lap. "Baby, I am so sorry," she kissed him.

"Not bad Steve," I gave him a weak smile.

"I have my moments." He had a firm look on his face, I figured he had it to prevent the tears. That's what I was doing. Being numb to this was the only thing that was going to get me through it.

"You see Pony and the guys outside?" I knew Two-bit wouldn't try anything right now, but I figured it was at least good to know where everyone was.

"Two-bit went to find Dally. Pony's on his way up with Johnny." Steve drank something that didn't really look like coffee, I gave him a look but didn't say anything.

"Did he look okay?" I don't know why I asked. I knew he wasn't okay.

"Now that we got him off Soda so he could breath I think he's better," Steve's comment wasn't even that rude, but it just hit me wrong.

"He's 13 and his parents just died, cut him god damn break Steve, if he wants Soda give him Soda!" My snap was uncalled for, but before I could correct Steve stepped in.

"He ain't dead yet," Steve handed me his cup and stepped back to Soda and Sandy. I turned to go call Darry. Some how I managed to grab the sticky note on the phone with the schools number. I knew they wouldn't answer, I was glad for it too, I just wanted to leave a message to tell Darry to come home, because I was damn near sick being the oldest.

I took a long sip of the cup, it tasted like poison, but I drank it anyway. Little did I know this stuff was going to get me through the next several months.

I listened to the recorded message telling me of all the different extensions to press, and finally when the machine came on I started to talk, "my name is Mary Curtis, I am Darrel Curtis Jr. little sister. I am calling because I need to get a message to coach Taylor to get to my brother. Our parents were in a horrible accident, and we are in Tulsa Hospital right now waiting for my dad to get out of surgery. If you could tell him to please meet me here." I hung up the phone gasping for air like I was drowning.

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"What do we have?" I asked as I briefly looked at the bloody of a disfigured man. I came in a little aggravated they pulled me in here when there were already 3 doctors on him. Not to mention it was hardly 5 and I was suppose to be sleeping in the on call room. Quickly my feelings changed.

"Automobile accident, worst one of the year," The first responder told me handing me the chart. When ever anything was the worst of the year, the next thing said was never good.

"Curtis, as in Darrel Curtis?" I asked looking over the chart quickly watching the nurse change the drugs in the IV like she was doing something wrong even though she wasn't.

"Yeah, you know him?" The first responder look at me.

"Nah, just sounds familiar." I lied, I knew him. Hell I went to school with him. As good and as honest as they came. I started to work on him as fast and as thorough as I could. They say you shouldn't work on people you know because it clouds your judgement, however, that wasn't the case for me because I was not about to let him die on my table. Four mouths to feed, plus the strays he takes off the street, no way.

I was called to come into the surgery late. They had already been working on him for over 2 hours trying to get the machines to breath for him to keep him alive. It looked like every time they had some success a machine would go off telling them they weren't out of the woods.

I was removing the spleen as the other surgeons were trying to save his limbs and give him blood, however Tulsa was only so big and as I kept working I starting to realize how little of a chance he really had. It was too much for him, his blood pressure was too high, he was bleeding too much, and his brain was too swollen.

"Damn it Curtis listen to me, do not die!" I yelled to him as he started to go into afib. "I will kick you ass just like in high school, you hear me!" I pushed the guy who was holding the paddles out of the way.

"You're kids are counting on you right now!" I yelled as I shocked him. I waited. Nothing.

"Go again," I ordered. "Don't you dare give up 22, what are you scared?" I called like we use to do in the good ole days. I was sure the nurses and other doctors thought I lost it.

"Doctor," the nurse put her hand on Curtis' chest to prevent me from going again. "He's gone. He was gone before they ever got here." She looked like this was just an other patient. "He's gone to be with his wife."

"Mary Ann, she's gone too?" I felt myself getting woozy.

"Time of death 5:36," the doctor to my left called. He placed a clip board on the table signed it and handed it to me. I looked at it in denial for a second.

"shit," I muttered under my breath signing it.

"You get this worked up about every person you don't know?" The first responder make a snarky comment I was not in the mood for.

"Don't you have other parents of four to let die," I physically pushed him past me as I took off my gown. I knew I needed to be the one to tell them. If not for them, for their parents. As I walked down the hall to the waiting room where I knew his kids would be congregated I tried to brace myself. It wasn't like this was the first time I had a parent die. It wasn't the first time that I had a single parent die, and it also wasn't the first time that I had someone I know and care about die. However, it was the first time that someone who once saved me died. All of the preparation in the world would not have been sufficient. These kids already look so distraught. They already looked so broken and tired, and they didn't even have a clue.

As I walked closer they all had already spotted me and stood up eager. I crossed my arms over my chest, stood up tall, and let out a breath.

"We did everything we could, the damage was too severe, we lost him. I am so sorry." I was truly sorry, I didn't think they would ever really know how sorry I really was.

"This is bull shit!" One of the kids yelled much too loud hurling a chair across the room. I didn't blame him for his anger. The youngest boy was crying on a girl I recognized. I recognized the girl right away as Mary, she looked just like her mother. I wondered where Darry Jr. was because he favored Darrel Sr. These kids looked awful, and I didn't know what to do to make them feel better. The one who threw the chair stormed off and two more trailed after him. That left four in the room.

"What now?" Mary asked through teary eyes.

"There will be someone to come talk to you about paper work shortly, please, is there anything we can get you?" I wished they would have told me something.

"They can leave right? Only I need to fill out the paper work?" Mary got her determination form her Daddy. He was a do it yourself kinda guy.

"Yes, we only need one person." I put my hand on her shoulder, but she pulled away. I took the message and left. I was planning on coming back after the hospital records talked to her. I was going to help, somehow. Or at least I thought I was going to.

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After the doctor left I could only handle the crying for a few minutes. I didn't know what to say, I didn't know if I should lie and start making stuff up or what. So, I just decided I wanted them gone. I knew that was insensitive of me, and I should have been trying harder to make everyone feel secure, but I was not prepared for this.

"Guys, I want ya'll to go on home. It's more private there we can have more people there, plus I'm sure Darry's going to call when he gets my message, please?" I hoped they wouldn't put up a fight. I was the last person to have authority.

"What about you?" Soda asked me through tears. Sandy was crying too, which I understood because it was so sad, but she wasn't helping Soda at all, in fact Soda was kinda comforting her.

"I'll be home as soon as I fill out those papers." I forced a reassuring smile and kissed Pony's head as they filed out. I sat down in the chair supporting myself with nothing but two fingers on my eyebrows.

"Miss," a lady in a black long skirt and a tucked in blue blouse got my attention. "My name is Nancy I am from the bereavement staff of the hospital. We should go somewhere to talk." I listened and nodded not knowing what else to do. She was nice, she had a real smile, not the fake one I had currently. I guess she was use to dead people. She closed the door behind me an motioned to a seat. "Before we get started can I get you a drink? Coffee, pepsi, water?"

"Coffee would be great," I ran my fingers through my nasty hair. If it were under any other circumstance I would have been appalled at myself for looking like this in public.

"How do you take it?" She asked me.

"With lots of caffeine," I was feeling really nauseous so I closed my eyes. Nancy chuckled at my response, but filled up a cup and but it in front of me with sugar and cream.

"Let me start off by telling you that all of us at the hospital are so sorry for the loss of your parents, and we hope we can assist you in every way possible to make the next few days go as smooth as possible. So, let's just jump right in. You're still a minor, for an other couple months, but since you are the oldest here, my supervisor had no problem with us proceeding as long as you are able." She paused and looked at me. Like I would be any more capable to handle this in a couple of months than I am now. "What we do now if fill out death certificates for both your parents, and I need to collect paper work from you. Marriage certificates, birth certificates of your whole family, and social security cards." She paused and looked at me again. I reached down and pulled out the purple folder. She seemed surprised that I had it, truthfully I was too.

"Have you contacted Darrel Junior?" She looked through the folder.

"I left a message for him, it's kind of hard to track him down at school, but I bet he'll be on his way home soon. It's only an hour drive from here." She nodded.

"That's good, let's hope he gets here before social services," she didn't even look up when she said that.

"Social Services?" I could hear the fear in my own voice.

"Right, they will be notified shortly that there are three minors who are in need of placement of a new home." Now she stopped writing and looked at me.

"Best case only few a few months until you are 18, and you can care for them. With a little luck they may be able to keep ya'll close." My heart felt like it dropped to my stomach.

"What about Darry? He's 19." My head was pulsing.

"Ah, I didn't realize he was an older brother. That's a good point, if he so choose to he should at least be able to apply to temporary custody until a judge can give him full." If he so chose to this lady clearly didn't have a clue.

"When will social services come?" I tried my very best to keep my voice calm. Inside I was starting to freak out, it was all so real.

"It's hard to say, I would say by 9, best guess. They probably haven't been notified yet, at night we are short staffed." I felt sick to my stomach. When she looked away I laid my head on the table. It was cold and it felt good. Darry normally has 6:30 work outs, I remember because he was complaining about that being even earlier than he use to wake up for school. So, assuming his coach got in touch with him and he was on the road by 7 he should be home by 8:30. That was even assuming that the coach got my message in time for practice. The more I thought about it the more I realized how screwed we were.

"Once I get the death certificate signed by the doctor and reviewed by the chief you will be able to contact the funeral home you are looking to do use. It shouldn't take long. Dr. Odell took special interest in your situation, and he already promised me a quick turn around. Since your mother died at the scene here paperwork has already been filled out I just have to get it copied and sealed," she stopped briefly. I couldn't see her because my forehead was still on the table, but I was sure she was looking at me like I was crazy.

"I know this is hard," I felt her arm on my arm. No you don't, I thought about saying. But, I figured there was no point in that, so I just kept my head down.

"Do you want to go get some breakfast, and come back by my office in an hour and I'll have the paper work finished?" I finally picked my head up and agreed. I walked back to the phones I used earlier to call Darry. I put in more change and waiting.

"Hello?" I heard a muffled Steve answer.

"Steve, hey, it's me. Any word from Darry?" I knew I was too hopeful.

"Nope, not a word."

"How's everyone doing?"

"Just Peachy," even though he was hurting I wanted to strangle him. I hated his dry sense of humor.

"Put Two-bit on," it hadn't even occurred to me that Two-bit might not be there, I was glad he was there.

"Hey Mary." Two-bit sounded so tired. If Two-bit sounded this bad there was no telling how bad everyone else sounded.

"Hey, listen to me, we have a problem that I need you to help me with, with out telling anyone. I don't want anyone to freak out so just say yeah, and okay, but don't say much so they catch on, okay?" I didn't know where theses problem solving skills that I recently developed came from, but they were certainly useful.

"Okay." He was being obedient.

"Social Services was called, and if they beat Darry home they are going to take us away because we are minors. I need you and the guys to clean up the place, make it damn near spotless, I need you to come get me so I can be there when they get there, and I need you to get your mom to come over so it looks like she's babysitting us. Do you think she would be okay with that?" My heart was pounding as hard as my head was spinning.

"Okay Mary, I'll be there in ten," and he hung up.I wondered what he was going to do, but I decided I at least had to have a little faith in him. Out of nerves I was running my hands over and over something that was in my pocket, and when I pulled it out I realized it was the Pastors number. I thought for a second before I reached for the phone. I was secretly hoping I would miss him and he wouldn't answer, but when he did I struggled with my words.

"Er, this is Mary Curtis, I met you a few hours ago uh," I stammered, and he stepped in.

"Ah, Mary, so glad you called, what is it I can do for you?" He sounded so kind and honest, I hadn't even realized those were qualities that you could hear in a person until just now.

"Both my parents died, and I'm gonna need help with the funeral, and I haven't even been to a funeral, I just don't know who else to call sir." I heard my voice crack and I felt my self start to break down. I rolled my eyes at myself for being such a baby.

"I would be happy to help, are you still at the hospital, can I meet you?"

"No, I'm headed home. Social services is coming by soon, and I need to make sure I'm there before she is." I assumed it was a she, but I honestly had no idea.

"I see, well would it be alright if I came to your home? I know a thing or two about Funerals. I'll make a few calls and be right over." He seemed so sure of himself, I really respected that. Because I was not certain of a damn thing.

"Sure," I told him my address and went outside to wait for Two-bit.

a/n: How's it going? DId you like the scene with the doctor? Let me know what you're thinking? I have traffic stats saying people are reading... so tell me what you think! how is the length? Longer, shorter what do you like?