The Outsiders - Slow Down, Darrel (Darry Curtis)

FOURTEEN: The Strength That They'd Always Provided

"She's dead, dad, really? She was just here three  hours ago."

"I know, in my car, which she stole," he said bitterly, "apparently the crazed bitch drove herself off a damn bridge."

"Oh my god," Madeline said, covering her mouth, backing into Darry, he held her shoulders, sturdy when she was weak.

"Did you need anything, sir, or are you just here to deliver news?" Darry asked, trying to stay calm.

Robert huffed, blowing the alcohol scent on his breath towards Darry's face, "She leave money here, cleared out the place I've been staying. Figured if my money was gone this greedy little bitch would have it," he snarled, gesturing to Madeline who was frozen, except for a minor tremble she couldn't shake. Darry hugged her closer to him.

"She doesn't have anything," Darry told him.

"Then I came come in and look around?" He said, trying to come in, Darry blocked his way with the arm not holding Madeline up.

"Come back with the cops and we can talk, til then, goodbye," he slammed the door in Robert's face, "Soda!" He shouted, "Get them into another room!"

Darry lowered Madeline to the ground, and sat down to let her curl into him, she started to sob, "It was my fault, Darry, I never let her near them. She should've had a second chance. I gave up on her Darrel. Her blood, it's on my hands."

"No, no, look at me Maddie girl," he held her face in his hands, "This is not your fault. She was broken long before you. Please don't blame yourself honey," he rocked her gently back and forth while she sobbed into him. He felt a tear run down his face.

Ponyboy put a hand on Darry's shoulder. He had heard it all. When their parents died, Ponyboy cried and cried, but Darry never did. That was how Pony knew he would be alright. Because Darry was a pillar, and he wouldn't let Pony or Soda fall.

But now, Maddie and Darry had both fallen. And he was the one left standing, he knew he owed it to their family to provide the strength that they'd always provided him.

He walked to put dinner on plates, he wrapped Madeline and Darry's in paper and put it in the fridge.

Ponyboy brought the remaining plates to the rest of the gang in Jack and Graham's room, "Eat up," he said, painting a fraudulent smile on his face.

Soda looked at him asking, "Everything OK?" with his face, Ponyboy shrugged a little, but gave a slight nod. Before walking back to Darry and Madeline, he set out a set of pajamas for each of them on the bed. He walked back to the door and found them in the exact spot they'd been in.

"Dar, take Maddie to bed, I'll make sure the twins get settled in, y'all go get some rest," he said, helping Darry lift Madeline off of him.

Darry took his girlfriend from Ponyboy and gave him an approving nod, "You've grown up real good Pony, you're a good brother," Darry said, his voice breaking a little.

"It's thanks to you, Dar, I love you."

"Love you too, kid," Darry said sadly.

Darry and Madeline got changed, and he helped her brush through her hair while she cried. She took deep breaths, and Darry could tell she was in shock more than anything.

"How about we get some sleep, honey, it's been a long day," she nodded slowly.

"Thank you for being, for being you," she said.

"It's not hard with you, love."

They lied down into bed, and Darry let her lie on him, pulling a blanket over her, she fell asleep, which he was glad for, he knew from experience she wouldn't have much rest for a while.

The next morning, Ponyboy woke Darry up, "Darrel, get up," he said shaking him a little.

"What's the matter Pony?" He grumbled back.

"You gotta see something," Ponyboy said, a slight urgency in his voice.

Darry got up, rolling Madeline gently so as not to wake her. They walked to the living room where Pony handed him an envelope.

"It didn't have a name on it, I just opened it, but it's just," he opened it. Inside, was a stack of money, more than the boys had ever seen.

Darry shuffled through it to find a note slid in the middle.

My dear, Madeline. I have fallen short of mother of the year time and time again. You were correct in saying I was never much a mother to you. I hope in some way, this can aid that pain which I brought upon you. I only ask that you keep yourself and my boys safe. Darrel is a good man, just as he was when you were kids. My boys aren't meant to be greasers, though, nor are you. Please don't fall for that. Keep them safe. And stay far away from your father. Should he ever seek you out again, call a lawyer, he has only worsened since you left. It is a weak excuse, but he is the reason I left the twins. I'm tired of fighting, my darling, don't set yourself up for a life of violence and strife. I love you. I love Jack and Graham. I don't deserve you children.

"Shit Ponyboy. What are we supposed to do now?"

"Do about what?" Madeline said, walking in, awake and seemingly, normal?

"Hey there, honey," Darry said, "We um, well uh, you know your mom, she was here last night and um, well, she left this," he held up the envelope, "we didn't mean to open your mail, it just, it didn't have a name, well how are you doing?"

She chuckled a little, "Slow down, Dar," she walked toward them and held her hand out to the pair, they were frozen and confused, "Well, can I have said mail?"

"Uh, uh, yeah, yeah- yeah of course," Ponyboy said, handing it over, still staring at her like a ghost.

She scanned the cash and then the note, she let out a big sigh, "Shoot. I guess I'd better tell the boys soon then," she said, "Why are you guys looking at me like a kicked puppy?"

"Well, we weren't really thinking you'd be so, up and at 'em this morning," Darry said gently.

"Can't just sit around feeling sorry for myself," she sighed again, it was the only frustration she would express, "I've gotta keep my focus on Jack and Graham. This is another loss for those little boys in just one year. They can't lose their big sister too, I won't let that happen."

"But you can still be sad, Maddie," Ponyboy said.

"I was," she shot back, "I was sad all last night, but now, I have to be the grown up, because I'm the only one they've got."

Darry grimaced and nodded, "Alright Madeline, but y'all got us too, don't forget it."