Chapter 14: The Trial
I sat was escorted into the bus and I sat down. I looked at the jail. This trial would determine if I would ever see this place again. I put my hands together, bent my head down, shut my eyes, and prayed.
We reached the court about five minutes later. I was escorted out of the bus and went through the back of the courtroom. As I entered, I looked around to see my family and friends. Danny looked nervous, as well as Pony and Soda. But then I saw Darry. Well, you know Darry. He kept a straight face. This was business for him. He had the same face he did after Mom and Dad died.
I sat down in the front of the courtroom and the trial started. The lawyer for the other kid, what's his name, Matt, came up first.
"Well. My friends and I were in the park, minding our own buisiness. Danny and I have had many disagreements in the past. Soon, he comes up to us with his cousins and friends. He started an argument with us. Pretty soon he called his dad out here with us. His friends start attacking my friends and his uncle comes up to me and starts beating me up with a metal pipe."
That was a complete lie. He knew that too. I couldn't believe this guy would go through all this to get back at Danny. I was about to have a repeat offender.
They asked Matt's friends some questions. Same thing. His lawyer asked me some stuff too.
"Where were you the night Mr. Jones claimed to be attacked?"
"I was at the house."
"Whose house."
"My brother's."
"Did you ever approach the scene of the crime?"
"Yes. I went up there before the other kids ran. I then gave my son's girlfriend a ride home."
After the lawyer finished, we had a quick recess. It continued after about thirty minutes. It was Darry's turn now. He asked Maria a couple of questions.
"Maria. Please tell me what happened the night of the crime."
Maria started slowly.
"I was in my house, studying for a test. My parents were out of town at the time. I heard something in the front of the house, but I didn't give it any attention. I had my back towards the door of my bedroom and someone grabbed me and tied something around my mouth. I was thrown into the back of a car and driven to the park. I saw Matt and his friends pull me out of the car and tie me to a pole. They said if I make any noise then they would kill me. I was afraid that they might have a gun in the car and shoot me so I didn't say a word. Matt pulled out his cell phone and called Danny. He told me to get him down to the park and I told Danny. When he got there, he had his friends with him. But he didn't do anything but try to convince Matt to let me go. Then Matt called me a…a."
Darry looked at her.
"What did he call you?"
Maria cleared her throat and said,
"He called me a…H-O-E"
Maria was always a clean girl. She continued.
"They then started fighting and one of Danny's cousins untied me.
Matt and his friends ran when Danny's father walked up there. He didn't do anything though. Matt ran into a pole and caused his face more damage."
Everyone in the courtroom looked confused. They made it look like she was lying about when he ran into a pole.
"Thank you, Maria," said Darry.
Darry went on and asked some of the other teens what happened. He even asked Matt a couple of questions. When he got to Danny it was different. When he called Danny up, Danny got up slowly. He walked up to the bench with sweat pouring down his face. You would have thought it was him who was going to jail, not me.
He took a look at me. I gave him a look that I used to give my wife. I knew she passed it on to Danny.
"Danny, when you first met your father. What kind of things did he tell you?"
Danny looked confused and nervous. He took a deep breath and answered.
"He told me stuff like how he was going get his life back together. He was trying to start over."
"Did he ever give you any advice?"
"He said 'Have Faith in Family and Friends.'"
That's my boy.
When Darry finished with everyone, the jury was about to enter the room and make their decision. Suddenly, Darry said something
"Excuse me. I have some evidence that the jury would maybe like to see."
He pulled out a shoebox. It was obvious something was in it. The guard held the shoebox and checked it briefly. He then walked in with one of the jurors. After a moment, he walked out of the room and stood at the door.
It seemed like ages before one the jurors finally came out of the room.
"Has the jurors reached a decision?"
"Yes," started one of the jurors.
I stared dead at the jurors. I felt like I was in the Matrix when the world spins. Or…you know what I mean.
"We find the defendant, Trix Curtis not guilty"