The Outsiders: Before My Time Part III

Keep Driving

Flashback

Narrator's POV

2035

Soda finally gave the car keys to his son in hopes of properly teaching his first-born how to drive. He had been waiting for this day for a long time.

Soda always dreamed that his son would share his love for cars. The roar of the engine, the grease on his hands, even simple mechanic fixes. When Goldie was born, that dream came with nerves. He wanted more than anything to be a good dad, the kind of father that his son could look up to.

"First things first," Soda began as soon as he was placed in the unfamiliar passenger seat and his son in the drivers seat. "Take all the knowledge your mother has told you about driving and throw it out the window."

"Done," Goldie agreed quickly.

"To turn this car on, you're going to put the key in the ignition and turn it until it clicks twice," Soda instructed, followed by a demonstration. Then he gave the keys to Goldie to start the car on his own.

Once the car roared to life, Soda leaned in and walked Goldie through all the necessary gears and buttons, explaining each one with persistent precision. He did not stop at the basics, he taught Goldie how to pop the hood, change the oil, and how to swap out a tire all in one go. This wasn't just about the car, it was about passing on a piece of himself to his son.

"Great," Soda finished with a shaky exhale. He made Goldie take the keys out. "That's enough lesson for one day."

"Dad, we didn't even leave the driveway."

End flashback

Goldie's POV
April 20, 1965

Since Darry took us in, things have felt lighter. Like we can finally breathe again. The mood in our little crew has lifted. Just being able to take a shower every day has helped, plus getting the benefit of eating a warm meal every day. We have set up camp in the living room, and it's not so bad. Candy and Red are small enough to share the couch, and I claimed the armchair. We get up early every morning. The house comes alive with noise the moment the guys wake up. They shout, laugh, and stomp around like a herd of elephants. It's chaotic, but it's the kind of chaos that feels like home.

I woke up extra early to drive Dad to work, and I was actually excited for one-on-one time with him. We always spend time with each other in 2038, so I hoped the time together in 1965 would feel the same. Back home, he is my best friend. I hope he can be my best friend here too.

I pulled out of the run-down neighborhood and we talked a little while I drove him to work. I noticed that Dad was whistling when he got to the car. He is really good at whistling, specifically bird calls. But this was a tune I recognized, and he kept right on whistling it while his fingers dialed through the static of the dashboard radio.

I finally clocked the song he was whistling. "Is that All Shook Up?"

Dad stopped whistling. "Huh?"

"The Elvis song?" I clarified.

"Oh." Dad smiled. "Yeah. Just stuck in my head, is all."

"My folks listen to Elvis all the time."

"Bri'll put him on the record player at the house, or turn up the radio if they're playing one of his tracks," he said, leaning his elbow out the open window. "I never really cared for him much myself, but she's got me whistling along to his music, I suppose. My mama always picked up his records when they came out, so Bri's got a whole stack to choose from in our living room."