Alright, so I didn't want to wait to update. Enjoy this chapter.
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Mrs. Lewis was a very skinny woman in her late 30s. Her hair was long, brown, and straight, and her eyes were a piercing, no mischief allowing, shade of dark blue. She cleared her throat as she stepped through the clean light wooden door frame. She looked to the clutter of boys on the couch and squinted her eyes.
"Everyone who doesn't live here, please leave" she stated firmly in a deep feminine voice. Two-Bit, and Steve quickly got up and left through the back door, leaving Mike, Soda, Ponyboy, and Darry in the living room. Mrs. Lewis looked to Mike and then to Darry.
"Mr. Curtis I was uninformed of a fourth member living in this house, please explain." Her voice was still firm, and Ponyboy was starting to get nervous.
"Yes ma'am. This is Mike, he's one of my friends from High School, and a very close family friend" Darry started, but Mrs. Lewis cut him off.
"Are you working?" Mrs. Lewis asked sharply, and Mike stuttered to answer.
"I am currently looking for a job at the moment ma'am. I just returned from the war. I've been in the state for 3 days" Mike started, but Mrs. Lewis cut him off as well.
"Will you contribute to his household, or will you hinder this family from continuing to be a family?" Mrs. Lewis asked, and Ponyboy's eyes went wide.
"I will be getting a job as soon as the Thanksgiving holiday is over. I plan to contribute to the household ma'am" Mike answered and Mrs. Lewis nodded.
"Let's keep it that way. Now, I'm going to have a complete examination of the house. Then we will sit down and have a conversation" she said with a firm voice. "Mr. Curtis, will you please show me around?" She asked Darry, and Darry nodded before he led her into the hallway, toward the bed rooms.
After they were gone Ponyboy looked up at Soda. His eyes were still wide and his legs were shaking slightly.
"Soda, is she gonna take me away?" Ponyboy asked with a shaky, sad, voice.
"No she's not honey" Soda said, and grabbed Ponyboy's small hand.
"Promise?" Ponyboy asked, his eyes with filled with tears at the fears that something bad was going to happen.
"I promise you baby boy" Soda said, but Ponyboy still was not convinced. Soda rubbed his back encouragingly, but Ponyboy was quickly breaking down, and Soda could not do anything to help him. Soda hugged him tightly, and whispered sweet things into his ear, but Ponyboy was not having it.
Mike watched the two with sadness, but as Ponyboy was getting increasingly worried, he knew he couldn't just sit around and do nothing. Even know he had just really met Ponyboy, and he and Soda hadn't seen each other in years, these two were his family. Mike felt as if he owed it to the Curtis parents to take care of the two boys in front of him.
"Ponyboy, look at me" Mike said strongly. He reminded Ponyboy of Darry. Ponyboy looked at Mike with tears gleaming in his deep eyes, and took a deep shaky breath. "No one is going to take you, or Soda away. Darry and I won't let them ok? Do you trust us?" Mike asked and Ponyboy took a second before he answered.
Ponyboy knew he trusted Darry, Darry wouldn't let anything happen to him, especially at this woman's hands, but he just met Mike. Something inside of him was telling him to trust Mike, and so he nodded.
"Alright, just calm down now okay?" Mike asked, and Ponyboy nodded. With Mike encouraging him, and Soda still comforting him Ponyboy put on a brave face.
Mrs. Lewis and Darry walked back into the room for a second, then Darry led her to the kitchen, dining room, and office. Soon both of them were back in the living room, and Mrs. Lewis cleared her throat again.
"Now, all that's left is to talk to the boys, and for us to discuss your finances. Then I'll make my decision" she said and looked to the boys. "who's first?" Her eyes went back and forth from Ponyboy to Soda, and Ponyboy started shaking slightly again.
"Can we do it together?" Soda asked rubbing Ponyboys knee, hopefully wishing she would say yes.
"No, that is not allowed. Now who's first?" She asked again, her voice growing firming with every word. Soda rubbed Ponyboys knee as he stood.
"I'll go first" Soda said, and Mrs. Lewis pointed to the dining room. Ponyboy shook his leg nervously, and Darry noticed, so he sat down beside Ponyboy.
"Don't worry baby boy. Everything is going fine so far. It's all gonna be alright. When she asks you questions, just be honest. It'll all be alright" Darry said, and rubbed Ponyboy's back as Ponyboy cuddled closer to him.
"I don't wanna Darry! What if I mess up? What if she takes me away? What if she takes Soda away. It'll all be my fault" Ponyboy started, but Darry calmed him down by pulling him on his lap, and rocking him softly.
"Shh, baby boy, calm down. It's ok. Nothing will happen. She will not take you or Soda away. Just calm down honey" Darry said calmly, and watched as Mrs. Lewis and Soda came back into the room.
"Alright, the youngest Mr. Curtis, Ponyboy, please come with me" she said and Ponyboy got up with a little help from Darry, who gave him an encouraging smile as he walked into the dining room with Mrs. Lewis.
Ponyboy walked into the dining room and sat down quietly. His fingers on his right hand were tapping on his knee as Mrs. Lewis sat down in front of him.
"Ponyboy, how are you?" Mrs. Lewis asked with a smile, the first smile Ponyboy had seen out of her.
"I'm alright" Ponyboy said as he tried to keep the nervousness out of his voice, but he was unsuccessful.
"Well" Mrs. Lewis paused as she gave him a smile "let's get started shall we?" she asked and Ponyboy nodded.
"Ok, I only have a few questions for you. Let's start with an easy one. How are your grades Ponyboy? I know you're still in the 8th grade at the middle school, but your grades are very important" she said and Ponyboy nodded.
"Yes ma'am. Darry is real strict about my grades. He helps me with my homework every night, and makes sure I understand it. Darry's real good about making sure I understand" Ponyboy answered and paused. He kept going when she raised her eyebrows. "I almost have all A's. I have 2 B's but they're high B's, almost A's!" Ponyboy said and she smiled.
"Good, good" She said, and then went on. "Now, how have you been since the deaths of your parents, and friends?" She asked and Ponyboy went quiet for a second.
"It's been hard, but Darry, Soda and me, we help each other. We only have each other, so we always try to keep each other happy. When I miss my mom and dad Darry and Soda help me. We all try to help each other get through it" Ponyboy said, and she smiled again. Ponyboy was still nervous though.
"Alright, one more. Do you like it here? Are your brothers treating you ok?" She asked with a serious voice, and Ponyboy nodded truthfully.
"I love it here. Darry and Soda are the best big brothers in the world. We really love each other, and I don't know if I would be able to live without them. So, you're not gonna take me away are you?" Ponyboy asked, he couldn't hold it in anymore.
She smiled at Ponyboy gently, and shook her head.
"It doesn't look that way. I'll let you in on a secrete Ponyboy. Not all of us Social Workers are bad. We all just want you kids to be safe in the homes you are in. I am really rooting for you three, well now four. This family is a strong unit, and honestly it's refreshing to have a strong close knit family like yours. I am really proud of your oldest brother. He really stepped up for you boys, and between you and me, he's one of the best guardians I have on my rotation" she said, as she pet Ponyboy on his knee.
"He is a great big brother" Ponyboy said and she nodded.
"Alright, thank you very much Ponyboy" She said. Ponyboy stood up, and walked with her out of the dining room.
"Darry, I need to talk to you for a moment" She said and Darry quickly was led into the dining room.
Soda patted him on the back as he sat down on the couch beside him.
"That's wasn't so bad was it kiddo?" Soda asked and Ponyboy shook his head, but didn't say anything else about what had happened with the woman.
Soon Darry and Mrs. Lewis walked back into the living room. She cleared her throat and smiled at Soda and Ponyboy. She then turned to Darry and smiled gently at him.
"You boys passed. This will be the last surprise visit for the year. So well done Curtis family. Enjoy the rest of the year" She said, and let herself out.
They did well! Wahoo! Hope you enjoyed. Please review! :D