Chapter 16: Day of Judgment
Lucky woke up to the sound of a warden saying harshly, "Get up." He opened his eyes and sat up warily.
The warden flung a suit at him. "Put it on," the warden growled. "You're going to court today."
The dinner that Lucky had managed to choke down last night jumped back into his throat. He struggled to swallow it again.
This was it. His day of judgment. I'd rather have my day of judgment from the guy upstairs than this, Lucky thought, vaguely remembering his Sunday school lessons from grade school.
The warden left, and Lucky pulled on the suit. He had to cuff the legs of the pants because they dragged, but the sleeves rode up his arms.
He sat in his cell, fully dressed and feeling like an idiot, waiting. For what, exactly, he didn't know.
His lawyer came by during visiting hours. Lucky had taken one look at her and thought, I'm so screwed. She looked like she could get lost walking upstairs. Lucky wondered if she was even a qualified lawyer. Considering that she was issued by the government, probably not.
The warden took him to the reception area where Lucky saw her through a glass screen and talked to her through a telephone.
"Hello, Roger," she greeted him. Lucky tried to smile back at her. He was afraid that if he opened his mouth, last night's dinner would come spilling out. His insides were churning.
"D-do I have a chance of getting off?" Lucky asked in a small voice. His lawyer sighed, looking sorrowful.
Instead of answering his question, she merely smiled sadly and said, "Just tell the truth," before leaving rather quickly.
Once again, Lucky thought, I am so screwed. He put his head down on the table.
Someone else came in as the lawyer left. Lucky, not in the mood for anyone's company, didn't bother to raise his head until he recognized the voice.
"Lucky?"
Lucky's head shot up. "A.J.?" he said hoarsely. "What the—how—why are you here?" he stammered.
"I had to see you," A.J. said softly. "I want to tell you something."
000000000
It had taken all of A.J.'s courage to come down here to talk to Lucky. But she had to tell him something.
"Lucky…" she said softly. "I just want to tell you…I believe you."
Lucky raised his eyebrows. He opened his mouth to say something, but A.J. went on before he could say anything.
"I believe you made a mistake. You made a mistake going out and getting stoned, but you didn't murder anyone. I can't believe that you did."
Lucky nodded slowly. "Thanks, A.J."
A.J. smiled and reached through the slot in the glass to touch Lucky's hand. He turned his hand over and squeezed hers gently.
They sat like that for the longest time, not saying anything. It was yet another rare incident where silence said what words could not. They sat in silence until the warden kicked A.J. out.
"He's going to court now," he growled.
At the door, A.J. turned to look one last time at Lucky before she was ushered out. She found herself standing outside, squinting in the bright sunlight.
She waved for a taxi and rode back to U of C. She didn't know what she would do once she got there.
It was just one of those days where things could go in any direction, and you feel lost and the only thing you really can do is let yourself drift with the current.
000000000
Darry ran up to A.J. as soon as she entered the outdoors cafeteria. "Well?" he demanded.
He had been waiting anxiously all day for A.J. to return from her unauthorized visit to Lucky.
She shrugged vaguely. "He'll be all right," she said quietly. "He's innocent."
Darry pressed her for details, but she wouldn't say anything more. He sighed in frustration. Why did A.J. have to choose now of all times to go psycho on him?
"His trial's starting in half an hour," A.J. said suddenly. "We can make it if we leave now."
Darry glanced at his watch. A.J. was right. "Well, what are we waiting for, then?" he roared. A.J. jumped in alarm at his outburst, but grabbed her bag and followed Darry.
They ran out to the nearest street corner. Darry waved his arms like a windmill. "Hey!" he bellowed frantically. "Taxi! TAXI!"
A.J. ducked his flapping arms. "Stop that!" she hissed. "You look like a freakin' tourist."
Darry stopped, embarrassed, and let A.J. hail the cab. "To the courthouse," she said, her words coming out in a rapid, urgent string. "Hurry!"
Darry threw some money at the driver when they had pulled up at the courthouse. He and A.J. raced up the steps and burst into the courthouse.
Once inside, they were relieved to see that the proceedings hadn't started. They tiptoed to seats in the back row and sat down sheepishly.
Everyone was looking at them. Darry could have sworn that he saw a shadow of an amused grin flit across Lucky's terrified face.
The judge entered. The bailiff stood, saying, "All rise." Darry stood up along with everyone else. He glanced sideways at A.J. She was staring straight ahead.
Darry swallowed hard. He was a nervous wreck, and it wasn't even his trial! But it was Lucky's. Lucky, who was his roommate, who had come to know and even grow a little fond of, despite his annoyingly Two-Bit like characteristics.
This trial will determine how all of our lives change, Darry realized with a start. Lucky's, A.J.'s…and mine.
000000000
Gotta stop it here because until I write anything about the trial I've gotta look up how a trial goes. So the next update should be up as soon as I find the time and/or energy to look it up.
Anyone want to spare me and just tell me?
