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Chapter Two

I sat up a bit straighter. "Um, It wasn't-" I tried to explain, but Mr. Chatham interrupted me. "Is it true Ponyboy?" He asked once again. I stayed silent for a moment, contemplating whether I should tell him or not. I finally took a deep breath. "Yeah, but it wasn't his fault." I tried to explain. My heart began to race faster and faster. I swallow, and quickly look up and meet his eyes. His face looked serious. "He didn't mean it! He was just worried." I tried to explain again. Mr. Chatham just continued looking at me. "I broke my curfew, and he was upset." I told him. "So, do you think it was okay for him to hit you because of that?" Mr. Chatham asked. "Well, no.." I started, but Mr. Chatham cut me off again. "Has this happened any other times?" He asked me. I shook my heard furiously. "No! Just that time! Darry is a great brother. He isn't an abuser or anything." I told him. I could feel myself getting angrier and angrier. Mr. Chatham said nothing, just began flipping through my folder again. He came to another page. "Here it says that you had a big fight between.." He starts as he looks through the page. "The boys on the west side?" He finishes. "Yeah. We did." I said quietly. "And your brother let you participate?" He asked. "I would have done it anyway." I said with somewhat of an attitude. "It wasn't really Darry's choice." "But Darry is your gaurdian, correct?" Mr. Chatham asked. "Yeah.." I said, not looking at Mr. Chatham. "Then it was his desicion." He said, sounding a bit frusturated. I clamped my mouth shut, deciding not to argue anymore. I looked down at my desk. "Ponyboy, do you get enough to eat at home?" Mr. Chatham asked. I looked over at him. "Yes." I said, nodding my head. "Well you look pretty thin." He stated. I shook my head. "I need to get to my next class." I said, grabbing my bookbag and walking out the door. "Ponyboy, wait a minute." Mr. Chatham says as he stands up and walks over to where I am. "What?" I ask, not making eye contact with him. Mr. Chatham sighed. "Look, My family is just fine and me and my brothers do just fine, so you don't have to ask me all of these questions, okay?" I asked. Mr. Chatham gave me a sad look. "I'm sorry, but I do care, Ponyboy. You're an excellent student and I feel like I need to do something to help you." He says. I shake my head. "I don't need your help, and neither do my brothers." I managed to say. "Ponyboy, I want to help you." He repeats. I force a smile. "That's real nice and all Mr. Chatham, but the state is already checkin up on us. We had this hearing thing some time after Dally and Johnny died, and the judge said that I got to stay with Darry." I said quickly. "Yes, but did they know about all of this? The abuse? The neglect?" Mr. Chatham questioned. I fell silent. "Abuse?" I thought. "Is that really the way he sees things?" Just then, the bell rings, indicating that I am late to my next class. "Can you just write me a pass?" I ask polietly. Mr. Chatham nods and says nothing. "I just don't think that your brother is acting like a parent should." Mr. Chatham said to me, as he wrote my note. When he looked up, I glared at him "We do not need your help. Everything is fine!" I said, as I grabbed the note from his hand. "I'm sorry Ponyboy." He says, "But it is my job as a teacher to report any suspicions of mistreatments against my students." He tells me. I feel a lump form in my throat. I feel like I am about to cry. "No!" I say, "Please don't." I beg. "I've already made the call Ponyboy." Mr. Chatham says. "And I gave them a copy of your theme." I froze. I felt tears welling up in my eyes. "One day you will thank me for this." Mr. Chatham insists, "One day when you're older, you'll understand. I finally manage to move. I run towards the door. "Ponyboy." Mr. Chatham says again, as I reach for the doorknob. I feel the tears pouring down my cheeks now. I give him one last look before I push the door open, and leave his classroom as fast as I can.