"You don't know?" Darry questioned sounding appalled. "You didn't ask him?"
"Darry, he was a little preoccupied," Steve was being a smart ass raising his eyebrows at Sandy. Sandy's face turned tomato red. My stomach turned when he said that. I was miserably torn on how I felt about that. Obviously Sandy made Soda happy, and I kinda wish I had the relationship with my brothers to share experiences like that, and I did with dad to an extent, but I sure as hell wouldn't do it in the house.
"You two can't start doing that here," Darry pointed his finger at them. I assumed he probably felt the same as me. However, he only looked annoyed and tired at the moment he didn't look the slightest bit conflicted.
"Now wait a second Darry," Soda started to speak up right as Pony walked in with Johnny on his heals. He could sense the tension.
"What's going on?" He asked before he pulled off his shoes.
"Where were you?" Darry asked before I could even respond. I'm sure Darry didn't mean to sound as gruff as he did, but it came across like he was angry.
"Johnny and I went to the library," Pony motioned to his books in his backpack slowly.
"Oh, well tell someone next time," Darry's face softened for a second, but not for long. I was again noticing the tension Franki mentioned and I wasn't liking it. "You won't have much time for pleasure reading Ponyboy, Mary brought home all your work from school," Darry motioned to all of it on the tale. Pony didn't say anything.
"You went to school today?" Pony seemed surprised.
"Just to get work and talk to some teachers, I didn't stay long," I assured him. quickly
" I woulda gone with you," Pony offered looking disappointed.
"Shoot kid, take all the time you can get off, it ain't gonna change any while you're gone," Steve laughed like Pony was crazy for wanting to go back, and although I personally never wanted to go back again, I understood why Pony wanted to. School was his comfort zone, he felt safe there.
"I'll leave a note when I leave in the morning, can you leave one guys if Darry and I aren't here, just incase the state comes by? That way we at least look like we've got it together?" I told them half kidding as I pulled out a dish from the freezer looking at it skeptically. I didn't want to be the bossy one, but I did think it would look real bad for something to happen and none of us know where anyone is.
"Sure Mar," Pony agreed sitting at the kitchen table.
"What do you think this is?" I poked at the dish we were fixing to eat for supper..
"I dunno." Pony squinted his face up at it. I didn't blame him.
"Would you rather eat this one?" I pulled an other one that looked similar but was in a different shaped bowl.
"I'm not hungry," Pony shrugged.
"What if we add cheese?" I tried again. He didn't say anything he just shrugged. I wasn't going to fight with him. A part of me knew he needed to eat more than he was. Hell everyone needed to eat more, but I wasn't planning on making that a big deal. I remember my mom saying she had to pick her battles, I guess I was learning what she meant by that. I looked it over a little more carefully trying to see what was in it.
Eventually I just turned on the oven and collapsed into the chair at the table. The guys were pretty quiet in the living room. Pony had disappeared into the bathroom. The boys all three spent longer in the bathroom than I did, I shook my head thinking about how much each of them cared about their appearances.
"Darry it ain't even like that, we weren't even fooling around, Pony ain't got a clue, can't you be happy for me! We took a big step, don't you remember your first time?" I heard Soda tell Darry, I was surprised they were still talking about this.
"Sandy, do you want to help me set the table?" I asked her just to get her away from Darry and Soda. I only met Franki's family twice, but I couldn't imagine talking about sex with them.
"Sure," she smiled walking over and taking the plates out. I liked that Sandy wasn't a huge talker. My ears were tired of listening, but I soon realized that I was wishfully thinking. She opened her mouth and couldn't stop.
"Mar, I don't know what Soda's told you about me, but before I date him I dated a really bad guy," she didn't look at me as she was talking and I didn't like where this story was going, but I had no idea how to end the conversation. "He really didn't treat me right, I had the bruises to show, but I really loved him, even though no one else did I loved him, I don't know why I did. It would have been much easier if I didn't love him. When he broke up with me I was crushed Mary. I felt like the world shattered. No one understood because they all hated him." She paused and looked at me with sad eyes. I had figured out why she was talking to me, she was talking about her, but she was really trying to talk about Franki.
"All I'm trying to get at is I know break ups are always hard, and I'm sorry. Why don't you let Evie and I take you out? We can show you a good time, no boys allowed," her face light up like she thought this was the best idea ever. I on the other hand, thought it was the worst idea ever.
Soda's ears perked up at no boys allowed. "I don't know about this!" He was kidding, but I wasn't. I wasn't friends with Sandy she was almost two years younger than me, we never had classes together, I knew nothing about her except for Soda fancied her.
"That's real sweet Sandy," I started to come up with an excuse, but good Ole Steve cut it.
"You better take her up on that Princess, you're running kinda low on friends, where has Angela been? I just assume and Sylvia ain't exactly on the best of terms right now, I mean how could you be, right? Don't even get me started on Meghan," Steve could be a real jack ass. I wanted to be angry at him for his comment. I wanted to make a cheap shot back, but his words actually stung. Where was Angela? How could Sylvia go after Franki like that, she was my friend wasn't she?
"Steve!" Evie hit his arm. "He don't know what he's saying, he's upset over your parents is all. Tell her you're sorry!" Evie looked like she could kill him.
"Oh come one, she ain't like most broads. She doesn't get offended like the rest of you do. " Steve put his other foot in his mouth. Normally I would have enjoyed sitting back and watching Evie rip him to shreds. Those two knew how to fight. But tonight I didn't really feel like it. Maybe I was just tired. I almost wished I had brought a book or two home to read just so it looked like I was busy so no one would talk to me. I looked around to see if there was something I could clean, but the place was still pretty clean from when I went over board cleaning yesterday.
"What do you say Mar?" Sandy looked hopeful placing silverware on the table.
"I think it'll be fun! I for one wish I was invited!" Soda grabbed Sandy from behind.
"Invited where?" Two-bit chimed in letting the door slam.
"I told you, Two-bit, Princess would be whipping up some supper!" I had a feeling Dallas was about to make my day worse.
"How come he doesn't get shit from picking on you, but when I do it it's a big deal?" Steve whined like a five year old. I looked over at the black eye forming on him shaking my head going.
"You go after Franki?" Johnny pointed towards Dallas' eye.
"Yeah, you should see the poor bastard," Dallas seemed proud, if he would ever let actual feelings show other than just anger I bet he was a little hurt that Sylvia would do that to him, but no, Dallas had no look in his eyes other than ice. "You sure know how to pick `em Princess," he looked over at me.
"I could say the same thing about you, when I saw them at school today she stuck her tongue down his throat first," I gave a half smile before walking out onto the porch. I wanted to get outside quick before anyone could say anything because truthfully I didn't know how much more I could take. I know it was all good fun, and we all had always played around like that with each other, but sometimes they hit hard before I even had chance to come up for air. I walked out so fast I didn't even get my smokes.
I was rubbing my eyes when a beat up old car pulled up into the driveway. It only took a total of two seconds of seeing her before I knew who she was. I remember her from the last time he was here.
"Shit," I mumbled under my breath standing up.
"You must be," She paused looking over the sheet. "Mary," She smiled real big. I was already not liking her. She didn't even know our names before she got here, and she clearly didn't remember me from before.
"Yes, ma'am, you're from the state?" I asked matching her smiled.
"I am, Mrs. Owens, I am your social worker," she stuck out her hand and I shook it in return.
"It's a pleasure to see you ma'am. Please, come on in. I just put supper on, the boys are just hanging out with their friends," I knocked on the door once before walking in hoping like hell everyone has clothes on and wasn't making out. Noone ever knocked on the door, so all eyes were on us when we walked in.
"Guys, this is Mrs. Owens, she's our social worker," I tried my best to sound friendly. Darry got up to his feet awful quit.
"I'd shake your hand, but I haven't showered, I just got home, please excuse me." Darry looked nervous. I put my arm around him in a side hug trying to calm him down.
"Why don't you have a seat? Soda's just helping his girlfriend set the table, and Pony's in the shower. Can I get you some water or tea?" I hoped she'd say yes so I could get away from the table.
"That'd be great," She smiled taking a seat.
"My names Keith, I go to the same school as the kids, I keep an eye on them," Two-bit winked at Mrs. Owens, she seemed to appreciate his comment she smiled and wrote his name down.
"I've got places to be," Dallas mumbled walked out the door. It didn't surprise me much, He was never good at small talk, or anything serous for that matter.
"I'm Evie, Steve's girlfriend. Steve and Soda are best friends, have been since birth." Evie offered introductions. Mrs. Smith didn't seem as impressed as she did with Two-bit.
"Lovely to meet you all." She took the tea I offered her and placed in on the table. "We'll I don't see a reason to beat around the bush. I'm here to take a look at the home, the safety, the supplies, the whole nine yards really. I'll speak with each of you individually then, I'll give my ruling to the judge on Friday." She spoke like she said this day after day.
"Please, help yourself," Darry motioned for her to look around.
"Soda, can you hurry Pony up," I whispered. He'd just die if he walked out of the shower in a towel and Mrs. Smith was here.
He nodded and walked off.
Mrs. Smith walked around for what felt like eternity Darry was pretending to read the paper, Steve and Evie were sitting on the couch completely silent. Sandy was telling Soda everything was fine. I noticed Pony hadn't come out of his room in a while, I also knew there was no way he'd dilly dally putting on close when the state was here.
"Sandy can you watch this," I asked her referring to the food in the oven, but I didn't stick around to listen for her answer. I tapped lightly on Pony's door walking in with out waiting for a response for him either.
"Mary," he jumped when he saw me.
"Did you think I was Mrs. Smith?" I asked him closing the door behind me, or at least I thought I closed it. He didn't answer which answered my question.
"This is just an other one of those things we have to get through," I talked to him even though he has his back to me. I understood that Pony was taking this the hardest. He was the youngest, he was missing out on the most from our parents. I understood that he couldn't process it the same, and didn't realize what kind of road was still ahead of us. But I didn't know how to get him to move forward, or at least try.
"Come on Pon, please just try for me," I sighed leaning over the bed to reach for his hand. He pulled away from me, it hurt my heart even more than Steve did to have him react that way.
"You know what I'm scared of the most?" I asked and paused knowing he wouldn't respond. "I'm scared that you guys don't know how much I love you. I'm scared that you think now that Mom and Dad died no one loves you. I'm scared that you don't know that I'm doing everything I can keep us together. So, that's why I'm going to go out there and talk to Mrs. Smith about how even though we are hurting we're tuff, and we're getting by because we can't hide from the scary thing forever, and together they aren't as scary." I told him standing up. I almost walked straight into Mrs. Smith when I stood up. My heart skipped a beat she scared me by how close to me she was with out me knowing, "excuse me," I apologized quickly. She followed me into the kitchen where Darry, Sandy, Soda, Steve and Evie remained.
"The house is in impeccable shape," she complimented. I couldn't help but smile weakly at her. I wanted to tell her that I had nothing else to help ease the worry, but I didn't think it would wise.
"Darrel should we speak first?"
Xxxxxxxxxxxxxxxx
When Mrs. Smith asked to speak with me, I should have been thankful to go first, but in truth I was dreading this day like I dreaded the last day of summer vacation. "Yes ma'am, guys can you clear out?" I looked over to Sandy and Soda who had their hands off each other for the first time since I'd been home. I guess they knew it'd be better to not look like sex crazy kids in front of Mrs. Smith. I knew they knew what was at stake without me even having to say it.
They went out to the porch, Steve and Evie followed them out.
"Darry, this'll be done in 8 minutes," Mary pointed to the oven.
"It won't take that long," Mrs. Smith looked at me reassuringly. Mary nodded and followed the guys out.
"Mr. Curtis, take a deep breath, you're doing just fine," She looked at me in the eye for the first time since she'd been here. I didn't know if I believed her or not.
"For starters the house is in better shape than mine is! Soda and Pony are emotionally where I'd expect them to be at this phase of the mourning process. You and Mary are both already back working. Pony was working on his school work when I went in his room, I can tell you are committed to doing what is best for these kids and I know them being here is what is best for everyone. So, you can rest easy for now." She told me and I let out a long breath I'd been holding.
"What now?" I asked not knowing what to say.
"On Friday we'll go to court I'll tell the judge that I think you are fit to take on these kids, I'll tell them about why and then he'll make a decision. He may asked Pony and Soda some questions about living with you, but seeing the state they are in, I doubt he'll ask much considering the state the children are in, with all of this being so new." She gave me arm a squeeze and stood up. I sat there dumb founded at what she had just said. For some reason I couldn't just relax and trust her that maybe the worst was over?
"Darry, I'm on the kids' side, I'm not a bad guy here, you can trust me. I've got kids of my own, I know how hard this is." She assured me standing up. I also stood up. "I'll see you all on Friday," she walked outside.
It didn't take but a minute for everyone to come back in the house. Everyone's faint resemblance of smiles they started to get back since the funeral had now further faded. "Where's Pony?" I asked once everyone was inside.
"I'll get him," Soda offered standing. I saw Mary follow him with her eyes, but she turned and pulled the casserole out of the oven all the same.
