Part 10 – This is my life
It was a small ceremony in the church, with not so many people. There was the Curtis family, Two-Bit, Dallas, Johnny, Steve and his dad and Alan and his parents and Miley's classmates and teacher. Miley lied in a small white coffin and on it was a bouquet of pink roses. Steve wasn't crying. He had no tears left. The preacher talked about what blessing children were and injustice and tragedies and healing and ya know. The preacher asked if someone wanted to say anything. Mrs. Curtis rose and started to speak:
"Little Miley Randle will be missed, she was happy and funny and cute and lively. She was loved by a few but for those who knew her she will be dearly missed." She sat down again and a little girl rose.
"Miley was nice", was all she said.
"My daughter", Mr. Randle said and rose from his seat beside Steve. The young man looked up at him with sorrow filled eyes. "Well it's a shame to call her that, she was more Steve's daughter than mine. But she was a bundle of joy and a light in the dark. Her laughter was like bells in my ears and her eyes glistened with every star on the sky."
Soda looked or more tried to look at Steve's face. But his friend just turned away and then he rose… really slowly and shaking.
"I-I got a song to sing for her…" he said and everyone looked at him with sympathy. He was pale and looked ready to drop to the floor at any second.
"Go ahead", the preacher said and Steve cleared his throat.
"I pray you'll be our eyes, and watch us where we go.
And help us to be wise in times when we don't know
Let this be our prayer, when we lose our way
Lead us to a place, guide us with your grace
To a place where we'll be safe
La luce che tu hai
(I pray we'll find your light)
Nel cuore restera
(And hold it in our hearts.)
A ricordaci che
(When stars go out each night,)
L'eterna stella sei
(You are an eternal star)
nella mia preghiera
(Let this be our prayer)
Quanta fede che
(When shadows fill our day)
(The light you have
I pray well find your light
Will be in the heart
And hold it in our hearts.
To remember us that
When stars go out each night,
You are an eternal star
In my prayer
Let this be our prayer
How much faith do you have
When shadows fill our day)
Lead us to a place, guide us with your grace
Give us faith so well be safe
Sognamo un mondo senza pi violenza
Un mondo di giustizia e di speranza
Ognuno dia la mano al suo vicino
Simbolo di pace, di fratern
(We dream a world without violence
A world of justice and faith.
Everyone gives the hand to his neighbors
Symbol of peace, of fraternity)
La forza che ci
We ask that life be kind
Il desiderio che
And watch us from above
Ognuno trovi amor
We hope each soul will find
Intorno e dentro
Another soul to love
(The force his gives us
We ask that life be kind
Is wish that
And watch us from above
Everyone finds love
We hope each soul will find
Around and inside
Another soul to love)
Let this be our prayer
Just like every child
Needs to find a place
Guide us with your grace
Give us faith so well be safe
La fede che
Hai acceso in noi,
Sento che ci salv
(It's the faith
You light in us
I feel it will save us)"
Everyone stared at him with awe as he sat down again.
"I didn't know Steve speaks Italian", Darry hissed.
"Neither did I", Soda answered.
After the ceremony everyone planed to go home but the gang stayed behind with Mrs. and Mr. Curtis. They wanted to talk to Steve and his father.
"What", they heard Steve yell.
"I told ya I'm going to the pub, don't sit up and wait."
"But… but…"
"Listen kid the funeral is over with so I don't have to keep going on with this show."
"SHOW?! Ya mean what ya said in there was nothing but a show?!"
"Yeah people must think that I care."
Mr. Curtis ran around the corner just in time to see Steve fly at Mr. Randle and hitting the guy with his fists.
"Steve", Mr. Curtis yelled and grabbed the young man by the waist and held him back. "Calm down!"
"I'm gonna kill him!" Steve yelled in anger and grief. "I'm gonna kill him!"
"Steve no!" Mr. Curtis yelled and turned the young man around so he was facing him. Steve's eyes were tear-filled again and some of them escaped his eyes. Mr. Curtis put a hand on the boy's neck and pulled him close. "He's not worth it." Steve buried his face in Mr. Curtis' shoulder and cried.
"And you", Darry told Steve's dad. "Get the hell away from here!"
Mr. Randle looked at them with big eyes and then took a step forward.
"Steve", he said. "Come along son."
"Stay away from him", Soda yelled and stepped in between.
Mr. Randle pushed him aside and grabbed Steve's arm.
"Dad", Steve objected as his father yanked him out of Mr. Curtis' grip and started pushing and dragging him "Let me go!"
"Leave him alone", Soda yelled but his father grabbed him and pulled him back. "No!"
They saw Steve's dad roughly push him into the car and then drive off.
"Dad", Darry said angrily. "How could you just let him go?!"
"I didn't want to Darrel", Mr. Curtis answered and sighed. "But Steve's dad still has the last word and decides over him. I'm sorry boys."
Soda kicked on the ground. "It ain't fair!"
Steve winched as his body collided with the side of the table. His face was bleeding and so were his hands and arms. He still wore his black jacket and white shirt. But now the jacket was torn and the shirt was stained with his blood.
"Ya want to kill me boy", his father yelled again. "Here I am!" Steve tried to take a swing at him. But he was worn out emotionally and physically so he missed and couldn't defend himself against his father. Soon he was lying on the floor with his father standing above him kicking him in the chest.
"That", kick "will", kick "teach", kick "you", kick "to", kick "respect", kick "me!" His father kicked him one final time. "Now I'm going to the pub and you better not be here when I get back or I'll kill you." The door slammed shut and Steve rose on gingerly feet. He swayed a little and headed for the door. He threw off the torn jacket and stumbled out the door.
"Se y'all later", Two-Bit yelled to the Curtises and started to walk with Johnny and Dally down the street. "Man did ya see Steve's eyes? I thought he would kill someone."
"He probably would if he got hold of his dad", Johnny said.
"Sure he would", Dally said sarcastically and lit a cig. "The guy may be a hood but he's no murderer."
"Jesus", Two-Bit exclaimed as they saw someone fall to the ground in a bloody heap. They ran over and turned the guy over.
"Fucking hell", Dally said and took his jacket off and draped it over the guy. "It's Randle!"
"We gotta help him", Johnny said. "Or he'll never make it!"
"Back to the Curtis house", Two-Bit said and Dally picked up Steve and they ran.
"You weren't gone long", Darry chuckled, but stopped when he saw Steve. "Mom, dad!"
Mr. and Mrs. Curtis came out and stared in shock and horror.
"Oh my God", Mary Curtis said. "Darry get the first aid kit and make it snappy."
"Put him down in the guestroom Dallas", Mr. Curtis said.
Dallas did as he was told and then all of them were ushered out of the room as Mrs. Curtis and Mr. Curtis took care of Steve.
"This is all my fault Mary", Mr. Curtis said. "I should have stopped the man from taking Steve away."
"Don't blame yourself Darrel."
"But it is my fault Mary, if I'd only stopped him."
"Not… your fault", Steve muttered drowsily. "My fault…"
"Hey kid you alright", Mr. Curtis asked kindly.
"Yeah…"
"Quit lying honey", Mrs. Curtis said.
"I ain't lying."
"Yes you are." Mrs. Curtis reached out to bandage one of his bleeding wounds.
"No", Steve groaned as Mr. Curtis started to take off his shirt. "Stop."
"It's okay son we won't hurt you."
"No just let me die…"
Mrs. Curtis stopped what she was doing. "What?"
"Please… just let me die…"
"No, no! What the hell are you talking about kid?! No way in hell we're just gonna let you die!"
Mr. Curtis stared at his wife in shock. He'd never heard her swear.
"Please… Just let me… I've already been through hell… let me get to heaven."
"No", Mrs. Curtis said. "Darrel talk to him…"
"And tell him what?"
"Make him tell you about his life or the weather I don't know! Just make him talk."
Darrel Curtis senior looked at the barely conscious boy on the bed. He cleared his throat.
"Steve… can you tell me where you're from? What's your fondest memory? What are you doing right now?"
I'm from Chicago and it's pretty rough around here. People fight to death everyday and the fuzz arrests so many people for man slaughter I've lost counting. It's a poor neighborhood and most people don't get food on their table every day.
Someone asked me what my fondest memory is and I'll tell them. I tell them that when I was eight my dad brought home this little bundle of joy and sunshine into my life. It was my little sister Miley. She looked at me with her big eyes and laughed… or what can be described as one. Later that day I found out my mom had died while giving birth to her. It was the saddest and yet most wonderful day of my life. Hell I found comfort in that small baby girl and I was the one to care for her because after mom's death… my dad died too. He was not the same after that, the loving and caring man I'd grown up around was dead and long gong. My father died with my mother.
I'm walking down the street from school I'm nine years old. The buildings are grey, dull and worn. Everywhere there is garbage, drug-dealers, alcoholics, criminals, hoods, drug-addicts and prostitutes. Not the idyllic place to grow up, believe me I know… I learned it the hard way. I'm nine years old and on my way to work. The nice lady down the hall is caring for my sister while I'm in school and at work. But dad and I need food and dad doesn't get enough money. So I have to work. I close in on an old door… it looks as if no one has been here for ages. I see a figure close to the door, it's a big man.
"Hi there kid", he said and grinned. His mouth was lacking some teeth. "Ya got anything for the boss today?"
I dug in my pocket and held out a watch, a Rolex I think, a wallet and a bracelet in white gold.
"Good boy", the man said and let me inside.
I entered the dark and smoky room and the smell of beer and cigarettes met me. I looked around and caught sight of some boys in my own age and some older.
"Hi", I said to one of them and leaned against the wall beside him.
"You did any good" the boy said and dug in his pockets. "I did! Aw crap! Someone took the ring I lifted!"
"Ya got to be more careful", I taunt as the guy runs out. "Sucker!" I smile to myself and look at the ring I took.
"What a beauty", a girl opposite me said. She looked three or four years older than me. "You're getting better. You're mean though."
"So the guy tried to pickpocket me the other week." Suddenly the door at the end of the room flew open and a man came out. He was wearing a black costume and was smiling like some idiot hyena.
"Where is he", he said cheerfully. "Where is my favorite boy? Where is my kid?"
"I'm here Ohlson", I said and the man rushed me, picked me up and swung me around in the air laughing.
"My boy what did ya get me today", he asked and put me down.
I emptied my pocket and handed him the ring, the wallet, the bracelet, the Rolex and a key.
"This is one nice watch boy", Ohlson said. "How'd ya get it?"
"Worked", I said and Ohlson laughed.
"Now son where does this key go?"
"A car", I said.
"What kind of car?"
"Mustang."
"Where is it?"
"Doc. Hudson."
"Good boy!"
When I was twelve I'd stolen a lot of cars for that man, pickpocket a lot of stuff, burgled, tricked people, been in fights and sold illegal alcohol and at one time Ohlson had me sell drugs but he changed his mind. He didn't want to destroy me. It was when I fooled his arch nemesis that he gave me the nickname Dodger.
"You are the best thing that's ever happened to me", Ohlson yelled and hoisted me up into the air. "Haha boy what would I do without you!"
"It was just a minor 'car-wreck' why are ya so happy?" I asked.
"Because that man you made crash right into the police station was my arch nemesis and he's gonna put in jail thanks to you kid! No wait that's no good." He dropped me so sudden I almost fell onto my butt. People were looking at us in admiration and hate. "Ya got to have a name kid…" He started to walk around. "You're cunning, like a snake… you fool people, you're one of the best when it comes to pickpocket and steeling… you are really good with cars… damn you're better than my star mechanic and he's 45… No one can fool you but you can fool anyone under the sun and still look completely innocent and reliable…" He suddenly stopped before me and hoisted me into the air… slowly. "I know." His smile was predatory. "Dodger!"
"Yeah", one kid yelled. "Let's hear it for Dodger! 'Cause he got the Weasels' gang out of leader!"
Everyone cheered… for me because they "liked" me. Ohlson looked straight into my eyes and gave me a gentle shake.
"You will go far son", he said and put me down. "Now did anyone read today's paper?"
All of us went solemn. Yesterday Joker had stolen a gun and been shot down by the fuzz. He'd yelled Ohlson DBC go to hell you bastard!
We were the best in the whole organization. We are me, Fox, Vixen, Ranger and Fingers. We were the best, we stole together, we fooled together and we messed around school and town. I got good grades in school and was the brain of our group. I was also the fighter, I was in a fight everyday and my dad tried to slap me around. But lately me experience in bad ass fighting has been getting better. Dad couldn't hurt me as much anymore.
Though being the brain in the group still didn't make me talk much… that was Vixen's best or worst quality depending how you see it. Fox was one cunning bastard, almost as bad as me but not really. He could fool the cops better than anyone I know and once he even fooled Ohlson stealing one of the things he'd just given the man and gave it again to get more cash. Ohlson fell for it for about two minutes then slapped the guy so hard his hearing went down a bit on the right ear.
Fingers was my best friend, he was smart, fast, funny and well just Fingers. And then there's ranger ah Ranger, Ranger, Ranger… I swear that guy is worse than Johnny. He's practically scared for everything but still one heck of a thief. Yes we were thieves, burglars, hoods and no good for nothing punks… well I wasn't when I was with Miley. No one could be around her. My friends couldn't 'cause they didn't know about her or where I lived.
Well Ranger was the one who blow it all. I was there when the door was kicked in and managed to slip out just in time. The fuzz never saw me and neither did Ohlson. I managed to pocket all the cash he had before leaving. I was thrilled to see Vixen and Fox darting down the road hand in hand. But nothing hurt me more than seeing Fingers being led to a police car and as it drove by me I saw him smile fondly at me. Glad that at least I'd gotten out.
Now I bet you wonder how I know the traitor was Ranger. Well it didn't take a genius to figure that out. The guy was the only one missing and I kinda snuck into the vents at the station and got to an interrogation room. Well actually I ended up behind the glass ya know that one looking as a mirror from inside the interrogation room and a window the other way around. And there I saw Ranger tell the cops that Ohlson was Ohlson. Well the guy was not gonna get away with getting my buddy jailed without getting paid for it. So that night when Ranger was starting his lonely way home I followed him. In a dark alley I kicked a tin can and Ranger turned around and only saw my shadow. His eyes went big and he hurried on his steps. But I knew every alley and secret passage on this side of town. So he didn't get far. As he started to run in fright I ran out and pushed him up against the wall and light from the lamp on the wall fell on my face.
"Well if it isn't my little buddy Ranger", I said smirking. "Why in such a hurry buddy it's just your old pal Dodger."
"Oh Dodger it's just you? I thought it was someone that wants to hurt me."
"You mean like this", I asked and hit him hard in the gut so he sank to his knees and gasped for air. Then I grabbed his shoulders and slammed him against the wall. "Don't ya think I know what you've done you sorry little ass."
"I-I'm s-sorry Dodger I d-didn't have a choice."
"Oh that's very neat, ya didn't have a choice."
"I got caught! I was scared! Ya got to believe me!"
"I never have and never will", I said and beat him up badly. "That's for the gang, for your treason and for destroying the lives of the families. And if I see your sorry face again I'll kill ya. And mark my words Ranger", I bent close to his face. "I will."
I never saw him after that, I never saw anyone in my gang again. I got a job at a mechanic shop and worked there for a year. Then heaven went hell again. The state had been on dad's case for as long as I can remember after mom's death. Well the fuzz caught me beating up a crook I knew from another league and brought me home. I was bloody and bruised and dad was not happy when he saw me and he was drunk as a skunk. The cops left me in his "care" and dad beat the tar outta me and Miley was so scared. I comforted her when the doorbell rang and dad opened the door. He was still drunk as a skunk and started to curse the guy and lady outside out. They told him they were from social services and if dad didn't wanted to lose me and Miley he would take us away from the town and to my surprise he did.
So that's how I ended up in this damn situation. The only thing that never changed was dad's abuse and Miley's love. Well until the day I failed her and she was killed in that fire. My baby girl is gone, my whole reason for living is gone. So just let me die in peace now.
TBC Sorry for the layout of the last chapter... something went wrong and I don't own the characters in this story and I don't own the song used or the name Dodger or Oliver Twist.