Pretend (johnnyboy & curtis sister x cherry)

Chapter 14: Perfect

It's the day before Thanksgiving, and Darry is going nuts preparing for it. You would think that the president is coming for dinner by the way he's acting. It's only the gang, seven Greasers, that don't give a shit whether the house is clean or not. They only care if we have food.

"Come on guys! I want everything to be perfect for tomorrow!" Darry yells. And Soda, Pony, Johnny and I roll our eyes. Why is he acting like this? The only people that are coming, are the same people that are here every day. Why is it any different than a normal Thursday?

"Pony, Soda, you guys are on cleaning duty." Darry says and they both groan, "Don't give me attitude!". Darry points to Johnny and me, "You two are on pie duty.".

Johnny and I high-five each other, knowing that we got the easiest and most important job. Pies are a very big deal at the Curtis Family Thanksgiving. We not only eat lots of it, but after dessert, the whole gang goes outside and has a pie fight. Mom and Dad would always stand on the back steps and laugh. Mom and Dad... This will be our first Thanksgiving without them... That must be why Darry is acting so strange. He doesn't want us to be let down.

"Hey Johnny, you start looking over the recipes. I'm gonna go talk to Darry for a second. Be right back." I say to him and he nods his head.

I find Darry in his room, ironing out our nice clothing for tomorrow.

"Hey Purple People Eater!" Darry says. Purple People Eater was Dad's nickname for me. Now that Dad is gone, that's what Darry calls me. "Hi, Darry. Can I talk to you for a second?" I ask as I shut the door behind me.

"Sure. What's up?'

"I know why you've been so off today."

"I haven't been 'off'. Everything is fine."

I ignore his lie, "It's our first Thanksgiving without Mom and Dad. You've already done so much for Pony, Soda, and I. Johnny too, now. It's gonna be perfect no matter what. You don't have to stress about it. Mom and Dad would be so proud if they could see you now. Don't get so worked up about some silly little holiday. We're all together, and that's all that matters. Okay?"

"Okay," he says and a tear streams down his cheek. I leave the room and go back to the kitchen.