A Golden Life: An Outsiders Story

Chapter Two- Horses and Hem Lines-Danielle Randle's Story

I layed down the carrot I had attempted to lure the ferocious beast out with on the wooden table next to the water hose. I looked into the midnight black eyes that it housed inside its wild skull and all I could see was fear but fear can drive things to do crazy stuff so that didn't coerce me into false security.

"Calm down girly," I said, trying to sound soothing to the creature to make me more approachable I suppose. The animal didn't seem too convinced which I wasn't surprised by. Maybe it didn't shock me because she was a mare which meant, just like us human girls, she was stubborn. Maybe my lack of reaction was because it was Betsy the prize horse who wasn't raised in captivity so she went stir crazy quite often. But most likely it was because I was talking to a horse so I didn't exactly expect a response, I hadn't gone that crazy yet.

"Did you really think that would work Danny?" I turned around to see little Ruby Jewel Curtis leaning against the top of the fence that housed Betsy. Her two frizzy braids hung over the edge of the fence where she had her chin propped up sarcastically. Dang I was starting to rub off on her. She had on her blue dress with white lace and yellow daisies printed along the edges. That dress meant a lot to her since it was the last thing her mom made her before she passed away in the auto wreck a couple months back. Ruby wore that dress a ton but never to the stables in fear of it getting dirty. I noticed her wearing it this morning but didn't think to ask why she was wearing knowing it was Mrs. Curtis's birthday. Then I realized why Ruby was pretending to be so nonchalant and calm. Ruby Jewel was always smiling and gentle. She wasn't really nonchalant or chill. She was just optimistic. I think this personality change was to keep her from thinking about the gapping rip at the bottom of her dress. Of course my authentic bluntness immediately took over.

"What happened Ruby?!" I screeched, causing Betsy to flip out but I barely noticed. "Are you ok?" I said gripping the hem of the delicate skirt gently.

" I will be I think," she said sniffing and viciously wiping away her flood of tears.

" Hey hey its alright Darry stitches up the guys whenever they get into rumbles or do something stupid so I am sure he can sew this up with ease," I cooed trying to calm her down. That is a difficult task to do now days, ruby is only 15 and she has lived through so much more than a 15 year old should have to go for her. I really don't envy her one bit other than her ability to keep smiling through it all. Ever since the Curtis parents died all four of them have been taking it really rough. Darry had to take on his kid siblings and forget about his education which is a lot for anyone, for Dar especially because he had so much ahead of him but he's too kind hearted to let go of his kid brothers and sister. Darry was always a father figure for everyone even before he literally became a father in terms of custody. From other's perspective Darry took their deaths decently well but, as someone who looked up to Darry my entire life I could tell it crushed him more than anything else that had ever happened to him and Darrell Shyanne Curtis was scared. Me and Darry had always been real close and he sure liked me better than he liked my brother Steve, but the Curtis boy I was closest too has always and forever will be Sodapop Curtis. Sodapop Curtis is the middle Curtis boy with the perfect white smile that could make any girl in Tulsa melt onto the concrete. Soda is another thing me and my twin brother,Steve, share. Steve met Soda in 3rd grade when they both got detention for pulling a girls pig tails. Soda was trying to get her attention to tell her that her shoe was untied and Steve thought she was cute. She ended up tattle telling on both of them and they became best friends in detention. The girl's name was Evie and her and Steve are now dating, I hate the girls guts but that is a tale for another day. When Steve and Soda became partners in crime they became a trio by default because Steve is my twin and best friend. Soda and I immediately were best friends the second I met him. Me and Steve are a couple months older than him but that never stopped us from acting like we were all triplets. I still remember the first day I met the Curtis's as a whole. Steve introduced me to Soda while we were playing in the sandbox the day after they got out of recess detention, which was just standing in front of a fence that was dangerously frayed. I of course had heard of "The Sodapop Curtis" before but I never bothered to glance at him because if every other girl had a crush on him I would not I refused to even think about the boy. Yet when he flashed his movie star smile at me it wasn't unbearable at least. Then when he talked to me in his smooth prepubescent voice that contained the charm of a man beyond Soda's mere 8 or 9 years on this planet I realized he was sweet. Me and Soda played together until our teachers blew the recess whistle signaling the end of the beginning of my closest friendship. But the moment I truly knew that Soda was going to be my best friend forever was when he didn't run off to join his large group of friends in his class but instead walked me all the way to my class. In third grade that means a boy is more serious than just flirting it means he either wants to go steady or he actually enjoys your company more than his guy friends. Luckily in this case Soda truly did and it has been that way since the first second we dug up sand only to refill the small holes we dug. Right when we reached the door to my classroom he told me that Steve and I should come over to his house and meet his parents and his siblings. Steve and I did as Soda requested and met him at the front of the school and walked to the Curtis' house for the first time of many, only to find out that we lived only a few houses apart and there house was the one I always adored. They, or Mrs. Curtis to be precise, kept these beautiful blue daffodils in the front window baskets that I had always looked on my way to and from school I never knew that house housed some of the most important people in my life. When we first walked in the door we were greeted by Mr and Mrs. Curtis two of the most humble and pure people I have ever met I loved them more than I was ever able to convey. Then Darry said hello to us shyly before moving to his bedroom to do his big kid 7th grade homework which at the time I idolized him for being able to do. My third grade brain couldn't even think of the idea of him cracking the numbers that were inside of a pre algebra problems. Then I saw the small first grader on the floor looking up at me and Steve in wonder with his greenish grey eyes.