changes

chapter eleven

Today was a big day for the curtis brothers. Little ponyboy curtis was going to be starting his very first day at preschool. "Breakfast" darry called to his brothers. Both darry and soda had taken the morning off work so they could take their baby brother to his first day of school.

"So kiddo, are you excited" soda asked his baby brother. "Yeah, i'm going to school like a big boy" pony smiled at his big brother. After breakfast darry helped pony put on his shoes. "Here ya go little buddy" darry handed pony a new school bag with cars on it. "Thankyou darry" pony was so happy with his new bag. He gave his oldedst brother a big hug.

The three curtis's climbed into darry's truck. The school wasn't too far for them to have walked, but the two older boys were heading to work once their little brother was settled. Pony started to get a little nervous wgen he saw the school building. He saw lots of kids around his age holding onto their mothers or fathers hands. Pony held both of his big brothers hands.

The three of them stepped inside the classroom. "Well hello there, my name is mrs stanly" pony's teacher greated the three brothers at the door. Pony hid behind soda. "Hello mrs stanly, i'm darrel curtis, this is my brother sodapop, and this little guy (darry picked pony up) is our baby brother ponyboy" darry answered for the three of them. "Well its a pleasure to meet you all, say pony, would you like to have a look around the classroom?" She spoke softly.

Pony turned his head so his face was hidden in darry's shoulder. "You can take your brothers around with you if you like" pony nodded his head at her. "I'm real sorry, pony's always been a little shy, especially around new people" darry explained. The teacher gave them a smile and a nod of understanding.

The three brothers walked around the classroom. "See pone, looks like your going to have so much fun in here" soda tried to reasure his little brother. There was a big play area, a place to do art and craft, and a story time area. "Yeah pone, soda's right you got all your favorite things to do here" darry said. Pony let fo of his brothers hands and headed over to the books. He picked one out and looked at the pictures.

Darry and soda both gave pony a kiss and slowly walked off. Pony started to panick a little. "Its ok pone, we're just going to talk to your teacher". Darry gave the teacher all the important forms about ponyboy including his medical history. They explained about their parents being deceased and asked what time pick up was. They looked over at their baby brother who was mesmerized in another book. Seeing that pony looked settled and content, the two older brothers left the room.

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At three oclock dallas had been asked to pick up pony from the preschool. Darry had also given the teacher a list of people who were ok to pick up there little brother should they be held back at work or an emergency occured. Dallas walked up to the classroom and was greeted by the teacher. He had to explain who he was before the teacher realeased pony into his care.

Pony ran up to dallas letting the hood pick him up. The little boy started to sob real hard into dally's shoulder. "Hey kiddo, it ok". The teacher explained how pony had gotten real scared after realising his brothers had left the classroom. "Bye pony, see you tomorrow" mrs stanly said handing pony the painting he did.

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Dallas took pony over to the dx so he could see soda. As soon as he spotted his big brother, he cried even harder. "He's been like this since i picked him up" dal explained. "Shhh its ok baby" soda tried to calm his baby brother down. "Well i'm done for the day, so how about we head home huh" "oh and thanks for pickin him up dal" soda said. Steve locked up the shop and the for boys hopped in steves car and headed home. Pony would not let go of soda.

When darry walked in the door pony was still clinging onto soda, but as soon as he saw darry he wanted darry to pick him up. "Hey baby, how was preschool?" Darry asked making the little boy sob even more. "Shhh baby, your home now, its ok". Darry whispered gently. "He's been lime this since i picked him up" dal explained. "Thanks dal, i'll have a chat to his teacher tomorrow, and see if anything might have upset him at school" darry said cuddling pony.

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It took pony a few days before finally settling into school. "Mr curtis, has pony ever been placed in someone elses care before, where he had never met the person caring for him?" The teacher asked curiously. "Not that i can recall" darry answered her. "Well i think whats upsetting pony, is the thought of being away from people he knows, its also known as separation anxiety. It usualky happens in kids who have either had something bad happen in their life or kids who are around the same people all the time and suddenly pushed into a new enviroment". She explained.

"I wouldn't worry about it too much, pony just needs to be reasured that he's in a safe place, and that a familiar face will be here to pick him up every day. It also helps if whoever drops him off is able to stay a little bit til he feels ok for you to leave". Darry understood what she was saying and took his brothers hand as pony led his big brother to the books. "Read to me darry" darry picked up the book pony hsd chosen. "I remember this book" it was darry's favourite when he was pony's age.

"Ok pone lets make deal, i'll read you this book, but then i have to go to work ok. But soda's picking you up today, so maybe ge can read another book, if your a good boy ok" darry said. "Ok darry" darry finished the book and pony gave him a big hug. Goodbye darry, i love you big brother" pony said, he was finally ok with his brother leaving him at school. "Bye kiddo, i love you too little brother" darry waved as he walked out. He looked around and smiled as he saw pony laughing with the other kids. With that he left the classroom knowing his baby brother would be ok.