A loud pounding at the door woke me from my sleep. I threw my legs over the edge of my bed and patted across the floor into the living room dressed only in a t-shirt and pair of gym shorts. The house was cold and as I opened the door the frigid air from outside sent a chill up my spine. Looming in the doorway was Mrs. Marten, dressed in the same blue dress that we had buried my mother in. My mouth fell open and I didn't speak as she let herself in, floating as usual.
The woman walked past me and stood near the coffee table in the living room. Behind her two police men entered as well. My heart sank at their arrival, I knew someone was in trouble. I backed up into the dining room leaving the front door wide open.
"Scout, I have excellent news for you!" Mrs. Marten spoke gleefully. "There is a wealthy family on the far side of town that the judge and I know will be perfect for you! They already have enough money to send you to college, a closet full of pretty clothes waiting for you and your own room with a beautiful canopy bed!"
I dismissed the lady's offer. "No thank you Mrs. Marten, I'd rather stay here."
Her smile and laugh seemed almost evil as she responded. "Scout, this isn't your choice. This family is going to adopt you and we need to leave immediately."
I backed up a few more steps running into something strong. It was Darry, he was dressed in a tuff black t-shirt and jeans, his hands stuffed into his pockets. I looked up at him and noticed Soda and Pony standing next to him, all three had little expression on their faces.
"There is no need to pack." Mrs. Marten's voice sang out. "There is nothing here you will need. Come along now, it is time to go." I refused to move so the social worker reached out and pulled me a few feet forward by my arm. My bare feet granted me no traction with which to resist.
"NO, I'M NOT LEAVING!" I yelled out and pulled back, but she was surprisingly strong. "NO! I DON'T WANT TO, PLEASE DON'T MAKE ME GO!" When she continued to pull on my arm I panicked and slapped her several times with my free hand hoping to release her grip so I could run free.
In seconds a police officer intervened by throwing me over his shoulder. I looked down at the back of his shoes and noticed the floor moving beneath him as he was leaving the house.
"NOOOOOOOOO!" I screamed out in terror as I picked my head up and stretched my arms out for Darry to come and pull me back. Darry just stood there with his hands still stuffed in his pockets. His ice blue eyes showed no emotion.
I reached out for the edge of the wall that separated the living room and dining room. I held on with all my strength and continued to scream out in terror. "NO! DARRY HELP ME, PLEASE HELP ME! DON'T LET THEM TAKE ME! PLEEEASE DARRY!" I looked over at Ponyboy, I could see he was crying. Soda who was positioned behind Darry put his right hand calmly on Darry's left shoulder and spoke. "There ain't nothing we can do about it Scout." His comment sent horror to every nerve in my body. How could Soda just stand there and let this happen!
The officer who was carrying my body gave a violent tug and my fingers broke free from the woodwork that I was clinging to. I stretched both of my arms out toward Darry and screamed for him at the top of my lungs. "PLEASE DARRY! HELP ME! DARRY! I DON'T WANT TO GO, I DON'T WANT THEM TO TAKE ME AWAY! I'LL BE GOOD DARRY I PROMISE TO BE GOOD! DARRY HELP ME. PLEASE PLEASE HELP ME. DARRY!" I felt my body begin to shake and tears filled my eyes as I realized Darry hadn't moved a step. He was making no effort to save me.
I felt the cold air from outside on my back. The policeman was leaving through the front door. I flailed my arms around hoping to grab a hold of something and pull myself back toward my family. I caught the wooden front door with my right hand and the door frame with my left hand. The moment was urgent as the policeman and I had a tug of war with all of our might.
"PONY HELP ME!" I cried. Pony stepped forward, but Darry put his arm out to block Ponyboy from coming toward me. I was mortified to see that and I cried harder. "DARRY, DON'T YOU LOVE ME ANYMORE? PLEASE DARRY I DON'T WANT TO BE A SOCIAL. DARRY!!! DARRY!!! ........"
One final tug from the officer sent us both out the door and tumbling down the front porch. I felt my body shake as we rolled down the concrete steps and into the front yard. Even once we landed on the sidewalk my body continued to shake violently and I was unable to stop it.
"Scout! ... Scout! ..." It was Darry! He had come to save me! I smiled and blinked my eyes. In front of me on the floor was Darry in his boxer shorts and no shirt. His blue eyes met mine and I noticed the terror he was in. Darry had a strong hold on me by my upper arms. I looked over to my left surprised to see Pony kneeling beside me. How did they get me back inside so quick? I heard someone breathing behind me and I turned my head to look. It was Soda, he was also in a pair of shorts and no shirt.
I sniffled and tried to wiggle free from Darry's tight grip. "Where are the cops? Where is Mrs. Marten?"
"Sissy it was just a dream!" Darry almost shouted, not meaning to. He let go of my arms and sat back on his heels. "Everything is alright, are you alright?"
The dream was so vivid in my head, but I had no idea how I had ended up on the living room floor. I rubbed my eyes. "What happened...I though I was.... You ..."
Darry's eyes were full of hurt. "Scout, I'm not going to let you go. You understand that, right?"
"Yeah, I know that Darry... I know that." I kind of lied. I knew he wanted me to be able to stay, but I believed he doubted it would happen. "How did I end up out here?"
Soda rubbed my back. "You started to cry and I heard you were having a nightmare so I came out to check on you." Soda was the closet brother to my room since he had started sleeping in mom and dad's bed. "I reached down to wake you up and you started to hit me. I tried to calm you down, but you went wild and pushed me on the floor. Then you went running for the front door. I reached out and grabbed your foot to keep you from leaving. Then you started screaming for Darry, are you sure you are ok? I didn't hurt you did I?"
I shook my head no and looked over at Ponyboy to see if he had the same dream. "Pony?" My twin brother shook his head no. He hadn't had the same dream. I looked back to Darry. I remember calling for him and he wouldn't come.
Darry wiped a tear from the side of my face. "Sissy, I'm not going to let you go without a fight. I promise!" He paused thinking about what to say. "Come on lil sis, you gotta believe me."
I thought about whether I truly believed him or not. Darry was always a hard guy to read. The six years of age difference between us didn't help much to forge a great relationship, but he loved mom and dad and he would do anything for them. Who was I kidding, he loved us, and he would do anything for us. Just as he was doing by sacrificing his future for us. "I do Darry. I believe you." I threw my arms around him and he reciprocated. We melted together as I cried and he seemed to let go of a little bit of emotion as well.
Darry wept a little as he squeezed me to tightly. "Oh Sissy, you gave us such a scare. Don't worry baby, I'm not going to let anything happen to you. I'm not going to let you go."
His words were of great comfort to me during my waking hours, but not in the unconscious world. I would have that nightmare for each night until the day of the final court ruling