Fear ran through me as I saw the look on the social worker, Mrs. McCool. She looked shocked and disgusted. I tried to explain what happened.
"Mrs. McCool, this isn't how it looks. It's just, Darry was mad and scared because the other day Pony. . ." I cut off, because I knew I couldn't tell her what he had done.
"Pony did what, Mr. Curtis?" I was surprised she called me "Mr. Curtis." I was only eighteen.
"Um, nothing. It's just, he got a bad grade on a test, you see."
"I don't believe that for a second." She turned to Pony. "Go pack your things, Ponyboy. I'm taking you with me."
"Now, wait a minute." Darry started, but she gave him a cold glare.
"Mr. Curtis, I have suspected all along that you were unfit to be these boys' guardian. Now that Soda is an adult, I can't do anything about him. But I'm taking Pony before he has to suffer anymore."
Pony's eyes were frightened, and he said, "Please. I don't want to go. I want to stay here."
"Go to your room and pack your things, or you will have nothing but the clothes on your back at the boys' home."
Pony looked to Darry, and he nodded. Tears were in all of our eyes as Pony went to get his things.
"Please, Mrs. McCool, this is a big misunderstanding. Darry doesn't hit Pony. He's just a little overprotective. Please, don't take Pony from us. He's where he needs to be-with his family."
"Well, I highly doubt that. I've had my suspisions, and now that I see them come true, I will be taking Pony immediately."
Darry raised one of his hands, as though he were going to hit her.
"You lay a hand on me, and you'll never see your little brother again."
Darry put his hand down, and Pony came back in the room with a small suitcase packed.
"Are you ready?" Mrs. McCool asked.
"No. I don't want to leave."
"Say good-bye to your brothers, Pony. You probably won't see them for a long time."
Pony looked at Darry and said, "Do something! I don't want to go! Please don't make me go!"
Tears streamed down Darry's face and he said, "I can't, baby. This is for real."
Ponyboy burst into tears as he said good-bye to Darry and me. He hugged me tight, and said, "I love you, Sodapop."
Darry was next. I was too choked to tell Pony how I felt. It seemed like a bad dream.
"Please, Darry. Don't make me go. I don't want to. You can hit me all you want, just don't make me go!" Pony sobbed into Darry's shirt.
"I know, baby. I don't want you to go either But you have to." We were all crying our eyes out, when Mrs. McCool pulled Ponyboy away from us.
"NO!" Pony screamed. "Darry! SODA! HELP!"
He was pushed into the car and Darry said, "Isn't there another way?"
"I didn't choose this, Darrel. You did."
And with that, the car pulled away, with Pony in the back seat, screaming and crying.
Darry crumpled to the ground and sobbed the hardest I'd ever heard him. Soon, I joined him. We both sat there on the sidewalk and cried for our little brother who we just lost.