Left Behind

Chapter Three

I awoke to voices. Whispering voices beside me. Soda and Darry were in my room? 

“She still has that picture.” Soda said sadly.

“She always loved momma more than the rest of us.” Sighed Darry. It was quiet for  moment then I heard a sniffle. 

“Darry I don’t know what to do, she isn’t like Pony at all. And it kills me to see her like this. What are we gunna do?” Whispered Soda.

“I know little buddy, I know. We’ll get through this. I promise.” I thought now would be a good time for me to ‘wake-up’. I stirred in bed, grumbled and then yawned reaching my arms up over my head. Darry smiled at me,

“Hey, sleepy head. How you feeling?” He asked. I stood up,

“Fine.” I lied. Then I looked at Soda, he was holding MY picture! I ran over to him. “Soda, give it back.” I said. Soda smiled,

“You were such a cutie when you were little,” he said nudging Darry, “Aw Darry, look at her cute little diaper butt. Remember those days?” My face turned bright red, Soda and Darry laughed.

“She was a cute baby.” I turned around to see Pony there in the doorway with his track uniform on. “Remember how she always used to suck her thumb,” Sadly I still do that every once in a while when I get super scared, my brothers thought I grew out of it though. Darry chuckled,

“I sure do.” Soda got on his knees and was pretending to be little me. “Sodie!!” he said in a high squeaky voice. I could never say Soda’s name so I always called him Sodie. Soda laughed. I felt my face go red and I got annoyed,

“That’s really funny.” I said walking out of my room and out into the kitchen. I went and grabbed my coat. “I’m going to the lot, see ya.” I said

“Be back by eight.” Darry said. I groaned

“But you let Soda and Pony stay out until ten!” I said

“Soda and Pony can take care of themselves, besides I don’t like you on the streets…” I didn’t let him finish.

“yeah I know, I know.” I said quickly walking out the door. I walked over to the lot and sat under a tree. I watched two little kids playing on the swings, probably brother and sister. I didn’t realized how late how late it had gotten when I saw a car pull up. It was a mustang, oh no. I saw four boys get out. They started to walk towards me,

“Hey greaser girl.” The boy in the front said. He had blonde hair and was wearing a letter jacket. I didn’t reply and I stood up slowly backing away from them. 

“Where ya going grease?” Another shorter boy asked laughing darkly. The boys now had me backed up by the metal fence. I could run, but they might catch me before I get home. ‘I wish Darry was here‘, I thought. The blonde boy came close to me and put his face near mine,

“Tell you what, you give me a little kiss and we’ll let you go. How dose that sound?” The boys breath stunk of alcohol. I pushed his face away from mine,

“You wish!” I said. The boy made some angry grunting noise and grabbed a fist full of my hair and pulled, I screamed.

“You little filth, I could slit your throat right here, right now.” I was silent but I closed my eyes, then a voice came

“Cut it out Chip.” A smooth voice said. I looked and Chip let go of me, turning to the boy who spoke. “She’s little, and scared. Lets just let her be…” Who was this guy? And why was he defending me. Pony always told me there was no such thing as a good Soc. 

“Aw, little Zachary likes the greaser girl!” he said in a taunting voice. He turned to look at me, then pushed me to the ground, “Don’t let me ever see you again, I might not be so kind next time.” The boys all turned and walked away got in there car and drove away. I just sat on the hard ground taking this all in. I was a greaser, and he was a soc. Why would he even care about me…why? I stood up and brushed off my jeans and started to walk back home. When I got home Pony was doing homework at the table, Soda was watching a baseball game, and Darry was back in his room that he shared with Soda. 

“Hey Mar-Bear” Soda mumbled when I came in. I nodded and started to head back to my room. I flopped down on my bed, then I remembered. I have homework. I debated if I should get up and do it, then I decided I didn’t want to. So I went out and took a shower before bed.