Chapter 22
"C'mon, Darry. It wasn't that bad. You know how she gets when Mrs. Roberts comes for a visit. Hell, we kind of all get a little edgy. It's just harder for her." Soda tried to convince Darry while he mashed the potatoes.
"Save your breath, Soda. You can't help her this time. She knows what she did was wrong. We're just damn lucky that Mrs. Roberts was in a good mood today." Darry was taking the baked chicken out of the oven when they heard the front screen slam shut.
"Soda?" Steve yelled into the house.
"In the kitchen." Soda yelled back. Steve sauntered into the kitchen and pulled out a chair and plopped his ass down.
"Umm, smells good!" He said while licking his lips.
"Pony, come set the table." Darry hollered down the hall. Soon Pony arrived and was getting the plates down while Steve watched the three Curtis boys move around the kitchen in total silence. Steve wanted to ask about the afternoon visit but with the way they were acting he wasn't sure if he should. But Steve was never one to hold back on what he was thinking so he went ahead anyway.
"So, how did the visit go this afternoon?"
Sodapop looked over at Darry who was setting the bake chicken down on the table. "Fine." Soda answered for them all.
"Just fine? Jesus Christ what happened? You three look like the world just came crashing down on you."
"No, it actually really went fine. She wants me to go back to school, but we all know that isn't going to happen, but other than that she was pretty impressed with how we were managing."
"You mean she didn't say anything about Pony's bruised ribs? The rumble? None of it?" Steve asked with surprise.
"She knew about Pony's ribs but we covered it up pretty good, giving her some line about getting elbow by another runner. She didn't say a word about the rumble." Soda said placing the mash potatoes down on the table.
"She must of known. They always know about that kind of shit."
"if she did, she didn't say anything, which is one less thing we have to worry about."
"What about Sara? Getting lost at the meet? She had to of known about that?"
"Nope." Soda said handing Pony the silverware to set down on the table. "Are you staying to eat?" He asked Steve.
"Yeah, sure if you have enough? Are you sure we are talking about the same Mrs. Roberts here? It just doesn't sound like her." Steve was spinning a fork around on the table when he looked back up at Darry and Soda. "She didn't even mention anything about why Sara looks like shit all the time? Nothing about the dark circles under her eyes? Nothing about her not sleeping?" Both Sodapop and Darry kind of stopped what they were doing and looked back over at Steve like he had two heads, but Soda continued to answer his questions.
"Yeah, she did. She wants Darry to take her to the doctor's. See if there is something wrong with her."
"Oh, there's something wrong with her alright. Do you think he'll help her with her nightma.. nighttime troubles?"
"I don't know. All I do know is she gonna fight Darry tooth and nail over this. She hates going to the doctor's." Darry had been very quiet listening to Steve and Soda go back and forth when he was getting a suspicion that Steve knew a little more than he was letting on about Sara. He decided that he had enough and just came out and asked Steve what was going on.
"Why so many questions Steve? Since when have you taken such an interest in Sara's well-being? First, the shoes, now this? What's going on with you two?" Darry now had stopped what he was doing and looked straight at Steve.
"Darry, I don't know what you're talking about; Man. Everyone knows that there's something going on with her. If we noticed, then I'm pretty sure that Miss social worker would have too."
"Give it up, Steve. I know you better than that. What do you know that I don't know? Did Dally talk to you about yesterday?"
"I haven't seen Dally since last night when he slipped in and out for Sara's birthday." Steve was still spinning the fork that was in front of him trying to avoid Darry's angry eyes that he could feel burning a hole through his skin.
"Darry, do you want me to go tell Sara that dinner is ready?" Pony interrupted the conversation.
"No, I'll go do it." Darry said heading towards the hall, but before he entered he turned back towards Steve. "Steve, this conversation isn't over yet."
"Whatever, Man." Steve was getting a little irritated knowing that Sara hadn't yet told her brothers and now he was going to have to follow through with his threat. He was weighing his options. He could tell Darry now, or he could wait until him and Sodapop were finished with their date and tell Soda then. Neither one was ideal but it looked like Sara was gonna give him no choice. He watched as Darry moved into Sara's room and let out a sigh.
"What's up with you Man? This has to do with you talking with Sara this morning, doesn't it? You weren't talking about our date at all; you were talking about something else. Give it up!" Soda demanded while pulling out some milk to fill the glasses on the table.
"Just forget about it. I'll tell ya about it later."
"Darry will beat it outta of ya before then." Soda was trying to shrug it off and make a joke out of it, but in reality the two knew that he was right.
"Let him try. He'll have a hard time doing it, if I'm not around. So let's get to eating. I told Evie that we would pick them up around 6:30."
"Where you guys going?" Pony asked taking his seat.
"The races, and no, you're not coming." Steve hissed back at Pony.
Pony kind of dipped his head down towards his plate and softly said, "I didn't want to go. I was just asking."
"Sure, you didn't." Steve said sarcastically while reaching for some potatoes.
Soda could tell that Pony's feelings were hurt when he got up from the table to grab for some pepper. He leaned down into Pony's ear and whispered, "Don't look like that Pon. I'll take you on my next day off. How's that?" Pony kind of half smiled at Soda and just shook his head in agreement. Soda squeezed his shoulder and placed the pepper on the table. "Wonder what's taking them so long? Maybe I should go and find out?"
"Why? So your dinner can get cold? They'll be fine. We've gotta get outta here soon." Steve said with a mouth full of chicken and potatoes. The boys heard some ruckus coming from the front of the house, when they cocked their heads around they noticed Two Bit, Dally and Johnny strolling through the living room. "Well look what the cat dragged in! Dal, where've you been hiding yourself? Afraid that Superman was going to bash your head through the wall?"
As Dallas was passing by Steve he slapped Steve upside the head. "No asshole, I've actually been working, for your information I was jockeying over in Sand Springs last night. It was a good night we won nearly fifty bucks."
"Nice." Steve said rubbing the spot on his head that Dally had just smacked.
"Where's little Curtis and Superman anyways?" Dally asked picking up some chicken off of Steve's plate. "Hey Kid, me, Two-Bit and Johnny are gonna head over to the races you want to come? My treat."
"Hey that's where we going with the girls." Steve remarked with some irritation in his voice. He was hoping for a date with just the girls, not the whole gang.
Pony looked towards Sodapop in hopes that he would give him permission but when Soda shook his head and shrugged his shoulders Pony knew that he would have to ask Darry. "Sorry, Pon. After yesterday he's probably going to say no." Sodapop said while shoveling his food in.
"I'll have to ask Darry." Pony said while pushing his food around.
"Don't worry Pon, we'll talk him into it for ya." Two-Bit said while hunting for some beer in the Curtis' refrigerator. Finally finding none, Two-But shut the door and sat down to chat with the boys and wait for Superman and Sara to come out.
Meanwhile Darry had been watching Sara from her door. He didn't think he was calm enough to talk with her yet, but was hoping that maybe after dinner was over he would be. Sara was sitting on the oval braided rug on her floor with her back turned to the door. She was playing with her new Ken doll and an old ratty looking Barbie that had clearly seen better days. He listened to Sara play and tried not to chuckle at the things she was having them say back and forth. "Now Ken, you know that the Dingo is no place for a proper girl like me to be hanging out. I much more prefer Ruby's Diner down on Pickett Street." Sara moved Barbie closer to Ken and started talking in a much deeper voice. "But Barbie, all my friends hang out at the Dingo, what would they think if we just didn't show? Plus only the Socs go to Ruby's." Darry didn't think he could listen to any more of this so he cleared his throat to get Sara's attention. She immediately dropped the dolls and turned with some embarrassment. "Oh, hi, Darry. Have you been there long?"
Darry knew that Sara knew that she had already been caught so no need to embarrass her any more than she already was. "No, not long. Come, dinner's ready." Just as she was about to reject the dinner she caught a glimpse of Dally stepping up beside Darry in the door.
"Dally!" Sara jumped up and ran towards them. "Dally, look Soda set my record player up on my book case over here. I just love it so much. Soda even let me have some of his old records too! Come!" Sara grabbed at Dally's hand, but Dally quickly pushed Sara's hand away and freely walked into the room on his own. Darry sat with his arms crossed his chest watching the two interact. "I'll play you a record. Hold on just a second."
"No, Sara. It's time for dinner. It's probably cold by now." Darry hollered at her, but noticed that it didn't get her attention. "Sara! Now!" Sara was still ignoring Darry and was trying to get a record for Dally. Darry was tired of the game she was playing and marched over to her and grabbed her arm.
"Darry, that hurts." Sara started to whine.
"Well, it wouldn't of if you had listened and done what you were told the first time. You can show Dally the record player after dinner is over. No get out to that kitchen and eat." Sara looked up to Dally with pleading eyes hoping that he would come to her defensive. Dally was having a hard time resisting the beautiful blue eyes, but also caught the evil threating glance that Darry was giving him. He knew better than go against Darry so he looked down at Sara and refused the offer.
"Another time, Kiddo. I'm heading out with the boys to go over to the races." Dally placed his hand on Sara's back and pushed her towards the door.
"Darry, can we go too?" Sara asked with excitement in her voice.
"Not after the stunt you pulled this afternoon." Darry said walking ahead of her towards the kitchen.
"Please, Darry? I promise I'll be good. It'll be so much fun." Sara begged walking into the kitchen where the noise of the boys was deafening.
"No, no, and no." Darry said pushing Two-Bit out of his chair.
"Please? I won't ask or bother you ever again." Sara continued to beg.
The boys couldn't resist laughing at that comment. They all knew that Sara would be asking and begging for something again in like an hour from now. "No, Sara. End of discussion." Darry tried to warn.
"Why?" Sara wasn't going to let this die even though Darry had already warned that this was the end of the discussion.
"What did I just say to you little lady?" He was starting to lose this patience with Sara.
"But why? Why Darry? Why can't we go? You never take me anywhere! I never get to do anything fun!" And it was at that moment that the straw broke the camel's back. Darry went wild. He slammed his fork down and smashed his fist against the table making the dishes on the table rattle. Darry's eyes locked with Sara's and everyone in the room could see the blazes in Darry's pale blue ice eyes.
"Really Sara? For starters the little stunt that you threw this afternoon with Mrs. Roberts might be a good start on why you aren't going to the races. Two is because it doesn't get over until late at night and three is that I said no and that's the end of it!" Darry was now standing up from the table, face red with anger and frustration. Even though the kitchen was full of 8 people you could hear a pin drop it was so quiet, until that moment, in that moment the stubbornness in both oldest and youngest Curtis member came head to head.
Sara had now jumped up from her seat and was stomping her feet and throwing her hands onto her hips, and it didn't stop with just that, Sara found her highest pitch voice and started screaming and yelling at Darry. "That's not fair! You're not being fair! You're being mean! I didn't pull any stunt with Mrs. Roberts. I'm going and you can't stop me!" Sara turned to Dallas and starting begging. "Dally, take me with you, please? I'll be good. You won't even know I'm there. I won't bug you or ask for anything. I'll just sit there and watch the race. Please Dally?" Dallas Winston's eyes got a little big as he stood there watching this scene; he was almost lost for words. He started to shake his head from side to side, which just infuriated Sara even more, and then she turned to Soda. "Soda, please take me! I'll be so good. I promise. I won't even watch you put your hands on Sandy and touch her in places you shouldn't. I won't make funny noises while you're kissing. Please?"
"No, Sara. You heard what Darry said." Sodapop said while putting his dirty dishes in the sink trying not to look at the tears starting to flow from Sara's blue eyes.
It was then that Sara just starting screaming at the top of her lungs. "IT'S NOT FAIR! I HATE YOU ALL! I HATE THIS DAMN HOUSE! I DON'T WANT TO LIVE HERE ANYMORE!" Sara picked up her plate that was in front of her and smashed them into the sink sending food and shattering pieces of ceramic from the plate into the air and onto the floor. Soda stood in shock at what his little sister had just done. Only one person dared to move and that was Darrel Curtis. He had seen and heard enough from his sister that he swiftly moved from his spot at the table over to where Sara was standing by the sink and let three fast, hard smack land right on her bottom. The boys all stood motionless and quiet as mice. None of them had ever seen Darry strike one of his siblings before and now they just witnessed him do it three times to just one. Now none of them would probably argue that she didn't deserve it, but it was just the fact that he had done it and there in front of them all. Sara was still screaming but now she was screaming because she was probably in pain and she was trying to get away from Darry so that he wouldn't inflict anymore pain to her bottom, but Darry had a strong hold onto her arm and wasn't letting her get away from him. Sara then went into full rage. She started kicking and yelling and even cursing some more while trying to loose from Darry. Darry went in for another swat at her bottom when Sodapop stepped in.
"Darry, that's enough!" Soda put his hand out to stop Darry's forceful one coming towards Sara. Darry realized what he was doing and stop cold in his tracks. He just stood there looking into Soda's water filled heresy eyes. No one said anything. All that could be heard in the house was Sara's cries. Darry followed the noise down to see that Sara was now cowardly huddling in behind Soda. He took one look at the child and it was like something had just dawned on him. He had struck his sister with his hand. The look on Sara's face will be forever embedded in his brain. He could not begin to describe the look of horror, distrust, pain, and hurt that was written with a stream of tears. Darry took one more look at Sodapop who was still holding his hand out to prevent Darry from striking again. Darry's eyes darted to the counter where his truck keys lied. He dashed for the keys and pushed his way pass Two-Bit and Johnny and slammed open the screen door and then they heard the roar of the truck's engine. Sodapop darted towards the living room but was stopped by Dally and Steve.
"Let him go, Soda." Steve pressed his body against the wall so Soda couldn't get passed.
"He needs to cool off." Dally said standing beside Steve. Soda backed off to go back into the kitchen to check on Sara, but when he turned around Sara was already running down the hall towards her room. It was the slam of her door that made some of the boys jump a little. "Holy shit! Who would of ever thought that this was gonna go down 10 minutes ago? Wow!"
Pony and Johnny had moved over and were picking up the food and the broken pieces from the kitchen floor and countertop.
"I know this isn't good timing, but Soda, we need to go pick up the girls." Steve said glancing at the clock on the kitchen wall.
"I can't go now, Steve. Someone needs to stay here. Who the hell knows where Darry went, never mind when he's coming home. I can't go now." Soda said flopping down in the closest chair at the table. He sat there running his hands through his hair. "I can't believe he hit her."
"What's done, is done, Soda. I mean we all saw it. If I was Darry I would of done the same thing. But of course if I was Darry I would of done it months ago." Steve announced while pacing around the kitchen. "Soda, we need to get going. C'mon. Leave her here with Pony. You said yourself that Darry probably wasn't going to let him go anyway." When Soda still hadn't said anything Steve continued to apply the peer pressure. "C'mon, Man, Sandy will make you feel better. She always does."
"Go ahead, Soda. I'll stay and wait for Darry. Plus you're right, Darry probably wouldn't of let me go anyway. Go." Pony said cleaning up the last of Sara's mess. Soda let out a long sigh and got up from the chair.
"I'll stay here with Pony and wait too." Johnny offered. Soda thought about it for a minute. He felt a little better about leaving Pony with Sara if Johnny was going to be here too.
"Ok, but let me just check on Sara, before leaving." Soda slowly walked down to Sara's room when he got to the door he could hear Sara crying still. Her sobs were hard and heavy and it almost broke Soda's heart. He moved over to where Sara was flopped down on her belly with her face buried into her pillow, and both arms wrapped firmly around Bear. He carefully sat down on the edge of her bed and started rubbing her back. He sat there and did this for a few minutes before saying anything. He didn't know really what to say that would make this type of hurt go away but he needed to try. "You know he didn't mean too, Sara. It's just you pushed him over the edge. You know better than to yell and curse and break things. You need to learn to control your temper. I know that it hurts and nothing I say is going to make it feel better, but Darry's hurting just as much. I want you to think about that." Soda knew by how hard Sara was crying that she was probably too far gone at the moment to comprehend anything that Soda was trying to tell her. He rubbed a few more circles on her back until Steve came to the door.
"Soda, I'm leaving. If you're a comin' you best get your ass out to the car." Soda looked back down at Sara who was still a mess, but as he weighed the options, he could stay here with her like this for hours and it probably still wouldn't matter, or he could go out with Sandy and Steve. As he took in the situation he decided he might as well go with Steve.
"Sara, I'm leaving with Steve now. Pony and Johnny are here. If Darry isn't back by your bedtime, please just be a good girl and listen to Pony when he tells you it's time for bed. Don't give Darry any more reason to be upset with you. Please, Sara? Listen to me. I know you and I know you're probably thinking of doing something stupid right now. So I advise you to push those thoughts somewhere way down deep." Sara still didn't respond. Soda slowly got up from the bed and walked over to the door and started to close it behind him. "Don't give Ponyboy a hard time while we're gone. You're in enough trouble as it. I love you, I'll check in on you when I get home." Sara heard Soda shut her door and walked out to speak to Pony, and this only made her cry harder. She couldn't understand why everyone that was supposed to love her were now all leaving her to wallow in her self-pity.