A/N: Hey everyone. I didn't realise its been so long since I last updated. Thanx for reminding me Dan the Man.
I didn't get that many reviews, so I sorta forgot about it. So whoever reads this story, whatever you think of it, good or bad, please review. I like getting feedback.
Outiderslover-0408 and sodipop5- I'm so happy that the story had an effect on you, I almost cried writing it.
Sodapop02 and Daniel Austin- thanx for your reviews.
I'm going for a Shawshank Redemption/ white oleander/ The O.C kinda feel if that makes sense. Well enjoy:
Chapter 2:
Soda and Pony had been sitting in Mary's office for at least an hour before any reasonable conclusion was decided on. One thing was clear to Mary. The boys didn't want to be separated under any circumstances.
"I'm sorry" she said, "but that's not up to me. If it were, things would be different but its not. No one will want to take in two grown teenagers"
Soda wouldn't accept this response. He didn't want to be separated from his brother, it was as simple as that. Deep down, he was scared beyond reason. The family was falling apart fast and there was nothing he could do about it. He was always the one that kept things together and now he was useless.
Mary had handled a lot of similar cases before but she didn't like where this one was going. She could easily find a home for Ponyboy because he was just 13, but Sodapop would be much harder to find a placement for.
Mary finally signed and sat back in her chair. "The only thing I can do for you right now is put you in a temporary home for children. But that's all it is, temporary. You have to get used to the idea of being separated"
****
The Berkley Home for Children of Prisoners was a large building, larger than Soda had thought it would be. On entering, they were given a brief tour of the place. There were 9 large halls that contained 50 bunk beds, 5 halls for girls and 4 for the boys. Each child was placed in a hall according to their age group which meant Soda and Pony weren't going to be sleeping anywhere near each other. Soda went pale when he heard that piece of news but Pony just said "at least we're in the same building". They were given their class timetables. They would be attending 4 classes a day. Anyone who missed a class more than twice will be disciplined. There was one cafeteria hall, a small library and a gym. They were allowed to do anything in their free time except leave the premises.
They had arrived at night so they were sent straight to the sleeping halls. Soda was given the bottom of a bunk next to the window in the hall for 16-18 yr old boys. His roommates were all asleep when he walked in, but nonetheless they looked like a pack of troublemakers. He sat up on his new bed for a while trying not to cry, imagining his escape and return home until he feel asleep.
Ponyboy was told to sleep on the bottom bunk in the middle of the hall. The boys around him were either reading a comic or playing cards using a torch for light. He laid awake for a while. He didn't even know what the time was. It was hard to accept that this would be his new home. His life changed in every way in a matter of just a day. He closed his eyes and tried to sleep. Maybe tomorrow will be better.