The Outsiders - Slow Down, Darrel (Darry Curtis)

SIXTEEN: You Didn't Deserve Any of This

After being filled in on the self righteous attitude that runs in the Holden family, Darry had left for work. He was roofing and directing his crew, the same as everyday. He didn't mind the repetition, though. With as unpredictable as Tulsa could be, knowing exactly what every work day would entail gave him some comfort.

That, however, was entirely disproven when Paul walked up to the crew in the middle of the day, Darry rolled his eyes and wiped some of the sweat off of his forehead.

"Hey there, pal!" Paul said with mock-cheerfulness.

"What can I do for ya?" Darry asked, getting straight to the point.

"Why don't you get your little greaser broad to quit sticking her nose around the school," he barked.

"Your brothers are the ones causin' trouble. Mike's been beaten on kids half his size," Darry snapped.

Paul let out a cocky laugh, and then turned his face, attempting intimidation, "Keep away from my brothers," he grumbled.

"Or what?" Darry said, stepping toward him, "You can't threaten me, Paul, remember?"

"You don't know what you're on about Darrel," He said lowly.

"Yeah? Well then why don't I go socialize after work," Darry said, "Talk to the ladies at the club. Wonder what they'd think about knowing whose your 'brothers' really are, and where Mrs. Ruth ran off to? Conveniently enough, I think she ran off right before a lady might start showing?"

"What are you digging for?"

"I'm just sayin'," Darry said darkly, "You can either get them in line, and keep 'em away from my boys, or I can tell the town about one of the 'Great Holden Boys' knockin' up a married woman, twice" he shook Paul's hand forcefully, "You decide."

Darry turned and walked away from his former friend, knowing he'd won.

When they were in high school, Paul had told Darry all about his less than holy excursions. He and Mrs. Ruth, a housewife, whose husband was away in the military, had had, relations. Which led to the creation of his oldest son, Michael. Just a number of months after Mrs. Ruth gave birth outside of town, she was pregnant again. Another one of Paul's children.

Paul's grandparents paid Mrs. Ruth and her husband to keep quiet about the children, and told the town that Mrs. Holden had carried both kids, and just didn't show much. The lie was easy to pass off, Mrs. Holden rarely left the house, so no one could've noticed, plus, the Holden's were a powerful family, nobody doubted a thing they said.

And that was that, Paul had two 'little brothers', and no one batted an eye.

But Darrel knew. And he'd heard it straight from the source. For the first time anyone knew of, a troubled, orphaned, greaser had the upper hand over a highly regarded soc.

That day, the only bruises on Graham or Jack, were yellowed, and days old. And in the following days, which turned to weeks, they looked like the healthy boys they were. Neither had any signs- emotional or physical- of the bullying that had been taking place. The boys both said that the Holden children just left them alone now. Gave them no trouble at all.

Everything seemed right in the Curtis house. All the way through the fall and into the winter. The boys loved school. Darry kept climbing up in rank at his job. Madeline had finished her entire second year of classes in one semester by working only every other day, and taking whatever classes she could on the others, and at night. Everything seemed simple.

But quicker than anyone realized, the one year anniversary of Johnny and Dally's death rolled around. Ponyboy had gone quiet that week. He remembered that with the anniversary of Johnny's death approaching, the anniversary of Bob's death was also one-year ago.

He couldn't get out of his own head, and nothing could help. Two-Bit offered to hang out at the movies with him, he declined every time.

Darry and Soda had noticed, of course. But weren't sure how to help their brother while he broke before their eyes. Whenever he could, Darry tried to get Ponyboy to open up. It was useless. He wouldn't respond. He would only grumble and give short answers.

It was officially the one year mark of Johnny's death. Sodapop woke up, he had only slept a little. Ponyboy was thrashing while he had some sort of nightmare, and Sodapop always stayed up to make sure he would get back to sleep after a nightmare. Even if it took all night, he would've given up sleep all his life for his brothers.

But when Soda woke up, he was alone. He shot up, realizing what day it was and jogged out into the  kitchen, looking for Ponyboy, who was nowhere in the house.

There was, however, a note on the table, Sodapop read it:

Sorry for running out early, I've got somewhere I need to be.

Sincerely, Ponyboy

Ponyboy hardly wrote so shortly. He didn't speak that way and he certainly didn't write that way. He was consistently intricate and intentional with everything he wrote. This was hurried and insincere.

Soda flew out of the house. Running towards the lot. It was empty. He ran down to the park, where Bob was killed. Still no sign of his brother. He wasn't sure where else to go.

Instead of wandering aimlessly, he headed home to get Darry, and hoped Ponyboy had just come home, he hadn't.

"Damnit, that kid oughta learn not to run away from his problems," Darry grumbled, frustrated. Soda shook his head, but he knew not to say anything, Darry wasn't mad. Just worried. He had been the same way when Pony and Johnny were up at the church.

They headed out again, this time in Darry's truck, looking for their youngest brother. Soda looked at Johnny's old, abandoned house, that had been empty since his folks fled. After three or four laps around the neighborhood, Soda noticed something new; the front window was broken. The board that was meant to cover the opening, was just off its center.

"Pull up here, Dar," Soda ordered.

They hopped out of the car and messed with the board until it moved. Both boys, being much bigger than Pony, had to squeeze through the little opening.

"Ponyboy?" Darry called, walking around the old house, still filled with beer bottles and objects that had been thrown around.

When they got to Johnny's 'room', which was more of a spacious storage corner, they found their little brother.

The youngest Curtis was sobbing, sitting in Johnny's room. The sight was distressing, but also sort of relieving to the older two. All they'd wanted all week, was to know Pony was still feeling.

Even though he was hurting, they were grateful to see him releasing it.

"Hey little buddy," Darry said gently.

"I miss him Darry," Ponyboy cried, "I tried to be strong, like you are. I tried. But he's gone,"

Darry moved swiftly to his brother, Soda behind him, and wrapped them into a hug, "You don't try to be anything but you. I ain't strong, kid. You're strong. You didn't deserve any of this," For the first time in so long, maybe even in the year since he was reunited with his little brother, Darry cried. He really, really cried.

All three brothers cried in the middle of their friend's old house. And that's all they did for the rest of the day. Ponyboy was back on his feet, back to storytelling, reacting and responding  to his family. And that was enough for his brothers to know he would be alright, even if he wasn't there now.