Chapter Seven: Judgment Day
Wednesday and Thursday came and went. Chloe and Ashley both apologized and resumed their status as "best friends". They presented their MI project with little problem, and ended up with a B+.
Friday dawned bright and sunny, and it was almost more ominous than if the say had began dark and dismal. Craig dressed quickly in a pair of black khaki's and a white tee shirt, which he covered with his leather jacket. He contemplated wearing a tie, but finally decided against it. Once dressed, he headed out into the kitchen. After picking at his breakfast he followed Angela and Joey into the car. They began by dropping Angela off at school. She hugged her brother and he hugged her back tightly. The hug lasted longer than usual, and Craig punctuated it with a kiss to her forehead.
"I love you, Ang. You know that, right?" he asked, and she nodded vigorously.
Once Angela was safely at school they stopped by Chloe's house. She was waiting anxiously on the steps, dressed in a long sleeve black top and a fluttery, knee length black skirt. She slipped into backseat next to Craig and smiled at Joey. He grinned into the rearview mirror.
"Thanks for coming with us, Chloe. It's always nice to have moral support." He spoke, and she surreptitiously squeezed Craig's hand.
"Thanks for letting me come." She replied, watching as Craig gazed morosely out the window. She silently wished there was more she could do for him.
When they finally arrived at the courthouse, Joey dropped the two off out front before heading out to park the car. They were just climbing the stairs to wait by the door when a voice called out Craig's name. They both paused and turned, only to find Albert Manning following behind them. Albert grinned broadly.
"Hey there, Craigger!" he spoke, and a familiar shiver ran through Craig's body. He grabbed Chloe's hand and dragged her up the stairs, trying his hardest to escape the watching eyes of his father. When they finally reached the inside of the courthouse they both fell against the wall, gasping for breath. Craig slumped to the ground and leaned his head against Chloe's knee. When they finally could breathe again Joey appeared from outside, looking confused and alarmed. As he approached Craig stood.
"Hey, I told you two to wait outside by the door. What happened?" he asked.
"Chloe had to, uh, use the washroom." Craig replied quickly, and Chloe looked over in protest.
"No I didn't . . . "
"Ready?" Craig asked, forcing his voice into light tones. Joey nodded and started to lead the way. Chloe and Craig followed, Chloe's face lit with confusion and mild anger.
They finally entered the courtroom nearly an hour later. Albert sat across the aisle, looking happy and confident. Craig clutched Chloe's hand so tightly that it hurt. When the judge entered the room everyone stood. They all sat down and the proceedings began. Craig had tuned out long ago, and watched the entire scene as he would watch a TV that was on mute.
"After extensively reviewing the case files, what is your recommendation?" The judge asked the caseworker, and the woman from their earlier meeting gazed over the defendant with a confident smile.
"I feel there is no reason for Mr. Manning to not be able to see his son." The caseworker replied, smile widening as Mr. Manning winked at her flirtatiously. Craig suddenly felt the unbridled fury well up in him. Standing up he began to shout angrily.
"How about the fact that he's a sadistic bastard? Is that a good enough reason?!" Craig screamed, and Joey tried to pull him back down into the seat. He failed, and the judge gazed at Craig reproachfully.
"Sit down, Mr. Manning, or you will be removed from the courtroom!" She called out, but Craig could barely hear her. Chloe finally grabbed a hold of his shirt and tugged him down. She rubbed his leg in a futile attempt to calm him, but it was too late for that. The judge ignored his outburst and continued. "I must go with the recommendation of the caseworker in charge. Mr. Manning, Craig will begin living with you for a trial period of six weeks, after which the situation will be reevaluated. Court adjourned."
Craig felt as though the rug had just been ripped out from under him. It was like his worst nightmare realized, all his nighttime fears come to life. His head was pounding and the world seemed to spin. Finally, Craig could think of only one thing: His plan.
Wednesday and Thursday came and went. Chloe and Ashley both apologized and resumed their status as "best friends". They presented their MI project with little problem, and ended up with a B+.
Friday dawned bright and sunny, and it was almost more ominous than if the say had began dark and dismal. Craig dressed quickly in a pair of black khaki's and a white tee shirt, which he covered with his leather jacket. He contemplated wearing a tie, but finally decided against it. Once dressed, he headed out into the kitchen. After picking at his breakfast he followed Angela and Joey into the car. They began by dropping Angela off at school. She hugged her brother and he hugged her back tightly. The hug lasted longer than usual, and Craig punctuated it with a kiss to her forehead.
"I love you, Ang. You know that, right?" he asked, and she nodded vigorously.
Once Angela was safely at school they stopped by Chloe's house. She was waiting anxiously on the steps, dressed in a long sleeve black top and a fluttery, knee length black skirt. She slipped into backseat next to Craig and smiled at Joey. He grinned into the rearview mirror.
"Thanks for coming with us, Chloe. It's always nice to have moral support." He spoke, and she surreptitiously squeezed Craig's hand.
"Thanks for letting me come." She replied, watching as Craig gazed morosely out the window. She silently wished there was more she could do for him.
When they finally arrived at the courthouse, Joey dropped the two off out front before heading out to park the car. They were just climbing the stairs to wait by the door when a voice called out Craig's name. They both paused and turned, only to find Albert Manning following behind them. Albert grinned broadly.
"Hey there, Craigger!" he spoke, and a familiar shiver ran through Craig's body. He grabbed Chloe's hand and dragged her up the stairs, trying his hardest to escape the watching eyes of his father. When they finally reached the inside of the courthouse they both fell against the wall, gasping for breath. Craig slumped to the ground and leaned his head against Chloe's knee. When they finally could breathe again Joey appeared from outside, looking confused and alarmed. As he approached Craig stood.
"Hey, I told you two to wait outside by the door. What happened?" he asked.
"Chloe had to, uh, use the washroom." Craig replied quickly, and Chloe looked over in protest.
"No I didn't . . . "
"Ready?" Craig asked, forcing his voice into light tones. Joey nodded and started to lead the way. Chloe and Craig followed, Chloe's face lit with confusion and mild anger.
They finally entered the courtroom nearly an hour later. Albert sat across the aisle, looking happy and confident. Craig clutched Chloe's hand so tightly that it hurt. When the judge entered the room everyone stood. They all sat down and the proceedings began. Craig had tuned out long ago, and watched the entire scene as he would watch a TV that was on mute.
"After extensively reviewing the case files, what is your recommendation?" The judge asked the caseworker, and the woman from their earlier meeting gazed over the defendant with a confident smile.
"I feel there is no reason for Mr. Manning to not be able to see his son." The caseworker replied, smile widening as Mr. Manning winked at her flirtatiously. Craig suddenly felt the unbridled fury well up in him. Standing up he began to shout angrily.
"How about the fact that he's a sadistic bastard? Is that a good enough reason?!" Craig screamed, and Joey tried to pull him back down into the seat. He failed, and the judge gazed at Craig reproachfully.
"Sit down, Mr. Manning, or you will be removed from the courtroom!" She called out, but Craig could barely hear her. Chloe finally grabbed a hold of his shirt and tugged him down. She rubbed his leg in a futile attempt to calm him, but it was too late for that. The judge ignored his outburst and continued. "I must go with the recommendation of the caseworker in charge. Mr. Manning, Craig will begin living with you for a trial period of six weeks, after which the situation will be reevaluated. Court adjourned."
Craig felt as though the rug had just been ripped out from under him. It was like his worst nightmare realized, all his nighttime fears come to life. His head was pounding and the world seemed to spin. Finally, Craig could think of only one thing: His plan.
