I don’t think Johnnys parents were always abusive and horrible.
HEAR ME OUT— if they (or at least Mrs. Cade) drinked and smoked and had all that toxicity around them when the bitch was pregnant with Johnny, she’d likely miscarry. But even if she didn’t, Johnny would be impaired in some way, have asthma, clear brain damage, something like that, BUT HE DOESNT.
he’s perfectly healthy. No asthma, no brain damage, nothing.
(side note: if Mr. Cade smoked a bunch Mrs. Cade would get second hand asthma/lung problems and that would effect Johnny but again he’s healthy so Mr. Cade wasn’t crazy back then either.)
if they were bad they’d shake the shit out of Johnny without hesitation. But again, Johnnys perfectly healthy. No damage.
so when then, did the Cade parents turn rotten? Just recently? Maybe. but likely not. Johnny never phrased it like “oh maybe they’ll snap out of it and have a soul AGAIN now that I’ve runaway.” but he does sound like he’s reaching for something that once was.
I’m guessing it was when Johnny was like 4. Something happened. Idk what, but something. Someone died, someone cheated and no divorce could be had, or the parents just started fighting all the time.
SOMETHING, that made them both spiral into smoking, drinking, and being abusive.
now here’s where my personal headcanon comes in, the Curtis’ and Cades used to be good friends and when the Cades began to turn sour, Mrs. Curtis offered to babysit Johnny a lot more so he could be kept safe.
Johnny asked about his parents in the car with dally cause he’s heard so much about how they were when Johnny was younger, they were good, they were nice, they were excited to be parents and have Johnny.
Johnny wondered if him leaving make wake that old part of them back up.
