May 27th, 2017 at 08:19am
“Finally, we’re closed.” Anna turned the light off on the open sign, shutting the blinds as well. She leaned against the door for a moment and closed her eyes, just relaxing. Ever since she’d clocked in for her shift at Barry’s Diner about ten hours previously, she’d been running around like a chicken with its head cut off—save for the ten-minute break she’d taken around eight to scarf down a burger. “Do you need any more help, Winnie? Or do you want me to cut out now?” Anna spoke to the middle-aged woman that was behind the counter.
Winne shook her head no, a smile on her broad face. “No, sweetie. I’m okay. Go home to that man of yours, I’m sure he misses ya.” Anna smiled gratefully and threw her coat on, slinging her purse over her shoulder. She told her boss goodbye before leaving out the front door, making a dash to the car. When she worked nights, Darry insisted that she drive instead of walk. And after what happened to her about six months before, she didn’t mind at all. Anna tossed her purse into the back seat and started the car up once she climbed in, peeling out of the parking lot.
She was just about to drive past the park when something caught her eye—Ponyboy and Johnny, just snoozing in the middle of the park, like it was okay! Anna laid on the horn until the two boys jumped awake. “What the hell do you two think you’re doing? Pony you’re gonna get us both killed if your brother’s still awake! Get in the car, it’s freezing out here!” Anna hissed, waiting for the two to get in the backseat. Once they did, she locked the car again and continued the drive home.
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“They’ll be home soon,” Soda spoke, giving Caroyln a reassuring smile. “Guarantee they’ll be home before Anna is. Hey, I wonder if she’ll bring us some of that spaghetti from Barry’s. Man, that stuff is good!” At this point Soda was just talking to ease the tension that was mounting in the house. Darry was already on edge enough—he always was when Anna worked late nights. That combined with the fact that Pony and Johnny were off doing god knows what? The tension was downright palatable. The middle child turned his attention back to the show that he’d been watching and sipped the glass of chocolate milk in his hand.
Soda loved both of his brothers with everything that he had in him. After their parents died, those two were all he had. Which was why it drove him so beyond crazy when they butted heads the way they did. Soda hated fights. They made him sick to his stomach. The only person who he could relate to with that feeling was Carolyn. Her home life was pretty much one big long fight. Anna and Soda did their best to keep her and Johnny at the Curtis house as often as possible—it killed them every time the Cade siblings left and came back sporting new bruises or that defeated look in their eyes.
Just then, Soda saw the headlights of the family car reflect in the window. “Look who’s home.” He mumbled, gently nudging Carolyn with his elbow.