Ain't No Fool

Chapter Thirteen

Texas and Dakota sat quietly in the back of Miss Swath's car. Her dumb classical music was played way too low to hear, which was kind of good since Tex couldn't handle classical music.

"Now I'm sure you're both wondering where you'll be living," Miss Swaths said suddenly.

Dakota nodded, "Yes."

"Well it will be on the South side," Tex nearly puked. The South side! Why the South side? Weren't there plenty of good North side families willing to take them in?

Miss Swaths continued to babble on about the family, the Greenberg's. Mr. Greenberg was apart of the fuzz and Mrs. Greenberg stayed at home with their four children, two of which were already in college.

Tex sighed. This was going to be a long month for him and Dakota. How would they make it? How would Tex be able to handle his last month of summer break with a bunch of Socs?

"Oh and one important thing," Miss Swaths ended, "Don't try to act up or anything. If you do you'll be sent to another home or even a boy's or girl's home."

Tex knew that if they messed up they'd be sent to a girl's or boy's home. He didn't want to be separated from Dakota. He had to watch her and make sure she stayed in control.

"Here we are," Miss Swaths said in a singsong voice.

"Great," Dakota mumbled as the exited the car.

Texas stood blankly in front of the large house that was to be his new home, temporarily, that is. Dakota stood right next to him her chest sticking out and a nasty look painted her face. They were in Social Territory.

"Well," Miss Swaths said urging the children to move from their spots by the car.

Dakota spit in disgust of the new home.

"Dakota Sylvia Winston!" Miss Swaths cried, "That is the way you get kicked out of a nice home like this."

Tex could feel that his little sister's soft side was slowly detracting and turning back into the tough greaser Tex had raised her to be. But Tex was not proud of it for once. He wanted his sister to be good or else they might have to go to some other foster home much further away.

"D," Tex whispered in her ear, "Please try to be good, please."

Dakota nodded.

Following behind Miss Swaths into the large home Tex could feel Dakota's shoulders quivering.

Miss Swaths knocked on the door in a harsh yet polite way. Inside Tex and Dakota heard a loud scream of "They're here!" and then shuffling around and then the door finally opening. Dakota gulped. Tex stood up a bit straighter.

"Hello!" cried the voice of a woman, "How are you?" she ushered the three into the house and into their large living room. Tex could feel eyes' burning in the back of his neck, a boy was watching him.

Suddenly a man appeared in the doorway of the living room, "Hello, I'm Mr. Greenberg or you can just call me Greg and this is my wife, Shauna."

"Hi," Dakota said quietly standing close to Tex.

Texas remained quiet. He just nodded at the family.

"Uh..." Mrs. Greenberg looked back at her two children that were standing at the foot of the stairs, "Come here, you two."

The two children obeyed. There was one boy that looked to be about a year older than Tex and one girl that looked to be about a year younger than Tex.

"This is our son, Joshua," said Shauna as she introduced the boy, "And this is our Missy." Tex noticed that she didn't say daughter. Was she not theirs? Was she adopted?

"Hi," the two children said in unison.

"Hi," Dakota replied. Tex said nothing. He was way too confused to talk at that moment.

"Well," Mrs. Greenberg invited the three to sit. She had tea and cookies set out on the table for them to 'munch on' as she put it, "You're name is Dakota, right?" Mrs. Greenberg asked Dakota.

D nodded yes.

"That is a very pretty name," she replied.

"Thank you," Dakota said quietly.

Mrs. Greenberg smiled and took a seat on the couch next to Mr. Greenberg.

As everyone began to pour and drink and eat Tex and Dakota didn't for fear that they might spill on the spotless white couch.

"Texas," Mrs. Greenberg said, "Do you play any sports? Our dear Joshua plays baseball." She gloated at her young son.

Tex shook his head, "No ma'am."

A look of disappointment washed over Mrs. Greenberg's face, "Oh."

Texas could feel the uneasy tension and hated it. Looking over at the young girl, Missy, he could see that she hated it too. She would look a lot like a greaser if she wasn't wearing the nice blouse and skirt and her hair wasn't curled. But looking at her feet you could see that she was wearing Chuck Taylor's All Star tennis shoe. Same as Tex's.

About an hour later Miss Swaths left. Mrs. Greenberg showed the two children their new rooms. Tex had to share a room with Joshua because the Greenberg's older son, Adam, had come home early from college and needed some time to 'sort himself out' as Mrs. Greenberg put it. Dakota stayed in a room down the hall from Tex and Joshua. It was her own and Tex was glad.

But that night when it came time to sleep all Tex could think about was what Dally would be doing. All he wanted was to go home and be with his father and sister. Nothing more.