The weekend drug on. I thought I would want it to takes it sweet time approaching because I knew would go to work on Monday, and the kids still wouldn't go back to school. A part of me wanted to push them to go, but Pony especially was still so prone to getting upset. Soda was adamant that he wasn't ready, that if he was there he wouldn't pay attention. Mary was going in today to talk to their teachers and get their work. The principal said they could take as much time as they needed, honestly I wished they would have just given us a date to be back by, so then I wouldn't have to be the one to make them go back.
We were all exhausted. Pony had woken us up screaming at least once a night, on a bad night he would do it two and three times. He didn't look as tired as the rest of us, he just looked scared all the time. He was reading and writing even more than normal, which already was abnormal. I was nervous about leaving them alone today, I knew they were all perfectly able, but a part of me still didn't trust them since the nap I took the other day when I woke up to about 5 broken rules. We never talked about it again. Everyone went to bed angry at each other, mostly at me, but when Pony woke up screaming we all forgot about it as we went running into his and Soda's room. After that nothing even mattered. I'm telling you his terror filled screams have got to be just as bad for us as for him, at least he can't remember what they are about. The rest of us can't get his pain out of our minds. The mornings seemed to be the most peaceful times in our house. Pony and Soda had been staying in bed close to ten in the morning. I knew Mom and Dad would not stand for that, but honoring Soda's out cry I hadn't mentioned them since the other night.
Mary was up before me again, she was folding some clothes on our spotless kitchen table. The whole place looked better than it had in a while. I never thought it needed to be deep cleaned, but man, the whole place sparkled now. Mary wouldn't quit.
"Morning," she smiled and spoke softly as she saw me. "Here, I made you some breakfast," she placed a hearty plate full in front of me. I really wasn't even the slightest bit hungry. She must have read my mind.
"It's what dad ate every morning," she responded sliding the salt down to me. Great move Darry. I told myself gruffly. I wasn't sure why I was so ill tempered maybe it was just the lack of sleep catching up with me.
"Split it with me?" I caught her arm. She turned around and smiled back at me. "Hey, if it kept dad safe on top of roofs all these years whose to say it won't work for you, huh so just eat the eggs." She walked around me. I watched her as she finished folding the clothes and divided them into piles for each of us. She glanced over to the clock squinting at it in displeasure.
"You know Mar," I told her pausing trying to figure out what I was going to say. "You don't have to do this yet, you know, if it is too much." I thought I should get up and go over there, but I felt incapable of moving.
"I have to do this just like you have to work," she told me with out giving it much thought or emotion.
"No, I have to go to work because I'm the adult, you can be the kid for a little while longer." I didn't want her to feel like she was forced to grow up too fast.
"Now you're just being ridiculous. I'm suppose to be helping you right," she threw my words back at me from the other day. It gave me chills when I heard her say it. I hadn't realized how much I contradicted myself. It didn't slow her down none, she walked about the house getting everything ready to leave.
"Darry," she called me pulling me out of my daze.
"Yeah?" I shook my head and looked over to her.
"Don't forget Dad's tool box okay? Its on the porch." She reminded me. I nodded my head thankful she reminded me.
"I'll call and check on the guys when I get to work. Here's the dinners number," she handed me a piece of paper. "Two-bit told me he'd come by after school."
"Wait you're going into work too?" I stood up surprised by this putting my plate in the sink.
"Yeah, after I go by the school. I should be back around 7," She pulled on her shoes.
"Are you sure you want to?" I asked her. She looked over at me for a brief second before responding.
"Come on Dar, don't start fighting me on everything," she sighed.
"I'm not fighting you, I just" I paused not knowing how to say what I was feeling. I didn't want her to rush too fast. I didn't want her to feel this burden I was feeling. I kept getting hung up on what would Mom and Dad do? They wouldn't want her to be stressed and running herself into the ground. But how could I tell her that? I couldn't bring them up.
"I know Dar, it seems so soon, but we gotta try to find a new normal, the faster we do the faster the boys will," she picked up her keys.
"Promise me if its too much you'll come home?" It worried me that I hadn't seen Mary mourn yet. It made me think she was still in shock or denial, and I thought it was only a matter of time before she couldn't anymore.
"You first," she raised her eyebrow at me. I didn't say anything I just stood there. "I'll see you tonight, be careful," she smiled about to walk out the door.
"Hey Mar," I said right before she closed to door. "I love you." Her face softened and she walked back over to me.
"We're going to be okay," She told me with a hug, and after she walked out of the house. I left a minute after her washing cold water on my face first. The ten minute drive down the road to the new construction site was quick. The next thing I knew I was shaking hands with Jared.
"Junior," he called to me from his truck. "It's good to see you, wish it was under better circumstances," he shook my hand then patted me on my back roughly.
"Thank you for this opportunity sir," I stood there across from him shifting my weight.
"Don't thank me, you're dad was the best worker this business has ever had," he handed me a helmet and I put in on immediately.
"I've got some bit shoes to fill," I smiled part kidding part not.
"You'll be fine. This is a new project, a new crew, no one knows you or your father. Tell them what you want, or don't tell them. It's up to you." He patted my back.
"I appreciate that." The thought of not having to tell
"I'll tell you though, this group has been together for a while they've sort of formed their own colt, I'd split them up if they didn't work so well together. So don't let them get to you kid. Just do your work." I wasn't worried about getting along with the guys I worked with until now. I had never had a hard time before. I had always worked with my Dad, and they always loved him, so they loved me by default.
"Ready?" He asked me.
"Yes sir," I told him even though I wasn't sure.
"Alright guys, this is Junior, he's a new part of this group so please help him feel welcome. I've got to head out, I'll be back by the end of the day, play nice boys," Boss slapped me on the back again leaving.
"Junior huh?" One guy looked me over like I was a piece of meet.
"I didn't even know we were getting a knew kid, how old are you?" An other guy joined in the questioning.
"I'm 18," I answered their questions feeling young and out of place.
"Damn, we got us some fresh meat!" A third guy whistled.
Not liking where this conversation was going I was quick to try to get to work.
"Should we get started guys?" I suggested
"You even got tools pretty boy?" He looked at me and laughed.
"Sure, I do," I went to the bed of the truck and pulled out my Dad's tool box. I felt proud when I pulled it out. Of course these goons didn't know a damn thing and kept running their mouth.
"That's gotta be older than you!" The first guy kept talking again.
"Yeah, it is, it's my dad's. Let's get to work." I added a little tone this time.
"Alright, that's enough guys, come on kid, help me start tearing off the shingles," one guy pointed to the ladder. Gladly I put a few tools on my tool belt and headed up the ladder, the other guy followed behind me.
"My name's Chase," he told me as we both looked at the roof.
"Good to meet you," I told him even though it wasn't entirely true.
He must have sensed my lie because he laughed, "We don't mean nothing by it, were just busting your balls a little. It's all in good fun, mostly," he punched my arm. I ignored his comment.
"This roofs in bad shape, they should have replaced it a long time ago," I ignored him comment.
"You know a thing or two about roofs?" He squatted down and pulled on the shingle.
"I wouldn't be here if I wasn't," I raised my eyebrow at him and started pulling on the shingles. The temperature heated up fast I was sweating profusely quickly. I didn't miss this one bit. After we finally pulled up all of the shingles we started to pull up the rotted wood.
"Kid, it goes by faster if you talk," he told me as he threw some material off the roof.
"Where are the other guys?" I hadn't seen them yet, and it had been hours.
"They usually work in the shop for other projects. They'll roof if we're missing a deadline, but they do a lot of the electric stuff once we finish," he wiped his brow with his hand.
"It was just you roofing up here?" I couldn't imagine doing this by myself.
"Nah, boss man just reshuffled a bunch of his guys since Darrel died. He split up their whole team, gave them some time off. My last partner is all the way in Owasso now working on a school a tornado blew to hell. Andrew and Patty are a little bitter about it, incase you can't tell." I assumed Andrew and Patty were the other two guys from earlier.
"You knew Darrel good?" I was interested to hear what he had to say.
"No, never met the sorry fellow, I dropped a few bucks in the collection boss is taking up though, did you hear his son is taking on all three kids? Poor kid he don't know what he's got himself into." Chase gossiped like a school girl.
"Boss is taking a collection?" This is the first I had heard of it.
"Don't worry kid, sense your new I doubt he'll even ask you." He tried to reassure me. I couldn't believe they were taking up money like that, I certainly didn't expect that. My dad told me plenty of times how tight money was for these guys. Money was always tight for us.
"What are you thinking about so hard kid?" Chase asked him suddenly. I had been working and thinking time was actually starting to move pretty quickly.
"Huh, oh nothing, just thinking is all." I was starting to get tired.
"Come on, let's eat down their in the shade," Chase motioned. He went down the ladder first I took a look at all we had done shaking my head I started down after him. Roofing was a pain like that, no matter how much you did you still had more to do, you couldn't ever really get ahead. I was not so thrilled to see Andrew and Patty sitting under the same tree as Chase.
"Junior, how's it going first day on the job?" I wasn't sure if it was Andrew or Patty but he seems sincere. I'd take it.
"I actually worked this past summer roofing, I'm a quick learner," I wasn't trying to toot my own horn or nothing, but I wasn't about to let this guy walk all over me.
"Yeah, then how come you ain't farther than you are? Andrew and I are gonna have to help you finish or boss is gonna have out asses." The second guy spoke, so I assumed he musta been Patty. This Patty guy seemed like a real pain.
"Shoot, he did more than I did. It's so rotten up there you wouldn't even believe it. I can't believe they ain't had problems with flooding sooner." Chase spoke up. I could feel my fist clench with annoyance. They talked to each other for a while, I just tried to stay out of the conversations so I wouldn't put my fist through this guys stomach.
"Say Junior, what'd you quit for? You're good up there, I can tell you know your way around the roof." Chase tried to include me in their conversations, I wished he wouldn't.
"I went to play football in college," I told them as we all stood up to get back to work.
"Football huh? Were you any good?" Andrew asked.
"I started in my first game," I shrugged my shoulders climbing up the ladder first.
"You were a starter huh? That's big, especially for around here! What'd quit that for?" Chase grunted as he climbed up the ladder.
"I needed to come back and help out my family," I felt my face turn red and burn. I tried to cover it up by squatting and pulling up a piece of remaining wood.
"That's a shame," was all Andrew said. I was glad that conversation went away.
"Come on, let's grab a bundle," I nudged Chase. He followed me with out saying anything. These bundles weren't as heavy as I remember. I guess football got me stronger. Maybe I'd survive this. I picked up two to carry at a time. Chase opened his mind to say something, but he kept his mouth shut.
"Kid, if you played ball as sloppy as you roof no wonder you quit." Patty came up behind me and grabbed a bundle.
"I had that," I responded annoyed cutting the plastic off and kneeling to work.
"Yeah, sure you did. Kill yourself on the first day, then you'd be no use to your family." He was probably right, and he probably had a point, but just the way he talked to me like I was a stupid dog just ate me alive.
"You know man, unless I hear otherwise you ain't the boss of me, and you sure as hell don't know about my family so if you," I was about to give this guy a piece of my mind, but Chase wasn't having it.
"Come on fellow's, let's not play dirty." That was enough to get us away from each other for a few hours, but I don't know if it was the heat or what but Andrew happened to be standing beside me when I was having a hell of a time leveling off the wood, and Andrew was at the wrong place at the wrong time.
"Kid, can't you see this is crooked?" If he stopped there maybe we woulda been okay, but he didn't. "Who taught you how to use this thing," He yanked it out of my hand and kneeled down to help me, but he already pissed me off I wasn't having it.
"My dad taught me, actually he taught me everything I know about roofing, and he was the best roofer this company ever had, or that's what boss said at the funeral, so let me work," I hissed at him just as boss climbed up on the roof. I didn't even see him at first my tunnel vision of fury had gotten the best of me.
"We're ahead of schedule boys, I was just coming to tell ya'll to call it a day. There ain't no rain in the forecast so we got time. See you in the morning," I felt my heart pound as I turned around to face him.
"See you tomorrow kid," Chase offered a weak wave.
"I'm sorry boss," I said through a sigh. "I didn't mean to bicker, he'd been hounding me, and I just wasn't willing to take it," I shrugged fully expecting him to rip me a new one. I'd deserve it.
"Yeah, he ain't an easy guy. You're just going to have to work it out. I can't have my best guys having problems," he sat in the pointy part of the deck.
"Yes sir, it won't happen again." I told him pulling out the wood that wasn't straight. He didn't say anything he just watched.
"I'm not worried about it son, relax I'm not going to fire you." I know he was trying to help me. I know he was trying to comfort me, but him calling me son, and sitting there waiting for me to open up would be the same thing my dad would have done, and it truthfully only made it harder.
"I'm better than this," I said not really to him or to me I was referring to the crooked pieces. Now they weren't lining up.
"The kids go back to school yet?" He asked ignoring my comment.
"No, just Mary to talk to some teachers," I told him through gritted teeth as I pulled.
"Go be with your family. The roof will be here tomorrow," he stood up. I looked at his shoes for a second contemplating what to say.
"You're alright kid, just go on home."
"Sir," I started.
"Listen, the guys all pitched in and we collected some money for you family. It ain't much, but it's a little spending money for when the going gets tough, or tougher in your case I suppose," he handed me an envelope as I got into my car.
"I don't know what to say." Even though I kind of saw this coming I was still surprised.
"The best thing to say when you don't know what to say is nothing. Go home Junior," he hit the hood of my old fix her up, and the got in his own truck. He drove off before I did. I just sat in my car feeling completely exhausted.
Xxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxx
I was now driving Dad's truck because Soda drove it home from Darry's football game and Dad drove Mom's. Of course her was totaled. I couldn't even imagine what it looked like now. I liked Dad's truck the best, he caught me how to drive on it. I use to drive mom's the most though, because Dad always took his to work with him. In the summers if both Soda and I needed the car then one of us would drop dad off and pick him up for work. There weren't usually problems. But now it was just Dad's and Darry's truck. Dad's truck needed a little work. It wasn't easy to change gears. You had to push pretty hard to get it in park. I didn't mind so much now. I slammed it in park outside the school feelin a little bit of relief when I did.
I straightened my skirt and walked toward the office. I smiled real big when I saw the secretary.
"Mary," she said with a sad smile. I was getting real use to those.
"Good morning Mrs. Bell," I said as normally as I could manage.
"Mary we are just all so sorry for your loss. Such a horrendous tragedy," she told me this like I didn't already know.
"Thank you ma'am we really appreciate that," she reached her hand out over the desk and put in on my arm. It was a nice gesture I appreciated it, but I was doing all I could to keep it together.
"How are you kids holding up?" She pulled her glasses to the end of her nose.
"We're doing the best we can ma'am, I came to get some work so we don't fall behind." I didn't mean to sigh, it just happened naturally.
"That's very responsible of you honey," She kept looking at me like I was dying.
"Is Mr. Green in?" I was more ready to get away from this lady than I ever had been before.
"He's in a meeting, but it shouldn't be long." She smiled at me again. Her face must have been hurting at this point.
"Can I just wait here?" I looked over to the chairs outside of her office.
"Of course, can I get you anything?" She asked as I went to sit down.
"No ma'am," there was a lot a needed, but nothing she could get me. It was quiet for a few long minute before she talked again.
"Do you think you kids are going to be able to stay in our district?" She asked this out of the blue like she was asking me my favorite color.
"I hope so," I responded as nice as I could.
"I know you don't have extended family, I didn't know if there were any homes near here that had room." My mouth literally dropped open when she said that. It stayed open for a while as I contemplated what to say.
"I hope so," I finally managed to mutter.
"Me too, you kids are a pleasure to have at this school, we were so sad but proud, of course, to see Darry graduate. He was a good role model to this school." Mrs. Bell informed me, of course I already knew that. I had heard it about a million times. It's tough to follow in his footsteps.
"He's a good role model in our home now, we're in good hands." I still forced a smile, but it was less pleasing and more serious. I was tired of talking to her. She didn't have a clue. She must have caught on though, because she gave my hand one more squeeze then walked back behind her desk.
"Mary, come in please," Mr. White walked in the office. "I have been expecting you, thank you for coming." He pointed to a seat.
"I realize we are in an unique situation with your family now, and I just want you to know we are behind you. You're parents have raised you all very well, Darry graduated with highest honors, I don't see any problems with him taking over guardianship. I just wanted to let you know I will be passing that along to the judge. Take a deep breath Mary, you're doing great. They'd be so proud of you." Mr. Green came around and sat in his desk away from me the same way Jared had a few days back.
"Thank you sir," I nodded my head wishing I was able to relax like he asked.
"I hope you aren't rushing back to school too soon. I spoke to Darry and I told him to take as long as you need. I also told him there will be counseling available for all of you if you need it." I was starting to get hot. I did this when I was uncomfortable. Sometimes I would even sweat.
"I'm sure we'll know when they are ready to come back. I just came to get some work from the teachers so we won't be so far behind." I told him and he nodded.
"Mary I know what you are up against, I know the statistics and the odds are not in your favor, but I hope you know we will all help as much as we can. So please, take us up on that." I heard what he was saying, and I appreciated it instantly, I truthfully did, but I also knew there wasn't anything they could really do. There wasn't anything anyone could do that would make this better.
I guess the silence was too much for him to take, he pulled open his file cabinet and started writing. A moment later he handed it to me, "here are your brothers schedules and their locker combination, do whatever you need to do," He stood up. I did too. As he walked over to the door he patted me on the back, "Please let us know what we can do to help."
"Thank you," I smiled feeling my eyes water the slightest bit.
"Mary, this is from all of the teachers, for your family," Mrs. Bell handed me a bouquet full of flower.
"That is so kind, thank you," I took them with a smile. I walked out of their office on the way to Pony's first teacher. I knew it was about to be real awkward to just walk in when they were teaching, luckly I knew two of his teachers. The first teachers door was open, and before I even got fully to it he met me at the door.
"Mr-" I started then paused looking at the paper Mr. Green handed me.
"Oatis," he answered for me.
"I'm Mary, I'm here to pick up work for Pony," I told him like I had rehearsed in my head.
"Ah, good, come on in," he walked toward the front of the room. Everyone was staring at me as I walked to the front of the room.
"If I would have had more time to prepare I could have gotten more work together. This will just have to do," he was digging through piles upon piles of paper. He was just talking out of his butt, there's no way a head up would have given him enough time to organize everything. Still I just stood there looking at him with a blank face as everyone around me starting having their own conversation. I knew Pony was young for his grade, but a lot of these kids looked way older than him. Some of them must have flunked a few times, it was suppose to be a freshman class. Every single one of them were social too, I guess that's what Pony gets for being smart. Darry was in classes with Socials too, but Darry played football with a lot of them, so he at least had friends in his classes none of these kids looked liked they'd be even remotely friendly. Maybe Pony would make friends when track started up. Finally the teacher handed me a stack of papers. I thanked him and left.
It was like that with all of his other teachers too, it was like they were expecting me, but they didn't have anything together. One of them didn't even give me any work, one gave me enough work for a semester. The last teacher of Pony's I had to go to was Mr. Symn. I remember Pony telling Mom that he liked him. I walked in his class right before the bell rang. Eveyone walked out as I walked in. I was a little thankful for that.
"You're a Curtis," he told me.
"The only girl," I told him walking around stragglers in the classroom.
"It's nice to finally meet you, I've read about you in Pony's journal," he handed it to me. I must have given him a puzzled look because he explained it further. "I make an effort to get to know my students, have a seat please," he pointed to a desk. "I've put together some work I think Pony would enjoy until he comes back." He handed it to me. I laughed in my head at how right he was, Pony would enjoy English work.
"Please tell him not to worry, he won't fall behind. I put my personal number in his journal, tell him he can call me with any questions. That goes for all of you." He had circle framed glasses that made him look older than he was.
"Thank you," I said for the 15th time today.
"Is there anything else I can do?" He asked me as students started to walk in for his next class."
"No sir, this is all, thank you," I stood up. He patted my back too as I walked out. I was not a big fan of people doing that. It kinda made me feel like a dog.
The principal gave me the combination to Pony's locker I was thankful at this point that I brought a bag to put all of Pony's stuff in. It amazed me how much work he had already. That's what he gets for taking all the hard classes. As for Soda and I, our teachers were just thankful we even showed up.
I knew Soda wouldn't do any work, I wasn't planning on it either, but I figured I might as well bring something home for him in the off case somebody asked about it. There were people swarming the hallways it was so clear how time really just moved on. I didn't know if it made me thankful or sad. Just like always if you got in the way or slowed down people would bump into you right and left. I got to Soda's locker when the crowds of people were starting to get harassed by the teachers to get to class. I got to Soda's lockers and shoot my head at the sight of it not even having a lock. That just showed how much he cared about his books. I was blindsided by what I saw next. The hallways were now completely clear except for Franki and Sylvia. I stood there in total shock as he held her hand and ran his fingers through her hair. He always told me he didn't like to do that around other people. He was even holding her books. It made me sick.
"Just Mary, what are you doing back?" A firm hand on my shoulder made me jump out of my skin.
"Jesus!" I turned and looked at him.
"What's got you all out of sorts!" Tim picked his hands off me.
"Sorry," I apologized and I don't know why. It was a reflex. "What are you doing here?" Tim dropped out a while back.
"Had to come pick up my idiot brother," he flicked Curly's ear. I smiled sympathetically to Curly. Curly could never really catch a break.
"Hey," Curly looked clearly annoyed. Tim couldn't care less.
"Jesus Christ, you'd think they'd get a room," Tim looked to where I was looking.
"It ain't like you ain't made out in these hallways before," Curly challenged Tim.
"If you know what's good for you, you'll keep your trap shut," Tim growled. Curly listened to him and immediately fell quiet.
"I gotta get to work, I just came to pick up some stuff for Pony," I still couldn't pull my eyes away from Sylvia and Franki.
"I heard Darry went to roof today, took your dad's old job," I was curious how he knew that.
"Yeah," I responded half heartedly starting to walk away, but I took one last look first.
"Want to use me to make them jealous?" Curly offered. I raised my eyebrow at Tim, but didn't say anything. Curly was even more perverted than Two-bit, and dangerous like Dally. That's a bad combination. I thought about making a comment about how Angelia had been MIA, but truthfully I didn't blame her. I headed out to the truck and then off to work I went. I gripped the wheel so hard that when I left go of the wheel my fingers were hurting. I could tell my shoulders were tense too. It wasn't all because Frankie got me all worked up, just being back at school normalcy again. It just all made me uneasy.
I walked in the doors to the Diner like I had down countless times before, but this time felt different. I felt like everyone was staring at me. I felt like everyone was judging me. I saw James first. He was cleaning. James and I weren't really friends, he was ran with the brumbly, and could sometimes be a real jerk. He needed this job though, so anytime boss was around he was a pretty decent guy.
"Hey," he greeted me which already unusual, or at least his tone was.
"How's it going James," I told him walking back to punch in. Mr Ford was back there as well. I was a little worried he was going to say something to me about clocking in before I was in uniform.
"Welcome back Mary," he gave my shoulder a reassuring squeeze.
"It's great to be back," I told him as I went back to change. I was the only waitress on the floor until around 2 when Meghan came in. We didn't usually get busy until school let out. I was thankful work picked up so Meghan and I didn't have to interact much. I wasn't mad at her anymore, I was just too tired to really talk to her I guess. I just wanted to work.
"Mary," and older gentleman and his wife who were both regulars waved at me. They didn't usually come at this time. Most of the coffee and dessert regulars came either early or around 5.
"Hi," I genuinely smiled toward them. It was great to see them, they were sweet people but I had a feeling it wasn't going to be easy to talk to them today.
"We're surprised to see you back so fast honey."
"Oh, well, I just couldn't sit at home. Darry and I both went back today." I smiled the best I could.
"We've been praying for you," his wife put his hand on my arm. There was something about them saying that that really tugged at my heart. I smiled and thanked them walking back to the kitchen. I held on to the edge of the sink and tried to pull it together.
I went back out to the same feeling. I felt like everyone was just waiting for me to loose it and fall apart, and it didn't help that my boss was out there waiting tables. He rarely ever did that, only when we were super busy.
I had a few more sympathetic looks from other people and some bigger tips than normal. However the next person that walked through my door really blew my day to hell.
"You look like shit Curtis," he told me putting his cigarette out in someone else's ashtray " I'm surprised that let you work like this."
"It's great to have you back Dallas," I looked over at the clock to see how much longer I had. It wasn't even 4 yet. I felt my stomach drop when I saw that.
"Timmy dearest told me you had something to tell me, he told me if I knew what was good for me I'd come here first, so you can say I'm a little curious about what princess here has to tell me," he got in my face when he talked to me. I tried to weigh my options then, I looked around for my boss, and I didn't see him.
"just sit down and order something, we'll go on my break when my boss gets back," I threw a menu at him and went to wait on other people. I wasn't very focused my mind was racing to what was I going to say.
"Mary," my boss put his hand on my back. I jumped and almost busted it in my roller skates. "Take a break." I was too flustered to wonder how he knew I needed one. I walked out the door and Dallas followed behind a long second later.
"Well spit it out for Christ's sake, don't you dare cry," he pointed his finger at me.
"Franki cheated on me," I told him as my eyes watered.
"Well shit, is that all! Princess I told you he was bad news, we just talked about this! I've got to admit I'm a little relieved," he handed me his cancer stick as he light an other one.
"Damn it Dallas will you just listen to me!" I felt like I was about to throw up. That got him quiet. He didn't say anything he just looked at me with his hateful eyes.
"He's cheating on me with Sylvia. He gave her his high school ring I saw them making out at school today." I pulled my hair out of the bun and let it fall on my shoulders.
Dallas looked at me in disbelief. I didn't say anything. I knew better than to say anything. His disbelief turn to anger. I wondered what he was going to do.
"When did they start?" He asked cooly.
"I saw them at Bucks the day before the funeral." My eyes were burning, but I wasn't crying. I had made it this far I wasn't about to start.
Dallas swore under his breath then sat beside me. My boss tapped on the window motioning for me to come back in. "I'll be right back, " I told him even though I didn't know if I would be. Must to my despair Dallas followed me back in.
"Go on and leave, I'll cover for you. I'll clock you out when I leave," he winked at me.
"You don't have to do that," I didn't know how to handle all of this kindness.
"Please Mary," Mr. Ford started before Dallas interrupted my thoughts.
"So it's true?: Dallas yelled.
"Dally! You're back?" I could pick her screechy voice out anywhere. I knew this was about to be ugly.
"I shoulda know you'd two time me again," Dallas looked at her like she was nothing more than trash.
"It ain't her fault your couldn't give her what she needed," Franki opened his trap all the wrong ways like usual. Dallas had him by the collar of his shirt so fast it wasn't even funny. Franki didn't look scared though, he was trying to egg Franki on.
"You better wipe that grin off your face before I do it for you," Dallas threatened.
"You wouldn't," Franki coaxed.
"Boys, take this else where," Mr. Ford warned both of them.
"Dallas come on," I started to walk out.
"See, she won't let you hurt me, she still loves me," he joked and I snapped. I slapped him across the face so hard my hand stung.
"Personally I hope he flattens you, but not the day he got out of the cooler," I whispered in his ear loud enough for both Dallas and Sylvia to hear.
"See you tomorrow, pal," Dallas grinned at him.
"You need a ride?" I asked him kind of hoping he said no.
"No, I'm headed toward Buck's. Tell the guys I'll be back tonight." He was gone with nothing more than a head nod. I got in the truck feeling more tired than I ever had in my life. I backed the old truck back and headed home. My mind was even too tired to think. I honestly felt too tired to even think of something for dinner.
I was taking my time getting all of Pony's school work and the flowers out of the car when I noticed Darry's truck was here. He wasn't suppose to be home for a few hours. My energy was renewed as I hurried to the house. I instantly saw him sitting on the couch staring blankly at the floor with his feet up on the coffee table.
He looked over at me probably wondering why I was home too. He didn't say anything neither did I. I went over and sat beside him.
"What happened to your shoes?" He asked me. It was the first time I noticed that I wasn't wearing any. I guess I took off my skates in a hurry and didn't bring back my shoes. He half laughed half snorted but didn't say anything. He was staring at an envelope on the table next to the flowers I put down in a huff. I was curious, but I also wasn't feeling the need to ask what it was.
"Where is everyone?" I said leaning my head back onto the couch cushion.
"Don't know," was all he said. I assumed they were together, and Soda and Pony were old enough to not need a babysitter, but I wasn't sure it was the best idea to have no idea where they were. I was more and more worried about state inspections now. I wasn't going to bring that up now, or ever for that matter.
"How's Doug?" Doug was one of the friends Darry met while roofing with Dad last summer.
"Boss split up everyone, apparently he's giving dad's team time off." Darry stopped talking, but I knew he had more to say.
"Are you guys finishing up Dad's last project down by the old mill?" I closed my eyes trying to get my head to stop hurting.
"I didn't even know he was working on one," Darry stretched his neck.
"Do you like the new guys you work with?" Dad always liked the guys he worked with, but he never socialized with them much after work. He never talked about them to us much either. Every once in a while he'd bring one home for dinner and some would come over on holidays, but for the most part Dad kept his work separate. I knew by Darry hesitation that he didn't.
I was thirsty, but I didn't want to get up. I eyed Darry's water, and decided to break the silence, "Can I have your water?"
"It's not water, but yeah," he handed it to me. I didn't even have to smell it to figure out what it was. I thought about giving him a hard time for drinking like he gave us yesterday, but I guess the main difference was he was actually 18, he was allowed. So I just kept my mouth shut. Darry must have noticed because he started to speak
"Listen Mar, about yesterday," Darry let out a sigh.
"You were right Darry, I should have had a better handle on everything." He looked at me with his eyes sad.
"We just have to be a team," He put his hand on my knee. I didn't know how to bring up that he was being too much of a hard ass too soon. He couldn't parent them yet, we hadn't even accepted that out parents were dead yet. "What?" He asked me with a little bit of grumble in his voice.
"We're all a team though, not just me and you. You didn't talk to them, you just yelled at them. You scared Pony. He's already scared enough. I know you're just trying to keep us safe, but maybe it was too soon." I suggested.
"Oh come on, Mom and Dad yelled at us plenty of times, they would have done more if they were here," Darry dismissed me.
"Right, but Darry they aren't here, you can't possibly compare yourself to them. They wouldn't have yelled at us when we were already upset about something, you know that. Remember when you snuck out to see Nancy, and you saw her with some other guy? Dad didn't light into you for sneaking out until the next day. He stayed up with you and talked to you about her." I pulled away from him a little not wanting to be touched. "It's just too soon Darry. A couple days ago Pony waited by the phone for you to call so that he could tell you about his stories! He isn't ready to look at you as an authority figure he needs you to be his brother. Don't pull this "my house my rules" card because you're only going to cause tension." I tried to reason with him. . He didn't say anything, but he looked like he was thinking. I didn't say anything either we both just sat there in silence. He reached in and picked the card out of the flowers. Our thoughts and prayers from all of us at Will Rogers are with you. I didn't even read the card earlier, I saw it as he pulled it out.
"Was it bad?" He asked not looking at me.
I thought for a second how to respond to that question, "it's just weird," I finally offered a response. We were sitting in silence but it wasn't comfortable. I was exhausted, but I didn't feel like I could sleep. The only way I knew how to explain how I was feeling was perhaps crushed. I felt devastated. I felt lost. I so desperately wanted to find peace. I knew Darry meant well, but he wasn't helping. I could literally feel his anger.
"I got tipped much more than usual today, and my boss wasn't going to clock me out until after he left." I spoke up just to say something. The look on Darry's face hardened a little. He wasn't one to take charity well.
"The guys took up a money pool," he pushed the envelope toward me with his foot. I reached and picked it up surprised at the amount in it.
"That's nice of them," I said not fully getting why he looked upset about it.
"I already fought with this one guy Andrew in front of my boss," I was starting to figure out why he looked like a kicked puppy.
"Nobody's first day goes smoothly, Dallas almost got in a fight with Franki, my boss just sent me home, and I've been working here for almost two years. Don't sweat these little things. We've got bigger problems." I was referring to the thought of getting up to make dinner.
"Dallas is out?" He seemed curious.
"Yeah," I nodded my head. Thinking about it made my stomach turn.
"How'd he take it?" I knew he was referring to Dallas.
"He didn't say much to me about it, honestly." I could feel my heart race when we talked about him. I could tell Darry wanted to ask more, but I was thankful he didn't. I stood up and walked I wasn't over him, and I didn't know why the hell not. Soda walked in the house with Sandy on his arm and Steve and Evie not bit step behind. He came up to me giving me a huge bear hug. It startled me at first.
"We saw Dallas," Steve spoke up filling me in on the big hug. "He's talking to Shepard." I don't know what it was about the hug but it made me want to get emotional. I wanted to break down for sure. Soda wasn't big by any means, but his hugs swallowed me. But, they were good hugs.
"Where's Pony?" Darry asked Soda.
"I dunno, he went out with Johnny before Sandy came over." Soda let got of me a little
