The girl's home sucked. I couldn't wait to get out of here. It was obvious from the first day that I could beat anyone in a fight but there was no point, I was way too depressed. I just wanted someone to hold me and tell me everything was all right. I wanted Dally, I wanted my brothers, I wanted the gang, and I wanted mom and dad.
I got to see everyone at school but after that I had to report back at the home. Same with every other time I went out. I had to tell them who I was with, where I was going, and what time I'd be back right to the precise minute.
Amy knew all the drills so she helped me out. She was real nice and had been in the home as long as she could remember. Her file said she arrived twelve years ago, when she was two. It said her mom had just dropped her off on the front steps. If I ever have kids and someone better give me a real good whipping if I'm ever that stupid. She was real smart but also smart enough to know when I was going to do something stupid or something that you got in trouble so she'd stay away. The people were really kind. If you did something wrong they'd take your hand and try to lead you down the right path.
My second week I was there I just about got in a fight but some maid who was cleaning a nearby room stopped it. Damn it that chick was making me mad. She tried to torment me because I was the 'new kid' and now she was trying to pick on a younger kid.
The day we met in the gym I gave her a good beating. Her eye was swollen shut until some of her friends came in as I was hitting her and started kicking me leaving me with some broken ribs.
I don't know how I even stood up my ribs were killing me but I somehow managed to stumble up to my room and lay on my bed. Amy found me there a couple hours later.
She went into hysterics.
"Calm down" I said. "I'm fine." As a matter of fact I wasn't fine my ribs were bruised purple and blue and my forehead had a cut on it from falling into a wall.
"I need you to get me some bandage from the nurses station." I said in between gasps. "So I can wrap up my ribs."
"Ok" she said "What do I tell them happened?"
"Don't tell them anything. I need you to swipe it. If they knew I was fighting I'll have a slimmer chance of going home." She nodded and left, returning ten minutes later. She also got me some aspirins for pain.
"Thanks" I said taking about six.
"That's way too many" she said
"I'll take as many as I have to, to get rid of the pain." I said. She helped me bandage myself up. It hurt like hell but the aspirins were working.
Finally it was court day again. I was excited but nervous because this was the last chance we had of getting back together. If I blew this I may as well say goodbye to everyone for four years. I had said bye to Amy. My ribs were healing just fine, it still stung every time I moved but I figured it was only a matter of time and they'd be back to normal.
When I got to the courthouse I gave Darry, Soda and Ponyboy each huge hugs. I was almost crying already, partially from my ribs but mostly because I had missed them so much.
The talk was similar to last time except my marks in school changed for the greater good. I had a 58 in math, 60 in English, 63 in science, and 80 in art. I was really proud of myself. The judge decided our fate even quicker this time.
"At this time" said the Judge "I will be giving custody to your older brother Darryl." I couldn't stop beaming, and even though the pain in my ribs was tremendous since the aspirins wore off we all couldn't stop hugging each other and celebrating.
The gang was waiting for us when we got back. They all came flying out the door at us. Steve almost tackled Soda and I ran to see Dally after saying hi and giving everyone else a hug. Dally picked me up and spun me around and I groaned in pain.
"What's wrong?" he asked
"Nothing. I just broke a few ribs and they're healing" I said as Dally led me inside. It was starting to storm.
I love thunderstorms. It's so cool to watch the rain fall and the lightning and the sky turn all sorts of colours. Dally layed me down on the couch and took a 'professional' look at my ribs. After a couple minutes he pushed down and I heard my rib crack into place. I grimaced in pain.
I think I set a new record for staying up late that night. I was going to go to sleep at seven, by which time we had all finished telling our stories of the previous month, but the storm started again and I stayed up to watch it. Dally stayed up to I don't think he stayed up to watch the storm, just to hang out with me, but I didn't mind I enjoyed his company. I never really realized how much I missed him before. I stretched out on my bed right beside the window and Dally layed next to me. It was good to be home. Dally and I caught up some more and eventually when even I was too tired to stay up and watch the story, we fell asleep. It was almost 10am.