Miss Matthews POV
At first, I didn't believe the kid sitting in front of me. but yet.He had the birthmark.I licked my finger and rubbed the spot to make sure it wasn't makeup.
It wasn't makeup.
It was Ponyboy.
He looked exactly like his mother and Darryl Jr., He looked exactly the same as eleven years ago. I don't know why I didn't believe him at first, but would you? If a loved one went missing and came back eleven years later with no memory whatsoever, would you believe them? Especially because it's almost Halloween, and kids every year pull cruel pranks. This would be right up their alley, especially because this is greaser territory.
Yes, I am one of the few parents who know about the greaser and soc conflict, partially because I was a soc when I was younger, and I saw how James (My husband) treated the poorer kids.
Worst of all, people have made movies and even written books about what has happened to the kids. Several of them. I made the boys promise never to watch or read or watch one of them ever, because they used the kids' actual names, and the victims' families' real names. Not that any of them are actually interested in reading or watching anything, that was more of a Ponyboys thing after all.I'm glad I made them promise though, I once read one of the books, and the stuff that happened in that book I will never be able to get out of my head. I had to keep reminding myself it was just fiction. Nobody would ever do that to a kid... except Ted Bundy, John Wayne ga- 'Stop it' I thought to myself, 'If you start thinking that way you will break down, and if you break down, everyone will break down'
that's how I spent my years. That book is what made me ask him all of those questions, I was remembering the scenes from the book.
"Are you hurt?" I remembered Page 76
"Were you abused" I remembered Page 198
"Are you still a virgin?" I, Unfortunately, remembered Page 207
Yeah, I'm glad I made them promise me to never, EVER read that goddamn book full of ludicrous nonsense. I'm glad I made them promise to never see those movies where they acted out everything. Glad was an understatement. I was thrilled.
I turned my attention to the phone that was ringing off the wall, taking note of Ponyboy's little jump. I walked over to the phone when something clicked in my head. "Go get some sleep" I said "We can talk more later" he stared for a second, nodded, then went down the hall. I heard Darry and Two-bits old room door open and close. I knew it was their room because their door broke after a little wrestling match between Sodapop and Steve, it always creaked in a low tone before ending in a sudden high note when being closed.
I was dying to ask him one question 'Do you remember your parents at all?' Of course, he doesn't, he already said he and the others don't remember anything, why would his parents be any different? Even if he wasn't kidnapped, he still wouldn't remember, he was only three when they died, and only four when he was kidnapped. It makes sense he wouldn't remember me or the boys, he was just a toddler, but not remembering where you grew up, who raised you, your birthday, your name, where you lived for eleven years just doesn't add up.
I picked up the phone, Half expecting it to be the police asking for information, and half expecting it to be one of the boys asking if it was true. Ponyboy arrived at nine this morning, and it was already almost 1 o'clock, that's enough time for both the police department and the local news stations to hear about the kids."This is Ruth Matthews speaking, how may I help-" "Mom! Is it true? Are they really back?! Is he there?" It was my son, Keith, who always went by Two-bit. I wanted to answer him, but I didn't trust myself to actually speak without breaking down, so I just nodded. "Mom? Hello?" I realized he couldn't see me, so I quickly stammered out what I had been wanting to say for eleven years. "I-Uh-He- He's here, Ponyboy, He's back!" I started just sobbing on the line, I prayed Ponyboy was already asleep.
I heard a colective sigh come from all of the guys. "We will be there in 10, we're leaving now" I heard Dallas say on the other line. "Wait!" I shouted to hopfully get Keiths attention before he hung up. "Wait, guys!" I heard Keith call "what is it mom?" I didn't know how to tell him that the kid he had always seen as the little brother he never had, didn't remember him at all. How I was going to tell any of them how he didn't remember any of them at all."Mom? we don't got all day Ma! What is it?" I took a deep breathe "He-' I swallowed. "He dosn't remember anything" I say. There was a pause. "What do you mean?" Sodapop asked "Dosn't remember what?" Johnny added to the question.
"He dosn't remember you"