I had stepped into the doctor's office along with two other social service worker Mrs. Miller and Mr. Boyd; they both knew me. I gave a nod and sat down on a chair. Doctor Marks took his place behind his desk.
"You're brother could have a lot of negative effects. See we are still waiting for some results but we found marijuana and LSD in his system."
I shook my head. "No, he knows better. Ponyboy is my brother and I know for a fact he wouldn't do that," I stammered. He was taught better, raised better, and he knew better. He is too innocent to ever touch that stuff.
"I believe you but he isn't talking; not because he can't but because he doesn't want too. Maybe he's afraid, I don't know. The psychological damage done is pretty severe. Not just from living with people who hurt him but from the drugs too. His bruising there is a pattern to it along we also found burns on his body."
"So you're telling me those people beat him and shoved their drugs down his throat," I put my head in my hands. He was only thirteen fourteen next month, and he skipped a grade. This shouldn't be happening. He is a smart kid. A good kid too.
"I can't say anything for sure," Doctor Marks said.
I shook my head. "How did this happen? I thought you had to check up on him. I warned you something wasn't right. You told me it was a good thing. That Pony was happy!" I was glaring at the social workers.
"Calm down please; we did do our checks. He was always safe, happy doing well in school. Everything always seemed fine."
"You didn't do it good enough. My little brother is hurt because you and your fucking system messed up."
"Our system placed your other brother in a great home. This was an accident. If we knew what was going on Ponyboy would have been removed," Mr. Boyd defended.
Doctor Marks put his hand on my shoulder. "Accident or not, we have a thirteen year old boy out there who is damaged. Now, we'll get a psychologist working with him but until he starts to talk there is nothing we can do."
I looked at Doctor Marks and then to the social services. "I want my brothers back," I said.
"Darrel we've been through this. You can't and right now isn't a time to try; Ponyboy has been though enough we don't need any hoorays that will only traumatize him more. We are done discussing this topic." Mrs. Miller said.
They left me alone with Doctor Marks. I turned back to him. "Thank you." I stepped out back into the hallways. I watched as the social services walked down the hall. I forced myself to go into Pony's showing nothing.
"Hey kiddo."
He was playing war with Dally. He grinned as he stole the cards away.
"What was that about?" Dally asked laying down a jack.
"They needed to know a few things about his back round," I lied.
Soda came bounding in with Charlotte and a little kid. "Hi Pony! Can I sign your cast?"
I watched from the corner as they interacted. Soda just babbled on like a mad man. He acted like this was normal. I needed my brothers back. I didn't care that Soda was in a good place. The only place good enough was home. I couldn't think of anyway to get them back. Except for kidnapping them, and taking them to Mexico. That wasn't realistic. The entire gang showed up later that day. I glanced over at the guys; they were so loud I was surprised no one had told us to quite down. Pony really wasn't connecting with any of them. He wasn't laughing or smiling. He was just sitting there staring at the sheets with his head hung.
"Darry," a nurse tapped me on the knee. "A young man named Danny is here to see you. He's at the nurse's station."
No one aside from doctors, social services, and police entered Pony's room with out us being notified first. I saw Danny standing there looking mighty ticked. He still had on his gear and was covered in mud.
"You look pretty," I joked.
"Where were you? You skipped practice! Timmy said you weren't in English. Do you know how many laps we had to run because you skipped?"
I grunted. "I've been here; my little brother's real messed up," I choked on the last three words.
"Fifteen, around the entire field in the rain," he said running his fingers through his hair. You couldn't tell it was blonde anymore.
"You tell the coach I'll run laps for the entire team but I've got more important things to tend too," I snapped.
Danny cracked a grin. "That's a lot of laps rookie."
I kicked at the floor. "I know," I said.
"How's the kid? He's been all over the news."
I shrugged, "he won't talk."
"Yeah, Timmy's threatening to move out. He says the house is too loud he can't study. Matt's engaged."
"Tell him I said congratulations. He's stupid and too young."
Danny laughed. "That's what I told him." He looked down at his hands for a moment. "Tell the kid to get well soon for me," he said before leaving.
"I will," I turned and walked back to Pony's room. It wasn't much of a surprise to find him sitting on his bed starring at the sheets like they had the answer to all the worlds' mysteries.
"Hey buddy, why don't you tell everyone bye." I sat down next to him. He sort of sank into me as if he were hiding then waved.
"Yeah, it's about time I start heading home. Mom doesn't want the sister home alone after dark." Two-Bit reached out to mess Pony's hair up but Pony flinched and nearly jumped on me. I threw my arm around him.
Two-Bit looked mortified. "Take it easy kid. Steve, Johnny I'll give you a ride."
"Alright you, sleep time," I pulled a chair close to Pony's bed. I tried to pay attention too some T.V show. It really wasn't working. I felt something run down my face. I could tell it was Pony's hand.
"I thought you were asleep."
He continued to draw his hand down the side of my face. It was like he was proving to himself that I wasn't an illusion. I was a tangible thing, and I wouldn't vanish. Then in one swift moment, he grabbed my wallet from my pockets.
"There's no money in there greaser," I smiled. Pony flipped through a couple of pictures until he found the one he was looking for. Then it started, those silent tears, no sound just tears streaming down his face. That family picture felt like it had been taken forever ago, I guess in many ways it was. I went to reach for Pony by he flinched away.
"Come here, its okay." I pulled him close to me. I wondered if they ever talked to him about death. What about girls or any of the stuff you supposed to talk to a teenage about.
"It's okay Ponyboy; nothing can hurt them anymore, or you."