CHAPTER 1

Craig Manning had just gotten up an hour ago, taken his shower, gotten dressed, and brushed his teeth, he was ready to take on anything that came his way. He had just started at Degrassi Community School, two and a half weeks ago. He was okay with it, but the best thing that happened to him so far, was the fact that he moved out of his old home, with his father.

Craig's father was abusive to Craig. To tell you the truth Craig was very much afraid of his father. He had always liked Joey better. In the first week at his new school, Craig had made a very good friend, Sean. When Sean found out about his father abusing him, he had told Joey, Craig's step-father. Joey was always nice to Craig, and living with him was Craig's little half-sister Angela. Joey had decided to get Craig away from his dangerous father, and offered to let him live with himself and Angela. Craig wasn't this happy since his mother was alive.

He stopped in the kitchen to grab some breakfast before heading off to school, he was going to meet Sean at the corner, and walk to school together. "Hey, Craig." Joey said, resulting in a 180 by Craig. "So, have a nice night's sleep?" Craig nodded his head. "Well, good. You're gonna need it. Family meeting tonight."

Craig was bewildered by this comment. "Family meeting, what about?"

Joey's forhead curled " Umm... You'll find out at dinner, during the family meeting."

Craig was uncomfortable with this tinge of mystery left in everything Joey said. But then he was reassured by Joey. " Oh, don't worry Craig. It's nothing bad. We'll just have to...uh... make a little change of arrangements. Just have a nice day at school. Bye."

Craig said "Goodbye," to Joey then headed out the door, he met Sean on the way to school.

Craig wondered what it was about. "Sean, Joey said we're having some kind of family meeting tonight or something... he seemed kind of uncomfortable and confused. I just wonder what it could possibly be about. Have any ideas?"

Sean pondered for a second. "Well... let's see. Umm... what exactly did he say?"

They exchanged confused looks and ran across the street after the light turned from red to green.

Craig continued. "Well he said that I was gonna need that goodnights sleep I had last night, and there was gonna be a change of arrangements.

Sean's look changed from confused to upset. "You don't think he would..." In an instant Craig knew exactly what Sean was going to say and he cut him off before he had a chance.

"Uh... no! No. he wouldn't do that. There's no way Joey would send me back to my father. He wouldn't! He can't!"

Sean answered, " Well maybe he decided taking care of you and Angie was just too much and he wants to send you to children's aid. I mean it can't be that bad."

"I'd bet anything its not that, but it seems like something important... really important. I just don't know. Screw the meeting, maybe the whole bunch of us could go to the movies or something. Ask around... mean while, we're late for class. We'd better hurry."