Ponyboy: 50 years later

Ch. 2 Talking

"You're going back to Tulsa?" Chris gasped. I nodded my head slightly then sipped my coffee. "I've been waking up your poor mother so much lately. I didn't want to at first but I think it'll help." Chris continued staring at me with surprise. I opened my mouth to explain but then Kristy came up behind him and settled her hands on his shoulders.
"Dad," she began, "it's good you're doing this." I tilted my head, "You think?" She nodded quickly. "Mom's been saying you're screaming in your sleep again. And now about your old friend Johnny." She took her hands off her brother and settled down into a chair between us. "If you keep on having dreams, sometimes nightmares, about Tulsa, maybe it's calling you back." I smiled a bit. Kristy had a calm, collected side about her. She was understanding and supportive like her mother, and although her and Chris were twins, he was more stubborn.
Chris spoke up, "Dad, remember when we went there last? You could barely keep it together. You're older now, don't you think may be a bad idea?" I dropped my head and fiddled with my hands. He continued and motioned towards Kritsy, "And now with Kristy and Robert expecting? In what, 4 weeks? What if they need something?"
I looked up at this. What if she did need help and I was out of state? Kristy rolled her eyes, "Please, Chris. I'm not due for another 4 weeks, a month in fact. I'm fine. And Oklahoma isn't that far from Texas. It's fine. If Dad needs to do this, you should support him." Chris just stared at her, I knew what he was thinking: Well he doesn't support me. I support Chris, I really have tried. We've just had different opinions in the past. He dropped out of college and I thought it was a bad decision. When I was a kid, my older brother Darry got on my back about school. Now I see why he did, I was almost the same way with Chris. I realized I was remembering Tulsa again, I shook my head. "Too much of my life was lived in Tulsa," I said. "I think going back would help settle some things." Chris shook his head now, "And who's gonna hold the fort down around here, Dad?" He looked at me seriously. "Did you even think about that?" I sat up straighter and cleared my throat. "As a matter of fact, I have." Chris looked at me, a little doubtful, "Who then?"
I looked out at the view of the fields from the kitchen window. Then Chelsey, who was making breakfast, came up behind me. "We were thinking you could stay here, Chris." She stated, "You know the farm, and you're good with livestock. Interested?"
Something flickered behind his serious eyes, then he grew serious again, "You're going too? Both of you? And you want to go?" We both nodded. "Chris," Kristy started up, "If they want to go, and it's going to sort some problems for Dad, don't you think you should support them?" Chris say back in his chair and crossed his arms, "It's not that I don't support them. I just don't want what happened last time happen again." The last time we went was nearly 11 years ago. Us four went, and it was good until I showed them around town and had a meltdown when I showed them where Johnny and Dallas and Sodapop were buried. My throat swelled a bit thinking about but I ignored it. "That was a long time ago, Chris. I'll be fine now." I wasn't sure if I really would be, but whatever was going on in my sleep had to be fixed. Besides, Darry was getting older and I wanted to see him. Chris didn't look convinced, "When were you thinking of going?"
I shrugged. "We were thinking next week. I already told Steve and Two Bit, so they're expecting me." There was a moment of silence. Chris sighed, un crossed his arms and broke the silence, "Well, if you think it's for the best, and you are up to it," he sighed, "then go. I'll watch the place." I smiled. "Thanks, Chris. It really means a lot." At that moment the toaster went off and we all jumped. Kristy laughed and Chelsey went back to making breakfast. Chris looked out the window, "I just hope it all goes well." He said. I looked at the view and thought, Me too, son. Me too...
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