As soon as Darry spoke, I lost my ability to contain my annoyance.

"Why does she have to send you a report?" I asked. "So she can try and make you look bad again? Everything she asked you about was all stuff that you do right, but the way she asked it made it seem ike you don't. God, I hate how they do that!"

"Scout, it's over. She's gone, and you'll probably never even have to see her again, since she was just filling in. C'mon. Let's just eat dinner, okay?" Soda put his arm on my shoulder and led me down to the kitchen.

"At least they'll leave us alone for six months now," Pony said, not really sounding any happier than I was. Darry follwed us all into the kitchen and put chili into each of our bowls, taking some cheese out of the refrigerator and grabbing the grater from the drawer. He sat down and grated some cheese over his chili, not saying anything, and I knew the social worker had gotten to him too.

"Darry, that lady didn't even know anything about us… we all know you're doing a good job, so forget about what she says. She doesn't even know what she's talking about." I tried to reassure him.

"Look, Scout, just forget it, okay? I don't really want to think about it anymore. She's gone. Just drop it."

"Okay," I said, though I hated knowing that she'd gotten under his skin and made him feel like he wasn't good enough.

"So, Darry, maybe the doctor will say I can go back to work again when I see him tomorrow," Soda said, trying to change the subject.

"Yeah, well, don't go gettin' your hopes up. Believe me, it's not worth going back before you're healed if it's gonna mean screwing up your hand for the rest of your life."

"Yeah, yeah. I'll get a doctor's note, don't worry," Soda grinned. I guess the state lady hadn't bothered him much.

"I don't know what it's gonna cost to have him look at you, either. I'll give you a check, but if it's more than twenty bucks, you're gonna have to tell them to bill us."

"Oh, I almost forgot," Pony stood up and reached into his pocket. "I got paid today." He pulled a bunch of bills out of his pocket and handed it over to Darry, who looked hesitant for a minute but took it, putting it into his wallet.

"Thanks, Pony," he said quietly.

"I'll get paid tomorrow, too," I said. "That should help, a little bit."

"I still hate it, that you two are working. It's summer. You should be out having fun." Soda helped himself to another huge serving of chili. Him being upset rarely had any effect on his appetite. I noticed Darry wasn't eating much, though.

"Well, I get to have fun tomorrow night, right? Did you ask Sandy about going to the dance, so Ben and I can go?"

"Yeah, she said she'll go. Really, Scout, as if I would miss spying on your first date? No way."

"Soda, I don't want you giving her a hard time. I seem to remember being sent along on your first date, and, as I recall, I gave you plenty of space." Darry wasn't in a joking mood.

"I was just kidding," he said. "I will be making sure little Benjamin minds his manners, though." He winked at me and I slapped him under the table.

"Since when do they have dances when school's out?" Pony had assumed it was a school dance.

"It's at Ben's Mom's church." Even I couldn't feel right saying it was Ben's church – he and Kevin had gone regularly with their mom as kids, but once they hit the teenage years, his mom had found it to be far too much of a battle trying to get them up on Sunday mornings, so she usually went alone. "Why, you wanna come, Pony?"

"Funny, Scout," he said, dryly. He thought dances were the ultimate form of ritualized teenage torture. He still wasn't interested in girls and the idea of sitting around watching other couples get close wasn't exactly his idea of fun.

"What time is this dance, anyway?" Darry asked.

"Seven," I said, "until ten."

"Then that means you'll be home by ten-thirty. Right?" That wasn't really a question, and I was smart enough to realize it.

"Right."

"Don't worry, Darry, she'll be in good hands," Soda joked, and I swatted at him again, above the table this time.

"To be honest, Soda," Darry finally grinned, "I'm less worried about her misbehaving than I am about you," he said, and we all laughed.

Pony had just cleared the plates and was filling up the sink to wash them when Ben suddenly appeared, knocking at the back door.

"Darry, can I go outside with Ben?"

"Yeah, stay on the porch though, okay?"

"Okay." I slipped out the back door and slipped my hand into Ben's as we walked around to the front porch, stopping in the darkness between the back and front porch lights for a quick kiss. Eventually we came around and sat at the far end of the front porch, far enough away from the light that the bugs left us alone. It was a hot and sticky night, the kind of night that made me glad that I'd discovered some deodorant among Mom's things. The boys tended to forget about that sort of thing for me - that I might need it - and as much as I could avoid the embarrassment of asking for them to buy me that stuff, I did.

"Everything's all set for tomorrow," I said. "Soda and Sandy are gonna come, so they can drive us home after, if Kevin and Kate want to go out afterward." Soda would probably want to take Sandy out afterward too, since he'd have Two-Bit's car, but I knew he wouldn't complain about dropping us off at home.

"It'll be fun," he said, and I smiled, resting my head on his shoulder.

"The state lady was a real jerk to Darry today," I said, feeling anger rising in me again.

"Really? What'd she do?"

"She just… she asked us questions and stuff like usual, but it seemed like everything we said, she used our answers to make it look like he was doing a bad job. I mean, it makes me so mad. He has enough to worry about – and he handles it really well, so I don't know where some lady who doesn't even know us gets off making him feel inadequate."

"No offense, but I have a feeling he cares a lot more about what you guys think about how he's doing than some state lady."

"Well, maybe, but still it makes me feel so mad when anybody gives him a hard time. He gets enough trouble from all of us, already, he doesn't need it from strangers."

"I wouldn't worry too much, Darry's a pretty tough guy. I'm sure he took what she said with a grain of salt."

"I don't know… he actually seemed kind of upset to me."

"Darry's supposed to be the one worrying about you, silly, not the other way around," Ben laughed. "So what was the verdict from the state, anyway?"

"See you in six months," I said.

"Then I definitely wouldn't worry," Ben said, kissing me softly on the neck, just as we heard Kevin yelling for him.

"Ben, get back in here, Ma wants you to take out the trash!"

"Guess I gotta go." He nuzzled my neck and stood up.

"I guess. I'll see you tomorrow night."

"Yeah," he smiled. "Night."

"Night."

I sat out on the porch for a few minutes longer, hearing Soda and Darry talking in his room through the open window.

"...It's bullshit, Soda. I mean, she's gonna get on my case for leaving Pony and Scout 'unattended' while I'm at work? What the hell am I supposed to do, get a babysitter for two teenagers? Put them in day care or something? I mean, they want me working – of course I'm gonna be gone during the day."

"Don't sweat it Darry. You're doing good, and we all know it, so who cares what she said."

"Yeah, I know. I'm just sick of people always telling me what I'm doing wrong and forgetting about all the crap that's going right around here."

"They don't know us, Darry. Forget about it." I could tell Soda was giving him a backrub, from how Darry seemed to be calming down. I finally got up and went inside, stopping at Darry's door. Soda was kneeling on the bed behind him, trying to work the tension out of his back.

"Good night, you guys," I said, peeking in.

"Night, Scout," they both answered. I washed up and went into my bedroom, not tired enough to fall asleep but not sure what I wanted to do awake, either. I didn't want to read, I didn't want to draw, or watch TV. Eventually I found myself standing in front of my closet, thinking about what to wear to the dance the next night.

I looked at a few of the dresses I had – almost all of the clothes I had that fit me were from Anna – it was lucky for me that she was a whole growth spurt ahead of me, because every time she outgrew clothes, I was just about ready to grow into them. I felt a little guilty wearing her clothes when I was still upset with her, but I really didn't have much of a choice. Not many of my clothes fit anymore. I tried on a few of the dresses and settled on a light blue tennis-type dress that fit better than the others and went well with my eyes. I looked in the mirror and realized how tan I was getting and how, as was the norm in summers, the wispy pieces of hair that I could never seem to get out of my face had turned blonde.

I remembered putting Mom's few makeup items away in Darry's old closet and wondered if I should go searching for them the next afternoon. I had never really been too conscious of how I had looked before; somehow, the thought of going to a dance full of high school kids was making me take a bit more interest and be willing to put a bit more effort into what I looked like. I was torn - I didn't want to be somebody different than who I was - but I didn't want to stand out from the crowd, either, which I already did since I was so much smaller than the average high school girls.

I heard Soda and Pony talking quietly from their bedroom, though I couldn't hear what they were saying, and figured I had better at least try to get some sleep. I put on a t-shirt and a pair of Pony's old sweatpants that were cut off at the knee and crawled into bed.

As I drifted off to sleep, I wondered what Mom would think of me going on my first date – with Ben, no less. I got the impression from Kevin and Darry that both my mom and Ben's had thought that the two of us would end up together at some point. I wished she could have been there to help me get ready, and see me off. A part of me thought she might have liked that as much as I would have. Just another first without her.

…………………..

I was surprised that Soda was the one to wake me up the next morning – and that I couldn't remember anything I had dreamed. It had been a long time since I had fallen asleep and awakened with no memory of what I had been thinking during the night.

"You're up early," I said, looking up at him as he sat on my spare bed.

"Doctor's appointment," he said. "Keep your fingers crossed that I get my cast off. I can't stand hanging around here all day any more, I'm bored out of my mind."

"Okay. Is everybody awake?"

"Yup. Pony's cooking."

"Really? Why?" he usually hated cooking breakfast.

"He wants Darry to let him come to the hospital with us today, since he doesn't work on Fridays."

"Oh." That explained it. "I'll be out in a minute." Soda got up to leave, but then I thought of something.

"Hey, Soda?"

"Yeah?"

"Do you think Darry really felt bad because of what the state lady said yesterday?"

"I don't know," he answered. "He seemed okay, but I'm sure he doesn't love hearing some lady who has no idea what he deals with picking on him."

"Yeah," I agreed. "I wish people would just lay off him."

"Yeah. Well, they're gonna, for six months, at least."

"Yeah." It didn't seem like consolation, to me, anyway.

Soda turned and left, pulling the door shut behind him. I pulled on some clean clothes, knowing I'd want to shower later that afternoon and that Darry wouldn't be too happy about me taking two showers in a day, since I didn't really get as hot and sweaty as Soda and he did. I wondered if Mom's deodorant was doing it's job… I guessed I was eventually going to have to ask. Just one more embarrassing growing-up question. They just seemed to be coming fast and furious right then.

Everyone was already at the table when I came out, talking about Soda and Two-Bit's doctor visit and everybody's plans for the night. Soda was still planning to come to the dance with me, and Pony had arranged a ride to the movies with a couple of upperclassmen from school. He was in classes with a lot of the older kids, so he tended to have older friends.

Suddenly I got an idea that might cheer up Darry.

"Hey, Darry… since we're all going out, why don't you go surprise Alison at work? Maybe she can get out early and you can hang out together. I mean, you could even come here, since we'll all be gone."

"That's a pretty generous offer from you, Scout, seein' as you ain't allowed in here alone with your boyfriend," Soda joked.

"Shut up, Soda," I said. "Darry, you should. You never get rid of all of us at once. You should take advantage of it."

"Get rid of us?" Pony pretended to be offended.

"Yeah, we'll see. We all have a whole day to get through before we need to worry about tonight. So lets worry about that first." Darry grabbed all the plates and put them in the sink to soak. Pony had made pancakes and the syrup always needed to soak for a good few hours before it would come off the plates easily.

"Scout, you ready?" he asked, grabbing his lunch. Soda had been making lunch for him every day he'd been home – partly because he was being nice, but mostly because he was trying to keep busy.

"Yup," I said, grabbing a book Pony had given me to read and following him out to the truck.

"Good luck, Soda," I called back, hearing his call back of thanks follow me out the door.

I climbed into the truck and sat there in silence for a few minutes, feeling awkward in the most teenaged sort of way. Finally, I got the courage, swallowed my pride, and decided to just ask.

"Darry, can I ask you something, and will you be honest, but not mean?"

"That's certainly an interesting way to set me up for something... am I usually mean?" He looked over at me, a mixture of concern and amusement on his face.

"No, but... I mean it. I need to ask you something, but it's just kind of embarrassing." I stared out the window.

"Scout, I wouldn't ever be mean to you about something embarrassing for you. I told you that. I mean, I know I'm not Mom, but I promised to try."

"Well, this is pretty straightforward yes or no."

"Okay, shoot."

"I need to know if I smell."

"What?"

"I mean it. Now I'm starting to like, sweat more, like an adult and I stole Mom's deodorant but I don't know if it works. So just tell me, do I smell bad?"

"No," Darry said, "you don't."

"You didn't even sniff," I said. "Come on, Darry, who else am I supposed to ask?" I slid over and he leaned over and sniffed.

"So?"

"You smell like Mom," he said. "And I'm sure you know, that is not a bad smell."

"Really?"

"Yes, really," he said. And next time we go shopping you can get whatever deodorant or other stuff like that you need, I just don't think about that stuff, you just have to remind me. It's not embarrassing."

"Well... it is a little bit, for me, but...okay," I agreed. "Do you think you'll go out with Alison tonight?"

"I don't know, why?"

"I was wondering if you could ask her something else for me, kind of… another girl thing."

Darry didn't look thrilled at that idea.

"It's not that bad, really. I just don't know… if I should start shaving my legs. I mean, I don't know when I'm supposed to start. I don't wanna be hairy when everybody else isn't. I don't know who else to ask. I mean, do you think I'm too hairy?"

He did laugh at that one, but not in a mean way.

"I am no judge of that, but, I'll try to do some research on that one for you. I suppose you should get your own razor, too… I don't think any of us want to share… You know, Pony might be jealous, if you start shavin' before he does," he joked.

"Maybe," I smiled, a little, as we pulled up to Coach K's house. It was easy for Darry to make a joke of it, but not quite as easy for me, when I really had nobody to tell me about that sort of stuff. I was a little nervous about going to high school, spending all day – not just basketball practice – with the older girls. The last thing I wanted was to stand out.

I jumped out and wished Darry a good day, walking up to meet Coach and Laura at the door. He asked how things had gone with the state visit and I didn't lie, admitting that she had been way too hard on Darry. He sympathized, and I felt like he kinda wished he could have talked to Darry himself, to assure him – from another responsible adult – that he was doing a good job.

Unfortunately, he was running late after changing Laura and was out the door before we got to talk much. Laura was cooperative, playing all morning and napping right on schedule, and waking up just as her Dad arrived home. To be honest, I was more than happy that she was so calm, because my stomach was already a bundle of nerves. I had spent years of time with Ben - even kissed him enough to feel comfortable with it – but for some reason, an official date was causing me to be strangely nervous.

Coach pulled up to drop me off and handed me an envelope. I had forgotten all about getting paid.

"Thanks a lot, Scout, I knew you would work out great. And Laura certainly likes you a whole lot, too."

"Thanks," I said, taking the envelope. "I'm really enjoying it, too. Have a good weekend. Bye Laura," I called, climbing out of the car.

"Bye 'Cowt!" she yelled, and I waved as they drove away.

I turned toward the house, a full week's pay in my hand, and about to get ready for my first real date.

Suddenly the road to adulthood was seeming shorter and shorter. And I'd be lying if I said it didn't scare me a little bit.

...........................

A/N: The big date is next chapter. I always seem to have loose ends to wrap up before the events can happen. Well, that's the pace of life, I guess. OH, I squirm writing poor Scout in these moments with no Mom to help her out. Anyway, stay tuned for some action/drama in the next few chapters. I know we're all busy in the summer but I continue to cherish your reviews. Taking a minute to click and drop a line of encouragement is much appreciated. (That's as close to begging as I get nowadays) :-)