Good Grief

→ Family is a tricky thing

"What's up with you guys? You look like someone shot your dog."

The Curtis house was oddly quiet that early Saturday morning in May. Two-Bit was nowhere to be found, the Curtis brothers sat in the living room solemnly, Johnny played with his fingers, not making a sound. Steve flipped through a deck of cards bitterly, sometimes taking a sip of beer from his bottle.

The radio was quiet, they hadn't even turned on the television. Dallas pushed his sister into the living room while he went to scope out the kitchen. Hannah sank down onto the sofa beside Ponyboy. "Come on man, why the long face?"

Beer bottles clinked together as Dallas closed the fridge. "I swear to God, if that was a fucking horse pun-"

Ponyboy cracked a thin smile as Dallas strolled back into the living room, bottle in hand. He stood behind the sofa, taking the time to mess up Johnny's hair. "Yeah, what's goin' on with you guys? Where's Two?"

"With his mom," Johnny said hoarsely. "It's Mother's day."

"Oh fuck, that's today?"

Dallas leaned forwards and flicked Hannah. "Don't say fuck, dumbass."

Sodapop smiled sadly from his spot on the floor. Steve laughed bitterly. "Guess Two is the only one with a decent mom," he paused. "Well, don't know much about your mom, I guess," Steve motioned to Hannah.

She nodded quickly, Dallas took a sip of his beer. "Verna's not six feet under, but she's dead to me."

Dallas started to cough, making the gang break out in a few sad smiles. "Hannah, what the fuck?"

"Oh please, Verna may have tried to keep us safe, but she was batshit crazy. Why else would she stay with Charlie?"

"'Cause he said he'd kill her if she ever left 'im."

Hannah shrugged lazily. "Touche brother."

Steve chuckled dryly. "Same 'ere, Mom's been dead to me for the last eleven years."

Jonny began twiddinling his thumbs. "My mom ain't that bad, she doesn't hit me like my old man-"

"Nah Johnny," Dallas interrupted. "Your mom's a bitch."

The gang laughed again while Johnny nodded quietly.

"Your mom was a godsend though," Dallas told the Curtis brothers. "Ain't that the truth," Johnny agreed. Ponyboy wiped his misty eyes once he was certain nobody was watching. Sodapop was in the same boat, biting at his lips and playing the frayed edges of his flannel. Hannah leaned back on the sofa, staring at the small television screen.

"I didn't meet your mom, but I don't think she'd want her kinds moping around like this," she said. The wight of her words took effect as Darry stood from his arm chair, stretching his arms above his head.

"How'd we feel about burgers and fries? Then we can tell Hannah all about Mom."

Sodapop stood aswell. "And all the times she had to talk Dal outta doin'something stupid!"

Parents are unreliable. But the gang that was more of a family, definitely wasn't.

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Angst? Comfort? Our favourite gressy boys (and girl) being complete idiots?

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