The Outsiders - Slow Down, Darrel (Darry Curtis)

TWENTY ONE: The Uncertainty Was Nerve-Racking

Madeline shook her head, confused, "Sorry?"

"Hope you like apple pie!" Dorothy called, marching out of the kitchen, "What were you two chatting about?" Her tone was tense.

"Just about her schooling," Henry said coolly, "She's got a bright future!"

"Yes, well, what are you studying?" She asked her granddaughter.

"Buisness, I want to open my own shop of some sort someday," Madeline said with a sweet smile.

"How, admirable," Dorothy replied, "and what does Darrel do?"

"He works in roofing, like houses and stuff," she explained.

Dorothy pursed her lips and nodded. They ate the pie in silence for the most part, and when Dorothy walked off into the kitchen with an armful of the dishes, Henry led Madeline into a room lined with full bookshelves.

"Take a seat, dear," he said kindly.

"Can I ask what you meant out in the dining room?" Madeline asked, "About staying away?"

Henry looked around Madeline at the doorway before answering, making sure his wife wasn't coming in, "Madeline, it is lovely to see you. And I would love to see those boys. But your grandmother isn't doing this for you," he said seriously.

She looked down at her hands, "She doesn't want to know me?"

He sighed and held her hand in his, "I'm afraid she's in this for selfish reason, ones that mean you have to keep the boys away. I don't want to see you hurt."

"I don't understand."

"Did your mother ever talk to you about your grandmother?"

"No," she told him quietly.

"I figured not. Their relationship was always tumultuous. Always fighting and yelling. Your mother couldn't please Dorothy. And when we found out about her and your father. Well, Dorothy was a mess. She screamed for hours at your mom," he took a long, shaky breath, "and you can about imagine when she got pregnant with you shortly after, your grandma about blew a fuse. She was horribly cruel to your mother, called her awful names, said things I'd never repeat. And she kicked her out of the house. I tried to get her to stay, and tried to talk Dorothy into letting her, but it was no use. Dorothy was far too caught up in the whirlwind of 'greasers' and 'socs' and it lost her her daughter."

Madeline sat, processing, "So, of course I understand I should be wary, but, you sounded more intense than that," she asked.

"Yes, well, unfortunately there's more to the story. Dorothy had always been intent on 'saving' you from the greaser-life. I figured she would just try to build a bridge when you were older. But, while I was away on a work trip one week, your grandmother, well, she took you away. Kept you in the house, locked your mom out. I came home, and I saw your little face, and I was horrified. Not at you, of course, but that your grandmother would do something so evil. Something that would destroy your mother. So I called the police on her. But, the reason I'm telling you all this, is I'm afraid there's plenty of similarities between that situation, and yours, with the twins."

"You think she'd try to take them?" Madeline asked, even more confused.

"I wish I wasn't sure, but yes. Reading her face, she doesn't like the living situation you're in, and your grandmother can be a lot crueler than you'd think. Please, keep the boys far away from her, and you should stay away as well."

She took a long, thoughtful breath, "Are there any stories that were happy? About my mom? Was she always fighting?"

Henry thought for a second, but then let out a hearty chuckle, "Oh yes, she had so much joy in her body. There was a time, I took her to work with me one day, take your children to work day, you know," she nodded in understanding, "I let her play with my phone, and when I went to collect files from a coworker, I came back to her chatting to a client on the phone," he smiled at the memory, "and she made the sale!" He sighed, "Her and I always wanted to start up a business together. It was our big plan. She loved people, and she loved creating. And I love business, it was my whole life, whole career, we were gonna be the perfect partnersBut, when your grandma drove her out, I guess our big plan just wasn't viable anymore."

"Grandpa," Madeline asked curiously, "Why didn't you leave her?"

"Your grandmother?" He asked, to which Maddie nodded, "I suppose I was afraid if I lost her, she'd turn your mom against me, I couldn't lose you guys. Not entirely."

Madeline wiped a tear away from her cheek quickly, "I'm glad I came, it was very nice to meet you again," she hesitated for a long moment, "I know grandma isn't looking to have a relationship with me, but, I think the boys would love to meet you, and Darry, and I'd really like to keep seeing you," she said, raising her eyebrows hopefully.

Henry smiled, but it seemed a little sad, but before he could answer, Dorothy came rushing into the room, "Hope I didn't miss anything too good?"

"Oh we were just talking about her plans after she graduates," Henry lied.

"Of course," Dorothy said, "Henry loves all that business stuff."

Madeline stood up slowly, "Well, I hate to end the evening, but I should go pick the boys up from their play date," she glanced at her grandpa, who wore a small, glad smile, "Thank you for having me," she said to them.

"Yes dear, be in touch about the boys," Dorothy said, patting her shoulder awkwardly.

"It was wonderful to see you dear," Henry said, enveloping her in a hug.

She waved goodbye as they walked her out the front door. As she walked back home, she couldn't help but think about everything she'd discovered. And once she got home, she filled Darry, Nancy, and Two-Bit in. They were confused and surprised at all the same bits that Madeline had been.

"So, what should I do?" Madeline asked, "I really do want to see my grandad again, and bring the twins, but I won't let them near her."

"You could send a letter, ask him to meet away from her," Nancy offered.

After a moment of thought, Madeline shook her head, "When she sees the return label, she'll open it, I think she's really hell-bent on taking the boys away," she told them.

"Maybe you just have to risk it, Maddie?" Two-Bit asked, "just once, so you can plan with your gramps."

"You can't. You've got to keep yourself and the twins away from your grandmother, I don't want to see y'all get hurt," Darry said, finality in his voice.

"I agree," Nancy chimed in.

"Yeah, I guess Superman's right," Two-Bit sighed, "None of us want you to have to fight for the twins again, not after what happened with your mom wanting custody."

"Is your grandma ever not around, so you could make sure Henry picks up the call?" Nancy asked.

Madeline tried to remember everything her grandmother had rambled on about at dinner, "She did say something about being at the country club with her girlfriends on Tuesdays, she was telling me when I could bring the boys."

"Sounds like you've got a plan then," Two-Bit said.

Madeline was glad she might not have to cut both grandparents off, but the uncertainty was nerve-racking.