The Outsiders - Slow Down, Darrel (Darry Curtis)

TWENTY FIVE: Tuesdays Were Reliable

Every Tuesday for the months to come, Madeline and, when he could, Darry would pick the twins and Ponyboy up from school, and head to Henry and Dorothy's house. They would listen to stories, Graham always sat still and listened to his grandfather speak, so mesmerized by his words. Jack would listen passively, never able to sit still long enough.

Darry had introduced him to football, and since he did, Jack hadn't dropped the ball Darrel gave him to practice with. Henry loved it though, a former coach for a couple teams here and there, he loved to toss the ball around with Jack in between stories with Graham.

Most days, after saying goodbye, they would pile back into Darry's truck, and drive down to a restaurant or park, where Tommy always sat waiting.

In their normal natures, Jack warmed up the second Tommy agreed to play catch. But Graham wasn't so trusting. He held back most times, not getting too far from Darry or Maddie at any moment. And once they ran out of daylight, they headed home. The twins would go to bed after their bath, and Maddie and Darry would spread out their wedding plans.

It was perfectly routine. They never really distanced too much from the schedule on Tuesdays. They were mostly all the same, and Maddie liked it that way. Tuesdays were reliable.

Until, of course, they weren't.

On a Tuesday afternoon in mid-December, Maddie knocked on the front door of her grandparents house. And waited. And knocked again. And waited. And knocked again, and was greeted by her grandmother, whom she didn't quite recognize without the extensive makeup and intricate hair she had seen her with all other times before.

"Madeline."

She looked at Darry, wide-eyed, and slowly turned back to her grandmother with a nervous smile, "Hello."

"May I help you?"

"Well, um, well is Grandpa home?"

She eyed the boys standing with her, "Come in, come in," she said, suddenly swinging the door open with a new, welcoming attitude.

"Thank you," Darry nodded polietly, guiding a confused Madeline through the door.

"So, you why haven't you brought the boys around," she pursed her lips, "like we discussed."

Madeline looked around guiltily, "Well,"

"Well, you have, now, haven't you. Just not around me, hm?"

"Listen, we just, we weren't sure,"

"Weren't sure of what!" She shouted, "What made you unsure about me that you could look past for Henry!"

"I'm sorry," Madeline sighed, "Grandpa told us about the incident when I was a baby, and I just couldn't stop myself from jumping to the worst case scenario."

"I don't know what he told you, and I'm sure he doesn't either. He's just a sick old man!" She rolled her eyes, as if her husband was nothing more than an inconvenience.

"Sick?" Darry asked gruffly.

Dorothy let out a peculiar sound, almost a laugh, "Don't tell me he didn't tell you?"

"Tell us what Maddie?" Graham piped up.

"Let's go outside," Pony said, the first comment he'd made since the door opened.

"I wanna play with Grandpa Henry!" Jack whined.

"Maybe a little later," Pony said, taking their hands, "let's go play a game."

Madeline smiled at him gratefully, and turned back to Dorothy, "He's sick?"

"Very."

"Why didn't he say anything?"