The Ruds

Chapter 17

It was Wednesday morning and we were all getting ready to go to the court house. I was real nervous, it had been a while since I had been to court and I had never been when I had committed a crime. It was about 10:30 a.m. when all seven of us piled into the Thorton's car. We got to the court house at 11 a.m. and everyone started getting out of the car. I stayed in the car, I couldn't go in, it was like I wanted to move but my body wouldn't.

A while later, Navvy noticed that I wasn't with them and came back and got in the car. "Hey kid, what's up?" He asked. "I don't want to leave and I know if I go in there I will have to," I told him. "Remember what I said, we won't let you leave," Navvy said. "I could go to jail or worse and there is no saving me from that." I told him. "We'll find a way," He winked at me and I just had to smile. Navvy is one of those people that can make anyone smile and he doesn't even try very hard. "Alright, I'll go," I reached for the car handle and we went inside.

"Please rise," We all stood up as the Judge walked in. "You may be seated." Someone at a far table announced. He called some people to come up and tell their part of the story. First was Treg, he was there the night I killed his brother, Brock. After that they did Kiki, Brock's girl and Indie, Treg's girl. They all basically said what I would have said, that they were drunk and that it was Brock that originally had the blade and since we were in the water we couldn't see what we were doing. They also said that we were picking fights though which wasn't at all true, 'cause we weren't doing anything. Once the Mods finished with their stories they started calling us up. First was Mason and then Dylan.

"Faith Borden please come to the stand." The judge said. I walked up and sat down. I was wearing a white shirt with a tan skirt and I had my hair in a side braid, which was way different than the others who were wearing these expensive dresses. I never got why people would buy such fancy dresses if they weren't gonna wear them very o'ffen.

A man came up and asked me some questions, surprisingly they were way different from the others questions. Mine where about my life and about Ruth and Harold, it was like they were doing two different trials at once.

"Miss. Borden, we are here to talk about your life with your foster parents, so tell me, how do they treat you at home when no one else is there?" He asked. "Well, they don't treat me very good, they always hit me and push me around, and yell at me, sir," I explained. "I see and so you wouldn't want to live with them anymore now would you?" He asked. "No sir," I told him a little shyly.

"Miss. Borden, how old are you?" He asked. "I'm sixteen," I said. "You have gotten used to life here in Dallas, Texas, is that right." He asked. "Yes, sir, I've lived here for about four years." I told him. "So if you would like to stay here you know that you would need someone to adopt you or be willing to be your foster parents, right?" He asked. I hesitated a little and then I said, "Yes, sir I do know that, better than I would like, actually." I said. "Is there anyone that you know that would take you as a foster kid, or adopt you?" He asked me. I hesitated for a while, looking everywhere, but at the gang. Just as I was about to say, 'No', Navvy stood up.

"I will sir," He exclaimed. I looked at Navvy and then down at Mason, and he shrugged his shoulders. "Do you know this young man, Faith?" "Yes, sir that is Navvy Thorton." I told the man. "Navvy will you come up to the stand please." He said to Navvy. I got up out of the chair and started walking down the stairs and when I got down two stairs Navvy was already there. "What are you doing?" I whispered. "Keeping you hear," He answered. "Navvy, I couldn't ask you to do this," I started. "You didn't, I volunteered," He smiled. "Navvy it costs a fortune how would you afford it?" I asked him. "College money," He shyly whispered. "Navvy, you have been saving forever, so you can get a better job." I reminded him. "Faith, the way I see, college will always be there, I could go when I'm fifty, but you are a once in a life time thing and without you we all probably would've killed each other by now." He grinned. "Thank you." I smiled and went to go sit next to Mason.

"So Mr. Navvy Borden, how old are you?" The same man asked Navvy. "I will be nineteen tomorrow, sir." Navvy told him. "And when is your birthday?" The man asked. "April sixteenth, nineteen-fifty-six." Navvy said.

The man asked him some more questions and at the end the judge started talking, "Navvy Thorton, I want a birth certificate, Driver's license, and police records, on my desk Monday morning and after I look over them I will tell you if you are eligible to adopt Miss. Faith Borden." The judge said and smacked the gavel on the desk and everyone stood up.

"How are you going to get that kinda money?" Ty asked Navvy, when they were further away from the rest of us and I could tell Ty was none too pleased with what Navvy did. I was speechless, I couldn't think of anything to say. "Hey, Faith, I guess I shoulda asked you before I just jumped the gun and said I would adopt you, so I was wondering if you were alright with it?" Navvy asked me when we were behind everyone else. "I'm more than fine with it Navvy, just promise me you won't regret adopting me when you can't go to college until your fifty," I half joked, but at the same time I was completely serious. "Don't worry, I won't." We walked a little faster to catch up with the rest of the gang and went home.

Later that night Navvy and Cash had to work late, so I just went to bed. I knew they were going to wake me up anyway, but I didn't care. I had fallen asleep and had been asleep for around an hour when I hear the door open. "What were you thinking!" I heard Zeal say. "I did what I had to!" Navvy argued. "You would pick her over college, over me!" She argued back, the lights where still off, so I don't think they realized I was laying on the couch. "That isn't fair!" Navvy said. "It is me or her, you pick!" She yelled. "Then I pick her!" Navvy yelled back "Fine!" I heard the door open and then slam shut.

Navvy sat on the two-person couch and sighed. I was hesitant to say something, but then I decided to. "Navvy?" I started. "You alright?" I continued. "Faith," He exclaimed, obviously surprised that I was there. "You weren't supposed to hear that," He told me. "I think all of Texas heard that," I joked. "You know I am kinda glad you picked me, truth is, none of us really liked her that much," I told him. "Why didn't any of you tell me?" He asked. "We didn't want to hurt your feelings or make you hate us or something." I explained. "I could tell you didn't like her, but I didn't know the rest of the gang didn't like her." He said some to me and some to himself.

"Anyway,"He shook his head. "You should get back to bed and I think I will head theremyself." He said standing up. "Hey where is Cash?" I asked. "Oh he had to staya little later, he will be back soon though." Navvy told me and then went tohis room.