aqua-314 Exiled: A Degrassi fic.
It is said that tragedy comes in three's, But for some people. Life will take a cruel turn and sometimes multiply itself by three's sometimes sixes. Such was the way for 15-year-old Clayton Reed. It all began that dark night when on a cold rain slicked Texas highway. A drunk driver took his parents from him. For almost six months Clayton lived from house to house, to even at the old run down wrestling gym where his father, an Ex-Pro wrestler, co founded a wrestling school. Clayton's parents were his only family in Texas, and none of the wrestling students or instructors could qualify as adequate guardians. The city of Dallas had strict rules concerning minors. The dead line for a decision in Clay's life was drawing near. Through Clay's mind the thought of foster care stung in his mind like a paper cut on his tounge, But little did Clay know that the final solution would be far worse than any foster home.
puh-pound!puh-pound!PUH-POUND!!*
The echoes of a body slamming into the mat resounded in Clayton's ears, or was it the sound of the thunder from the storm outside? The two sounds washed into each other, inter mixing, interloping, until they both had become indistinguishable to one another. The smell of sweat and tiger balm hung in the air of the old musty gym. For over 25 years the Rockmoore Gym was the home of the Samuel Ackbar school of Pro wrestling here in Dallas. Dallas had a rich history in the world of sports entertainment. The walls of this school were painted with some of the best this industry had to offer, Including Clayton's dad Rick" stormer " reed After the mid 80's Clayton's dad steeled down and left the life to raise a family and teach wrestling. Clayton was their only son, yet he had bred Clayton to live a live inside the squared circle, since clay was little his life was pro wrestling. He someday is " the greatest" But all that had changed now. In the span of a nanosecond, all that had changed, what was once a rock solid future was now shattered by uncertainty. Clay sat on the bleachers and watch as the foolish brave and crazy stupid, were taught their hard lessons inside the ring. His MP3 player blared his own mix of music. Right now David Bowie sung a melody of calm to him. He closed his eyes and tried not to think of the meeting with the CPS worker, they claimed to "find " a solution to Clayton's needs. Clayton chuckled to that thought. How could a system help him? Especially one that yanks children from honest good parents and places them in homes of psycopaths with a hate for children, a system that turns a blind eye to real abuse, and hides behind an excuse of overwork from the accusations of gross misconduct. Yeah, this he had to see. "Clay! CLAY" Clay opened his eyes to a sweaty towel hurled at his face. He looked at the elderly owner of the gym, Bill Grey. "Time to hit the sack son, you got an early day tomorrow." Clay pulled off his headphones and nodded his head, normally; he would accompany this moment with a snide comment or a chance to rebel against authority. But not today. , No, Clay was tired, these six months of uncertainty coupled with the devastating loss of the only family he knew were enough to take the fight out of anyone. Clay knew full well he needed all the energy he could muster for tomorrow, .
Next morning 7:45 am
From the moment he met her, Clay didn't like his social worker, for one thing she smelled of cheap purfume, and second he reminded him of his second grade teacher. Mrs. Johansson, The text book example of burn out. Same as Ms. Georgia Haus. You could tell she had very little if any life left; nope the most she had to look forward too was being committed to some raisin ranch where she would be changed twice a day. Next to him sat a representive of the courts. Another dime a dozen suit. Mr. Something, Clay couldn't exactly remember his name. After much paper shuffling and hurry up and wait, Ms. Haus finally revealed the final solution. "Clayton" She began" we realize this has been a stressful time for you, and while you may feel like you know what's best for you , you have to trust us and believe that we have your best interests at heart." Clayton cut her off " I'm NOT going to some foster home." Ms.Haus lifted her hand in a rather irritated motion" If you let me continue. After much searching, we found a relative for you to stay with. .." A wave of puzzlement fell over Clay" Relative? What relative?" He thought, Dad was abandoned and mom never spoke about her parents." Ms.Haus continued" We managed to get into contact with your late mother's grandmother, a Shelia Preston, She's agreed to take you in." Clayton gulped " And where might she live?" "She lives in Toronto." Clayton paused hoping for a California, Texas or even an Ohio to be attached to the end of that.and after a long pause nothing." "Canada " She finished.
"YOU WANT TO SEND ME TO CANADA?!?!?!" Clayton exploded rising from his seat as a hand grasped on his arm. Ms.Haus let out a long breath. " Yes, Canada, you will be staying with a relative who is wealthy and will be sent to a great school. it's either that or foster care young man.." Ms.Haus said laying out the ultimatum. "But Canada.." He breathes d dumbfounded. "Canadians HATE Americans.. " "Not all Canadians" the suit added. Both Clay and Ms.Haus shot him a "your-not-helping- look. "Your choice" She said. Clay sunk in his seat. Amidst the madness a sudden clear thought hung in his head, they were words that his friend and soon to be wrestler, Joe" FLASH" Morton told him. "Hey kid don't sweat it.whatever they give you, you stick it out. And after three years when you hit 18 and I hit it big, you can come stay with me.just stick it out." Those words hung in his mind as he breathed a reluctant " okay."
He wasn't given much noticed to say good-bye, two days and he was packed and loaded on a plane to Toronto Canada. For next three years he would leave all he knew and all he loved here in Dallas, In Texas, In America. He would go to live in a foreign land. The plane began to gather speed and he gazed out the window. With a jerk and a tilt upward the plane lifted off, from American soil. To the land of the Maple leaf. "So my exile begins.." He said as he closed his eyes. Little did Clay know He wasn't the only teenager whose life was not tossed into utter chaos. 'WHO'S COMING TO LIVE WITH US!?!?!?!?!" Emma Nelson exclaimed. Christine Nelson hated it when her daughter exploded like this. " Mrs. Preston The lady who owns this house. She broke her hip a week ago; She wants us to put up her great grandson in the empty room upstairs. " "So your letting a complete stranger come live with us??" Emma argued. "He's not a total stranger. He's about your age. Maybe older, but he will be attending Degrassi. " "Perfect." Emma uttered.as if life wasn't complicated enough for her.
"Look " Christine said as she rubbed Emma's back softly. Cut him some slack ok?, He lost both of his parents in an auto accident, and right now Mrs. Preston can't watch him , and c'mon she does own this house, it's not like I could exactly say no.." As much as Emma didn't like to admit it, Her mom was right. And besides she knew better, Emma's mom was the kind who would open her home up to someone who needed it. " When is he coming? " Emma asked. "From what Mrs. Preston said, we have one day to get the room ready, so I'm calling Joey and Craig to some help us." "And Archie?" Emma added. Mrs. Nelson paused and smiled warmly " Yes Archie."
It is said that tragedy comes in three's, But for some people. Life will take a cruel turn and sometimes multiply itself by three's sometimes sixes. Such was the way for 15-year-old Clayton Reed. It all began that dark night when on a cold rain slicked Texas highway. A drunk driver took his parents from him. For almost six months Clayton lived from house to house, to even at the old run down wrestling gym where his father, an Ex-Pro wrestler, co founded a wrestling school. Clayton's parents were his only family in Texas, and none of the wrestling students or instructors could qualify as adequate guardians. The city of Dallas had strict rules concerning minors. The dead line for a decision in Clay's life was drawing near. Through Clay's mind the thought of foster care stung in his mind like a paper cut on his tounge, But little did Clay know that the final solution would be far worse than any foster home.
puh-pound!puh-pound!PUH-POUND!!*
The echoes of a body slamming into the mat resounded in Clayton's ears, or was it the sound of the thunder from the storm outside? The two sounds washed into each other, inter mixing, interloping, until they both had become indistinguishable to one another. The smell of sweat and tiger balm hung in the air of the old musty gym. For over 25 years the Rockmoore Gym was the home of the Samuel Ackbar school of Pro wrestling here in Dallas. Dallas had a rich history in the world of sports entertainment. The walls of this school were painted with some of the best this industry had to offer, Including Clayton's dad Rick" stormer " reed After the mid 80's Clayton's dad steeled down and left the life to raise a family and teach wrestling. Clayton was their only son, yet he had bred Clayton to live a live inside the squared circle, since clay was little his life was pro wrestling. He someday is " the greatest" But all that had changed now. In the span of a nanosecond, all that had changed, what was once a rock solid future was now shattered by uncertainty. Clay sat on the bleachers and watch as the foolish brave and crazy stupid, were taught their hard lessons inside the ring. His MP3 player blared his own mix of music. Right now David Bowie sung a melody of calm to him. He closed his eyes and tried not to think of the meeting with the CPS worker, they claimed to "find " a solution to Clayton's needs. Clayton chuckled to that thought. How could a system help him? Especially one that yanks children from honest good parents and places them in homes of psycopaths with a hate for children, a system that turns a blind eye to real abuse, and hides behind an excuse of overwork from the accusations of gross misconduct. Yeah, this he had to see. "Clay! CLAY" Clay opened his eyes to a sweaty towel hurled at his face. He looked at the elderly owner of the gym, Bill Grey. "Time to hit the sack son, you got an early day tomorrow." Clay pulled off his headphones and nodded his head, normally; he would accompany this moment with a snide comment or a chance to rebel against authority. But not today. , No, Clay was tired, these six months of uncertainty coupled with the devastating loss of the only family he knew were enough to take the fight out of anyone. Clay knew full well he needed all the energy he could muster for tomorrow, .
Next morning 7:45 am
From the moment he met her, Clay didn't like his social worker, for one thing she smelled of cheap purfume, and second he reminded him of his second grade teacher. Mrs. Johansson, The text book example of burn out. Same as Ms. Georgia Haus. You could tell she had very little if any life left; nope the most she had to look forward too was being committed to some raisin ranch where she would be changed twice a day. Next to him sat a representive of the courts. Another dime a dozen suit. Mr. Something, Clay couldn't exactly remember his name. After much paper shuffling and hurry up and wait, Ms. Haus finally revealed the final solution. "Clayton" She began" we realize this has been a stressful time for you, and while you may feel like you know what's best for you , you have to trust us and believe that we have your best interests at heart." Clayton cut her off " I'm NOT going to some foster home." Ms.Haus lifted her hand in a rather irritated motion" If you let me continue. After much searching, we found a relative for you to stay with. .." A wave of puzzlement fell over Clay" Relative? What relative?" He thought, Dad was abandoned and mom never spoke about her parents." Ms.Haus continued" We managed to get into contact with your late mother's grandmother, a Shelia Preston, She's agreed to take you in." Clayton gulped " And where might she live?" "She lives in Toronto." Clayton paused hoping for a California, Texas or even an Ohio to be attached to the end of that.and after a long pause nothing." "Canada " She finished.
"YOU WANT TO SEND ME TO CANADA?!?!?!" Clayton exploded rising from his seat as a hand grasped on his arm. Ms.Haus let out a long breath. " Yes, Canada, you will be staying with a relative who is wealthy and will be sent to a great school. it's either that or foster care young man.." Ms.Haus said laying out the ultimatum. "But Canada.." He breathes d dumbfounded. "Canadians HATE Americans.. " "Not all Canadians" the suit added. Both Clay and Ms.Haus shot him a "your-not-helping- look. "Your choice" She said. Clay sunk in his seat. Amidst the madness a sudden clear thought hung in his head, they were words that his friend and soon to be wrestler, Joe" FLASH" Morton told him. "Hey kid don't sweat it.whatever they give you, you stick it out. And after three years when you hit 18 and I hit it big, you can come stay with me.just stick it out." Those words hung in his mind as he breathed a reluctant " okay."
He wasn't given much noticed to say good-bye, two days and he was packed and loaded on a plane to Toronto Canada. For next three years he would leave all he knew and all he loved here in Dallas, In Texas, In America. He would go to live in a foreign land. The plane began to gather speed and he gazed out the window. With a jerk and a tilt upward the plane lifted off, from American soil. To the land of the Maple leaf. "So my exile begins.." He said as he closed his eyes. Little did Clay know He wasn't the only teenager whose life was not tossed into utter chaos. 'WHO'S COMING TO LIVE WITH US!?!?!?!?!" Emma Nelson exclaimed. Christine Nelson hated it when her daughter exploded like this. " Mrs. Preston The lady who owns this house. She broke her hip a week ago; She wants us to put up her great grandson in the empty room upstairs. " "So your letting a complete stranger come live with us??" Emma argued. "He's not a total stranger. He's about your age. Maybe older, but he will be attending Degrassi. " "Perfect." Emma uttered.as if life wasn't complicated enough for her.
"Look " Christine said as she rubbed Emma's back softly. Cut him some slack ok?, He lost both of his parents in an auto accident, and right now Mrs. Preston can't watch him , and c'mon she does own this house, it's not like I could exactly say no.." As much as Emma didn't like to admit it, Her mom was right. And besides she knew better, Emma's mom was the kind who would open her home up to someone who needed it. " When is he coming? " Emma asked. "From what Mrs. Preston said, we have one day to get the room ready, so I'm calling Joey and Craig to some help us." "And Archie?" Emma added. Mrs. Nelson paused and smiled warmly " Yes Archie."