Chapter 19

It was the court date, Zona and Timmy had broken up for the school holidays and were spending their days playing with friends. Mostly Nick and Emily as their parents arranged for them to have childcare at the other's house. Not today though today they had to talk to a judge about what daddy had done. Both children were nervous, despite Edna's efforts, she had been working really hard to get them to this point with a tour of the court room, mock trials with teddies, even meeting the prosecution lawyer and the judge several times, all ready for this day. Barbara and Daniel were there too, although they weren't allowed in the court room, they could be outside ready to support as soon as they were done.

Timmy was first, dressed in a new suit, complete with tie. He stood proudly, unable to believe he now owned such nice clothes and enjoying everyone telling him that he looked smart. Daniel knelt down

"I'm proud of you son, no matter what happens, I am so proud of you. You are a very brave young man. What I want you to do today is to tell the truth, can you do that for me?" he asked. Timmy nodded, looking Daniel straight in the eye.

"Yes Sir" he promised,

"This is my father's medal, he got it for bravery in the war, I wear it sometimes now when I need to be brave and today, I want you to wear it because I know you are going to be so brave, you deserve this kiddo." Daniel pinned the medal to Timmy's chest, watching as it puffed out, "So if you get scared in there, or worried, I want you to look at the medal and know you are so brave, and to tell the truth"

"I will Sir" Timmy promised again, very proud to be trusted with something so valuable,

"And remember, Michael and Nick's daddy Simon are there in the court room, I've ordered them to protect you, if you get scared look at them" Daniel instructed,

"We love you Timmy" Barbara said straightening his tie as his name was called. He took the clerks hand stepping into the court room. Barbara grabbed Daniel's hand, holding Zona tightly with the other.

"He'll be okay Barb" Daniel promised, setting to his task of distracting Zona while Timmy testified. About an hour after he went in the doors opened, Timmy ran out running to Daniel for comfort, Daniel hugging him tightly lifting him up Barbara and Zona joining the cuddle.

"I told the truth" he sobbed into Daniel's shoulder not wanting anyone to see his tears,

"I am so proud of you, well done" Daniel praised,

"But I cried" Timmy admitted, Daniel could tell his eyes were red rimmed with drying tears on his cheeks,

"I'd cry too, real men let out their emotions, they allow themselves time to cry, they face fear but do it anyway. You are a solider Timmy, and today you fought a battle and you won." Daniel said still hugging Timmy.

"Arizona Williams" The court clerk called, Zona tensed, biting her lip, clinging onto Barbara for dear life,

"It's okay Zona, just tell the truth" Timmy encouraged. Zona nodded letting go of Barbara's hand to hold the lady's her other hand had her pink unicorn and doggie gripped in tightly being unable to decide which teddy would protect her more so she brought both. She was wearing a pink dress, with fairy wings, multi coloured stripped tights and pink flashing shoes, with 2 French braids in her hair. Barbara had tried to persuade her into white tights and no fairy wings but had lost. Zona wanted to feel confident, and this was the outfit she was going to face daddy in. Not that she had verbalised that, instead the morning had been fraught with tears and tantrums, getting ready with Zona removing the white tights twice to try put on her colourful ones, before Barbara had given up and let the young girl pick her own fashion. They had decided to treat the kids, Barbara making pancakes with bacon and butter, as an extra special treat.

Zona entered the court room, remembering it from her trip with Dr Edna. This time there were a lot more people, she shrank back getting overwhelmed by the attention.

"It's okay" the clerk said, helping her into the box. Dr Edna had let them sit here and she'd sat in another box asking questions, while Timmy had sat in the one next door shouting objection. It had been lots of fun that day, but this was less fun. Zona could see Sonia sat in one of the boxes, Zona liked Sonia, she had brought hot chocolate, and asked questions about daddy. Zona liked hot chocolate. Sonia gave her a warm smile and a thumbs up. In the other box where Timmy had been was a man Zona didn't recognise and daddy. He was looking angry and was dressed smart. Zona shrank down in her seat, scared daddy would hurt her if he saw her, like he normally did.

The promises he would never hurt her went out of her head as she saw his angry face, and remembered the pain that would normally follow after it.

"Arizona Williams," a voice called from the box next to her. Paul, the judge sat in black robes, Arizona liked Paul, he was funny. He'd also asked lots of questions about telling the truth and lying, Edna has said that was his job, Zona thought it was a funny job and nowhere near as cool as Dr Mabel's job. Dr Mabel did magic, nothing was better than that.

"Yes Sir" Zona answered, the captain has said she should refer to people as Sir or Ma'am to show respect in court.

"Do you promise to tell the truth, the whole truth and nothing but the truth so help you God?" he asked,

"Yes Sir"

"Prosecution your witness" Paul said, Sonia stood

"Hello, Arizona, how are you?" she asked giving Zona a warm smile.

"Scared Ma'am," Zona answered staring at her lap playing with her unicorn's paw.

"It's a big court room, lots of people"

"Yes Ma'am" Zona agreed, looking up from the desk, about 50 people sat around and daddy was glaring at her with angry eyes behind him was Simon who gave her a smile and a thumbs up. He was wearing his uniform and looked scary, almost as scary as daddy.

"We are going to talk about the time you spent with daddy, okay?"

"Yes Ma'am" Zona replied,

"Can you tell me about a normal day with daddy, who wakes you up?"

"Timmy, he checks it's safe to come out of the wardrobe"

"Does daddy ever wake you up?"

"Sometimes if he is mad" Zona shivered, hugging her unicorn and doggie tightly.

"What does daddy do if he gets mad?"

"He hurts me" Zona replied sinking into the seat,

"How does he hurt you, Arizona?"

"Hits, and kicks, if he is really mad, he uses the belt or the bat," Zona told them, rubbing her arm where the scars of the belt rested,

"And who makes you breakfast, when you were with daddy?"

"Timmy, sometimes, if we had food"

"Did daddy ever give you food?"

"Sometimes, when he brought his happy juice he'd get food, but I don't deserve food so Timmy would sneak me bits"

"Why don't you deserve food Arizona?" Sonia pressed

"Because I'm a stupid freak who killed mammy and I'm lucky to be alive cus I'm a murderous bitch" Zona recited from memory. The people in the room gasped.

"Did you meet your mammy?"

"No, she died when I was born, daddy says I killed her cus I'm a selfish, stupid freak,"

"What happens if you do something daddy didn't like?"

"He hit me, or kicked, or locked me outside in the dark"

Sonia continued leading Zona through the questions, Zona crying holding her unicorn and doggie tightly but managed to get through them, then came the defence.

"Hello Arizona, my name is Peter"

"Hello Sir". Zona replied respectfully not looking at him, he was too close to daddy and she didn't want to see him.

"That's a lot you just said, do you like your daddy?" he asked

"No sir, daddy is mean, Nurse B say's its mean to hurt people and you hafta say sorry, daddy didn't say sorry and he hurt me lots"

"Do you know what a lie is Arizona"

"Yes Sir, it's when someone doesn't tell the truth"

"Have you ever lied?" he asked walking towards the dock leaning over her. Interviewing children was hard in a court case, truthfully, he wished his client had taken the plea deal, the evidence was overwhelming, but he'd wanted his day in court.

"Yes Sir"

"Are you lying now?"

"No Sir"

"And how do we know?" he asked, "After all you've admitted to lying in the past"

"I'm not cus I don't have my fingers crossed" Zona said showing her hands. Everyone knew you could only tell lies with your fingers crossed otherwise it was naughty. Laughter sounded briefly around the court, before a sharp glare from the judge silenced it.

"Were you ever naughty before daddy hit you?"

"Objection"

"Parents hit their children when they misbehave" Peter defended,

"I'll allow it, you can answer the question."

"Uh huh," Zona agreed,

"I have no further questions,"

"Follow up" Sonia requested, the judge waved his okay, "what things did you do that was naughty?"

Zona blushed but answered the question, she listed the things off ticking them on her fingers, "I was born, I look stupid, I was talking, I cried, I breathed to loud, I ate too much, I showed my face, I looked wrong, I can't member the rest" Zona apologised,

"That's okay, nothing further your honour" Sonia said,

"You may step down" Paul told Zona,

"I can't it's too high" Zona said swinging her legs, apologetically the court clerk came over and helped her down, she skipped out running into Barbara's arms, before realising she wasn't alone,

"Doctor Mabel" she let go of Barbara to hug Mabel, "why you here? Did you bring magic?" Zona asked,

"Not today Zona I'm afraid" Mabel said releasing Zona from her hug, Zona immediately returned to Barbara's side taking her hand leaning into her side.

"Why are you here Dr Mabel, are you here to talk about daddy?" Timmy questioned,

"I am," Mabel confirmed,

"Why?" Timmy asked, confused, had daddy hurt Dr Mabel too?

"Well, when you and Zona came to the hospital I saw your injuries, now I have to tell them what I saw and whether they are consistent with what you say happen or whether they are consistent with other reasons" Mabel explained,

"It's scary in there but Captains friends are there if you get scared look at them, they'll protect you from daddy" Timmy told her seriously, as the clerk called her name, "Don't worry Timmy, this isn't my first court case, I'll be okay" Mabel promised as she entered the court room the doors closing behind her.

"Well done guys, we are so proud of you" Barbara congratulated. "Now I need to stay here for a bit but the captain is going to take you for lunch and ice cream, I'll meet you there in a bit and we can go play in the park" she offered. Both children nodded excitedly, each taking one of Daniel's hands leaving the court room. Blinking as they stepped from the dark dingy court room into the bright sunlight.

So brave, i hope you liked their day in court