Stronger with You

Aunt Alison: Day 1

Peyton
June 10th, 1965

"Why do so many kids stay here?"

Darry and Alison were in Darry- or what was now Alisons bedroom.

The rest of us piled on top of each other to listen in on their conversation.

"Their apart of our family, Aunt Ali. We're a gang, all we got is each other, and we work well like that."

"Well, they seem like hoodlums, and I don't want them here as much as you say they are. They could be a bad influence for Ponyboy, Soda, and Maya. Those boys were dirty, and that girl was too close to Soda, she seemed like quite the broad."

My jaw dropped, how could she say that? She didn't know us one little bit.

"Oh hell no," Maya gasped. Her tightened and before we could stop her she had the door opened and was in full rage mode.

"Listen here, bitch. You have no right to march in here, decide you know us, and talk shit about our family. You haven't came and seen us for four years. You didn't even come to their funeral! So I'll be damned if you waltz in here and try to control us!"

Alison stood there with her jaw dropped, "Are you going to let her talk to me like that, Darrel?"

Darry looked in between the two, one wrong move and things could get so much worse.

"You know, Alison. Yes, I am going to let her talk like that, because these people are my family, more so then you've ever been! You can't just up and decide to come back in our lives and then treat our family like crap!" Darry went off on Alison.

We all stared at Darry in shock, he was the last person any of us thought would go off on someone.

Alison stood there staring at Darry in shock.

"I am flabbergasted! I cannot believe you would treat me like this, Darrel. With this amount of disrespect, it has led me to realize I need to stay here and fix all of you hoodlums!" Alison's shrill voice yelled out.

Maya's glare deepened and Darry let out a laugh, "Fix us? You don't even know us!"

"I need all of you to get out! I have a chore chart to work out!"

We all shuffled away from the lady I was now beginning to think had some sort of sickness and was crazy.

We all found our spots in the living room and sat in silence.

Darry stared off into space, his hand over his mouth, leaning against the arm of his chair. I wondered what was going through his head.

Maya sat in the corner, Dallas beside her. Her arms were crossed tightly over her chest, the glare still masking her features. A knew her well enough to know what was going through her mind.

Soda sat on my left and Pony sat on my right. Soda just looked annoyed; it was kind of shocking. He was never the one to get annoyed or angry.

Pony on the other hand just look scared and I couldn't blame it at all. Hell, even I was a little scared.

Two-Bit leaned against my legs on the floor. Steve was sitting in a chair we shoved on the other side of the couch next to the TV.

Johnny was on the other side of Pony, as quiet as he always was.

It was about an hour of silence before Alison came out her room, paper in hand.

"We are going to have a strict chore list from now on," Alison looked around at all of us, "and since all of you supposedly live here most days, you are in it to."

We all looked at her in shock. We didn't need a chore chart, this lady was sick.

"On Saturday everyone is going to do outside chores. Through the week, you are all assigned a room with directions on how to clean it. You bed must be made every morning and there will be absolutely no clutter." Alison takes a push pen and stabs the piece of paper into the wall.

"We work," Soda says, "Darry, Steve and I all have jobs Sunday-Saturday."

"And Soda broke his ribs and is in bed rest for a few weeks so they can heal." Pony adds.

"Broken ribs? Have you any idea on how that can affect you! How did you break them?"

"Bull riding." Soda grumbled, he shot Pony a glare then looked back at the women standing up front.

"Bull riding! How ridiculous and irresponsible!" Alison went on for about 15 minutes and we all had to sit there and take it.

"So what about chores for those that work?" Steve asked finally cutting her off.

"Then you'll do chores when you get home."

"That ain't right. Darry works his ass off and is bone tired when he gets home. He brings in most of the money and deserves to relax when he gets here!" Maya shouts.

Alison glares at Maya, "You can see yourself to you room if you think you can talk to me like that!"

"I can talk to you however the hell I please." Maya stands taking a step closer to Alison.

"No you can not. You need to have a lesson in respect young lady! I will not stand for this!" Alison points a finger in Maya'a face.

I swear I saw fire come out of Maya's ears and her eyes turn a whole four shades darker.

"I know respect, my parents taught me it, but I will not respect a self-centered bitch thinking she can come here, after not even coming to her brothers funeral, and treat all of us like we haven't been living alone for months!" Maya's voice level got louder and louder with each word.

Darry stood and got in between the two, "Okay. That's enough. Maya take a breather and go to your room. Aunt Alison, we need to have a deep discussion on how we work and live our lives."

Maya gave Darry a look and swiftly turned hauling butt up the stairs to her room.

I got to Maya's room right before she went to slam the door, "If you slam the door you'll catch me in it so please do not." I placed my hand on the doorframe.

Maya gave me her signature look, but let me in.

"She thinks that she control us! We're all sixteen and over 'cept for Pony, but he might as well be! He's more mature than we are combined! Talk to me about respect, but I bet she can't even spell the damn word!" Maya seethed, "you know what we have to do, we have to call in special forces."

Maya had an evil grin on her face. I wasn't completely sure what she had planned, but I knew whatever it was I was on board.

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happy new year everyone!!!