Left Behind

Chapter Five

When I got home I thought of something, I didn’t have a dress! I only owned two dresses, and both Darry had bought for me. So they were dark and ugly. Then I thought of something, Mama’s box in the attic. When she died we kept all of her clothes, maybe there was a dress in there I could wear. I flicked on the switch and climbed into the attic. I didn’t come up here often, to many memories.

I walked over to the corner where the big window let light from the outside in. Mama’s box was covered in a white sheet and I removed it. I slowly lifted the box’s top open. The smell of my mother spread all through the attic. The smell of flowers. I looked down into the box, it was filled with dresses. I took out one of them, it was pretty, but not really for me.

The next dress I pulled out was my mother’s wedding dress. It was an off white with lace on it, it was so beautiful, I hugged it and let the soft fabric rub my face. I put that dress away and turned back to the box, then I noticed another dress, a white one. It was so pretty! It had to have been my mothers when she was younger, because it looked vintage.

I packed up the rest of the dresses flicked the attic light off and shuffled down into my room carrying the dress. I gently placed the dress on my bed, I loved it so much already. I unzipped the back and pulled it over my head. But when I reached to zip it up I couldn’t, I grumbled in frustration. Without thinking I walked out into the living room and said,

“Darry, will you zip me up?” was sitting in his chair reading the newspaper, his eyes looked confused when he saw me in the dress. Soda was sitting on the floor with Pony playing cards. I turned and Darry zipped up the dress.

“What’s the dress for?” asked Pony staring at me. I felt my face turn red and my I started to chew on my thumb nail. 

“Um, if it’s okay with you Darry, I got asked to homecoming…” everyone looked at me. It was Soda who finally broke the silence,

“Who you goin’ with, Mar- Bear?” he asked. I blushed a little, “Oh so he’s cute!” Soda laughed. “C’mon Mar what’s his name?” he pressed.

“His name is Zach Bently, and he’s really nice.” I looked over to Darry, “Can I go Darry, please?” I asked. Darry thought about it for a moment, then stood up.

“You can go on two conditions,” he spoke “first of all I need to meet this boy. Second, Pony and Soda are gunna watch you at the dance.” I groaned

“Darry I don’t need a babysitter, I’m 14, remember?” Darry chuckled and hugged me

“It’s not you who needs babysitting, it’s this Zach boy who I don’t trust.” I stepped away from him and put my hands on my hips.

“Darrel Curtis,” I started but Soda stopped me. His eyes were wider then I had ever seen them,

“She looks like mom.” he breathed. I looked over onto the desk mirror at myself, I did look like mom, I was standing how she always would when she was upset with one of us. I remember one time when Soda got in a fight in school, and she made him sit on the kitchen chair and she stood in front of him and lectured him for almost an hour. 

“She dose.” Pony said quietly. I didn’t like everybody staring at me, especially now that I was thinking about mom. So I turned around and started to walk to my room. I got changed into some pajamas and curled up in my bed, I was asleep in a matter of minuets.

The next day I went to school to meet Zach, it was Friday and tomorrow was the dance. He smiled when he saw me, I smiled back.

“Good morning!” he said cheerily

“Morning!” I replied with equal enthusiasm. He looked at me,

“So, are you excited for the dance?” he asked. I nodded my head,

“Yes! But there is one thing I probably should tell you..” I said. Zach looked calmly at me,

“What is it?” he asked 

“My brother, Darry, he wants to meet you before we go.” I said. Zach laughed,

“I would love to meet your family, you have three older brothers right?”

“Yup, Darry, Soda, and Ponyboy.” I said. 

“Wow, that’s a lot of siblings.” he mumbled.

“Your not nervous to meet them are you?” I teased laughing. He threw his shoulders back and smiled at me.

“Nervous, who’s nervous? Certainly not me!” he said laughing. I started to laugh as well. After that we sat down and did our homework. 

When the final bell rang I walked out the back door of the school and started to walk home, then I saw something that made me laugh. Against the back of the school Pony was talking to Julie Nelson, she was leaning against the wall and he had one hand on the wall and his head was leaned in toward hers. I chuckled under my breath. 

When I got home Soda was already there,

“Hey Mar-Bear, how was school?” he asked.

“Fine,” I said just as the phone rang. I jumped up to get it.

“Hello?” I said.

“Hey.” a voice said. Soda looked at me and mouthed ‘who is it?’ I shook my head and replied ‘no idea!’ 

“Who is this?” I asked politely. The voice on the other end laughed,

“You don’t know who this is? Aw Mary, I’m crushed.” Then I knew who it was

“Zach!” I called happily into the phone. My face turned bright red when I looked over to Soda who was imitating me and laughing.

“Hey look you finally go it right!” he said laughing.

“Sorry.” I said laughing back

“It’s okay,” he said “so I was wondering if maybe you wanted to come to dinner at my place, my parents would really like to meet you.” I thought about it for a second,

“Okay, hold on one second.” I said as I put the phone down. I ran into Soda’s room, he was laying face down on his bed. “Soda.” I said poking him, he grumbled,

“What?”

“Can I go to dinner at Zach’s tonight?” I asked. Soda sighed and rolled over,

“I don’t see why not.” he said sleepily. I smiled and ran back to the phone and picked it up.

“I can come!” I said happily.

Great!” he said “So I’ll come and pick you up at 6?” he asked

“Oh, I was going to have Soda drive me…” I said. Zach chuckled,

“I can drive to you know, I am 16.” He said in a fake annoyed tone.

“I know, I know!” I said laughing.

“So see you at 6?” he asked

“See you then.” I said.

“Bye Mary.” he whispered

“Bye Zach.” I whispered back, he laughed then the phone went dead, I hung up. Soda walked out of his room in just a pair of jeans, he was rubbing his eyes sleepily.