Chapter 21
"DARRY! DARRY! SODA!" Sara's screams shooked the whole house. She had sprung herself upright and was practically panting as Darry flung open her door, with Sodapop and Pony in tow.
"Sara? What's wrong?" Darry was met by a crying Sara half way across her room.
"I need you, Darry." Sara cried into Darry's waist. He quickly picked her up and was trying to comfort her by rubbing her back and pushing her hair out of her face.
"Sara, I'm right here. We're all right here. Calm down. Everything is alright."Darry turned back to his two sleepy brothers. "Guys, head back to bed. It's ok." Soda and Pony looked on a little skeptical that everything was really ok, but when Darry's voice rose again they knew better. "Go, now! We have a big day ahead of us and we all need to get some rest."
"We're going. C'mon Pony." Soda caught one more glimpse of his sister who was securely wrapped up in their big brother's arms. Soda was concerned and knew that something needed to be done about this. He pushed Pony out the door and back towards their room. When he watched Pony crawl back into their bed an idea popped into Soda's head. "Hey, Pon, I'll be right back." When just a grumble came out of Pony, Sodapop moved back to Sara's room. The scene hadn't changed; Darry was sitting on Sara's bed trying to console her. Soda popped his head in. "Darry?"
"I told you to go back to bed, Soda." Darry growled at his younger brother.
"I will, I just want to talk with you for a second." Darry looked down at Sara in his arms and had noticed that she wasn't trembling anymore so that was a good sign.
"Sara, do you want something to drink?" Darry asked putting her down on her bed.
"Yes, please." Her little voice answered. Darry got up and walked towards the kitchen while Sodapop followed. Darry grabbed a cup and filled it half way up with water.
"I'm listening, Soda." Darry said with some annoyance in his voice.
"I was just thinking Dar."
"At this hour, really Sodapop?"
Soda kinda of punched, pushed Darry. "I'm serious. When Ponyboy started having his nightmares I moved in with him. And it seems to have helped some. So why don't we try it with Sara?" Darry instantly started to shake his head no. "C'mon, Dar. Mrs. Roberts is coming today. We need to get some rest; she needs to get some rest. She hasn't slept since god, I don't know since last Friday night? Just for tonight?"
"Soda, that's what you said about Ponyboy. Now look, he can't sleep without you. We can't start this with Sara. She younger, she's a girl, we just can't. Plus they aren't too happy that you two are still doing that. If they find out we're doing it with Sara, it will just give them another reason to place her elsewhere. No. She'll need to learn to sleep on her own." Darry pushed pass Soda towards Sara's room. But before Darry was entering, Soda tried one more time. "Darry, if we don't, Mrs. Roberts might notice and take her away anyway. Is it really worth it? One night, Dar. I'll even offer to sleep in here with her if you don't." Darry stopped right at Sara's door and looked up at the ceiling like he was praying for help or looking for help from above. He was just looking when he slowly dropped his head back down. Darry never made eye contact with Soda but slowly and softly let out a heavy sigh.
"Alright, Soda, just tonight though. Go back to bed. I'll take care of it."
"It'll work, Dar. I know it will." Soda returned back to an already sleeping Pony. As he climb into bed he was certain that this would work.
Darry let Sara take a few sips from the glass and looked down at a much disheveled little girl. She was snuggling the crap out of Bear and hadn't seemed to calm down too Darry's liking. "Sara, why don't you lay back down? I'll stay right here with you until you fall asleep." Darry tried to get her settled into her bed but she was as stiff as a board.
"Then you'll leave." Sara protested.
"Yes, after you fall asleep. We both can't fit in your bed comfortably." Darry tried to talk some sense into her.
"I won't go back to sleep if you leave." Darry was too tired to be arguing with his 6 year old sister.
"Fine, then, will you go back to sleep if I sleep with you? Will that help ya?"
"Yes." She said eagerly.
"Ok. Just this once, you hear me. This isn't going to become a habit. I won't allow it. Grab your pillow and Bear and let's go." Darry motioned for Sara to follow. She quickly gathered her things and followed Darry into his room. He went to his side of the bed and flung back the covers for Sara to get in. She happily jumped up and in. "No fidgeting, No hogging all the covers, and stay on your side of the bed. Got it?" As Darry was rattling off the rules Sara had already gotten herself situated. Darry turned off the lamp and pulled the covers up to his shoulders. As he was trying to get comfortable he could tell that Sara was trying to do the same. "Sara?" He asked.
"Yeah?" She answered back trying not to move.
Darry wanted to talk about her dreams but changed his mind instead. "Nothing, get some sleep ok?"
"I will. Sorry, Darry. I don't mean to keep waking everyone up all the time." Sara whispered into the dark, shadowy room.
"I just wished you could stop being so scared, Sara. Nothing is going to happen to you. You're safe here with me, Sodapop, Ponyboy, and all the gang." Darry tried to reassure her.
"I know, but my dreams don't know that." Darry knew that Sara was being serious so he tried to hold back his chuckle.
"Well, tell your dreams that you are safe here with your big brother and that they have nothing to be scared of."
"I will." And not a minute later Darry could hear Sara snoring away next to him. Darry rolled over and tried not focusing on his sister's snoring and soon fell back to sleep.
Darry's alarm woke him up a little earlier than he was expecting. As he tried to roll over to shut the thing off he felt his right arm being pinned under something. As he tried to move it he felt a heavy weight on it. He opened his eyes and looked down and there snuggled tightly into his right side and on his arm was his little sister. So much for staying on her side of the bed he thought. He half smiled and managed to pull his arm out from under her just as she rolled back over to face his closet. Darry hit the button to quiet the annoying buzzing. He lay back down and rested his head for a few more minutes. Shit he thought today was the day that he had been dreading for a while. He knew that they all needed to start this day off well. He rolled over and lightly shook Sara's shoulder. "Sara? C'mon, Sweetie, you need to get up."
"But I was sleeping so good." Her sleepy voice rang out to Darry's ears. He was pleased to hear that her remaining night was restful, and wished that she could continue with it, but the alarm told him otherwise. He leaned into her ear.
"That makes me happy to hear, but we still need to get up and get ready for school and work. So c'mon and get up." He flew back the covers and let the cool morning air creep in around her. Sara quickly tried to gather the blankets back up around her, but Darry was forcefully holding them back. "Nope, not today, Sara. Now c'mon and get up." Sara let out a moan and slowly gathered up her pillow and Bear and paddled back to her room to get ready for the day. Darry threw together his bed and tried to tidy up a little before heading out to get his brothers up. On the way there he noticed that Sara was lying back down on her bed still in her pajamas. "Hey, that doesn't look like getting ready to me." He hollered into the room. When she didn't move he walked in and noticed that he hadn't set out anything for her to wear. He walked over to her closet and found a nice shift dress and a cardigan and tossed them at her. "Here, wear this today. You'll look nice for Mrs. Roberts when she gets here this afternoon." Sara looked up to see what Darry had tossed at her.
"Ah, not that Darry. Can't I just wear a polo shirt and some capris?" Sara whined trying to toss the dress and sweater back toward him.
"No. Now do as you're told." Darry hated to have to start the day off like this, but maybe it would quickly straighten her out. Darry heard Sara let out some grumbles. "Hey, you wear the dress and those new loafers will look real nice with it." Sara had almost forgotten about her new shoes but jumped up immediately after Darry mentioned them and started taking her pajamas off to get dress. "That's what I thought." Darry said and ventured out to wake up the boys. He walked to their room and Sodapop was already awake but was still just lying there so Pony could get a few more minutes of sleep. "Hey, let's get going. And make sure that you clean up this room. I would suggest you pick up all these clothes and throw them into the washer machine. And make your bed." Sodapop rolled over and nudged Pony to wake him up. Darry strolled of to get started on coffee and lunches. Sodapop came out of his bedroom all dressed and a load of dirty clothes. As he walked pass Sara he noticed her all dressed and let out a loud whistle.
"Wow, don't you look like a lady today. And those shoes, they just make the outfit. Do you have any dirty clothes?" He asked while walking into her room noticing her pajamas on the floor. Sara bent down and picked them up and handed them to him. "Thanks, Kiddo. Why don't you go on out and get some breakfast."
"Ok." Sara skipped out the door fully dressed with her new shoes on. When she rounded the corner to the kitchen, Darry noticed that she looked very nice.
"Wow, who is this young lady skipping into my kitchen?" Darry smiled at Sara while she slid into her chair at the table.
"Darry." Sara drawled out his name. "You know who I am!"
"Nope, I haven't seen this little lady before. Are you sure you're in the right house?" Darry joked with her.
Just as Darry was still harassing Sara he heard the boys coming in from the front of the house. Darry placed a bowl of cereal in front of Sara as the gang filed in. When Soda and Pony arrived at the table they started digging into the left over birthday cake. "C'mon guys, there's cereal right here. Let's try to have something healthy, you know just in case Mrs. Roberts ask what you had for breakfast." Both Pony and Sodapop finished their cake but also had a bowl of cereal while the rest of the gang had what was left of the cake. The gang was kind of quiet this morning, all knowing that Mrs. Robert's was stopping by this afternoon.
"Ok guys, it's important that everyone is on their best behavior this afternoon. Boys, I need you to wait to come by until later tonight. If any of you see Dallas, tell him the same. My three, when you get home make sure this place is spotless. Bags, books, coats, shoes belong in rooms, not sprawled out around the house. Toys, sketchpads, playing cards, bottles all need to be put in the proper places. Soda put that laundry out to dry the minute you get home." All three Curtis siblings were shaking their heads yes, all knowing that this was an important meeting with Mrs. Roberts. "Ok, then, let's get a move on. Pony, here's your lunch. Make sure you come directly home from school. Steve, make sure he's home on time and that you are at the DX so that you can bring Soda and Sara home right at 3:30. I'll be getting off work around 4:00. Mrs. Roberts will be here at 4:30 sharp."
"Ok, Dar." Steve and Pony answered in unison. The three younger Curtis siblings moved into the bathroom to brush their teeth and fix their hair one last time before leaving, while Darry quickly did up the dishes in the sink.
"Let's go guys. Soda, Sara, come grab your lunches and get your butts in the truck." Sara rounded the corner and bumped into Steve who was looking for Sodapop. He stopped and looked down at her.
"Wow, you actually look like a girl this morning, Kid." Sara let out a little smile and moved around Steve. As he approached the bathroom he turned and said, "How do they fit?" Sara stopped and looked down at her feet and wiggled her toes in her new shoes. They felt so nice she thought.
Sara's soft voice replied with "nice, real nice." She lifted her head and made contact with Steve's eyes.
"Good." He paused and then added, "Have you done it yet?" Steve's look meant business.
"No, I will though."
"You have until tonight and tonight only, Kid." Right as Steve was about to add another remark Sodapop had just come out the bathroom.
"Hey, what's that you're saying about tonight? Who only has tonight?" Steve was looking back and forth between him and Sara.
Steve let out a laugh and slapped Sodapop's shoulder, "Oh, you know, Sandy and Evie."
"Oh, yeah, we're still on then?" Soda asked grabbing his lunch and in search for his sneakers. "Dar, where are my sneakers?"
"Beside the couch, little buddy, let's getting going. Steve you boys better get outta of here before you're all late." Just as Darry was giving our warnings he noticed Pony scrambling around looking for a book or something. "Pony, you best get a move on."
Pony finally found his algebra book under the newspaper on the coffee table and grabbed it and headed for the door. He stopped and waved a quick good bye. "Bye guys. Have a good day." He yelled.
"You too, Pon." Darry and Sodapop hollered back while pushing Sara towards the door.
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"Ok class, everyone have a good weekend and we'll see you all on Monday." Ms. Martin was standing by the door as the class was getting ready to leave. "Oh, before I forget, here's a fundraiser flier to go home. Please take one on your way out." Sara waited in line to grab one from Ms. Martin. As she took one Ms. Martin smiled down at her, "Sara, maybe you could get one of your brothers to bring you?" Sara looked down at the flier and noticed the picture that was on it. Sara couldn't help but blush at the picture and just tossed her head from side to side.
"I'll ask Ms. Martin, but Sodapop and Darry will probably have to work."
"Well, there's always Ponyboy." Ms. Martin replied and softly rubbed Sara's arm.
"Yeah." Sara said stuffing the flier into her bookbag and making her way out to the bus. The bus ride seemed pretty short today, just because Sara was dreading what was soon to come. As George approached the DX, Sodapop was leaning up against Steve's car waiting for her.
"It looks like you're an awfully popular kiddo today, Sara. Look at all your fans waiting for you." George said bringing the bus to a complete stop.
"Not much of a fan club." Sara mumbled under her breath, but still gave George a smile so not to be rude.
"Have a good weekend. See ya Monday." George waved good bye to Sara as Sodapop waltzed over to the curb.
"Hi ya, George. How was she today?" Soda asked holding his hand out to help Sara down off the bus.
"Oh Soda, if they all could be made like her, I would want to drive this bus until I was 80." George laughed at himself.
"Wish she was like that at home." Soda chuckled and reached for Sara's bookbag.
"Hey!" Sara reacted to Soda's comment and gave him a swat. Soda in returned gave Sara the eye.
"You better watch it little lady." Soda scolded.
"Bye, you two." George waved and pulled away.
Sara gave out a groan and moseyed on over to the boys waiting by Steve's car. As Sara approached, Two-Bit had to open his mouth with a comment about her sour mood.
"What's got you looking so down there Little Curtis?"
"Nothing." Sara sputtered.
"Yeah, looks it." Pony added while opening the back door of Steve's car.
"It looks and sounds like someone needs an attitude adjustment." Steve commented while getting into the driver's side.
"Lay off, Guys. She's probably just all wound up about Mrs. Roberts visiting this afternoon. Leave her be." Soda said coming to his sister's defense. Soda gave Sara a little wink as he opened her door for her.
"Thanks Soda. Sorry about before." Sara softly apologized while getting in beside Ponyboy.
"It's ok, squirt. " Soda said ruffling her hair.
"Hey, you guys staying here while I run these dorks home?" Steve hollered over to Two-Bit and Johnny,
"Nah, we're gonna go hunt down Dally. We'll catch up with you guys later tonight." Two-Bit said throwing his arm around Johnny. "Hey, good luck with the social service Bitch!" Two-Bit hollered as he waved to the gang. "C'mon Johnny, let's go see if we can find us some beer and women."
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"C'mon guys, Darry is gonna be here any minute and we still need to get that bathroom cleaned up." Soda said frantically trying to put things away and get everything just right for Mrs. Roberts visit. "Here Pony clean the toilet, Sara dump this trashcan." Both Pony and Sara obeyed Soda's commands and hurried off to do their jobs. As the three were scurrying around and lost in their own thoughts they didn't even hear the front door open or close.
"Hey, this place looks pretty good!" Darry yelled out while putting his tool belt in the closet. When there wasn't a reply from anyone Darry moved on down towards where he could hear voices. He stopped in front of the bathroom where Pony was bent over scrubbing the toilet and Sodapop was cleaning out the caked on toothpaste in the sink. "Hey, thank goodness I wasn't a burglar or something." Darry chuckled at his own joke.
"Oh, hey, Dar. We didn't hear you come in." Pony said finishing up with the toilet.
"So, I noticed. You guys did a great job. This place looks good, real good." Darry had now entered into the bathroom when Sara came running in with the trashcan.
"Hi ya, Darry. I didn't know you were home yet." Sara said while holding the trashcan out to Soda.
"Yeah, we've already established that, now all of you get outta here so I can jump in the shower real quick before Mrs. Roberts shows."
"Don't mess anything up, Dar. We just cleaned it." Soda warned, but Darry actually got a chuckle out of it.
"Jeez Soda, I think I'm the one that is always saying that to you three." Darry was still laughing as he was pushing Soda and Sara out the door. "Sara, run a brush through your hair and go sit on the couch and wait for Mrs. Roberts there." Darry then turned to Soda and noticed that he could look a little bit more presentable himself. "Soda change your clothes and then make sure your sister doesn't move off that couch." Darry then turned to Pony and looked him over real quick and to his satisfaction he said to Pony, "Why don't you go wait with them too." Darry received a choir of "Ok's" from the three and were off to do as they were told. He shut the bathroom door and striped down and hopped in to clean off the day's sweat and dirt.
The three Curtis members were sitting on the couch watching some reruns of Looney Tunes. They were not saying much and Soda noticed that Sara was fidgeting and having a hard time sitting still. "Sara, relax. Everything is going to be ok." Sara was looking down at her feet that she was swinging back and forth. She couldn't for the life of her sit still. When she didn't give a response to Soda, Soda reached over and grabbed her hands that she was holding tightly together in her lap. "Sara, look at me." Sara slowly brought here head up so that she could see Soda's face. "Relax. I'm right here, Pony is right here and Darry will be too." Sara let a weak smile come to her face and that was enough for Soda. "That's my girl." Just as Darry was coming around the corner the doorbell rang. No one ever rings the Curtis' doorbell so they all knew right away who was standing on the other side of the door. Darry walked over and took a quick deep breath and turned to his three siblings and tried to put a smile on his face before opening the door.
"Hello, Mrs. Roberts, please come in." Darry held the door open like a gentleman for Mrs. Roberts to enter through.
"Hello, Darrel, nice to see you again." Mrs. Roberts's squeaky voice rang through the Curtis' living room.
"Would you like to sit down?" Darry asked pointing to his chair.
"Not just yet. I would like to take a look around if you don't mind?"
"No, not at all, please feel free. You know the house pretty well by now." Darry walked over towards the couch where the other three were sitting stiffly.
"Yes, I do." Mrs. Roberts turn to address the other Curtis members. "Hello there, you three. How are we all doing?"
"Fine." The three responded on cue.
"Good. I'm just going to take a look around I'll be back in a few to sit and chat with you all." Mrs. Roberts headed right for the refrigerator. There she open the door and poked her head in. She gave a look of displeasure and wrote some things down on her yellow legal pad. She moved around the kitchen opening and closing cabinet doors and writing more things down of her legal pad. She then ventured down the hall and stepped into each room. When she went into the boy's room she took some more notes. Darry was leaning on the wall that separated the kitchen from the living room and was watching her every move. When he noticed her coming back to the living room he turned to walked over and shut the cartoons off. Sara let out a little groan but was stopped by the sharp look that Darry had just flashed at her. Darry moved away from the television when he noticed Mrs. Roberts entering the room again.
"Can I get you something to drink? Water? Lemonade?" Darry asked trying to play the good hostess.
"Yes, Darrel that would be nice, water will be fine." Mrs. Roberts took her seat in Darry's chair and started shuffling through the Curtis file that she had on them. When Darry came back he handed her the glass and she graciously took it from him and took a small sip. Darry went back to leaning against the wall. "Please, Darrel it would be best if you had a seat." Darry was about ready to object but let out a little huff and walked over to the couch with his sister and brothers. He gently pushed at Sara who got up so that he could sit down. Soda pulled Sara into his lap and now all four were closely sitting next to each other on the couch. "Thank you Darrel. Now I can talk to you all this way." Mrs. Roberts remarked while pulling out a few papers from the file that was in her lap. "First, Sara, happy belated birthday. How was your birthday, Dear? Did you have a nice day?" Mrs. Roberts asked leaning forward so that she could see Sara. Sara simple responded with a nod of her head. "So I'll take that as a yes then?" Mrs. Roberts asked with some tone to her question.
Darry leaned over to Sara and whispered, "Sara, use your words when you are asked a question." Sara's eyes darted from the ground up to Darry's.
"Yes, I had a very nice birthday. Thank you for asking." Sara tried again, but looking more at Darry than at Mrs. Roberts.
"I'm so glad to hear that, Sara. 6 years old now? Wow, where does the time go?" Mrs. Roberts asked but Sara knew Mrs. Roberts didn't really care about the time that has passed for her family at all. Sara also knew that she was just trying to make pleasantry. Sara noticed Mrs. Roberts jotting down some more notes and then turned her attention to Ponyboy. "So Pony, I heard that you had a bit of an upset at your State competition. I was told that you had to be pulled because of a rib injury or something like that?" Mrs. Roberts was asking with some concern on her face.
"Yes, Ma'am, but it was just something minor. I'm feeling much better now." Pony was trying to be honest with Mrs. Roberts, but he was also treading lightly as to not offer up to much information that could put them in jeopardy of being separated.
"Huh, I did receive some information that you were looked at by the trainer there. Did you ever follow up with a doctor?"
"No, Ma'am. I was feeling much better after we got back and I had a few days to rest up." Pony willing answered. Mrs. Roberts let Pony off for a minute to address this concern with Darry.
"Darrel, did you not feel that it was necessary to follow up with a doctor? I mean this could have been a very serious injury." Mrs. Roberts wasn't holding back none with digging for information that she could use against them.
"No, the trainer thought that it might be just a bruise rib. He didn't think it was necessary to do anymore for him than to just go home and rest. So that's what we did." Mrs. Roberts just let of a "hum." Sara's eyes continued to be fixed on Mrs. Roberts while she wrote on the stupid note pad. Sara wished she could jump up and grab it right out of her hands and throw the damn thing in the trash. It was driving her crazy not knowing what was being written down. After Mrs. Roberts finished writing she continued her interview like style conversation with the family.
"How did the injury occur?" And there it was the dreaded question. Pony stole a quick glance at Soda and Darry before answering.
"Um, I fell into another runner in one of my previous race. More like me and another runner stumbled into each other and I got his elbow into my ribcage. You know how it can be when you're competing for such things. " Pony was trying to sell his story and wasn't sure if she was buying it or not.
"Well, that certainly is a misfortune. But I'm glad to see you are feeling better though. It's a great accomplishment to make it to the State Meet. I know you must be disappointed, Pony, but there is always next year. Darry, you must be very proud of Ponyboy."
Darry was trying to push the thoughts away of how Pony truly got hurt and how Pony could be sitting here displaying his trophy of State champ instead of sitting here with tender ribs still. But Darry knew how he needed to answer Mrs. Roberts and instead simply forced a smile, "Yes, Ma'am I'm very proud of him. I think we definitely have a future track star sitting here."
"We all are." Sodapop chimed in with a genuine smile for Pony and Mrs. Roberts.
"I'm sure you are, Sodapop. You know Soda I was able to check in with Mr. Frizzle the other day and he continues to talk highly of you, which is good to hear. He told me what a nice kid you are and how dependable you are, a true asset to his business, was his direct quote." Ponyboy couldn't help but let out a chuckle when Mrs. Roberts stated a "true asset." Pony knew he was a true asset because the amount of business Sodapop draws in with his good looks and charm. Soda knew what Pony was thinking and also couldn't help but chuckle, but when Darry flashed them both a look, the boys stopped immediately. "You know the last time I was here we had reports of Sara being unsupervised at the DX. It was a real concern that I had, but after speaking with Mr. Frizzle I feel much better about this issue. Mr. Frizzle informed me that he doesn't see her spending any unsupervised time there at all. I'm impressed to see that you have made different arrangements for her. Though it would be nice to report that she is getting off the bus at her home, instead of a business location, but maybe that can be something you work on for the future."
"We are looking into it." Darry was quick to answer.
"Good. But Soda, there is something else that would really help this family, and that is if you would return back to school. I know that you think you need to be working to help Darrel, but it would look so much better on paper if you returned back. Would you please reconsider for next school year?"
Soda hesitated for a minute before answering Mrs. Roberts. "Mrs. Roberts, I know that you think it looks better on paper if I was back in school, but it really wouldn't. See school just isn't my thing. I've tried, and I just wasn't good at it. I'm good at working on cars. That's what I should be doing, not spending useless time in school. And yeah, it does help Darry with things, but that's not the only reason I'm working instead of going to school. I'm happy, and I think that's what is important here. But I will think about it, but I'm not making any promises." Soda darted his eyes off of Mrs. Roberts and over to Darry and Pony who seemed surprised at what Soda had just stated.
"I appreciate your answer Sodapop, but I'm still hoping that you'll change your mind." Mrs. Roberts wrote some more things down and took out another paper from the large file that was in her lap, she took another sip from the glass of water Darry offered and continued her interview. "Darrel, I also spoke with your boss, Mr. Day, and again, I heard some really good things from him about your work ethic. He says he can always count on you to be there on time, and that you're a hard worker and you're always willing to help out and take on extra duties. He's hoping that you will continue with this and that there will not be too many distractions from home that will keep you from the job." Mrs. Roberts paused and took a breath before asking, "Has there been previous distraction here at home that has kept you from your duties at work?" Mrs. Roberts directed towards Darry.
"No, Ma'am. Things here have been just fine. I'm not quite sure what Mr. Day might have been referring to."
"I don't think he was too serious about it, but he did mention it so that is why I am asking. He mentioned that this past week you have seemed a little tired and scattered while on the job. He said that he needed to remind you several times about materials and things. That's all."
"Yes, well, I guess that is kind of true. I have been a little tired this past week and a little more forgetful. But jeez, I want to meet someone that runs a house and a family and not forget things from time to time."
"But Darrel, why have you been so tired? Is it because your duties are becoming too much to handle? Because if that is the case…."
And before Mrs. Roberts could even finish Darry was jumping in, "No, it's not too much to handle, Ma'am! It's just some of us have not been getting the best sleep, and I have been spending some time up with them at night and not getting the sleep I should be, but things are getting better." Darry was trying to beat around the bush a bit with Mrs. Roberts but she wasn't buying into it.
"Who hasn't been sleeping well? Is Pony still having his nightmares?" Mrs. Roberts asked with concern.
"No, Ma'am." Pony was quick to answer.
"No, Pony has been doing a lot better with that." Darry chimed in.
"Is that because Sodapop is still sleeping with him?"
"We think so. Along with more activity, more reading, more writing and drawing, basically having him do things so his imagination isn't so active at night."
"I noticed that the boy's room still only has one bed in there. Have you tried switching back to just sharing a room and not a bed to see how that works?"
"No, Ma'am. I don't see anything wrong with the set up that we have. It's working well for everyone, and I don't have a problem with it, so why change things. If it's not broken then why fix it, right?" Sodapop was quick to defend their situation. Darry though was not impressed with Sodapop's tone and answer so he quickly gave him an elbow check in his side.
"I see. Thank you for being so blunt and honest with me, Sodapop. Again it would look better in your file if it stated that you boys shared a room and not a bed." Mrs. Roberts continued to write things down but still was pressing the issue of who wasn't sleeping. "So if it isn't Ponyboy or Sodapop that only leaves Sara. Sara have you been having trouble sleeping, Dear?" Sara didn't know how to answer so she looked back to Soda hoping for some guidance but Soda just rubbed her leg to try to calm her. "Sara? I asked you a question." Mrs. Roberts pressed. Sara's eyes darted to Mrs. Roberts than over to Darry who gave her a slight nod.
"Yes, Ma'am."
"Why, Dear? Are you having nightmares?"
"Not really nightmares." Sara lied, and all the boys knew that she was lying but Mrs. Roberts seemed to have bought it.
"Then what is keeping you from sleeping?" She pressed.
"Well, this week I have been thinking a lot of my Momma and Dadda, and my birthday and all that kind of stuff." This was news to the boys, but the two older Curtis boys were still not buying it.
"Oh, I'm sorry Dear. I can see how that might keep you up at night. Did you sleep well last night, now that your birthday has passed?"
"Yes, Ma'am it was one of my best night sleep, yet." Sara was only half telling the truth now.
"Good, Good. You do seem a little worn out though. I can see some dark circle still under your eyes. Darrel, I hope that you will make sure that she gets rested up this weekend."
"Yes, I have already moved her bedtime to earlier than normal." Sara didn't like the response and flashed Darry a glare, but Darry just tapped her leg to keep her from saying anything.
"So overall, you all look like you're doing well. It's wonderful to see and hear that you are all working hard to stay together and to stay out of trouble. I'm sure that Darry would agree that's very helpful as well. Is there anything that you think I should know?"
"No, Ma'am. I think you have heard everything that has been going on around here lately. Pony and Sara continue to do well in school, and you already know that work is going well for Soda and I. So I think it's good." Darry said with confidence.
"Yes, I would agree with you Darrel. But like always it's my duty to make sure that I ask each child what their thoughts are on the living situation, so I'll start with Ponyboy. Pony, are you still happy living here with your brother being in charge?" Pony had his own personal thoughts on this and even though he and Darry were having some rough patches here of late he knew he didn't want to be anywhere else and was quick to respond.
"Yes, Ma'am, I'm still happy here with my brothers and sister. Darry and Soda are working really hard to help keep us together. I respect that and will continue to try to do my best at school and stay out of trouble."
"Thank you, Ponyboy. I'm sure you'll continue to do fine. How about you, Sodapop? Are you still happy here?"
"Yes, Ma'am. I wouldn't want anything to change. Darry is doing fabulous." Sodapop flashed Mrs. Roberts one of his movie star grins to help get his point across.
"I'm glad you think so, Sodapop. Darrel? Any change of mind of wanting to continue to take on the responsibility of your three younger siblings? It's a lot of work for just one person, never mind only being 20 and all."
"No, Ma'am. Nothing has changed here. I still want to be their guardian. We belong together. It's what my parents would want."
"Well, you sure are determined, Darrel. Now how about you Sara? Are you still happy here with your brothers?"
"Yes!" She responded almost before Mrs. Roberts was finished asking her questions.
"You don't mind being the only girl in the house? I mean living with three older boys can be tough sometimes. Do you ever miss having a mother around?" Mrs. Roberts has always been concern with three boys raising a young girl by themselves.
"Yes, no, I mean yes." Sara became confused as she was trying to answer all of Mrs. Roberts's questions.
"Yes to what Sara? Yes you're still happy here or yes you would like a Mom around?" Mrs. Roberts could tell by the expression on Sara's face that she was thinking over both answers.
Sara simple responded with, "Yes, I'm happy here with my brothers."
"And having a Mom around?" Mrs. Roberts asked for the third time.
When Sara didn't answer, Darry leaned over to her and said in a soft voice, "Sara, you need to answer Mrs. Roberts." Sara sat for another few seconds fidgeting with her hands in her lap.
"C'mon, Sara, just answer Mrs. Roberts question." Soda tried.
When Sara brought her eyes up to see Mrs. Roberts she could tell that Mrs. Roberts was starting to lose her patience with her. But when Sara went to open her mouth she couldn't get anything out. She didn't know how to answer without her brothers being upset with her, or giving Mrs. Roberts any ideas.
"Sara?" Mrs. Roberts's voice sounded a little edgy, "I'm waiting."
Just at the same time Mrs. Roberts was getting impatient with Sara, Sara was also losing her patience with Mrs. Roberts. She didn't mean too but all of a sudden her Irish temper started to come out. "I'm very happy here with Darry, Soda and Pony, I am. But sometimes I wished that my Momma was here. Not any other Momma though, just mine." Sara had now jumped down off of Sodapop's lap and she stomped her foot against the floor and added, "I don't want you to think I want another Momma, because I don't!" Sara wasn't sure what had come over her at that minute, it could be stress, it could have been being over tired, it could have been anything, but instead of staying put with the boys she ran off towards her room and slammed the door so that it rattled the front windows. The boys sat there stunned by Sara's reaction, they definitely didn't see that coming at all from Sara.
"Mrs. Roberts, I'm sorry. I don't know what just got into her. That's not like her at all." Darry was beside himself. This isn't how this visit was supposed to go down; Darry had felt like it was going very well, considering. This isn't how Sara should be behaving in front of their social worker, the one person that could change everything with a snap of a finger. Darry started to get up from the couch to go retrieve Sara when Mrs. Roberts spoke again.
"Darrel, leave her be for a minute or two. Maybe Sodapop and Ponyboy could go and check on her though, boys do you mind?" Sodapop and Ponyboy both knew that this was their cue to leave the room so that Mrs. Roberts and Darry could talk in private.
"Sure." Sodapop said pulling Ponyboy up with him.
Darry and Mrs. Roberts watched as the two boys walked off towards Sara's room. Once Mrs. Roberts saw the boys enter Sara's room and heard the door close again she let out a sigh and looked over towards Darry.
"Darrel, I think there might be more to this, then just lack of sleep. How long exactly has she been acting this way?"
"About a week." Darry confessed.
"Do you honestly believe Sara? That it's just her birthday, and lack of your parents being here for it?" Mrs. Roberts raised an eyebrow.
"I honestly think that this has been a hard week for her, knowing that she was going to have to celebrate a birthday without our parents. So yes, I think she has been thinking about them a lot here of late." Darry knew that he had to go with Mrs. Roberts's hunch.
"Has she been having outburst like what we just saw?" Mrs. Roberts asked taking more notes.
"Actually, no. It has been the opposite really, she has been really quite and withdrawn and of course the sleeping this past week. Who knows with her sometimes? I haven't really spoken with here since I've got home, maybe something happened at school." Darry knew that Mrs. Roberts already was on to that something was going on here so he might as well be up front and honest with her instead of trying to hide it.
"Huh, what about her eating? I don't mean to be so direct, Darrel, but her clothes are bagging off of her. She looks like she is a lot thinner than just a few weeks ago when I last saw her."
Darry was hoping that with the dress that he had picked out today and the sweater that she wouldn't have noticed the weight lost. "It varies. Some days she will eat what's on her plate, and then other days she will barely touch it. I try, but other than forcing it down her throat, I don't know how else to get her to eat. She's so stubborn that if I make her sit at the table until it's gone, she'll sit there until midnight and still not touch any of it." This actually got a chuckle from Mrs. Roberts.
"I see. I actually have a seven year old son at home that does the same thing. So I understand were you're coming from Darrel. It just worries me. I would like you to take her to the doctor's. I just want to get a doctor's opinion on this Darrel. I've made some notes, and l will be checking in with you next week to see what the outcome was about her visit. We just want to make sure that she is staying healthy and that nothing medical is going on with her."
"I will call first thing Monday morning." Darry said putting a little grin on his face, "You know she's not going to like this one bit. She hates going to the doctor's."
Mrs. Roberts returned Darry's grin. "Jeez, we should really get the two kids together; my son is the same way. There was just one more thing I wanted to address with you before we're finished. I did notice that you have paid some of your last few bills on time, and that makes me happy. But what I also noticed is that your cupboards and refrigerator are lacking in some food. I hope that you are not trying to focus so much on the bills than on keeping food in this house."
"Oh, no Ma'am. Saturdays are shopping day. You just caught us at the end of the week. I promise we're shopping tomorrow."
"Ok, Darrel. I just wanted to check." Mrs. Roberts started to get up from the chair while organizing her papers.
"If you hold on, I'll go get the kids." Darry moved down towards Sara's room. He flung open the door and glared into the room, where Sodapop was sitting and holding Sara on her bed. "Mrs. Roberts is getting ready to leave. Be polite and come see her off." Pony got up off the floor and quickly did as Darry requested. Soda tried to pull Sara up off her bed but Sara was resisting. Darry wasn't gonna tolerate with her foolishness any longer. "Sara Marie Curtis, you best get your ass up off that bed and out into that living room before I give you the tanning of your life." Sara didn't even have to look up to see the look on Darry's face; she knew how serious he was just by the way he spoke. She was starting to move off the bed, but wasn't fast enough to Darry's liking. He swiftly grabbed her arm and practically dragged her up off the bed. As Darry was ushering Sara down the hall he leaned into her ear. "You will apologize to Mrs. Roberts for your behavior before she leaves here, do you understand me?" Sara quickly shook her head up and down. The four walked out to the living room to send Mrs. Roberts off. Darry pushed Sara towards Mrs. Roberts.
"Mrs. Roberts?" Sara said in a very low voice.
"Yes, Sara?" She said kneeling down so that she was at Sara's level.
"I'm sorry." Darry wasn't satisfied with just that and tapped her arm. "I'm sorry for stomping my foot, and yelling." Darry still wasn't happy and tapped her again. "And for running off."
"Sara, I understand. I'm hoping that the next time we see each other; you'll be in a better mood. You know, believe it or not, I'm in your corner. I want to see you stay with your brothers. But it's my job to make sure that you're happy here, and that you're well cared for. I'm not trying to take you away and I'm surely not trying to find you a new mother. But anytime that you feel like things are changing than you need to let me know. Ok?" Even though she knew that Darry wasn't happy with her, she needed some comforting from her brother, so Sara took a step back and leaned into Darry grabbing his leg and putting her little arms around it. And even though that Darry was indeed furious with Sara, he allowed himself to pull her near and give her a half hug.
"Darrel, I'm pleased with what I have seen and heard here today. Continue to keep up the good work. I will be checking in with you mid to late week to see what the outcome of that appointment was that we talked about. Hopefully it will be nothing and we can schedule another visit a few weeks from now." She turned her attention to Ponyboy and Sodapop, "Boys, continue to behave yourselves. Stay out of trouble, and Sodapop, please consider returning back to school. You all have a good weekend. I'll be in touch Darrel. Bye now."
"Bye." The boys said. They watched Mrs. Roberts walk down the stairs and get into her car. There was a sigh of relief from Sodapop and Ponyboy but Darry couldn't possible let out a sigh of relief after the stunt that Sara just pulled. He looked down at her while she was standing holding on to his leg. Darry pushed her off of his leg and just looked at her. "What am I going to do with you? What has gotten into you lately? You're lucky that Mrs. Roberts was in a good mood today, because that little outburst could of just cost us everything. I want you to go to your room and think about that until dinner is ready."
"But Darry.." Sara started to whine.
"No, Sara. I'm not ready to deal with you just yet. Go to your room. We'll talk about this after I have had time to calm down and think it over." Darry actually thought he was being pretty sensible to send her off before he really went wild on her. But the look on Sara's face told Darry that she was devastated by Darry's reaction. Sara started to say something but Darry held up his hand to quiet her. Sara dipped her head down and shuffled off towards her room. She walked past Soda who softly patted her shoulder. Sara stopped in the hall and turned and gave Darry one more pleading look. When Darry just shook his head in disappointment at her, she quietly walked into her room and closed the door and flung herself onto her bed and started to let the tears flow from her eyes.