Ok, this is the last trial chapter. I hope you like it!! Please Review!!
(Nope, they still belong to Disney…except for every character not mentioned in the movie, they are mine…smile At least I get something, right?)
"This is the one, right here," said the bailiff tapping the shiny copper doorknob. "Enter when you are ready. I'll be right outside the door."
I nodded in affirmation and moved to turn the knob, but held in my light grasp for a few moments before gathering the courage to tighten my clutch and open the dark wooden door, but closed it immediately and leaned my body against it. I felt the bailiff's eyes on me; I returned his stare and laughed nervously as I bit one of my nails. He just rolled his eyes and tapped his wrist, implying for me to hurry up. After a deep breath I straightened up and turned the doorknob again, this time making it all the way into the undersized room. It was windowless and furnished with a heavy wood table and four matching chairs, one of which held the body of a scruffy-looking man.
He was slouched, looking at his hands which were perched atop of the table. His light blonde hair was unkempt and from the looks of him he hadn't shaved in weeks. So dis is what has become of my poifectionist oldah brodder… I cleared my throat and he jumped up from his seated position and faced me. He was silent, but I could tell so much was a whirlwind of thought.
He looked at me with an expression mixed with sadness and awe. "You're all grown up. You look so much like Mother."
I smiled softly. "Thank you, I guess that's a compliment."
"It is." He affirmed softly.
I could tell he was seriously considering embracing me, but instead he choked back his desire and gestured to the seat across from him at the table. I accepted it with a nod and shuffled over to the big wooden chair. After an awkward silence Arnie finally spoke up.
"Marty, have you lost your mind?" My eyes widened.
"Excuse me?"
"You know exactly what I am talking about." He countered. "You get the chance to become a Wellington and you are fighting it? What's the matter with you?"
I just stared at him, certain my mouth was widely agape. It took a few minutes for me to come up with a response to that.
"Umm…no," I said. He looked at if he wanted more out of me, so I took a deep breath and sighed. "I'm not crazy; I assure you I am perfectly sane." This apparently still didn't suffice so I sighed again. "Will you just tell them they can't adopt me?"
"I can't do that Marty, I'm sorry."
"Actually, you can. See, you have the power here, what you say is probably what will happen."
He glanced down at his hands beneath the table and shook his head.
"Why not?" I said, a little louder than I intended. "Don't you care about my happiness at all? Whether or not we got along as children should not come into play here, Arnie…"
"I am thinking about your happiness. I want you to have what I could never give you. Heck, even what Papa and Mother never could," He said composedly, despite my strident arguments from the other side of the table. "I never forgot the promise I made Papa, and I never will. I won't do it because I care, honest…"
My eyes were downcast, brimming with tears. He sounded so sincere. I looked up and met his hazel eyes with my identical ones. The only difference was that his looked older and more tired from the years of worrying and agonizing over keeping a long ago promise. I took a shaky mouthful of air and decided to tell him everything, and I did. He listened intently, taking every word into consideration. I told him about the newsies and Spot and the true intentions of my foster family.
"…and I am just not happy with them," I choked out between sobs. I took a few moments to calm myself down before I continued. "Arnie, I know you made a promise to Papa. But he wouldn't have wanted me to be unhappy, think about the lifestyle they led. Money was never a big deal to them, as long as we had family and love… that was all they needed. I have people who love me, Arnie…"
"You sure haven't changed, have you?" He said with a smile, such a rare occurrence. I wrinkled my forehead in confusion. Where was he getting' at? Is he gonna insult me now? "You're not the only one who remembers every detail of that night. If you recall, Papa and Mother made you promise something too." He reached out and patted my hand. "They asked you not to change, to always be true to yourself no matter what. You kept that promise, Marty, so I will keep mine…the way Papa intended me too."
I tried to hold back the fresh round of tears as I rested my other hand on top of his. "Thank you, Big Brother."
I looked over at my brother in whole new light. It was true that we didn't get along as young children-only a small fraction due to sibling rivalry and the rest to the vast differences in our personality. But for the first time in my life I was truly grateful for those differences…Arnie, unlike me, never had a problem with admitting he was wrong.
------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Arnie and I walked arm and arm to the courtroom, followed closely by the Bailiff and two other police officers. Arnie was, understandably, not trusted by any means. But I think it will be different now, you could see it on his face. A huge weight had been lifted off of his weary shoulders and he would wait out the rest of his time, then living the rest of his life, to make our parents proud.
The courtroom was quiet as soon as we walked in, except for the faint sound of snoring coming from, you guessed it, the back of the room. The snorers were awakened by the judge banging his gavel, capturing the attention of the audience.
"Arnold Campbell to the stand please," the judge ordered.
I returned to my spot next to Drew, giving him a thumbs up underneath the table.
"I take it you have come to a decision, Mr. Campbell?"
"Yes sir," Arnie replied meekly, but audible. The judge encouraged him to continue. "I will not give up my rights as guardian of my sister." Arnie declared, however, everything after 'rights' was drowned out by the pounding of the gavel because of loud hooting coming from the newsies. After the judge scolded them he turned back to my brother.
"Very well, Mr. Campbell, thank you." He nodded to the two police officers, who led Arnie out of the room. He looked back at me once and we exchanged smiles before he disappeared from my sight.
"The adoption of Miss Martha Campbell cannot continue do to the law. But now we have another issue on our hands." The judge cleared his throat and continued looking straight at me. "Miss Campbell, though you are still under the guardianship of your brother, you lack a guardian until he is released from prison. So we have no choice but to place you into foster care until either your brother is released or you marry."
I could feel my face fall and I sent a panicky glance at Drew. He nodded his head in a reassuring way and stood up.
"Your Honor, may I say something?" The judge nodded his head. "My client is sixteen years of age. Many young women of her age are already married and even mothers. When she was living with the newsboys she did not lack protection, I assure you. Call any of these boys up to the stand and they will tell you…" with that a few of the boys stood up, but were quickly ordered and scolded by the judge to remain seated until called upon. I turned and smiled at them, thanking them for their willingness.
"That will not be necessary, but I do agree that she is of marrying age. If she were to be married, or even engaged to be married that would be an entirely different story. But the fact is she is not…"
"I object Yer Honor!" Yelled a familiar voice from the back of the room, it couldn't be…
"On what grounds?" demanded the judge, entirely fed up with the newsies causing chaos in his courtroom.
"On the grounds of Brooklyn, Yer Honor." Spot Conlon… I thought angrily. What on earth did he think he was doing? This was not going to help any; he was just being cocky and obnoxious. Could he not see how important this is to me?
"What is the meaning of this young man, and it better be good before I have you thrown out of this courtroom!" I could almost see the veins popping out the judge's head, Yeah Spot, dis bettah be good!
"I guarantee, sir, dis will be well worth ya time." He commanded the attention of the room, which was now buzzing with excitement and curiosity. This was certainly the most exciting thing to happen all day. I just put my head in my hands to hide my furious blushing; reminding myself to kill that boy once this was all over and done with.
Spot walked over to where I was cowering and removed my hands from my face.
"I love ya, Marty, and youse knows dat I mean it," He said, the most earnest I have ever heard him in his life. "Will ya marry me?"
My head shot up to look at him; he was right next to my chair, down on one knee, not even acknowledging that everybody in the courtroom was staring at us in amazement. I looked into his eyes, full of hope, but not a trace of embarrassment. I was absolutely speechless. So many things were running through my mind- Does he really mean dis? Is dis just ta keep me outta foster care? Is dis only a dream? I pushed everything out of my head; Spot Conlon would never put himself through this ridicule if he was not 100 certain this was what he wanted.
"Y-y-yes," I whispered, perceptible to only those nearest to us, but somehow my answer must have been obvious because I heard my cheering section shouting for joy. I knew how red my face was, brighter than it probably ever has been in my life, but I didn't care. Spot drew my into his arms, how good it felt to be there again, nothing could hurt me now. We were interrupted by a loud objection from the opposing council.
"Your Honor, this boy could not support her, he is only a newsboy!"
The jury murmured and the newsies insulted the Wellington's lawyer using a variety of swear words. The judge pounded the gavel again, I am starting to think that is something he actually enjoys doing. A member of the jury whispered something into the judge's ear; get a nodding agreement in response.
"We have come to a conclusion. Miss Campbell and council please rise." I moved from my embrace with Spot to stand next to Drew. I couldn't read what he was thinking, but he seemed to be very content. He's very good at his lawyer look, maybe dat's why he always beat us in poker…
"Miss Campbell, it is apparent to the court that you are now engaged. Whether or not this young man can support you is of no concern to this court, it is your business and yours alone. We live in a democracy and one's spouse cannot be chosen by the court of law." The judge looked at Drew. "Mr. Albright, your client has been staying with you and your wife, correct?"
"That is correct, Your Honor."
"Would you permit Miss Campbell to stay with you until she is married?"
Drew smiled and nodded. "That would be perfectly all right."
"Well then, this case is adjourned." He hit the gavel one last time before exiting the courtroom.
I looked over at my former foster parents, angry and curtly leaving the courtroom.
"Good Day to you Mrs. Wellington!" I shouted, mocking her phony accent. She glared at me a marched herself out, in a very ladylike manner, of course.
The Newsies all jumped out of their seats and rushed toward the front of the room, engulfing me in a huge mob of ecstatic teenage boys. Drew was laughing the background, observing it all from a safe distance, at least until Jack dragged him in to celebrate with us. Jack picked me up and swung me around.
"See kiddo, didn't I tell ya? Did I NOT tell ya?" He laughed and mussed my hair. "Now, I have someone I wantcha ta meet," he said, gently pulling a tall girl with long dark hair to his side. "Marty, dis is Sarah. Sarah, I would like ya ta meet my best friend and sista, Miss. Martha Campbell," Jack put an arm around both of our shoulders. I stuck out my hand.
"Sarah, you have no idea how long I have been waiting to meet you!" I greeted over the noise. We both laughed, knowing Jack probably never stopped talking about either of us.
"Now ain't dis a special moment," Jack teased. I laughed and punched him in the side of the stomach.
After twenty minutes of noise and commotion we were finally kicked out of the courtroom. I looked around for Spot, and found him leaning against the steps of the courthouse. Jack winked at me and led the other boys away from us, which caused me to blush even harder, Tanks Jack.
"Did you really mean what you said, Spot? About wanting to marry me?"
Spot wrapped his arms around my waist. "Ev'ry word, Marty, ev'ry word."
He leaned into kiss me, but we were interrupted by Jack clearing his throat. Sarah ran up to stand at his side and slapped his shoulder, scolding him for interrupting our "intimate moment." Jack just laughed and pulled her close.
"I actually came ta make a suggestion," he said. "Maybe, we could have a double weddin', our weddin' is only a week away…"
I looked over at Sarah, whose face held a look of alarm. I understood, this was her special day, the one she spent all the time planning and would remember for the rest of her life. I wasn't about to steal my new friend's thunder. I looked up at Spot.
"That's nice of ya, Jacky-Boy, but see it would neva work out," Spot said, clearly catching on as well. He was incredibly perceptive for a guy. Sarah's face relaxed, but Jacks took on a look of confusion.
"Why not?"
I smiled at him. "Well, Jack, if you were to be a groom, how would you give me away?"