On Jim's thirteenth birthday, he learned what pure, unadulterated, hatred feels like.
The day starts out poorly enough, it being the day of his hearing for driving that damned Corvette into the quarry (he gets the feeling the date was pushed up, since he was staying in the detention center, and missing school, instead of staying at home). When he gets to the courthouse, Jim feels his stomach sink as he sees his Mom's car parked out front, and even though part of him had known that she would be there, he still feels his heart drop at the thought of her witnessing another one of his screw-ups.
He keeps his head down as he walks into the courtroom, escorted by the officers from the detention center (who, despite their initial impression that he was just another delinquent, had all been charmed by him within an hour of meeting him), careful not to look for his Mom, since he can already imagine the disappointed look on her face. Jim knows, without a doubt, that if he sees his mother's disapproval, he will not be able to tell his story to the Judge, which is crucial to him being let off easy, the civil defender from the detention center has assured him.
The judge first asks Frank for his account, before turning to Jim and asking, "Mister Kirk, would you care to give me your version of the events?"
Jim gives his story, explaining that Frank had ticked him off, so he hot-wired the car, and then describes the rest of the events, including how Frank refused to pick him up from the jail, all the while avoiding looking in his Mom's direction, staring at the wall in front of him, instead.
"Mister Kirk," the Judge prodded, "would you care to explain the events that led you to steal the car in greater detail?"
Looking down, Jim answers honestly, "I really wouldn't, your honor..."
The Judge, sensing his discomfort, says simply, "Thank you, Mister Kirk, you may sit down," before she turns to Frank and says sternly, "Mister Wallace, would you care to explain to me why you left this boy in custody when you were available to take him home?"
From that point, the hearing seems to go in Kirk's favor, and when the Judge announces a recess while she deliberates, he is feeling pretty hopeful that she'll let him off easily.
When everyone is let out, Jim is escorted out, and the guards lead him out to a corridor off of the main hallway where it is fairly quiet and there is a row of empty benches along the wall, which Jim quickly takes advantage of.
The officers who brought him to the hearing go off in search of something or other, leaving Jim to sit and wonder about his fate. After ten minutes, a middle-aged woman approaches him, a warm smile plastered upon her face. When she reaches him, she asks, "James?"
Kirk sits quietly, knowing better than to speak to a strange woman who randomly came up to him.
"You are James Kirk, right? My name is Andrea Timmel, and the Judge asked me to talk to you."
She seems genuinely kind, and there are people in the hallway, so she really can't get away with anything bad, so Jim acknowledges her. "I already said I don't want to talk about what pissed me off. And it's Jim, not James."
"Well, Jim, I'm not here to try and get any information out of you, I'm here with an offer. I am the Assistant Director for Camp Green Lake, a program for troubled youths that is based on Tarsus IV. We are always looking for new campers, and the Judge is willing to let you choose between six months in the detention center or six months at Camp Green Lake."
Jim opens his mouth to tell her to just leave him alone, but Andrea cuts in, "Now, hear me out before you reject me. We aren't going to make you do manual labor, or anything. If you choose to come with me, we'll continue with your education and you'll be part of our self- sufficient society, where we grow our own food and everyone shares the work. Most of our 'campers' even choose to stay past the end of their sentences, and we are one camp that doesn't charge for enrollment. I'm not going to force you to come, but I'd like you to think about it, okay?"
Silently, Jim nods, trying to find the catch. He is being offered a chance to get away from Riverside, to a place where people might actually recognize his talents, and he won't have to see Frank for who-knows-how-long. There has to be a hidden catch, somewhere.
With an acknowledging nod, Andrea leaves, and Kirk remains seated, lost in thoughts of finally being able to escape.
When the court is called back in session, the judge turns to Jim and states, "I'm going to give you a choice, Mr. Kirk. In light of the circumstances, I am sentencing you to six months at the juvenile detention center. But, I am willing to let you serve your time at Camp Green Lake, if you wish. I believe Ms. Timmel already spoke to you about that option?"
Nodding, he replies, "Yeah, she did."
"Well, then, the choice is yours. Pick your atonement wisely, Mr. Kirk."
After another moment's thought, Jim speaks, "I think I'd like to go to Camp Green Lake, Your Honor."
"Then it's decided. James Kirk, you are hereby sentenced to six months at Camp Green Lake. Your shuttle leaves on Tuesday. Case dismissed."
As everyone gets up to leave the room, Jim catches a glimpse of Frank, and the look of joy and smugness that resides on his face.
Well, that alone makes Jim bristle with anger, but then he hears what Frank is saying to his brother, who Jim has met enough times to recognize, and does not particularly like. "I've finally managed to rid myself of both the brats, Mike. It only took me six and a half years to do it, but now they're both out of my hair."
Even from a few feet away, Kirk can hear him, how smug and self-satisfied he sounds. The words, and the way they are said make Jim's anger grow even more. He is finally getting away, not being gotten rid of! How could a person possibly be as vile as this man? How could anyone be so contemptible and so disgusting? How had he lasted almost seven years with a man who, on a daily basis, got drunk and screamed at him?
The loathing, pure and strong, fills him up to the point where he is willing to drive the car off the cliff all over again, and go to jail for life, as long as Frank goes with it, tied up in the trunk.
When he gets outside, Jim is pulled from his anger by arms suddenly wrapping around him and holding him tight. "Oh, Jimmy! When I got home and you weren't there, I was afraid you had run off like Sam did! I was so worried about you! I didn't even know what happened until the station called to give a reminder about today. Really, Jimmy, I am so sorry he left you there for a week! In fact, I have a few words to say to that man..."
As she walks off, a determined look in her eyes, Jim feels his anger disappearing, just knowing his mother is still able to see him and react rationally - even if this is only because he landed himself in juvie. As he watches, though, Winona walks up to Frank and slaps him across the face, leaving the man with a few choice words that would make even a trucker blush.
The surge of happiness that he feels at the thought that Frank might actually be leaving for good frees him of the rest of his anger, and he heads home with his mother in contentment.
When he gets home, though, there is no cake, no presents, and not even the smallest signification of the holiday to be found. The pair eat a quiet dinner and then Jim slips off to his room, claiming he has things to do.
When he is alone, Jim sits on his bed and sings quietly to himself, "Happy birthday to me. Happy birthday to me. Happy birthday dear me.
Happy birthday to me..."