Part 8 – Girl talk

As the truck rolled around the street corner Steve walked into the house.

"Where have you been", his father said.

"Out."

"Ya better not be lying to me boy!" Mr. Randle screamed.

"I'm not."

"Where were you?"

"At the movies."

"Movies?! Ya should be home taking care of your sister and prepare dinner!"

"I'm home now and the clock is just three."

Steve still held his sobbing sister in his arms.

"Whatever, you'll do what it tell ya", Mr. Randle said. "Do ya understand or your little sister will be losing a brother."

"Miley go outside and wait for me there", Steve mumbled into her ear.

"No", Miley said.

"I'll be fine sweetheart."

"Ya promise?"

"Yes. Now go."

Miley ran outside and Steve turned to his father.

"Ya fucking bastard", he said. "Why the hell did ya threaten Miley? She's only eight and you're scaring the crap out of her!"

"Shouldn't have to if ya were home", Mr. Randle answered and took a swig of his beer.

"It's not my job to look after your children."

"I never wanted anyone of ya."

Steve felt a stab in his heart. Did his father really mean that?

"But your mother was so… stubborn and look what that got her, she died giving birth to that little brat out there."

Steve's temper snapped and he hit his father square in the face. His father tumbled backwards.

"Ya little shit", he then roared and flew at Steve.

Steve tried to duck out of reach but tripped on a chair. His father caught the collar of his jacket and hit him in the face over and over again. Steve wasn't gonna fight back. This was his dad and he still loved him. He just couldn't hurt him. Mr. Randle hit him one last time with such force it sent Steve to the floor in a heap.

"W-what have I done", Mr. Randle stuttered in fear. "S-Steve I-I'm…"

Steve flew up and bolted out the door.

"Steve", his father yelled in despair.

Steve saw Miley at the pavement talking to Mrs. Curtis. He ran to her and picked her up.

"Come on Miley", he said ignoring Mrs. Curtis and his father. "We better go for a run."

Then he bolted down the street hearing his father yell: "Steve I'm sorry! Come back!"

Steve stopped when he was at the vacant lot and sunk down on his knees. Miley slid out of his arms and put her small hand on his chin and lifted his head. Tears welled up in her eyes when she saw that he was bleeding from his mouth, nose, some cuts on his face and that his cheeks were bruising and that he would get a black eye.

"It's okay Miley", he soothed her as her bottom lip started trembling. "I'm okay."

"Y-you promised…" she sobbed.

"I did and I kept it. I'm fine honey."

"Why does daddy hate us?"

"He doesn't deep inside he still loves us."

Miley started crying again and Steve hugged her close. He sat down on the ground and let her sit in his lap. She still held her small arms around his neck and buried her face in his shoulder. Steve started rocking her and sung:

"Come stop your crying
It will be all right
Just take my hand hold it tight

I will protect you
from all around you
I will be here
Don't you cry

For one so small,
you seem so strong
My arms will hold you,
keep you safe and warm
This bond between us
Can't be broken
I will be here
Don't you cry

'Cause you'll be in my heart
Yes, you'll be in my heart
From this day on
Now and forever more

You'll be in my heart
No matter what they say
You'll be here in my heart, always

Don't listen to dad
'Cause what does he know
We have each other,
to have, to hold
He'll see in time
I know

When destiny calls you
You must be strong
I may not be with you
But you've got to hold on
He'll see in time
I know
We'll show him together 'cause

Oh, you'll be in my heart
No matter what they say
You'll be in my heart, always
Always"

Miley had ceased crying so hard and was now only sobbing slightly.

"He didn't hurt you did he", Steve asked her.

She nodded her head.

"Did he hit you?"

She shook her head.

"Kick?"

She shook her head again.

"Mentally?"

"What does that mean", Miley asked and looked up at him with big red eyes.

"Did he hurt your feelings?"

"No… but he hurt you so he hurt me too."

Steve kissed her head. "Don't worry baby I'm okay."

"Steve", a voice called and Steve looked over his shoulder and saw Mrs. and Mr. Curtis.

"Aw great", Steve hissed.

"There you are", Mrs. Curtis said and walked over. Steve hurriedly looked away to keep his beaten face out of view. "What happened at your house?"

"Dad and I had an argument."

"What about?"

"Nothing…"

"Steve look at me."

Steve didn't do as she said.

"Son", Mr. Curtis tried. He still wasn't particularly fond of the boy and had only met him once. "Look at us."

Steve sighed and did as they said. When they saw his face Mrs. Curtis gasped and covered her mouth with her hand.

"My God what happened to your face", Mr. Curtis asked.

"I was in a fight and that's what dad and I argued about", Steve lied.

"Well let's go to our house so we can clean you up a bit", Mrs. Curtis said. "The boys are all over there."

"I don't wanna be to any trouble."

"It's no trouble at all and I and Miley can finish our conversation right dear?"

Miley nodded and Mrs. Curtis saw her red eyes.

"Something is wrong here", she thought.

"Come on then", Mr. Curtis said.

"Jesus what happened to you", Darry asked when they got to the house and he saw Steve's face.

"Got in a fight", Steve mumbled.

"How, we left ya at your house."

Steve cursed himself for lying so badly today.

"Well let's talk about that later", Mr. Curtis said. "Darrel can you come and help me find the first aid kit?"

"Sure dad."

They walked out of the room.

"Darry what do you know about Mr. Randle?"

"Nothing dad, Steve has never told me about him. I've asked him who he lives with and he only answers dad and Miley."

"Do you know what Soda knows about the guy?"

"I think he knows as much as me."

"Did Steve look like that when you left him at his house?"

"No he looked fine, he only had a bruise on his neck. I saw it in school and asked him about it. He told me him and Miley had been trying to change a light bulb in the stairs and almost fell over the rail. He said he hit his neck against it."

"Darry I think his father did that to his face."

"Really?"

"Yes, your mother was talking to Miley outside their house and Steve stormed out, picked up Miley and ran off with her. Your mother thought she saw blood on Steve's face and she heard and saw Mr. Randle yell after him that he was sorry."

"But why doesn't Steve tell us the truth?"

"Did Johnny do that in the beginning?"

"No… Dad what will we do?"

"We'll wait for now and sees what happens. Maybe it was just a onetime thing. Now where is that kit?"

In the meantime Mrs. Curtis was talking with Miley in the kitchen.

"Do you like living here in Tulsa honey", Mrs. Curtis asked.

"Yes! It's so quiet around here and I got a good friend on the west side! His name is Alan and he's in my class and he likes playing and dancing just like me."

"That's nice dear."

"Steve is taking good care of me, he comforts me and sings to me. He cooks really good food too."

"What about your father?"

"He's never home… And when he is Steve has told me to stay away from him… Steve protects me from him. He's not nice."

"Oh…"

"Who takes care of Pony?"

"What", Mrs. Curtis asked confused.

"Who takes care of Pony?"

"I heard you honey I just wondered what you meant."

"I mean does Soda take care of him or Darry?"

"Well they do a little. But mostly it's me and my husband."

"That can't be true."

"What do you mean?"

"You can't take care of him 'cause moms doesn't stay and fathers don't do that."

Mrs. Curtis stared at her with wide eyes. The girl smiled sincerely and happily. She reminded Mary of Sodapop.

"Honey", Mary said and sank down before Miley's chair and took her hands in hers. "What do you mean with moms don't stay?"

"They don't."

"Can you tell me more?"

"Dad has brought home many moms but they only stays for a little while and then they leave again."

Mrs. Curtis was dumbfounded suddenly they heard a hiss of pain from the living room and Steve yelped "ouch". Miley shot up from her chair and ran into the room and started to hit on Mr. Curtis with her small fists.

"Don't hurt him", she yelled angrily. "Don't hurt him!"

"Miley", Steve said and grabbed her. "He's not hurting me."

"Don't hurt my brother", Miley yelled through tears. Steve flung his arms around her small frame and held her towards his chest.

"Miley calm down sweetheart, Mr. Curtis is not hurting me."

"B-but y-you yelped in pain…"

"Yes but that was because he cleaned one of my wounds. Don't cry sweetie it's okay."

Steve knew everyone was staring at him and mostly the little girl in his arms. Miley looked up at Mr. Curtis with tear streamed cheeks and red eyes.

"S-sorry", she stuttered.

"It's okay sweetheart", he said and patted her brother's shoulder. "You and your brother are safe here with us. No one here wants to hurt you."

"Except Dallas", Two-Bit said and laughed. "He still wants to beat up Steve."

Miley's eyes went huge in fear and Steve turned to glare at Two-Bit.

"Sorry", Two-Bit said. "That came out wrong."

"Ya don't say", Darry said and elbowed him.

"We better be going now", Steve said and rose. "You want to go home Miley?"

The girl pressed her face into his legs and shook her head.

"You can stay here tonight", Mr. Curtis said.

"We don't want to be to any trouble…"

"It's no trouble dear", Mrs. Curtis said. "All of these boys stay here every day."

"You wanna stay the night Miley?" Steve asked and his sister nodded. "Thanks Mrs. and Mr. Curtis."

"No problem son", Mrs. Curtis said. "Now let's cook dinner."

TBC