Chapter Thirty Seven

"Good morning, Mr. Jasper." Judge Carlson belted out a greeting. "You are sure looking good after a week of rest and relaxation in the Poconos."

I eyed Judge Carlson and held my breath. I wondered if would recognize me, and hoped Jonathan Jasper would forget to introduce me. I tried to make myself semi-invisible by standing halfway behind my date.

As the two men chit chatted and began to reintroduce their family members I looked up at Owen who had removed his crown and held it in his left arm. He looked down at me with a wide and proud grin.

"What were you thinking?" I whispered with a scowl and squeeze his hand tightly to let him feel how anrgy I was.

Owen simply smile at me with pride. "Trust me, and you can remove your crown now. Hold it in your left hand and the hostess will come to gather it before we dine."

I let go of Owen's hand and did as I was told. I turned my attention back to the introductions just in time to meet the Judge and his family.

"…And you know my son, Owen." Mr. Jasper told the Carlson family members as Owen stepped forward an shook hands with the men. Jonathan then turned the attention to me. "But I am not sure all of you have met his girlfriend, Miss Scout Curtis."

I watched as Judge Carlson's smile dimmed a bit and his look turned snooty and Judge Carlson simply said. "It is a pleasure to see you, Miss Curtis." Without embellishing that we had met before he began he introductions.". This is my wife, Maureen."

Inside my head I made a decision not to address the lady by her first name even though she had been introduced to me first. "It is a pleasure to meet you Mrs. Carlson."

"Same to you.". She said with a polite smile.

Judge Carlson continued introductions, but this time they were more for the group than just for me.

"You remember my oldest son Jeffery. Jeffery is in his final semester of law school at UC Berkley, and this is his new wife Judy."

Everyone greeted the couple.

Without embellishing that we had met before, Jusge Carlson continued, "and this is my younger son, Michael. He is a junior at Texas A & M. He is studying to be an engineer."

I greeted Michael, "hello, it is nice to meet you."

"Nice to meet you too," he said then he turned his attention to Owen. "Jasper, it's been awhile!". The two young men then shook hands and began a spirited conversation about high schol football as everyone took their seats.

Once we were seated Mr. Jasper leaned towards the Carlson family and announced. "You know Miss Curtis is an Ashford Academy girl and Club Winter Formal Queen."

"Those are wonderful accomplishments.". Mrs. Carlson told me.

Judge Carlson then looked across the table at me with a look of arrogance and stated. "Ashford Academy is a beautiful and time honored place, you should be so lucky as to be in attendance there amongst the state's elite."

I forced a smile.

"Judge Carlson," A voice called out from beyond our table, and I watched Mr. Ottavi approach the Judge.

Immediately I felt my stomach turn and I wished I could run and hide.

Mr. Ottavi spoke in a low voice "if you may, I was wondering if you could meet me after lunch in the Red Room. There is a certain case I would like to speak to you about as an urgent matter has surfaced."

The Judge grumbled a little and his wife, Maureen, spoke up. "Go right ahead, Ralph. I will be meeting the ladies for coffee and tea on the veranda after brunch."

"Alright then," Judge Carlson agreed. "I'll meet you there afterwards."

"Thank you, Your Honor." Mr. Ottavi then looked to the guests at the table. "Thank you for your time. Sorry to interrupt." He gazed around the table and his eyes widened when he saw me. "Miss Curtis, how are you today."

"Fine. Thank you." I replied quietly. Mr. Ottavi walked away as Owen reached over and squeezed my hand under the table to comfort me.

"So how long have you been at Ashford Academy?" Mrs. Carlson asked me.

I stared at her without a word and wondered how she could have no recolection of who I was.

"Just over a month." Owen replied for me and looked At me with a questioning smile.

"A month?" Jeffery Carlson looked at me and laughed. He sipped his Bloody Mary drink. "I thought all you Ashford girls were lifers."

"Not me," I said softly, and wished the conversation would change.

Jeffery Carlson looked over at me as the waitresses and waiters began to set serving bowls and plates of food on the tables. "So where did you go to school before Ashford?"

"Tulsa High School." I answered.

Jeffery questioned me, "Why would you go from Tulsa High to Ashford Academy in the middle of the semester?"

"Jeffery!" Judge Carlson sternly called out to his son. "That's enough about Ashford Academy. I don't want to have this conversation continue any further."

I looked at the judge with wide eyes and hoped that his son would follow his direction.

Jeffery laughed at his father and looked back to me and spoke on a casual tone. "The Judge and I have gone round and round about Ashford Academy lately. He thinks it is still the perfect school for any young lady, but I say it's simply a holding pen for flighty debutants. What say you, Miss Curtis?"

"I say…" I said and then paused a moment to form my response in my head before I spoke. "I say I was more academically challenged at Tulsa High and I would prefer to be back there."

"Then why don't you just go back?" Michael Carlson asked as he passed a bowl of green beans around the table.

"Because it's just not that simple!" Judge Carlson barked causing everyone at the table to look towards him in surprise.

Instantly I regretted speaking up. I down at my plate in fear of his repercussion.

Silence lingered for a moment as everyone looked aaround the table and began to connect the dots to form a picture they hadn't had all the pieces to before.

Jeffery looked at his father's aggitation and then he looked across the table at me and declared, "You're that girl!"

"Jeffery, leave it alone." Judge Carlson ordered sternly.

"She's that girl." Jeffery said with pleasure as he recalled past conversations with his father then he turned to his wife. "She's that girl whose parents passed away and the Judge thought it would be better if she was adopted to a new family then live with her older brother."

Jeffery's wife gasped in pity and looked at me with sincere eyes.

Her husband chuckled. "Oh wow, you wouldn't believe the arguments me and the old man have gotten into over your case."

Across the table from me Michael Carlson snapped his fingers loudly and pointed at me. "You're Darrell Curtis' little sister. Aren't you?"

"Michael! It's not polite to point." Maureen Carlson disciplined her adult son, and worried about her husband becoming more upset.

"Yeah, Darrell Curtis the football star! Man that guy could throw a football." Michael said, "I heard he was nearly stabbed to death somewhere on the north side. How's he doing?"

"He's great!" Owen said loudly with a proud smile. "He's been out of the hospital for week now, and we have hired him on full time as a grounds keeper!" Owen looked to Judge Carlson to be sure he was paying attention.

"The Judge sent you to Ashford didn't he?" Jeffery wouldn't let the conversation die. "He didn't think a few young hoodlums could raise a proper lady, isn't that right, Judge."

"Jeffery, I am not discussing work on the weekends!" Judge Carlson grumbled and seemed to be growing more aggitated.

Jeffery didn't fear his father as he laughed. "That's what we discussed on the weekend the last time I was in town!"

Mr. Jasper looked a bit confused by the conversation as he spoke. "Judge Carlson, with all due respect for your position, I think you are mistaken about Darry and the other boys. They are all very good boys."

The Judge's temper flared. "Jonathan, one of them is a high school drop out for Christ sake!"

"Ralph!" Maureen Carlson scolded her husband for his language.

"He may have dropped out, but he's not a detriment to society." Mr. Jasper attempted to reason with his friend. "He has a full time job and helps to take care of the family."

"They are orphans!" The Judge stated to Johnathan. "In this country, orphans who take care of other orphans are just a pack of vagabonds!"

"Judge, this is the 1960's for Christ sake!" Jeffery barked back at his father.

"Jeffery Michael Carlson, mind your language at the table." His mother scolded him hoping to subdue the ensuing argument.

Jeffery ignored his mother and continued as if I wasn't present to hear his conversation. "They aren't orphans they are a family. No doubt all they have in this world is each other and there is no doubt that is all they need! They belong together, and you need to wake up and smell the coffee because this world is changing fast and it's moving on without you!"

"Amen, Honey!" Jeffery's wife praised her man while Michael and Owen laughed out loud.

I looked up in a panic that all of the ridicule towards the Judge would forever secure my future at Ashford.

Jeffery noticed my fear and he leaned towards me. "Don't worry darling, as soon as I pass my bar exams this summer I'll come to town and be your lawyer. I know just how to beat that man!"

Everyone at the table laughed again, other than the Judge and me. I didn't have the courage to look at him, but I imagined he was staring at me and wanting me gone from his world sooner than later.

"Well, I guess that's what you get when you send one off to free thinking school like Berkley!" Maureen Carlson nervously sang out bringing more laughs and a more relaxed atmosphere for everyone at the table but me.

________________________

Owen and I grabbed our Winter Formal crowns and strolled out to the front of the County Club where the parking valet had the car waiting for us. Owen helped me into the car then
Shut the door. I tapped my fingers on my knees in agitation as I waited for Owen to get into the car and pull away from the front of the building. When he did I turned to him. "You knew the whole time who we would be sitting with, didn't you?"

Owen just grinned.

"Have you lost your mind?" I shrieked. "What were you thinking? "

Owen laughed at me. "Scout, just calm down."

"Calm down? Are you kidding me? That man hates me!"

"He doesn't hate you," Owen said with a smile. "He just doesn't know you."

"Thats because he's rich and powerful and i'm poor and obsolete! There is no possible reason why he would want to know me."

"Scout, don't say that about yourself. You are not obsolete!"

"To him i am, and that is why you've lost your mind! I should have never been there."

"See, that's where you're wrong." Owen glanced over and noticed my look of confusion. "Before today he didn't know you or your brothers very well so it was easy to consider breaking you apart. Next time he sees you, he'll know you. He'll remember your manners and your smile. He'll remember all the great things my parents and I said about you and your brothers. His wife and sons will take a bigger interest in your case and then it will be a lot harder for him to be able to send you away."

"I don't know about that."

"I do," Owen said with confidence.

"How can you be sure?"

"You know how some things happen in your neighborhood that I don't understand and you tell me not to question it because that's just the way things are?"

"Sure."

"Well, that's just the way things work in my neighborhood. The Judge will have to answer to bis friends and family about decisions he makes in your case now. Dont worry, Things are going to be okay."

I looked at Owen with worry on my face.

"Trust me." Owen smiled back with confidence.

______________________________

Owen and I walked up the steps to my house hand in hand. I pulled the screen door open, and I could instantly feel the tension in the living room as Owen and I walked in. My attention was drawn to Darry who was sitting on a wooden dining room chair in the living room next to our social worker, Mrs. Dillard.

No one smiled.

Darry looked over and simply said, "We'll see you later, Owen."

Owen understood it was time to leave. He lightly squeezed my hand with a frown. "I'll see you later?" He looked at me with question in his eyes.

"Wait," I said softly, "I'll walk you out." I dropped my Winter Formal Crown down into my mother's chair, and quickly glanced over at Darry. He didn't argue with me, so I turned to walk out and noticed Sodapop and Ponyboy sitting solemnly on the sofa. I took notice that Pony had slicked his shortened hair with hair grease.

I stepped out onto the porch with Owen and let the screen door slam shut behind me.

Owen nervously licked his lips the way Ponyboy often did when he was unsure about a situation. "You'll call me later, right?" Owen asked softly.

I knew he was asking because neither of us knew what was going on inside the house.. "Yes, I'll call you… no matter what."

Owen looked at me a moment as if he was soaking up my image because he would never see me again. "I love you." He said quietly.

I cracked a little smile to comfort him. "I'm going to see you again." I said to calm my own nerves.

Owen leaned forward and gently grabbed my head in his hands and kissed my lips. When he finished the kiss he stepped away from me. "Call me later."

"I'll call you later." I said, and quietly waved goodbye.

Owen turned and walked back to his car. I turned and headed back into the house where all my brothers were right where I had left them.

"Have a seat." Darry said and gestured toward the sofa.

I walked over and sat down in between my brothers. I set my hands in my lap and wrung my fingers together to work off my nervous emotions.

Mrs. Dillard looked over and let out a sigh and a smile. "Well… no doubt this has been a very long month for the four of you. Hopefully Mr. Ottavi will be here soon with good news."

My eyes widened in surprise as I remembered Mr. Ottavi stopping by the table at brunch and asking to speak with the judge. I looked at Darry in fear.

He noticed my look, so he took the time to catch me up on the situation. "Mr. Dillard was contacted by Barrington about the building being destroyed and Ponyboy being home for the weekend."

Mrs. Dillard jumped into the conversation. "So I contacted Mr. Ottavi and he agreed to speak with Judge Carlson today and see if the judge will agree to a transfer of custody of the three of you from the State back to Darry see'ins how Darry is home now and feeling better and ready to start a new job soon."

My stomach turned leaving me with a sick feeling that must have shown on my newly pale face.

"Scout? Are you okay?" Darry leaned forward and asked me lightheartedly.

I didn't answer him as I let my gaze fall to the coffee table in from of me. I hoped the attention of everyone in the room would shift to something else then Sodapop elbowed me hard in the ribs.

"Whad'ya do that for?" I snapped loudly.

"Cause ya didn't answer the question." Sodapop smiled.

"Maybe I aint got nothing to say!" I snapped back, and then all of my brothers knew something was bothering me because my grammar was often poor when I was upset.

I wrung my hands together tightly and began to fear the worst. Sodapop leaned down to try to look into my eyes. He spoke softly, "hey, what's eating at you?"

Ponyboy put his hand on my shoulder to comfort me.

I dropped my face into my hands, but there was no avoiding the conversation. After a moment I took a deep breath and sat up. "I'm just really nervous about what the judge might think of me."

"What are you talking about?" Soda asked.

"Yeah?" Ponyboy looked at me in question. "He ain't going to think of you no different now than when he thought of you last time."

"Well …he ain't never thought much of me, and who knows what he'll be thinking now!" I barked.

"You're acting kind of weird," Soadapop noted.

"Scout?" Darry folded his arms across his slender chest and looked over at me. "Spill it. What's going on?"

Sometimes I hated how intuitive Darry could be. I frowned and spilled the beans. "At brunch today the Jasper family was seated at a table with another family who just happened to be the Carlson family."

"Who are the Carlsons?" Sodapop impulsively asked.

Darry shot him a look and Soda's eyes lit up as he realized who I was talking about. "Oh, continue."

I sighed, "As soon as I was introduced and everyone sat down the Judge's son, Jeffrey, recognized who I was. Right away he wanted to talk about my case and what I thought about the Judge sending me away to Ashford. I tried to avoid the conversation, but Jeffery just kept asking questions and disagreeing with everything his father had to say about us."

"What did Owen think of y'all having to sit with them?" Ponyboy asked.

"I think he knew who we were dining with before we got there. I think it was his plan all along because he and his dad talked a lot about how great Darry was and what a good family we are."

A car door slammed shut outside of our house interrupting my story. Soda, Pony, and I all turned our heads in unison to look out the window and see who had arrived.

I swallowed hard as Mr. Ottavi past through our gate and headed to the front door. I turned my head and looked at Darry with concern.

Darry ignored my emotion and nodded his head toward Ponyboy, who was sitting on the end of the sofa next to the front door. "Are you going to sit there, or are you going to let the man in?"

I watched as Pony looked back at Darry with a touch of defiance. "I guess that would depend on what he has to say, because last time he was here it didn't turn out so hot."

"Well, we won't know what he has to say until you open the door." Darry commented.

Ponboy and I looked at each other and shared a doubtful look that any of the news would be good.

Sodapop jumped up from the couch, crossed the living room, and opened the door for the visitor. "Good afternoon, Mr. Ottavi. Come on in."

"Good afternoon, Sodapop." Mr Ottavi greeted our brother and walked through the door with a handful of manila file folders stuffed full with papers.

I watched Darry stand up to shake the man's hand. Darry offered him the wooden chair next to Mrs. Dillard before he sat himself in dads chair by the phone.

Mr Ottawi sat down and looked at me with a smile. "Nice to see you again, Scout."

I forced a smile. "Nice to see you again too."

Mr. Ottavi looked around the room before he spoke. "I have some news today you are all going to be happy to hear." Then he lifted the top manila folder from the stack on his lap and read the index label, "Sodapop Patrick Curtis. Beginning this Monday you will be returned to the custody of your brother, Darrell."

Sodapop's eyes lit up in joy. "Seriously?"

"Yes Sir." Mr. Ottavi answered back with a smile.

Soda looked over at Darry with a grin and then back to our attorney. "What about Ponyboy and Scout? Do they get to come home too?"

Mr. Ottavi looked down to the stack of folders and pulled the middle one out. He read the index label, "Ponyboy Michael Curtis." Then he opened the folder and read from the paper inside. "Due to the recent destruction of the Barrington Home for Boys leaving Ponyboy without a suitable home or school his custody will be transferred from the State of Oklahoma to his brother, Darrell Curtis."

"Yes!" Ponyboy yelled out then he and Sodapop jumped up and hugged in front of me.

"Alright you two, sit down." Darry said after seeing my apprehension, but Ponyboy ran over and gave him a quick hug before he followed directions.

Sodapop sat back down on the left side of me and grabbed my left hand. Ponyboy sat back down on the right side of me and grabbed my right hand, and Darry asked, "How about, Scout."

Like the other times before Mr. Ottavi reached to his stack of manila folders and pulled out the thickest file in the bunch. He read the index tab, "Scout Marie Curtis." Then he opened the folder and paused a moment.

My heart sank.

"One thing everyone here needs to realize is that Judge Carlson truly has everyone's best interest at heart in this case."

I looked at Mr. Ottavi to assure him. "And it's in my best interest to return to the custody of my brother."

Mr. Ottavi looked back at me with a faint smile. "It's also in your best interest to be some where safe and away from harm."

"So, what are you saying?" Darry asked from the edge of his seat.

"The ruling at this time is that Scout is to return to Ashford Academy until..."

"What?" Sodapop yelped. "That's not fair!"

"Now Sodapop, just wait," Mrs. Dillard requested. "I don't think Mr. Ottavi was finished."

Ponyboy looked at me, nervously licked his lips, and squeezed my hand.

Mr. Ottavi continued, "Scout is to return to Ashford immediately following her testimony and until a verdict is found in the case against James Young."

"What does that have to do with us?"Soda blurted out, and Darry shushed him loudly.

Mr. Ottavi continued, "If James Young is found to be guilty and sentenced to prison for longer than four years Scout will return to the custody of her brother, Darrel and choose to remain at Ashford Academy or return to Tulsa."

"And what if he isn't found guilty?" Darry asked.

Mr. Ottavi sighed before responding. "If he is not found guilty and is released from custody Scout, for her own safety, will remain a Ward of the State until her eighteenth birthday. She will be required to complete her schooling at Ashford Academy, and then the State of Oklahoma will choose an appropriate college for her to attend at the cost of the State until her eighteenth birthday. During this time Scout will not be allowed to return to or reside in Tulsa County or any Oklahoma county where James Young also resides."

"That's not fair!" Ponyboy cried out.

Mr. Ottavi looked back at him. "I'd have to disagree. Both the Judge and I feel that your sister is a remarkable young lady and for either of us to allow her to return to a situation where she could be put in harms way, or worse, would be a gross error in judgment on our part."

"He's right," I said loud enough to be sure everyone could hear, and to keep anyone else from arguing. "At this point there's only one thing left to do."

"What's that?" Darry asked.

I looked over at Darry matter of fact. "I have to win