Chapter 9
"Granted Ms. Banks, but it will be for the record only" the judge announced.
"I don't care, I have to say something. I've been following the hearing and really felt that these two young people were trying to pull a fast one on us" she said. She nodded to her brother and sister. "I'm kind of the black sheep of the family, but it doesn't mean I don't care."
"Jayne?" said Maddie as she started to sniffle. "Don't say that...I know we must have loved you just as much..."
"This is not the place or time for that discussion" the Judge said to Maddie. "Ms. Banks, please finish what you are going to say."
"Anyway, I started to think about it. Just why would anyone want to pretend to be our parents? It wouldn't be money because they don't have a lot. Anybody else must have known that we kids wouldn't have believed them no matter what the story was. No, something else must have happened. So I read the copies of the notes again. In all this ordeal you've been worried about who they are and where mom and dad went; basically trying to prove them wrong. Did anyone think to check the water and prove them right?"
Robert and Gladys looked at each other. The idea hadn't occurred to them.
"Well, I did. I remember when growing up dad always put things in a certain high cabinet shelf to keep it out of reach for us kids. So I checked there and found a Mason jar of water and tried a little experiment of my own. I found a sprout and poured a little of that water on it. It shrunk back into a seed."
"Mom, dad, I know now that you always loved me. I was the one that made things hard, always trying to prove you didn't, and it took me twenty years to figure out you did. I can't undo what I've said and done even if you don't remember, because I always will. But I can do this for you..." she trailed off as she pulled a Mason jar out of her coat.
The judge reacted almost immediately. "Bailiffs, clear the gallery immediately!" They quickly escorted the startled and complaining audience out before closing the door.
"I was thinking about doing a little experiment with this plant right here" Jayne said. She set the plant down carefully on the floor in front of her. "But then everyone would think the plant was some type of trick. No, you need a better demonstration."
Artie and Maddie jumped to their feet while Robert and Gladys sat confused.
"Don't do it Jayne, you could go back too far in time into nothing" said Artie.
"No Jayne..." cried Maddie.
"Ms. Banks..." said the judge.
"No!" said Jayne as she turned to the judge. "Here is your 'demonstrative proof' that you need your honor. Mom, dad, name your next kid after me!" She spun the lid off the jar and drank its contents quickly. All watched as, after a few seconds, a shimmer covered Jayne and she shrank. Not into nothingness, but in an instant she was a child of no more than three, swallowed up in the clothes that her adult self had just been wearing.
"Mama, mama" the child cried as it spun and looked around until she finally caught sight of Maddie. With one more "Mama!" she ran into her mother's arms and was comforted as the entire room was stunned.
After a full minute the judge cleared his throat and spoke. "Umm...well...yes...there will be a 15...no, 30 minute recess. Counselors, please join me in chambers. Bailiffs, make sure nobody comes in or leaves." He stood up and left the bench. The bailiffs were still so stunned they forgot to order everyone to rise, although even if they had it probably would have fallen on deaf ears.
Thirty minutes went by. Then another fifteen. Finally after almost an hour the judge returned to the bench. "Today's hearing has been...unusual...to say the least. There can be no doubt of the possibility that some type of phenomenon can restore youth after the event just witnessed."
"I spoke earlier of reasonableness, and I speak of it again now. Considering the child in our presence, it would be unreasonable of the court to take her away from her parents whose age is now explained, even if not understood. The explanation of fraud is now the choice that is cast as unreasonable. Arthur and Madison, please rise."
Artie and Maddie stood up.
"This court hereby substantiates your identities, and grants you all title and interest in all properties you had before your...er...renewal. You are also hereby charged with the custody of Jayne Elizabeth Banks, your daughter. Please listen carefully to what I tell you now: A life once lived cannot be repeated, for time has continued to flow even when you swam against the current for a short time. Whether you wish to have a relationship with your two grown children is up to you, but you should consider this an opportunity for a new start. In that spirit I am offering you access to a program to establish new identities for yourselves; I strongly recommend you take advantage of it or you shall encounter more problems with your new lease on life as others will seek what you found. I think it goes without saying" he said as his gaze swept the courtroom "that no one should speak of the events in this courtroom again to the media. Even the records of the proceedings today are going to be sealed immediately. This case is dismissed." He banged his gavel and rubbed his eyes.
The End
A/N: I had not watched this short movie before, but when a request came in to write a story for it I decided to watch it. Afterward, the idea occurred that although they were young again there would be a lot of complications with everything else. And that WAS something I could write about. There are probably some interesting times ahead for them, but someone else can write about those if the mood strikes. I do wish the Banks family well.
