Disclaimer: I do not own, nor am I associated with the WWE or the WWE Superstars
Day 4...
Marc sat down after being sworn in and then answered the lawyers first question.
"My name is Mark Callaway...and I am a professional wrestler for the World Wrestling Entertainment."
"Is it true that you are one of the founders of Prospect Paradise?"
Mark nodded. "Yes. About ten years ago, my sister, Sharon Grisim, wanted to start a non-profit, so I signed on as a silent backer and ten years later, Prospect Paradise is still going strong."
"When did you first meet Ms. Rawlins?"
"Almost a year ago, at the house that my sister Sharon runs. Every year, some of the WWE Superstars come by some of the houses and spend some time with the kids. Later that day we put on a show for the local townspeople and the proceeds that come from ticket sales are donated to Prospect Paradise." Taker replied.
Mr. Brown nodded. "What happened during your first meeting with my client?"
Mark smiled. "She basically told me to get lost. Said that there were tons of kids in the backyard who needed friends and she wasn't one of them."
"But you didn't go away. How long until she let her guard down around you?"
"It was awhile. Took a lot of months...and to be honest, she still has a wall up with me, it's just not as high as everyone else's." Mark replied.
"Why do you think that is?" Mr. Brown asked.
"Why do I think she trusts me more than anyone else? I'm not sure, you'll have to ask her that. I know Sienna well enough to know that you don't presume to put words in her mouth." Mark said with a chuckle. Sienna smiled when Mark winked at her.
"Mr. Callaway, you plan on adopting my client. What will happen if the court does not allow that adoption to go through?" Mr. Brown asked.
"I love Sienna like she's my own. That girl is my daughter, regardless of what the court says." Mark said, conviction laced in his voice.
Mr. Brown nodded. "What is your work schedule like?"
"I'm on the road a lot. The WWE travels to new cities every week and performs. And sometimes they go across seas to the troops as well. And on some weekends I'll have to do autograph signings or appearances on television shows." Mark answered truthfully.
"You're a busy man. How do you propose to wrestle, do media appearances, autograph signings, fly all over the country and take care of a sixteen year old girl? Who's going to stay with her when you're gone on the road and what about school?" Mr. Weasley asked.
"She's going on the road with me. The WWE has a home school program already that includes three teachers. A lot of the wrestlers use the home school program so they can see their kids more often. The WWE also has contracts with colleges and universities throughout the country that allow the kids in that home-school program to take their classes online and allows their testing to be done by one of the teachers employed by the WWE." Marc said.
Mark shifted in the seat, taking a sip of water then continued. "And if she wants, she can accompany me to the signings and media appearances. She'll also be going to most of the shows, if not all of them."
"I've watched your shows before, Mr. Callaway. There are wrestlers fighting each other, not only on stage but backstage too. If you're out in the ring, how can you be sure that she won't be harmed?" Mr. Brown asked.
Mark grinned. "They may fight in the hallways backstage sometimes, but Sienna is family and those thirty wrestlers will stand side by side, shoulder to shoulder, fighting together to protect her."
"Thank you. No further questions."
Mr. Brown sat down and Mr. Weasley rose. "How can you be sure that no one will harm Ms. Rawlins during one of your shows?"
"Well...aside from the fact that she's got thirty other guys watching out for her, she also has a seven foot, 320 pound big red bodyguard, named Uncle Kane." Mark replied dryly.
"My clients are working through anger management and also going to AA and NA meetings to prepare themselves for the return of their child. What have you done to prepare yourself for raising a child?" Mr. Weasley asked.
Mark's eyes narrowed. "Lets get a few things straight. First, your clients are going through anger management, AA and NA because they were ordered to by the court. If they don't complete those, they go back to jail for violating their probation contract. And second, the only reason your clients are sober and drug free is because they don't allow alcohol and drugs in the prisons. If they hadn't been arrested, they would probably still be boozing it up and snorting their crack right along side their drug dealer friends."
Mark paused, then continued. "As for me...I've done what I could. Sienna is sixteen years old, almost an adult herself. I've listened to her when she needed someone to talk to. I've been there when she woke up from a bad dream. I help her with school work. I was there to wish her a happy birthday. I make sure she has food, clothing and a roof over her head. And most importantly I give her love."
"My clients can do all that. They can help her with homework, celebrate her birthdays, listen to her problems. And my clients already do show her love, Mr. Callaway. They've loved their daughter since she was a baby."
Mark nodded thoughtfully and sat back. "Yeah, I suppose that's true. There's one major difference, though."
"And what would that be?"
Mark lifted intensive eyes to the lawyer's face, then spoke.
"Unlike your clients... my love doesn't leave her battered, bruised and bleeding."
