Chapter 10

I'm so excited. I've never got so many reviews for one chapter! And here I said that I wasn't going to leave author notes. Guess I was wrong lol.

Guest- Here it comes… enjoy!

LeeMo- hope I didn't keep you waiting too long, and I hope you like it!

Older reviewer- Yes, my partners dig ok (wink wink). They're like family.

As a side note, I think maybe we should see some more Tim soon, but I want to do him justice so we will see…

Book? Movie? Or TV show? Well, that's a hard one, and I've thought a lot about this since you asked. Forever I've said the book is my favorite, but the book and the movie are pretty close in my mind. They pretty much tie… but only if it is the complete novel version of the movie. I don't like the original release where they cut out the beginning and end of the book. It's hard to say. I can recite the opening page of the book and quote the entire movie. I think I love movie so much because the actors really captured S.E. Hinton's characters. And the detail! The little details in the movie make it soooo good. I'm literally watching it again now.

I didn't like the series. The characters just didn't feel authentic to the book or to the movie. How about you?

(Darry)

The stark white hospital walls watched me with cold, unfeeling eyes. I could feel their presence almost as if they were a real person that was standing far too close to me. Machines beeped and whirred, singing morose songs of sorrow and despair to anyone willing to listen.

Tears rained down my cheeks, but I ignored them. I closed my eyes against the site of my brother-a too small boy laying helpless in the hospital bed-and tried to whisper away the threat of death that blanketed him.

"Our father, which art in heaven, hallowed be thy name. Thy kingdom come. Thy will be done on earth as it is in heaven. Give us this day our daily bread. And forgive us our trespasses, as we forgive them that trespass against us….as we forgive them that trespass against us…and lead us…lead us…" The words caught as a sob in my throat as I clenched Pony's hand, bringing it to my lips to kiss. My mother had taught me the prayer long ago, but I couldn't get past the part where I was supposed to forgive others, not today.

I couldn't do it.

I could never forgive the boys that did this to Pony.

If I ever saw them, I knew I would kill them.

Suddenly one of the machines screamed in protest, beeping wildly and so swiftly that I could no longer count the individual beeps.

Something was wrong.

A nurse and doctor came running in, pushing me away from the bedside.

No.

No, not Pony.

No!

No!

"No!" I woke up as I shouted the word. It took my breath away and I struggled to sit up, pushing off the covers that entangled my legs. I looked around, taking in my parents' old quilt, my jeans on the floor, and the radio playing softly from where it sat on top of my dresser. Shakily I wiped beads of sweat from my forehead.

I was at home, not at the hospital.

I told myself that it was just a dream.

Pony was okay. He'd already woken up. I'd talked to him.

It was just a dream.

But I knew it was more than that, because it was a memory returning to haunt me. It had happened just like I had dreamed. I had stood watching helplessly as the doctor and nurses tried to stabilize Ponyboy. It was a nightmare. A living nightmare, because it was true.

My stomach lurched and I wondered if I was going to be sick. I tried to breathe the feeling away with pursed lips.

And suddenly I realized how Ponyboy must feel every single night.

Thank God he had Sodapop, because I could hardly stand the feeling of waking up like this in the daytime. It must kill him in the dark of night.

I glanced at the clock and slowly pushed myself to my feet, dodging my discarded clothing as I walked to my closet. I was usually a better housekeeper, but not this week. This week I hadn't been home long enough to do more than change clothes. I probably didn't even have any clean clothes left, except maybe my 'church' clothes. And those were the ones I needed today anyway.

Sure enough, my 'good' clothes were the only ones left hanging. I grabbed them and headed for the shower, resolved to throw the rest in the laundry before heading to the courthouse.

I showered and greased my hair before dressing in my suit. It was the same one I'd worn to church when we went with Mom. The same one I'd worn to my parents' funeral. It was the same one I'd worn to Sandra Cline and Toney Fisher's wedding. I'd even worn it to the boys' first custody hearing. Maybe it had brought me luck then. Maybe it would again today.

I had to admit that I looked pretty sharp in the dark blue fabric. I could see how the color made my eyes stand out, and it took away from all the grease in my hair. I actually looked like a productive member of society instead of a low-class hood.

I hoped it would be enough.

I trembled all the way to the courthouse and had to constantly stop myself from nervously pressing the gas pedal to the floor.

I trembled all the way up the outside grey marbled steps and through the tall ancient doors.

I trembled all the way up the beautifully winding staircase, my hand brushing the well-worn wooden railings as I climbed.

And I was still trembling when I stepped through the wide doors of the courtroom.

My life wasn't complete without my brothers.

I couldn't lose them again.

I'd barely survived the first time.

I had learned from the boys' first hearing and that time Pony got in trouble that things weren't like they showed in movies or on TV. Not unless you murdered someone or something, I guess. Those times had been relatively quiet and personal. I almost expected today to be the same, but I still wasn't sure.

I for sure didn't expect the amount of people there.

I thought it was going to be just me and the lady from the state. That's basically how it was the first time.

But today people filled the couple of rows directly behind our seats. I recognized one as Ponyboy's house manager from the boys home…Cheryl Rogers, an aging blonde with her hair pulled back into a tight formal ponytail. Her face was sharp, but I remembered her as having a kind personality.

I didn't recognize the others, and my heart thudded against my chest at the thought they were all here to speak against me. The state had brought reinforcements.

Oh God, I couldn't win.

I was a nobody from the wrong side of town.

They were going to take my brothers.

I sat at the front table nervously, hands clasped in my lap to keep them from trembling.

I tried my best to focus on the judge and what he was saying, but my thoughts were racing.

They're going to take Pony and Soda.

They're going to take Pony and Soda.

The social worker went first. She told how Soda had gotten into trouble, and Pony before that.

She didn't mention that they had a curfew.

She didn't mention that I always made sure Pony got his homework done.

She didn't mention that even though their friends are greasers I made sure they were only around good people.

She didn't mention I'd worried myself sick over them since my parents died.

They're going to take Pony and Soda.

I've lost. I've lost them.

Then the judge called Cheryl Rogers to the stand. And when she sat down, she smiled at me.

And I could have sworn she glared at that bitch from the state.

She told them how Pony was at the house. How he helped the younger boys with their homework. How he checked out book after book from the library, and never made any trouble. She told them how much he looked forward to seeing me every week, and how he longed to see Soda.

She recommended that he be returned to me.

Oh, thank God, I wasn't alone.

Then, before I knew it, another woman was taking the stand. She was young and pretty with wavy dark hair that fell to her shoulders. Laugh lines that showed around her eyes when she smiled.

She stated her name. Maggie Bennet. Ohhhh, Soda's house manager.

And she had nothing but good things to say.

Apparently Sodapop had confided in her while he was there, and it showed.

She adored him. When she spoke, she sounded like she was praising the achievements of her own son. She told the judge about his big heart and how he had even been instrumental in stopping the sell of drugs within the house.

I swore I saw the judge nod in approval.

They called up others. To be honest, my thoughts were going so fast I can't even remember who they all were.

There was one of Pony's teachers.

And a counselor from one of the houses.

And before I knew it the judge was making his decision. He didn't even ask me any questions, until the very end.

He simply looked over the records the state handed him, then looked straight at me and asked, "Darrell Curtis, do you want your brothers to remain in your home?"

"Yes, Sir." I didn't hesitate. I didn't need to.

He nodded and looked back to our social worker. "I understand that while in the care of the state Ponyboy Curtis became severely injured?"

She swallowed, then nodded at him.

His silver mustache twitched when she answered, and he huffed at her, bushy eyebrows pulling together in a frown.

Glory, he actually huffed at her.

Then he was looking back at me. "At this time, I will award permanent custody of Ponyboy Curtis and Sodapop Curtis to their adult brother Darrel. The state will be required to cover any medical expenses accrued while in their care." He paused and thrust his finger at me. "But don't allow them back in my court, Mr. Curtis. I'm giving you another chance because I respect everyone here who spoke on your behalf, and they respect you. Now listen closely…if your family returns, for any reason, I will not hesitate to send your brothers away…understood?"

I nodded.

His mustache twitched again, and he acknowledged my promise with a dip of his head. "Very well. This court is adjourned."

And it was over.

I didn't need to worry about his warning. I knew Pony and Soda would stay out of trouble. They had to.

I cried tears of joy all the way to the hospital.