Everyone kept telling me not to worry, but I knew they were all lying and they were worried too. I know they try to pretend like they aren't worried so I won't be, but they haven't learned how to hide their worry like Mom and Dad did, mostly Dad. I had never seen dad worried in my life.
James came over earlier this morning. He brought over a pie his wife made. He told us that we'd all go over to his house for supper after to celebrate a good day in court. I wanted to ask him if we would still go over if it wasn't a good day in court, but I didn't want to upset anyone.
Darry was on the front porch talking to James and an attorney James paid for in a loud whisper. I liked the attorney Max. I felt like he knew what he was talking about. He wrote everything any of us ever said down. I couldn't hear what they were saying, and I know they did that on purpose. I didn't really mind, I didn't want to know anyway. Darry had changed his tie at least 15 times, and he only has three ties. That's when James took him outside. I was glad because I was nervous enough already with out him making me more nervous.
Soda and Sandy were sitting on the couch together he had his arm around her, neither of them were really talking. I could see Soda was worried his leg was bouncing up and down like crazy. Sandy noticed, but she didn't say anything. Sandy had been real good to Soda during all of this. She was always smiling and being real nice. I liked that she didn't talk to me like I was a little kid.
Mary was putting on her makeup in the bathroom. She looked nice, she didn't look like a greaser at all, her clothes weren't tight, her hair was down, she almost looked like a soc. The only reason she didn't was because you could tell her clothes weren't new. I mean they were nice in all but not soc nice. Still, if the gang were around they would have given her a hard time.
Darry told them to go on to school, they couldn't come in the courtroom anyway. I think Darry didn't want them there incase we got taken away. Darry had really done everything James told him to do and then more. He repaired things that didn't need to be repaired, he kept more food in the house than Mom and Dad ever did, and he made us rehearse what we were going to say to the judge like our lives depended on it. Which I guess in a way they sorta did. I hated the thought of going to a boys home. I couldn't imagine being away from the gang, just thinking about it sent a chill down my spine. I shivered and Mary saw from the bathroom mirror. She gave me a weak smile but didn't say anything. Mary was always on my side when Darry bugged me about eating and sleeping. When I had nightmares I never felt bad about waking her up because she never looked tired the next day or angry. She didn't hassle me. I know Darry just did it because he was worried, but I just wanted to be left alone, and Mary got that.
Neither Meghan or Franki had come around. I heard Dallas brag about slashing his tires I was glad he did, Mary even smiled when she heard him. I wondered if she missed him. They use to spend all of their time together. I heard Darry tell Two-bit that he didn't have time to miss Meghan, or get back out there like everyone kept hounding him to do. Noone had really been out. We all spent most of the days at home, Mary and Darry would work and the rest of us would really just sit around. Even Dally would sit around with us more now that Sylvia was out of the table. Dallas acted like he didn't care she was gone, but from how much he talked about her, I would bet he did. He said he hated that bitch, and she could enjoy hell, but I think it was just an act. Anyone would be upset if their girlfriend cheated on them, right? Maybe I'm wrong, but I always thought Dallas had a side he'd never let the rest of us see. I asked Johnny about it one time, and he looked at me like I had three heads, so I never mentioned it to nobody again.
Mary came out of the bathroom and poured herself a cup of coffee. I'd never noticed Marry drink coffee before. Mom and Dad lived off the stuff. Especially Dad he would drink it at every meal.
Sandy hit Soda's knee trying to get him to say something, but he looked at her confused, she rolled her eyes and spoke up "You real nice Mary," Sandy said sweetly.
"Thanks Sandy, the guys would have a fit!" She ran her fingers through her hair.
"I'd take them for you," Soda tired to pull back his shoulder looking all tuff.
"All of them huh, at one time?" Sandy challenged him, but Darry walked in before Soda answered.
"Alright gang, lets head on over," Darry tried to sound like it wasn't a big deal, like we were just riding to the Dingo or something. He said the same thing before we left for the funeral too. I stood up and walked to the door, Darry straightened my tie. I gave him a sheepish smile, I couldn't for the words to say thanks.
"Ride with me Mary?" James asked like it was no big deal like Darry just did, but I knew something was up. She smiled at him and kissed mine and Soda's cheeks quickly before she said she'd see us there. Sandy was coming, Darry tried to talk Soda out of it but Soda had already made up his mind, unless Darry was going to pull the parent card and forbid her to come there was no stopping it. I didn't really care if she was there or not.
I sat up in the front of the car with Darry, Soda and Sandy were in the back. None of us were talking much, we were all so tired of small talk we didn't mind the silence or at least I didn't.
"You doing alright kiddo?" Darry asked me as he parked the car.
"Yeah," I told him before I opened my door. He walked around the car and draped his arm over my shoulder. I was glad he did. It felt good. He was about the same height and build as my dad. I leaned into him thinking about my dad.
Xxxxxxxxxxxxx
"I don't think we have anything to worry about," James told me but I sensed his pause.
"But," I finished for him.
"The judge we got is a stickler. He's known for splitting up families even when there's one parent. This one time he took a kid from his father, he said the dad couldn't give the kid the care he needed." For a split second I was annoyed at James for trying to scare me, I didn't need him to point out how serious this was. But then I figured it out.
"You want me and Darry to be co-parents. You want us to play house." I didn't know why this was a problem. I guess we kind of already were. But I still had a couple months until I was 18 I didn't think the court would take it seriously.
"I just need you to be able to say your mom taught you how to cook and manage a household. I just need you to be able to swoon the judge. He's got a soft spot for young women." Max stepped in. Maybe I should have been offended he wanted me to just say the right things, but honestly I didn't care.
"okay," I said with little emotion.
"Okay," James clapped his hand.
"Also, be prepared to talk about your job and how you will manage to keep your grades and the added house work. Make sure you keep saying you've always been a big help around the house because your mom was active in the church and relied on you a lot." Andrew didn't even look at me he just kept going down his checklist. That wasn't even true, she helped out the neighbors a lot yeah, but not our church.
"If the judge asks you anything that upsets you or makes you nervous you need to take a deep breath and think before you respond. It is better to make him wait than to say something you can't take back. You need to be firm in everything you say with out sounding like you have doubts. That'll leave less room for him to ask questions." Now I was wishing I could write all this down. What kid of guy was this judge?
"Mary, Max is on our side, he's going to help us," Andrew looked at me in the mirror. He kept his eyes on me until I nodded my head acknowledging what he was saying.
"Is he going to talk to Soda and Pony?" I was worried that they would already be so emotional they couldn't answer many questions. Neither of them could mention Mom or Dad with out getting upset.
"They'll have generic questions, how are they doing, are they adjusting okay, is Darry taking good care of them, do they feel safe, but nothing major. You don't need to worry about them." Max telling me not to worry really did help me relax some. He seemed like he wouldn't tell me that unless he meant it. There was a moment of silence and Mas caught my eyes in the rearview mirror again.
"Mary, if the judge tries to take Pony my wife and I are prepared to appeal and become foster parents for him until all is sorted out with the courts. It would be our pleasure." James' generosity made me smile, I liked to think that the worst case scenario still had a better ending than a boys home.
"You don't think Soda's at risk for being separated? He doesn't do so well in school." Not that I did either, but Soda was going to be a stretch to graduate.
"I've never seen judge Carson put a 16 year old in a boys home. Boys that age would usually just run away." Max answered. I thought about Soda in a boys home. I think he would far the worst, Max was right. Soda would run away. He couldn't be away from home, and Sandy. He'd work under the table somewhere. Pony would be a mess, he's very emotional and easily impressionable for his age, but if he were placed in a good home with good parents and good kids he could adapt. But what were the chances of him getting placed in a good home?
"If the judge doesn't give Darry custody then I'll suggest James, but I hope it won't come to that. If I feel like we are loosing then I'll start listing adults that are active in your lives. Mrs. Mathews was over the first time the social worker came over, so I'll mention her, and of course I'll mention James and his wife. However, that's a last resort, I'm really going to push the idea of you and Darry being mature for your age and able to handle this." Max just kept rattling off information from his legal pad, I was so clueless.
"Is this Judge a hard ass?" I asked not even feeling bad about saying that. James gave me a half smile from the mirror.
"I told you she was smart," James chuckled similar to the way my dad did.
"He's known for doing unorthodox things, he's not a real big fan of greasers." Max said bluntly, this made me chuckle.
"He's not the first one to say that," I smiled. I remember my Dad always telling us not to let other people label us, that we could be what ever we wanted to but I knew he had no problem being a greaser. He was all about a fair rumble, with skin only and equal numbers. With out Mom knowing. He hated it when the guys upset Mom. She worried about the gang something awful.
"Just answer the questions the way your dad would," James put the car in part and looked back at me. "He was one hell of a smooth talker, how do you think he landed your mom?" He winked at me getting out of the car.
Xxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxx
We are all sitting in a line with James and Sandy behind us. Max was on the far left closest to the lady from the state, Mrs. Smith. Mrs Smith kept looking at her watch like she had somewhere else to be. She told me she had over 50 kids she was in charge of, but this was an important moment for our family and she couldn't even focus on us right now, typical. Judge Carson walked in quickly not making eye contact with any of us. Mrs. Smith and Max stood up so I stood up to. Everyone else followed my lead.
"Curtis Family," he said taking the folder from Mrs. Smith giving her a head nod to acknowledge her. He paused looking over the folder it felt like forever, but realistically It couldn't have been longer than a minute. I looked over to Mary and the guys to see if they were as nervous as me. They were. Pony looked like he was going to pass out he was so pale, Soda just did look like Soda his smile was no where to be seen, and Mary had a stern and serious look on her face like this was all business. I told myself to get it together like her.
When Max told me that they wanted to sell Mary and I being a united front to the judge like my parents were my stomach turned. I could handle this. I had been handling this. All Mary had been doing was coddling Pony and obsessively cleaning. I would help her clean if she didn't do it all before I did it. She worked late and never ate dinner with us either, our parents would have never had that. I was starting to understand what Mary meant that first night when she told me we never were friends, I was stupid to think that anything would change. But still, what ever I had to say to keep us together I'd say it. That's part of the reason why I told the gang they couldn't come. I knew deep down they'd be supportive over anything that was happened or said, but we were all in a vulnerable position and we didn't want to be around our buddies in this state.
"I'm very sorry for the loss of your parents," Judge Carson put down the paper and looked at each of us. I saw Mary reach out and take Soda's hand out of the corner of my eye. Secretly I wished I would have thought of that. "Please everyone sit down," the judge said and everyone listened sitting on command like a dog would.
"Mr. Woods, its been awhile, I wasn't aware you were back in Tulsa." The judge looked to Max. Through all of this I never even took the time to learn his name.
"I'm not your honor, Senior went to the same school as my kid brother, he kept him in line," Max made the judge smile, maybe we were going to be alright after all. "I wouldn't want an other family to be estranged like we were, sir."
"I understand you point with that being said, Mrs. Smith what are your thoughts on guardianship of the three minors being handed to Junior?"
"I have no problems with it, your honor. Darrel seems fit to take on parental roles. Darrel has a full time job, Mary and Soda both have part time jobs, Pony is a straight A student, the house didn't have a plate out of order. For four teenagers to be living there it is in the best shape I have ever seen. It is in my opinion that is the best placement for the minors." Mrs. Smith looked up from her paper.
"Anything to add Mr. Woods?" The Judge paused. Was it really going to go by this quickly.
"Mr. and Mrs. Curtis were valued members of Tulsa, there deaths were very tragic but their teachings live on with these four. These young people sitting in front of you are not merely children. They are wise beyond their years. They have supported each other from the 2 am knock on their door. Darry may only be 20 but he showed his dedication to this family when he quit his and his fathers life long dream of playing college ball to come home and take care of his family. Mary has more patience than anyone I have ever met. She single handedly planned her parents funeral all with her savings from the past two years of working in a diner. No, she didn't tell me that herself, I found out when I called the funeral home to get some background on their family. She's much to modest to mention it. Soda's got his Dad's easy going personality and a stellar attitude he can change a negative into a positive with in seconds. I've seen him do it even this morning. Ponyboy, now if there's a kid that's going somewhere it's that kid. You honor he may be president one day. Sharpest kid I've ever met, and his writing that was put in the pamphlet at his parents would take your breath away. Sir, what I'm getting at is it takes some pretty special parents to raise kids to be the way these kids are, and for them to show so much strength to me in a time as tough as this one, I just can't imagine splitting that up. They need each other, and frankly all of Tulsa needs them," Max paced around a little bit as spoke. My heart was racing listening to him. How did he notice all of this? Why hadn't I noticed all of this? Was I too caught up in worry that I didn't notice how incredible they were?
"I agree with you that these are exceptional individuals. All I want to do is make sure they stay that way. So Pony, you're going to be president some day?" The judge pulled his glasses off his face and smiled warmly to Pony. Max motioned for Pony to stand up and button his jacket. Pony just looked at him like a deer in headlights he completely froze. The judge noticed it too.
"You don't need to be afraid son, I just want to talk, okay?" He glanced at Pony. Soda elbowed him trying to get him to stand up, but Pony looked on the edge of a breakdown. Mary crawled over Soda and switched places with him to stand next to Pony. She pulled him up, and whispered to him to button his jacket. I never would have thought to do that. I was personally starting to get worried about what the judge would think if Pony didn't talk.
"Tell Judge Carson about how much you like school Pone, tell him about English, it's okay." Mary encouraged him. Standing beside him looking like she wasn't scared at all.
"You like to read, son?" The judge seemed kind enough.
"I do, my favorite book it To Kill a Mockingbird, we just read it in school. I'm working on an essay for Mr. Syme." I let out a breath that I was holding when Pony opened his mouth.
"My granddaughter enjoys that book too," he smiled at Pony seeming pleased with the answer. "Did your mom and dad have to remind you to do your school work?"
"No sir, it was just expected. My dad told me school was my job, like working was his job. I don't mind. I like school." Pony shrugged I smiled.
"Do you think Darry will expect you to do the same?" Sure I will, what kind of question is that!
"He already does. Mary brought work home from my teachers and Darry keeps asking me how it's coming." Pony explained this made the judge laugh. I noticed Pony's tone though, it was one I had heard him use with my mom before but I never noticed he was using the same one with me. I tried to remember when I heard him sound like that, but I couldn't right away. But then, I remembered it was when Pony wanted to do what Soda and Steve were doing and Mom fussed about him being younger and smaller. I remember him telling me he hated being fussed over. Was I now fussing over him?
"Do you feel safe living with Darry?" Even though I knew I would never hurt Pony, and I was sure he knew that, this question stung a little.
"Yes sir," Pony answered plainly, just like Max told him to.
"You don't have a problem listening to your big brother, you two have always been close does him being in charge cause problems?"
"It's different I guess them not being here and Darry not being in college, but he just wants what's best for all of us, the same as Mom and Dad." Pony's voice cracked I could hear him trembling I knew he couldn't take much more of this. So did Max. He glanced at Pony, then me, and opened his mouth to speak up but the Judge nodded his head. I guess Max knew what that meant.
"Thank you Pony, you can sit down," he smiled at him again. He really did appear to be a nice guy. Pony sat beside Mary and Mary put her arm around him. I heard Pony sobbing quietly. I had gotten so use to crying, not just by Pony but by everyone that it didn't even really phase me at this point.
"You did good Pone, I'm proud of you," Soda whispered.
"Soda," the judge called his name making him, and the rest of us jump. "I see school is not your forte like Ponyboy's?" He had a hint of a disapproving parental tone that he did not have with Pony.
"No sir, I'm not smart like Pony, but I know both of my parents valued an education. My dad never got to graduate, and he wanted all of us to, so I'm not giving up." I was surprised to hear that come out of Soda's mouth. I wondered if Max had anything to do with that comment. I looked over to him but he had this focus in his eyes that I didn't dare disrupt.
"You work at a gas station, tell me about it." The judge asked.
"It's the DX, not too far down the road from where we live. A buddy of mine works there too. We fill up cars, but we're also mechanics. Between the two of us there ain't been a car we can't fix." Soda smiled, I smiled because his smile was so damn contagious.
"I'm happy to hear that son. Education is highly under appreciated in this country." He paused briefly and I looked over at him to see how he was doing, and he wasn't looking too good. I was worried he was going to break soon too. I hoped Max noticed as well. "Now tell me son, why do you want Darry to be your guardian?" My heart stopped beating for a quick second again.
"My dad use to call our family his team. At dinner he would day, "okay team, help me clean up." Soda paused his smile started to fade. "I guess I see it as we lost our QB1, and I guess mom was left tackle. But every good team has more than one Quarterback, and my parents would want us to go on as a family with out them," Soda's face fell, "I'm sure of it." He looked over at me. I didn't even notice the tears welling up in my eyes. Soda had tears streaming down his cheeks.
"Your honor can we take a brief break to get some water?" Max asked.
"Ten minutes," the judge told us. I stood there numb not sure what to do.
"Come on, lets go get water," Mary stood up Soda and Pony followed. Sandy reached over took Soda's hand. Pony was leaning into Mary as they walked.
"Good job guys," Max encouraged us.
"Hey," James put his arm on my shoulder. "Hang in there." I could barley manage a head nod.
"Take a deep breath kiddo, this'll be over before you know it," James kneeled in front of Pony who was seated on a uncomfortable bench.
"Were you saying your mom was left tackle babe?" Sandy kissed Soda's cheek.
"Shoot, we all know mom was the quarterback, she just let dad call the plays for his ego," Soda joked making all of us laugh outwardly.
"I'm going to the bathroom," Megan smiled. James gave her a look that made me wonder if I missed something.
Xxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxx
I had never been so happy to see a bathroom in my life. An empty one at that. I kicked off my heels and sat up on the counter lighting a smoke. I was sure that wasn't aloud but I didn't give two shits in the words of Dallas Winston. I told myself I could only smoke one, because I needed to get back out there. But as my cancer stick shrank I got anxious and wanted an other one. The bathroom door opened and I felt panic for a quick second.
"Oh man, this is the place to be," Sandy smiled walking over to me.
"Sorry," I laughed nervously.
"Don't be. You uh, doing okay? Is there anything I can do?" She asked me. I know she was trying to help. And truthfully I know this really was hard for her too, not only because of how it affected her life because it affected Soda's but because she liked my parents too, and the thought of Soda being taken away had to really scare her too.
a/n: I realize not an ideal place to stop, but it was getting long. Drop me some reviews, the other chapters rolling. I tried to really capture everyone's emotions here make it less action packed and more detailed. Did you like that?
