Chapter 7
"Quiet, everybody in the court"! Said the judge, banging his gavel hard. "Will the defendant please rise" he said. Jesse stood up. "Now, did you, Jesse Elliot Miller, savagely beat up a group of boys on March 13th at 3:31 and 23 seconds 1998"? He asked. Jesse timidly nodded, "y-y-yes your honor" he said shyly, he didn't look up. And are you aware that you killed 1 man and put 1 in a coma"? He asked again. Jesse slowly shook his head, "n-no your honor" he said. Jesse had no idea he killed someone, he knew he was a criminal now.
"Well Jesse, since you're too young for jail. I will give you 2 options" the judge said. Jesse looked up at him. "1. You go to Juvenile Delinquent Center, or 2. You can go to a Juvenile Correctional Facility at Camp Green Lake" he said. Jesse instantly knew which he wanted to go to, but he decided to hesitate. "Well, I-I-I've never b-been to c-camp before" he said. The judge sat back in his chair. "Well then Jesse I hereby sentence you to 18 months at Camp Green Lake. Case closed" he said, and bangs down his gavel.
Jesse sat in the back of the long school bus with his backpack clutched tightly in his arms. He looks out the window at the gigantic dirty field. He looks over to the other kid on the bus, the kid smiles at him. Jesse didn't respond, he turned back to the window as he became very tired. His began to shut as he fell away from consciousness.
"Look Jesse, look at that constellation thingy" Katie said, pointing to an oddly-shaped clump of stars. "What, that"? Jesse asked, pointing to it. Katie smiled, "yeah" she said. They both look at it in awe. They both sit against the cold, rock wall in the dark night. Katie rests her head on Jesse's shoulder. Jesse rubs her head, then kisses it. "I love you Katie" he said. Katie smiled, "I love you too Jesse" she said. And they look up at the lovely-shaped clump of stars. A heart.
"Hey kid, get off while I'm young" said the bus driver who was losing his patience. Jesse got up and walked down the narrow isle of the bus and hopped out. His backpack still grasped in his arms. He looked out on the field and saw nothing but dirt and sand. "Where's the lake"? He said and looked to the bus driver. The driver pulled the lever and the doors closed. He zoomed off in the distance and sprayed dust all over Jesse's body. He looks over to the building next to him. There was a sign that hung from the doorway that said, "Wreck Room" on it. A small, thin walked out of it. "You must be Jesse. I'm Mr. Pendanski, your counselor while you're here. Follow me" he said.
He led him to a small, rusty shack which looked like it would fall down. "Please enter. We will be serving dinner soon" he said and turned and walked towards the tents. Jesse walked inside the cluttered, dusty shack. He saw a man wearing cowboy boots and had his feet on the desk. He noticed the straw hat he had on. Well, at least it can't get any worse, Jesse thought. The man put his feet down and walked in front of Jesse. "My name is Mr. Sir" he said.