Stronger with You

These Days Are Like Snails

May 24, 1965
Peyton*

It'd been three days since the Soc's had jumped us and time felt like it was going way too slow. Two-Bit and I had stayed at the Curtis's for the three days with the plan of going to check in with our mom today.

My injuries we healing, but not at the pace I wanted them to, everyone was treating me like I was fragile.

Maya and I were the only girls in the gang and the guys get protective of us.

"You ready to go kid?" Two-Bit asked, his hair had no grease in it and he had obvious bags under his eyes. I couldn't decide if they were from my injuries or going to visit mom.

"I'm only two years younger than you, Two-Bit," I say rolling my eyes, but nodded and got up from the couch.

"My car is here so we won't have to walk. We'll see ya later!" Two-Bit yelled the last bit to the remaining people in the house which was Pony, Johnny, and Maya.

I didn't feel like talking and neither did Two-Bit, so the short drive to our house was silent. I didn't know what my mom would say when she saw us.

Mom and I had never been close, when I was a kid maybe, but once I turned eight and my dad bolted, we grew apart a little. Then when we lost our baby sister, we had lost all connection.

Two-Bit was the biggest momma's boy though.

Gracie, our little sister, had cancer and passed the day after her tenth birthday. That's when our family fell apart. Mom was always at work, and when she wasn't, she was at home drinking.

I still hadn't gotten over Gracie's death, and I couldn't talk to anyone about it. Maya and her siblings lost their parents a month ago. Dallas most likely didn't care all that much and I didn't want to bother Johnny or Steve about it.

I had Two-Bit, but with Gracie I never knew what to say to him. Two-Bit and Gracie were close, he was the only strong, positive, male figure she had in her life.

"We're here," Two said, a small sigh left my lips as I looked at the window to see that sure enough we were.

Our house sat on the corner of the street, we had a broken chain-link fence and a huge oak tree, in the front yard. The front porch was a sad mistake of one, the screen door would slap against the house and then back against the frame.

Our house was a three room and two bath, with a decent kitchen and living room. When my mom had Gracie, we had shared a room. When I was younger I had hated sharing a room with her, but now that she's gone I can't even stand to look at it.

"Come on, Peyton."

I crawled out of Two-Bit's old car and slowly made my way up our walkway and to the front steps of the porch. Two-Bit stood beside me, the living room light was on meaning our mom was home.

Two pulled the door open and we stepped in, closing it quietly behind us. Mom hated when doors were slammed.

"Ma? It's Two-Bit and Peyton!" Two-Bit shouted into the quiet home.

Our mom walked out of the hallway where the main bathroom was. She was short with grey stormy eyes and rusty hair, she was petite with soft hands, I remembered her hands the most about my childhood, doing my hair or wiping away my tears and bandaging my wounds.

"Where the hell have you two been?" Her voice was high and broken, it used to be soft and smooth.

I was standing behind Two-Bit hoping his large build would shield me from the hurtful things my mom would for sure shoot out at me when she saw my beaten form.

"We've been at the Curtis's, Ma," Two-Bit said calmly.

"Where's your sister?" She said, her voice was so shrill it caused the hairs on my arms to stand.

I stepped to the side of Two-Bit and her storm filled eyes fell upon me. "What the hell have you done?" She asked.

"We got jumped by the Socs. They got me the worst, ya' can't tell can you?" I ask cracking a grin that only fell when my moms face darkened.

"You two need to pull your heads out of your asses and start realizing that what you do causes harm on to this family. I work my ass off to keep this house and keep us together, but you two don't even realize it! Well, you better start realizing it." Our Mom paced around wagging her finger at us.

"Yes ma'am," Two-Bit and I said simultaneously. This was going way better then I had anticipated, meaning our mom was sober.

"I have to go to work, and I expect this house to be spotless when I get back. You can go to your little friends house when your done, but if this house isn't clean then you bet your britches you won't be leaving for awhile." And with that, she was grabbing her things and was out the door.

I looked at Two-Bit and he looked at me with a face of confusion that I was sure I held on my own. I was braced for harmful words and yelling and fighting, but none of that occurred. It was slightly civil, and neither of us had expected that.

"Well, we better get to cleaning." Two-Bit says looking around the house that really wasn't all that messy. I began to laugh partly in relief and partly because I knew Two-Bits hate for cleaning.

My brother rolled his eyes at me knowing the reason behind my laughter, "Stuff it. You do the living room, bathroom, and your room and I'll do my room, the kitchen, and the other bathroom."

I stopped laughing and my heart started to pound at the thought of having to enter my own room, but I nodded in agreement and we got to work.

It was a few hours later and I had finished everything but my room. Two-Bit was working on his own and once we finished them we'd be fine to leave.

I stood at my door that was still decorated by Gracie's artwork, my heart pounded and I was quite sure that I could walk through the door, it was going to hurt but I didn't want to risk fighting with my mom.

So, I opened the door.

The smell hit me like a ton of bricks.

The room was in the same shape it was a year ago, Gracie's toys and stuffed animals were still on her side of the room and her bed was still made. My side on the other hand, had notebooks and books still stacked on the shelf, my record player was still sitting on the beside table and my guitar was next to it.

I hadn't played my guitar in what felt like five years, but really it was on Gracie's birthday, which was March 23th.

I gently picked up the wooden instrument and sat down on the floor setting it on my lap. I could hear my heart beating like it was sitting in my ear as I softly played Can't Help Falling in Love by Elvis. It was Gracie's favorite song and she had made me play it for her all the time.

I didn't realize that I was crying until the tears hit my guitar. I shook my head and wiped off my face putting the instrument back in the corner and got to cleaning.

As I was cleaning all I could think about was what the hell happened to my family.