It's been "announced", we all knew it would happen, but it's official now, Joan is trying for custody of Jerome and Poppy. John is going to fight against it with the argument that Arthur is abusive, and an alcoholic. Jerome, though hopeless at first, is now fighting tooth and nail. Not that he's allowed to talk to either of them now. I know that his parents are preparing for battle. Jerome, Poppy and I have been asked to be witnesses, along with Alfie and Mick. Everyone except Mick would try as hard as they could to help John Clarke, and to get Arthur arrested.

It was the night before the trial. None of us knew what to expect tomorrow, we didn't really understand law. I tried to act like I did, but it's so confusing and I don't know what it's like with custody battles. Jerome and I sought comfort in each other, we sat in his room alone, his arm around my shoulders, my head nestled in his chest.

"Are you nervous?" I questioned

"Try terrified, but not for me."

"Oh?"

"If Arthur isn't arrested, he'll come after Poppy, and…" He trailed off

"And?" I prompted

"And you, Mara he'll hurt you to punish me!" Jerome held me tightly, and kissed my hair.

"Jerome, I think we have to believe that our court system is good enough to know that Arthur is evil and that you want to live with your dad."

"I know, thank god I have you Mara."

"You should, I'm amazing. And maybe after that we can go on an actual date!" He smiled "That would be nice."

The Trial:

Joan is her own lawyer, and John has a lawyer named Mr. Johnson, (ironic right?) the trial started out slow, the lawyers giving their ideas about what happens in Jerome's life, as if they knew. But anyway, Joan said that he was a chronic liar, that their family was close-knit and caring, that they had family dinners and game nights, and all that crap. Mr. Johnson was more honest. He said that Jerome had tried to protect his family as best as he knew how, and that Poppy was victim as well, and now that John was free, he was completely capable of raising Poppy and Jerome.

Next came the "evidence presentation" each side got to present their evidence and views on it, this was the part that Jerome was most nervous about. Mr. Johnson began,

"These are some pictures of Jerome's chest and back," He pointed to a particular scar, "this is the oldest, from about ten years ago, the same time Arthur came into Jerome's life. Also, Arthur's previous DUI record shows that he cannot handle alcohol. Yet you do not trust my word, why not hear from Jerome himself?" Jerome took a deep breath and walked slowly up to the stand. He was sworn in and sat down. He waited. Mr. Johnson looked at him kindly and began questioning,

"When did you first meet Arthur?"

"When I was five, Mum first brought him home."

"And how long do you say Arthur had been hitting you and Poppy?"

"I was six. Poppy was three."

"And what sort of abuse did Arthur inflict?"

"Am I allowed to ask a clarifying question?" The lawyer nodded, "When Mum was there or when she was gone?" Jerome looked completely innocent when asking the question, like he was totally unaware of what he had just said.

"Are you saying that your mother was aware of this?" Jerome shook his head vehemently

"No. I mean that if mum was at home, Arthur would still 'abuse' us, just in a way that was quieter."

"Such as?"

"When mum was there he would put fire ants in our bed, or put an entire bottle of hot sauce in our food an drinks. Step on our toes, stuff like that. If Mum was gone it was more direct. Belt, hits, verbal, kicking, the like…"

"Do you think that living with your father—an ex-con— would be safer than living with your mother and Arthur?"

"Yes, I just met him a few months ago, but I know that he cares more about Poppy and I than my mother."

"Ladies and Gentlemen of the Jury, I give you the best evidence in this case: a man who knows where he will be safe, and where he wants to be in his life."

Joan stood up and looked straight at me, a look that said: I will win. She walked purposefully around the room,

"I have heard your testimony son, and I would like to say that I was completely unaware of this. I would like to ask if you would like to stay with me if Arthur did not exist, because that is what this case is about people! Whether or not I am worthy of caring for my children! So Jerome?" Jerome looked pained; he took a breath and whispered,

"You didn't want to believe me, I told you, I asked you to take Poppy away, and you didn't listen. You should have known. That's your job." Jerome's mum looked shell-shocked. She recovered quickly.

I would like to call Mara Jaffrey to the stand…