It wasn't my Fault - The chess club - Part 13

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My first week back at school was uneventful, apart from the sentencing hearing for Jack on Monday.

Jennifer showed up at my place very early, which surprised me when she knocked on the front door. I showed her into the kitchen, and we had breakfast together and talked about everything and anything except court today. We were giggling away when Mom came down and said I didn't know we had a visitor Alex.

Jennifer jumped up and said sorry, Miss Bea. I showed up unannounced.

You see, I woke up so early this morning and thought it was Alex's first day back at school, and I wanted to be there for my best, so I came over.

I know it's being a bit forward of me, but I was wondering if I could get a lift with you to school so I could be there for my best friend's support if she needs it. You know what it's like when your best friend needs help and you want to be there for them.

Plus, good friends in school or college can end up being best friends for life, and that's why I hope Alex and I are mates for life.

Mom smiled and said, Of course, I'll take you to school with Alex. I'll just have breakfast, then I'll take you both to school.

As Mom came downstairs to take us to school, I handed her a form and said to her, "You'll have to sign this as Officer Britney Johnson is picking me up to take me to court today after lunch." Mom said she didn't think you needed to give evidence. I told her Officer Johnson wanted me there to play on the judge's heartstrings, so the judge gave Jack a harsher sentence. Jennifer piped in and said yes, I'm going to, as Alex's counselor wants Alex to have someone there for support, and hopefully this will give Alex the closure she needs.

Mom knew she had been cornered, so she signed the consent form to let Officer Britney Johnson pick Jennifer and me up and take us to the hearing.

Mom dropped us off at school, and we thanked her for the lift. Mum said she'd pick us both up and take us to dance class after school, and she also told Jennifer to leave her dance bag in the car so she didn't have to lug it around all day.

Jennifer said thanks, Miss Bea.

We went to the bench that Ben always sat at, set up Jennifer's chess board, and started to play. Julie was the first to arrive, and then shortly afterward Jay showed up with Sandra, and we talked about what I was going to say to the judge. I decided to tell the judge what happened to me, how it made me feel as it happened, and how I feel about it all now.

They all agreed that if that's what I want to say, that's what I should say.

Sam and Tom came over and hugged me and said, "You got this girl; just don't let that fuckhead get to you."

Then we headed to our lockers and then to our classes. It was good to be back in class. I know I'm a strange kid because I like school and enjoy class. At the first break, we met outside at one of the tables and set up our chessboards. We played and helped each other with classwork.

I asked if anything was new. Jeremey said that we are still digging but have not found anything unexpected. We found out that all the mothers went to Cambridge at the same time as Doctor Bonnie Miller, but found nothing to say they knew each other there.

Dr. Miller was at Florence House when she went to Cambridge College. We are having trouble finding out who else was a member of Florence House.

We are looking at different options to find out who was a member of Florence House, like the housing register, but not everything is on a computer; we may need someone to go to Cambridge.

Jay said I think my sister Steph is staying at Florence House. We all stopped what we were doing, and I asked, Does your sister go to Cambridge College? Jay said yes, she does. I'm sure the last letter my sister wrote, Mom, had the return address of Florence House, Cambridge College, on the envelope.

Can you find out? I asked. Jay said he'd try, but it would be hard as he hasn't seen or heard from his big sister for over 6 months now she isn't talking to his mom. They had a big fight the last time Stephanie was home. My little sister told me all about it. Apparently, it was about me and Steph being happy, which didn't make sense to me. So I asked Nikki if she was sure they were fighting.

Nikki said yes and asked why Mom would be upset that Steph said she was gay. I thought Gay was happy; why wouldn't Mum want Steph to be happy?

Jay said that was a fun talk, explaining to my little sister what gay means. I was lucky I didn't have to explain the birds and bees, as Steph had already given Nikki the sex talk, and Mom never talks about that stuff if she can help it.

Mum was pissed when she found out that I had explained to Nikki about being gay. Mum tried to tell Nikki that Steph was going through a phase and just experimenting at college like everyone else does and would be a normal girl when Steph finishes college, but Nikki's not dumb; she's just naïve.

I explained it to Nikki in an unbiased way so she could make up her own mind so Mum couldn't push her prejudice onto Nikki.

This is good because Nikki idolizes Steph.

I wish I could talk to Steph, as she hasn't been that bad since she went to college. Now that I think about it, she let me get away with stuff like not making me sit like a lady, as Mum puts it, and would tell Nikki to stop telling Mum about me, and since then Nikki hasn't been that bad.

She's so nice, even Jay said. I hope she comes home over the holidays. Nikki really misses her, and so do I.

We packed up everything and headed for class.

At lunch, Jennifer and I headed to the office to meet Officer Britney Johnson.

Miss Bright was there talking to Officer Johnson when we walked into the office.

Officer Johnson smiled when she saw us and said, "Your lady's ready to go." We both said yes together.

Principal Bright was about to say something when we handed her our permission slips signed by our mothers, and Officer Johnson explained that I had to go to court and that my counselor wanted me to have a friend there for support. Principal Bright looked at the slips and said, "Okay, you girls, be good for the officer." You could tell she wasn't happy because she didn't know about it.

We headed out to the officer's unmarked car, and we asked, Is this your personal car? She said, "No girls, I didn't want to make too much of a fuss for you both."

We said thank you, and everyone would be asking us what the deal was with the bill arresting us.

We talked about everything and anything but the hearing. When we got to the law courts, Officer Johnson told us to sit where she told us to, and she would handle everything else. We followed Officer Johnson into the courtroom, sat down beside her, and waited for Jack's case. We sat for about 20 minutes, then we got told to stand for the judge and then told to sit. Jack was led into the dock; he saw me and looked pissed to see me there. An officer of the court read out Jack's case and said that he had been found guilty and was here for sentencing. The court will now hear submissions from defense, prosecution, and others. The defense tried to stop me from speaking, but the judge told him I had a right to speak and face her attacker. You could see the defense attorney wanted to say something about the judge calling me her but didn't push it.

Then the defense attorney made his submission and tried to portray Jack as a nice guy who just made a mistake.

Then the prosecution made their submission and basically told the judge how Jack had been expelled from 4 different private schools, got a black band from all private schools in the U.K., and could only go to public school unless his parents wanted to send him to Europe or the States, and that his parents used their influence to keep him in school, as his record clearly shows at least 10 times where Jack should have been expelled, but he didn't for some reason that wasn't recorded.

Then it was my turn.

The prosecution addressed the judge and said the victim, Alex Bea, would like to address the court, your honor. The judge said Alex Bea may address the court.

Officer Johnson told me to go to the box and to thank the judge for letting me speak. So I walked to the witness box and I thanked the judge for allowing me to speak, then I told him of how I was walking to the shop, then I was thrown into a wall and verbally abused and made to feel worthless rather than to be punched over again till you think it would never end, then you're dropped like a used sack than to be kicked, and when you think it's finally over, you look up and see him, and I point at Jack stomp on your head till you black out.

When you wake up, everything hurts. You try to look around, but you can just open one eye, and when you move your hand to your face, you almost black out again because of the pain. Then you remember what happened and how you ended up there, and fear hits you. You look around, and you realize you're alone and it's dark. Then you feel your face and try to figure out why you can't see. Then you realize it doesn't feel like your face, and it's wet and sticky. Then you realize you are bleeding and you need help. Then you see a light, and you go to get up. The pain hits you so bad that you lie down, but you know you can't stay there and honestly judge. I don't know how I got to my feet. I just remember trying not to throw up, and when everything kind of stopped moving, I started walking to the light and trying not to throw up with each step. I didn't succeed, but I made it to the light. Then I saw the corner shop all lit up, and I knew I'd be safe there. Then I was in the shopkeeper's arms, and she was telling me help was coming through her tears. I was upset that I was making her cry.

Then I spent 3 degrading weeks in a hospital where I couldn't move without pain medication and couldn't do anything without someone being with me. Do you know how humiliating it is to have someone with you when you have to go to the toilet or have a bath because they're afraid you'll punch your lung with one of your broken ribs or wake up in a cold sweat from a bad dream about endless torment in an alley?

I'm lucky I've got friends who've helped me, but they can't stop the dreams.

I was silent for a while when the judge asked if there was anything more I wished to add. I said yes, your honor. I'd like to say I'm a person, a human being, and I deserve to be treated like one, not like some nonperson.

I then thanked the judge for letting me speak.

The judge then thanked me for my submission and told me I could sit down.

I returned to my seat in between Officer Johnson and Jennifer.

The judge looked at me, then he looked at Jack, and then he said to Jack

Mr. Granger, you are a 15-year-old boy who has had every opportunity given to him, and you've thrown it all away. You've gotten in trouble again and again, but you haven't learned from your mistakes.

Your parents have tried to protect you, but you've squandered that protection.

The sad thing is that you see yourself as the victim, as you've never taken responsibility for your actions. Well, this time, no one is going to get you out of this. I'm sentencing you to 7 years with a minimum of 5 years.

The saddest part is that you will not learn anything from your incarceration; it will just protect the public from you for at least 5 years. I expect to see you again in 5 years' time.

As they lead Jack away, he looks at me and says, "I'll see you when I get out, bitch."

Officer Johnson said to me, Don't pay him any mind; there are tuff'er boys in prison than him, and they'll teach him something that he doesn't want to learn.

Jennifer asks me if I'm alright. I tell her I'm good, and to Officer Johnson, I agree with her and say Jack's pretty boy face won't work for him in jail.

Officer Johnson said, "Okay, girls, I best get you back to school." Jennifer said we should get back in time for the last break. Officer Johnson pulled up to the school 10 minutes before the bell for the last break.

Miss Bright asked how it went, and Officer Johnson said he got 7 years with a minimum of 5 years. Miss Bright said at least he's been locked up for 5 years and asked if I was feeling okay. I told her I was. I then thanked Officer Johnson for taking us and wished her a good afternoon. Then Jennifer and I headed for the lunchroom and our friends.