Chapter 24

Jodi: So this is it. I sat at a table with John. We were inside the visitors area of the prison. We sat near the door. We were waiting for other visitors to come in before they let the inmates in. I looked around. There were other kids here. All with parents or grandparents. They looked excited. Happy to visit a father, brother, uncle or whatever. They held cards and photos and drawings. What are we doing here?

They let the inmates in. Dad sat opposite us.

"Johnny boy. Didn't expect you here." He said.

"Just get on with it. You wanted us here." John replied.

"No. I wanted Jodi here. I didn't send a letter to you, son."

"Well I wasn't going to let her come alone."

Dad put his hand in the air and a guard walked towards us. "My son here's had enough. He'd like to wait outside while I speak to my daughter."

"Certainly." The guard replied. John shook his head. I told him I'd be fine. He left.

"So, come on then. Why did you ask me to come here?" I asked.

"I hear you've been asked to testify against me in court. Are you going to do it?"

"Of course I am. At last, you're going to get everything you deserve."

"It'll be a shame if you couldn't testify though wouldn't it?" His eyes sparkled menacingly. "I mean, without you're evidence it would just be John's word against mine. And who would believe a stupid kid over a man like me? I'd be out in no time."

"Well that's too bad because I am testifying against you and there's nothing you can do to stop me."

"Then in that case I guess I'll be locked up for a long time. When I come out of here, you and John will be all grown up. Married, with kids maybe. And well, you wouldn't want anything to happen to your little families now, would you?"

"Are you threatening me?"

"Did I stutter?"

"Nothing is going to stop me from making sure you get what you deserve. And when I do have kids, they're going to know exactly what scum their grandad is. They'll want nothing to do with you just like me and John." I stood up. "I hope you rot in prison." Dad stared at me. He didn't expect that from me. "What? Did I stutter?" I repeated to him.

John: The court date came quickly. Claire was back. Andy drove us all to the court. Jodi and I had to go into separate rooms because we're giving evidence. Claire, Andy, Brian and Allison went to sit in the public part of the court. I was up first. I had to swear on the bible that I was telling the truth. Then this man was asking me questions about what happened. I could see the guy defending dad looking at me. It looked like he wanted to ask me something but he never did. Once I was done, I was allowed to sit with the rest of the guys and watch Jodi.

Jodi: This was it. I was on oath. Dad's threat was in the back of my mind the whole time.

"So, this particular incident. Can you tell me how it happened please?" This !an was kind, he wanted to send dad down.

"John and I, we uh just came back from camping. We had been gone for two weeks so I hadn't seen mom or dad for a while. When we got in the house there was glass over the floor. And it was dark. Mom, um mom was laying on the sofa. She was unconscious. Dad came in and he uh had a bottle of whiskey in his hand. He started on John. He knocked John out and pushed me out of the way when I tried to help him. Dad tried to strangle me but John woke up and stopped him. That's when mom woke up. She hit me and threw me to the floor. John tried to help me but dad stopped him again. I closed my eyes and when I opened them I could see John laying on the floor bleeding. I tried to crawl to John but dad stopped me again. He kicked me in the stomach. I felt my own ribs break. I felt my shoulder dislocate. I felt it all. He lit a cigar and burned me with it three times. I was coughing up blood, laying on the floor with dad towering over me. I looked to the side and mom was laying there, she didn't look like she was breathing, she had been sick. Dad kicked me in the face and then I woke up in hospital."

When I started speaking I was struggling. Struggling to recall it all. But then it all came back to me and I just felt like I needed to tell them everything right now. When I stopped talking, I could feel myself tearing up. I felt like breaking down. The judge thanked me and dismissed me. As soon as I was out of the court room I didn't know what to do. Andy ran around the corner and hugged me. I broke down in his arms.

Dad was found guilty. He went to prison. He'd be locked up for years. We were free at last.