After we escaped the incredible mob, my cohorts and I took out places in the courtroom. As soon as we did this, I witnessed my stepdaughter walking in without her lawyer. I watched her approach the bailiff, and question him about something. The bailiff walked out of the room for a moment. Then he came back in, and gave Mary an "OK" signal. Mary jauntingly walked towards her place in the courtroom with smile on her face. Something told me this was not going to be an ordinary trial, not that this already was anyway. Matt leaned over to me and whispered.
"Dr. Richards, I will not swear to it, but I think your stepdaughter is representing herself. We may have the upper hand here!"
"Uh Matt, I would not go jumping to conclusions here. We are not dealing with an ordinary thirteen year old."
"Look Dr. Richards, even though your daughter is one of, if not, THE smartest child in New York, I'm sure she'll be easy to handle like any child in a courtroom."
"Alright Matt, but you should heed my warning. I've been with her for at least seven years, she's no ordinary girl."
Right when I said that, the bailiff commanded for the courtroom to be silent.
"Ladies and gentlemen, all rise for the honorable Judge Stanton."
Everyone rose, and waited for the judge to take his seat. When he did this, the bailiff announced.
"You may sit down now."
The bailiff handed the judge a piece paper, and the judge nodded at him. Then, the judge said in a powerful, firm voice.
"Our first case today will be Richards vs. Richards. May the attorneys representing the plaintiff and defendant arise."
Matt immediately stood up, and Mary, bless her heart, slowly got out of her seat."
A look of puzzlement suddenly crossed the judge's face.
"Ms. Richards? You are representing yourself?"
"Why yes I am your honor. It seems my lawyer got up, and went off because of a disagreement we had over the pay."
She replied, in an extremely kind, almost cherubic tone.
"Hmmm..." The judge pondered.
"I asked the bailiff if it was ok your honor. He said there should not be any problem with me representing myself."
"I suppose there would not be any problem. Alright, Mr. Murdock, please proceed with your opening statement."
Matt let out a "Ahem.", then went on to descant.
"Ladies and gentlemen of the jury, today you will find out that what has taken place was merely an act on my client's part to be a good father. The work his child has assisted him in has been work that only she is smart enough to understand and do. It may be to another child hard labor, but to her it as easy as saying her alphabet. My point is that she has not at all been put through child labor. Also, Dr. Richards is not the kind of person to be negligent towards his friends and family. He is a very honest, caring, organized man. He shows plenty of care not just in how he is towards his closest friends and family, but also in his experiments, for he does not do any harm towards animals. I want all of you to take your time, and consider what this man has done for our country, the world, and quiet possibly the universe."
I almost felt compelled to clap for what Matt had to say about me, but the silence that followed was just as satisfying as an applause.
"Ms. Richards, you may proceed with your opening statement." The judge said.
Marilyn got up, and looked right into the jury with the brightest, yet most sincere eyes I had ever seen her look out with. She then pronounced.
"Ladies and gentlemen of the jury, today we will look into what exactly makes up a negligent parent. He may be the most organized, intelligent, and caring person in the world. But there is something deep down in his mind, that for some reason, be it insanity, or just pure evil makes him turn on that one special person in his life, his child. He may love her with all his heart, or he may not. One thing is for certain, he certainly has a place in his heart for mankind, but uncertainly has a heart for the youngest one he has to tend. This folks, is the man I call my stepfather. When placing your vote, please keep in mind that this man needs help. He is not criminal in anyway, but in more ways than one has the liability to plead insanity. There is after all a very thin line between genius and insanity."
With that said, Mary then turned, looked at me in the eyes, and a smirk came to her face. It
was almost as if she was saying to my face.
"Say your prayers, father dearest."
The judge imparted who should choose their witnesses.
"Ms. Richards you may go first in choosing and interrogating your witnesses."
"Thank you your honor. I choose Jonathan Storm to come up here to the stand first."
Johnny looked at me with look that said.
"Do I really have to go up there?"
I whispered to him.
"It will be just like the many times you have dealt with her. And, it will be over before you know it."
"Uh, ok..." He sighed.
Johnny walked cautiously to the stand, and sat down in it.
Mary paced almost struttingly back and forth in front of Johnny. Suddenly, she turned sharply, and said cattily.
"WHERE were you the night of APRIL 1ST?!"
Johnny looked at Mary almost fearfully for a few moments, but then spoke up.
"You know where I was!"
"No I, along with THEY do NOT! Now, tell us WHERE YOU WERE!"
Johnny said in almost an enraged a tone as Mary's.
"I was out on a date, OK?"
Matt spontaneously stood up, and interjected.
"Objection your honor! That young lady is badgering the witness."
The judge looked right at Matt, and said with a smile.
"Objection overruled. I actually like the young one's way of handling things. I don't think it hurts at all to have a little aggression in handling the witness. Especially one who's an obnoxious little upstart like this one here! You may proceed Ms. Richards."
In as sweet a voice as she could muster, Mary said to the judge.
"Thank you your honor. As I was getting ready to say, before I was rudely interrupted." She turned to face Matt as she said the previous sentence.
"Johnny, there is no need for you anymore since you are not a valid witness. You may leave the stand. Next up at the stand is Susan Storm Richards!"
Unlike Johnny, Susan strided up to the stand fearlessly. When she took her place, she looked at Mary as if saying.
"Ask anything of me."
Mary stared at her for a solid three minutes before talking.
"Susan, where were you the night of April 1st?"
"I was in the kitchen."
"In the kitchen doing what?"
"Well, fixing my Tofu Delights."
Mary was silent for a minute. Then, she exclaimed.
"So, you were pretty much preparing to feed me trash!"
"Well, I would not put it like that!" Sue responded.
"Ladies and gentlemen of the jury, as all of you have just heard, Susan Storm Richards has just admitted that she was attempting to poison me."
She faced the judge, and asked.
"Your honor, can we go ahead and charge Mrs. Richards here with attempted murder?"
"We most certainly can Ms. Richards. Before we proceed any further with the actual case, lets do a vote on Susan Storm Richards, is she guilty or innocent?"
Immediately after the judge had his say, a chorus of "Guilty!"s rang out from where the jury sat.
"Very well, the verdict for Susan Storm Richards is GUILTY!! Take her away officers!"
Suddenly, two police officers came and took my dear Susan away! The last words I heard her say was.
"It was not POISON, it was TOFU!"
I looked at Mary to see she had a malicious smile on her face. Ben said to me.
"Stretch, she's makin' mince meat out of us!"
Matt, who had been quiet speechless during my poor Susan's turn at the stand, said to me in a voice of frustration.
"Dr. Richards, you were right, your daughter is no ordinary girl. I wish you the very best of luck in this case, FOR I QUIT!"
And he, along with Ben stormed out of the building. This left Mary and I to fight it out. It was not going to be yielding.
"Mary, YOU HAVE GONE TOO FAR!" I shouted out.
The judge suddenly turned and said to me.
"Dr. Richards, I suggest you calm down. Or else, I will have to call in a few people from Ravencroft."
"BUT YOU WON'T LISTEN! I WAS JUST TRYING TO BE GOOD FATHER, AND TEACH HER HOW RIDICULOUS PRANKS ARE!"
"See ladies and gentlemen, a very fine example of a thin line between genius and insanity." Mary said in such a hideous voice.
Before I knew it, people from Ravencroft had arrived, and were putting my arms and legs in special chains and shackles that kept my powers from working. From there, it became an indescribable, very eerie experience. Not only was the one I had called my child laughing in such a way, it reminded me of Dr. Doom, but the judge and jury had BECOME HER. At that point, what I saw and heard became one mind-boggling blur.
"Dr. Richards, I will not swear to it, but I think your stepdaughter is representing herself. We may have the upper hand here!"
"Uh Matt, I would not go jumping to conclusions here. We are not dealing with an ordinary thirteen year old."
"Look Dr. Richards, even though your daughter is one of, if not, THE smartest child in New York, I'm sure she'll be easy to handle like any child in a courtroom."
"Alright Matt, but you should heed my warning. I've been with her for at least seven years, she's no ordinary girl."
Right when I said that, the bailiff commanded for the courtroom to be silent.
"Ladies and gentlemen, all rise for the honorable Judge Stanton."
Everyone rose, and waited for the judge to take his seat. When he did this, the bailiff announced.
"You may sit down now."
The bailiff handed the judge a piece paper, and the judge nodded at him. Then, the judge said in a powerful, firm voice.
"Our first case today will be Richards vs. Richards. May the attorneys representing the plaintiff and defendant arise."
Matt immediately stood up, and Mary, bless her heart, slowly got out of her seat."
A look of puzzlement suddenly crossed the judge's face.
"Ms. Richards? You are representing yourself?"
"Why yes I am your honor. It seems my lawyer got up, and went off because of a disagreement we had over the pay."
She replied, in an extremely kind, almost cherubic tone.
"Hmmm..." The judge pondered.
"I asked the bailiff if it was ok your honor. He said there should not be any problem with me representing myself."
"I suppose there would not be any problem. Alright, Mr. Murdock, please proceed with your opening statement."
Matt let out a "Ahem.", then went on to descant.
"Ladies and gentlemen of the jury, today you will find out that what has taken place was merely an act on my client's part to be a good father. The work his child has assisted him in has been work that only she is smart enough to understand and do. It may be to another child hard labor, but to her it as easy as saying her alphabet. My point is that she has not at all been put through child labor. Also, Dr. Richards is not the kind of person to be negligent towards his friends and family. He is a very honest, caring, organized man. He shows plenty of care not just in how he is towards his closest friends and family, but also in his experiments, for he does not do any harm towards animals. I want all of you to take your time, and consider what this man has done for our country, the world, and quiet possibly the universe."
I almost felt compelled to clap for what Matt had to say about me, but the silence that followed was just as satisfying as an applause.
"Ms. Richards, you may proceed with your opening statement." The judge said.
Marilyn got up, and looked right into the jury with the brightest, yet most sincere eyes I had ever seen her look out with. She then pronounced.
"Ladies and gentlemen of the jury, today we will look into what exactly makes up a negligent parent. He may be the most organized, intelligent, and caring person in the world. But there is something deep down in his mind, that for some reason, be it insanity, or just pure evil makes him turn on that one special person in his life, his child. He may love her with all his heart, or he may not. One thing is for certain, he certainly has a place in his heart for mankind, but uncertainly has a heart for the youngest one he has to tend. This folks, is the man I call my stepfather. When placing your vote, please keep in mind that this man needs help. He is not criminal in anyway, but in more ways than one has the liability to plead insanity. There is after all a very thin line between genius and insanity."
With that said, Mary then turned, looked at me in the eyes, and a smirk came to her face. It
was almost as if she was saying to my face.
"Say your prayers, father dearest."
The judge imparted who should choose their witnesses.
"Ms. Richards you may go first in choosing and interrogating your witnesses."
"Thank you your honor. I choose Jonathan Storm to come up here to the stand first."
Johnny looked at me with look that said.
"Do I really have to go up there?"
I whispered to him.
"It will be just like the many times you have dealt with her. And, it will be over before you know it."
"Uh, ok..." He sighed.
Johnny walked cautiously to the stand, and sat down in it.
Mary paced almost struttingly back and forth in front of Johnny. Suddenly, she turned sharply, and said cattily.
"WHERE were you the night of APRIL 1ST?!"
Johnny looked at Mary almost fearfully for a few moments, but then spoke up.
"You know where I was!"
"No I, along with THEY do NOT! Now, tell us WHERE YOU WERE!"
Johnny said in almost an enraged a tone as Mary's.
"I was out on a date, OK?"
Matt spontaneously stood up, and interjected.
"Objection your honor! That young lady is badgering the witness."
The judge looked right at Matt, and said with a smile.
"Objection overruled. I actually like the young one's way of handling things. I don't think it hurts at all to have a little aggression in handling the witness. Especially one who's an obnoxious little upstart like this one here! You may proceed Ms. Richards."
In as sweet a voice as she could muster, Mary said to the judge.
"Thank you your honor. As I was getting ready to say, before I was rudely interrupted." She turned to face Matt as she said the previous sentence.
"Johnny, there is no need for you anymore since you are not a valid witness. You may leave the stand. Next up at the stand is Susan Storm Richards!"
Unlike Johnny, Susan strided up to the stand fearlessly. When she took her place, she looked at Mary as if saying.
"Ask anything of me."
Mary stared at her for a solid three minutes before talking.
"Susan, where were you the night of April 1st?"
"I was in the kitchen."
"In the kitchen doing what?"
"Well, fixing my Tofu Delights."
Mary was silent for a minute. Then, she exclaimed.
"So, you were pretty much preparing to feed me trash!"
"Well, I would not put it like that!" Sue responded.
"Ladies and gentlemen of the jury, as all of you have just heard, Susan Storm Richards has just admitted that she was attempting to poison me."
She faced the judge, and asked.
"Your honor, can we go ahead and charge Mrs. Richards here with attempted murder?"
"We most certainly can Ms. Richards. Before we proceed any further with the actual case, lets do a vote on Susan Storm Richards, is she guilty or innocent?"
Immediately after the judge had his say, a chorus of "Guilty!"s rang out from where the jury sat.
"Very well, the verdict for Susan Storm Richards is GUILTY!! Take her away officers!"
Suddenly, two police officers came and took my dear Susan away! The last words I heard her say was.
"It was not POISON, it was TOFU!"
I looked at Mary to see she had a malicious smile on her face. Ben said to me.
"Stretch, she's makin' mince meat out of us!"
Matt, who had been quiet speechless during my poor Susan's turn at the stand, said to me in a voice of frustration.
"Dr. Richards, you were right, your daughter is no ordinary girl. I wish you the very best of luck in this case, FOR I QUIT!"
And he, along with Ben stormed out of the building. This left Mary and I to fight it out. It was not going to be yielding.
"Mary, YOU HAVE GONE TOO FAR!" I shouted out.
The judge suddenly turned and said to me.
"Dr. Richards, I suggest you calm down. Or else, I will have to call in a few people from Ravencroft."
"BUT YOU WON'T LISTEN! I WAS JUST TRYING TO BE GOOD FATHER, AND TEACH HER HOW RIDICULOUS PRANKS ARE!"
"See ladies and gentlemen, a very fine example of a thin line between genius and insanity." Mary said in such a hideous voice.
Before I knew it, people from Ravencroft had arrived, and were putting my arms and legs in special chains and shackles that kept my powers from working. From there, it became an indescribable, very eerie experience. Not only was the one I had called my child laughing in such a way, it reminded me of Dr. Doom, but the judge and jury had BECOME HER. At that point, what I saw and heard became one mind-boggling blur.