Part 3 – One rude boy

As the boys were walking home they noticed Steve a bit before them and they also saw Johnny and Pony coming running down the road. The younger boys weren't watching where they were going.

"They're gonna crash", Two-Bit said and they did. Both boys ran into Steve.

"Sorry", Pony said as he rose and offered his hand to Johnny. "We didn't see ya."

"bBtter watch where you're going", Steve grumbled as he rose. "Ya got eyes use 'em!"

"I said I was sorry", Pony pointed out.

"Whatever", Steve muttered. Then he turned to cuss Johnny out but stopped. He saw the fright in the kid's eyes. He sighed and clapped the kid's shoulder. "No problem." Then he continued walking leaving two stunned boys behind.

"Pony, Johnnycakes", they heard Two-Bit yell. "You boys okay?"

"Yeah sure", Pony muttered.

"You should watch where you're going Pone", Darry said. "Or you might end up hurting yourself or others."

"I didn't see the guy… Who is he anyway?"

"Steve Randle", Soda said.

"Aka new kid or the guy who beat up Dallas", Two-Bit said.

"He cheated", Dallas grumbled.

"Oh maybe it's his family that's moved into the house down our street", Pony said and they started to walk again.

"Maybe", Darry said.

"Ah there you are", Mrs. Curtis said as the boys entered the house. "I was just gonna go over to our new neighbors and offer them some muffins. Do you wanna come?"

"I will", Soda said happily.

"Me too", Mr. Curtis said from his armchair.

"Anyone else?" Mrs. Curtis asked.

"I'll accompany on this fine task my lady", Two-Bit said and bowed.

"Then come on boys."

Steve was in the kitchen preparing dinner for him, his alcoholic dad and his little sister Miley. Miley was only eight years old and their mother had died after giving birth to her. At first things had been good but then their father started to drink. Thankfully they'd had a nice neighbor in Chicago who'd helped Steve with Miley when he was in school and his dad at work. But Steve had basically raised her and their dad barely knew her name and she was scared to death of him. Right now she sat on top of the counter watching her brother.

"It smells yummy", she said.

"Thanks sweetie. How was first day at school?"

"Good I met a new friend!"

"That's nice."

"He's named Alan and lives on the west side of town! We played with a ball and played tag."

Steve smiled as she went on and on with enthusiasm. At least she was having a good time. Steve knew he had made a bad first impression. He also knew he would have to pay for it. But what he didn't know was what to make of that kid Sodapop. He seemed to be a nice guy, but Steve guessed it was just a camouflage or something. No one was ever nice to him. Suddenly the doorbell rang.

"Miley can you see who it is?"

"Okay." The little girl jumped down and hurried out into the hallway.

Mrs. Curtis smiled as a little girl with dark, long and somewhat curly hair opened the door. She had big dark, almost black eyes that was laughing and she seemed to be very small for her age.

"Hello", she said.

"Hello sweetie", Mrs. Curtis said. "Are your parents home?"

"Steve someone wants to see you", the girl ran inside and Steve came to the door.

"Yeah", he asked and looked at the four "strangers". Then he noticed Soda. "Not you again!"

"Nice to see you too", Soda said beaming.

"We just want to welcome you and your family to the neighborhood", Mr. Curtis said. "Can we come in?"

"Sure", Steve said with a shrug. They entered the house and looked around with interest. The house was pretty dark and there was not many furniture and of those there where was very old and worn. There was a piano at the wall and above it was a picture of a woman with long, curly and dark her, with eyes like Steve and Miley.

"Who's that", Mrs. Curtis asked.

"Mom", Steve answered.

"Oh what does she do?"

"She's rotting in her grave."

"Oh", Mrs. Curtis turned red. "I'm sorry."

"Don't be it's not as if ya knew her."

Mrs. Curtis heart went out for this poor boy; she couldn't believe he could talk so cold about his own mother.

"She was just being polite young man", Mr. Curtis said. "What about your father?"

"Getting drunk somewhere or lying in a ditch. Whatever."

"That's not a very nice thing to say young man", Mrs. Curtis said. "What do you think your little sister will think when she hears you talk like that?"

"Listen here lady, ya don't know shit about me or my sister so just shut the fuck up."

Mrs. Curtis stared at him in shock, so did Two-Bit and Soda, no one they knew was ever rude to Soda's mom.

"I don't like your attitude kid", Mr. Curtis said.

"That's your problem", Steve said and turned to him. "You're the ones that went over here I didn't ask ya to come."

"It's not good being this rude to your neighbors son, what will you're sister think?"

"Shut the fuck about my sister ya bastard. Ya don't know her, me, our dad, where we're from or what we lived through so I suggest ya put your big foot where your big mouth is and get the hell outta here."

Mr. Curtis turned red and looked at the others. "Let's go."

"I'll just leave you these muffins dear", Mrs. Curtis said.

"Whatever", Steve grumbled.

When Mrs. Curtis was about to shut the door she heard the little girl say:

"Do you want me to throw these away Steve?"

"Why honey?"

"They may be poisoned!"

"No honey", Steve said sadly. "Do you really think that nice lady would poison us?"

"You can never be too careful, you told me that. Remember that old lady three doors down? She poisoned the Mexicans living on the floor below us."

"We're not home anymore honey, there is no one here that wants to harm us… We're safe now. Ya don't need to worry."

Mrs. Curtis had heard enough.

"That's one rude boy", Mr. Curtis said as they came home.

"What happened", Darry asked.

"That boy was very rude to your mother and me I want you boys to stay away from him."

"No dear", Mrs. Curtis said.

"What?!"

"Honey I think it would be good for those two to see what real friends are. When we left I heard the little girl ask her brother if the muffins were poisoned."

"What?! Why would she ask that?"

"They're from Chicago", Soda said.

"How do you know?"

"Steve told me."

"Maybe they are from that part it's written about so much in the papers", Darry said. "That place where people get killed for the smallest things and kids steals to stay alive."

"Maybe that's how he did it…" Soda mumbled.

"What are you talking about Soda", Mr. Curtis asked.

Soda first explained what happened at auto mechanic and then told them he offered Steve to have lunch with him.

"But he said no", Soda said. "I noticed that he was walking to the car park and I wasn't too surprised, I saw his face during class, the guy loves cars, even more than I do. So I followed him and saw him study Paul's car. Then he crouched down near one of the tires and then Paul came. When Steve straightened up to talk to him the hubcap was gone. He then walked over to another car, I couldn't see it but then the hubcap was there, Paul saw it too and hurried of saying he would kill this Mark guy. Then Steve just walked over to Paul's car again and put back the hubcap, but I never saw him take it in the first place. Then he walked over to Tim and his gang's cars and changed the hubcaps from their cars to George's and Ollie's he said something about that they shouldn't be there."

"Ya saw him", Dallas asked and Soda jumped. He hadn't known Dallas was still there. "And ya didn't say anything."

"I didn't get the time before you stormed over and threatened to hit him."

"I didn't threat him, he's the guy wearing a gun at school."

"He's what", Mr. Curtis yelled.

"It's not a real gun", Soda hurried to say. "He showed me, it's just a thick piece of metal shaped as one. He said he used to wear it in Chicago to keep safe."

"That boy is trouble Mary", Mr. Curtis said to his wife. "He's dangerous."

"Nonsense", Mrs. Curtis said. "He doesn't know what nice and friendship is. Soda have you tried to talk to him?"

"Yes he opened up a bit but shut again as soon as Darry came over to us. He's worse than Johnny."

"I'm not too bad am I?" Johnny asked.

"No you're just shy dear", Mrs. Curtis said. "Steve is just suspicious and has hard trusting people. Can you all try to be friendly towards him? Maybe he is a sweet boy underneath the hard surface. Like my Dallas here."

"Aw man", Dallas said and blushed and the others laughed.

TBC