Tarnished Armor
Part 141

Judge Carson’s office.

Judge Carson is standing by her window.

There’s a knock on the door.

Judge Carson: Come in.

The door opens and Junior enters.

Judge Carson: You must be Junior.

Junior: Yeah.

Judge Carson walks over to Junior. She extends her hand to him.

Judge Carson: I'm Judge Carson.

Junior shakes her hand.

Judge Carson: Have a seat.

Junior looks around the room.

Judge Carson: It’s an imposing room, isn’t it?

Junior: Imposing?

Judge Carson: Intimidating? A little scary, maybe?

Junior: It’s not too bad.

Judge Carson: Why don’t you sit in my chair, behind the desk? It’s a very good place to be.

Junior: You sure?

Judge Carson: Yes.

Junior: Thanks.

Junior goes behind the desk and sits in Judge Carson’s chair.

Judge Carson takes the visitor’s chair.

Judge Carson: Do you know why you’re here?

Junior: I did something wrong and I got caught.

Judge Carson: Well...that’s partly why you’re here. I heard your name a lot during this trial and I was very curious about you.

Junior: Really? Nobody talked about the trial with me. Except my mom. Sometimes.

Judge Carson: What did your mother say?

Junior: She said that I should trust you to make the right decision.

Judge Carson: But you didn’t.

Junior: I didn’t?

Judge Carson: No, you didn’t, Junior.

Judge Carson looks closely at Junior.

Judge Carson: Do you like being called Junior?

Junior: It’s okay.

Judge Carson: Is there something you like better?

Junior: Some people call me AJ.

Judge Carson: Do you like that?

Junior: I picked it out when I was younger.

Judge Carson: But what would you like to be called?

Junior: For real?

Judge Carson: For real.

Junior: Adam. It’s my name and no one ever calls me it.

Judge Carson: I’d say that it’s about time they did, Adam.

Junior smiles.

Judge Carson: And you may call me Maggie. That’s my name.

Junior: You don’t mind?

Judge Carson: If I may call you Adam, then you may most certainly call me Maggie.

Junior: Good. Maggie.

Judge Carson smiles.

Judge Carson: Adam, did you know that I had told Jake and Liza that Liza was to have only two visits in the past two weeks. And that those visits were to be for three hours each --

Junior: Three hours! For crying out loud!

Junior grows quiet.

Junior: Sorry.

Judge Carson: What’s wrong?

Junior: I’m not sure I should say anything.

Judge Carson: No one will ever hear about what our conversation was like unless you want them to. That’s why I’m holding it in my office.

Junior: Okay. Maggie.

Judge Carson: What’s wrong with three hours?

Junior: Jake only had two hours for Liza that first time.

Judge Carson: Maybe they discussed that ahead of time, Adam. Did you know I had made the ruling?

Junior: Yes.

Judge Carson: Then why did you bring Colby to see Liza alone?

Junior: It’s a long story.

Judge Carson: I have a lot of time.

Junior: Okay. I guess it all started with Jake telling Mom that he wished Dad would disappear. I mean, I don’t care if he really feels that way, but he shouldn’t say it.

Judge Carson: Did he know that you were there when he said it?

Junior: No. But I heard it.

Judge Carson: Go on.

Junior: And then there was the waffle thing. I mean, Colby’s crying, and she needs the waffle, and I bring her the waffle and Jake says, “No.” He doesn’t even want to know why Colby needs the waffle, until Mom tells him it’s okay.

Judge Carson: The waffle?

Junior: For Colby’s tooth. She was getting a new tooth. And Liza showed me how to use a waffle to make it stop hurting. It has to be a cold one. The warm ones make it worse.

Judge Carson: I see. So Colby’s tooth hurt and you brought her a waffle and Jake didn’t want to use it.

Junior: Jake didn’t even want to listen to hear what was wrong. Mom says he just needs a little time to learn about that. Listening, I mean.

Judge Carson: What else?

Junior: Liza comes over to visit and she looks upset. Like when you go to sit down and someone pulls your chair away. Do you know what I’m talking about?

Judge Carson: Yes.

Junior: And then every time you go to sit after that for a week, you have this look on your face because you’re scared that it’s going to happen again. That’s what Liza looked like. But then she saw Colby and everything was fine. Do you know what it means when someone says your face lights up?

Judge Carson: Yes.

Junior: You’re easy to talk to, Maggie.

Judge Carson: Thank you.

Junior: When Colby and Liza see each other, their faces light up. It’s great. I don’t know what they’re talking about half the time, but they sure do. And Liza is good at explaining what it all means when you ask her. Plus, Colby is good at letting you know what makes her happy. And trying to make you happy, too. Have you met Colby?

Judge Carson: No.

Junior: Oh.

Judge Carson: What are you thinking?

Junior: I’m thinking you should meet her. I mean, this is all about her anyway, isn’t it?

Judge Carson: Well, why don’t you tell me what she’s like, and then it will be like I’m meeting her through your eyes.

Junior: You sure? Because everybody sees everybody else in a different way.

Judge Carson: That’s true. But I want to hear what you have to say.

Junior: Well, Colby’s great for a girl. No offense.

Judge Carson: None taken.

Junior: She’s great at playing and she laughs a lot. And not in a fake way. She knows what’s funny. In a nice way. When you’re both joking around, not when one person is making fun of the other. Does this sound weird? I know she’s just a little baby.

Judge Carson: It’s not strange at all.

Junior: You want to know the best part about Colby? She gets happy before you do something to make her happy. It’s like she knows what you’re going to do, and she’s getting happy about it before it happens. Most really little kids will cry until after you give them what they want. Colby usually stops when she knows it’s coming. And I think that’s pretty cool. Plus, she’s willing to go along with all your guesses for a while. If she wants her bottle, you can play with her foot. If she wants her Mom, she’ll play with me. And she’ll be happy about it, too.

Judge Carson: Thank you, Adam. I think I know more about Colby now than I have during the whole last month of testimony.

Junior: Really?

Judge Carson: Yes.

Junior: Cool.

Judge Carson: So you were saying? About the visit?

Junior: Yeah. Well, Liza got there late, and she and Colby were having a great time. And Jake said he had to leave. Which meant that Liza had to leave.

Judge Carson: Those were the terms of the visits.

Junior: Yeah, but get this: Colby was crying because her mom was leaving, so Liza gets Colby all calm and stops her from crying, and gets me over to the crib so that Colby will have someone who’s her mom’s friend by her so that maybe Colby won’t be so sad about her mom leaving. And Liza leaves. And it was working. And then Jake comes over and picks Colby up. And Colby can see that Liza’s gone. And she starts crying again. It wasn’t right.

Judge Carson: Jake picking Colby up?

Junior: You’re not seeing the big picture. Why did Liza have to leave?

Judge Carson: Because Jake was...

Judge Carson stops and thinks for a moment.

Judge Carson: I see.

Junior: Did you ever have a friend who has to have the last word every time you talk?

Judge Carson: You don’t have to explain anymore of this to me. I understand exactly what you’re saying. Go on with your story.

Junior: Colby wanted to see Liza. Liza wanted to see Colby. And all they got was ten minutes. So I thought I’d make them both happy.

Judge Carson: Even though it was against the law?

Junior: I didn’t think it was a big deal back then. My mom explained it later.

Judge Carson: What did she say?

Junior: She said it was wrong and illegal to boot. And she made me promise I’d never do it again.

Judge Carson: So she was angry.

Junior: No. She said she understood why I did it, and she even liked that I wanted to do it, but I’d better never do it again.

Judge Carson: What did you say?

Junior: I promised I’d never do it again.

Judge Carson: When Liza asked you to bring Colby to her --

Junior: What?

Judge Carson: When she asked you --

Junior: She didn’t ask me. I had to fake her out to get her there.

Judge Carson: That’s not what Jake said.

Junior: That’s ‘cause Jake doesn’t listen. Sometimes. I’m making things bad for him, huh? I don’t want to do that.

Judge Carson: What do you want?

Junior: I want Colby to be happy.

Judge Carson: So do I. Are you happy?

Junior: Me?

Judge Carson: Yes.

Junior: Yeah.

Judge Carson: Not just right now. I mean most of the time.

Junior: Yeah. Why?

Judge Carson: Why do I want to know?

Junior: Yeah.

Judge Carson: I’m just curious. For personal reasons. Nothing to do with this case.

Junior: Can I ask you a personal question?

Judge Carson: You can try.

Junior: Do you like being a judge?

Judge Carson: Yes.

Junior: Aren’t you ever scared of making a mistake?

Judge Carson: Sometimes. But the law is pretty good. It usually lets someone else fix your mistakes. So Liza didn’t know you were bringing Colby to her?

Junior: No. And when we got there, they were both happy. They played and talked alone for a little while, and then everyone went home.

Judge Carson: Belinda Keefer was there?

Junior: I’m not narcing on anyone who was there. I set the whole thing up.

Judge Carson: Jake already told me that Belinda Keefer was there.

Junior is quiet for a moment.

Junior: Belinda’s nice. She and Liza are best friends.

Judge Carson: How do you know?

Junior: Belinda told me. When we were waiting for Colby and Liza to finish playing. She said that Liza was the kind of friend that you find maybe once or twice your whole life. And she said that the funny thing was that she didn’t think Liza knew how great she was. Even as a mom. She said that the best moms just want what’s best for their kid, and they’ll do anything, even if it’s hard for them, to make sure their kid was loved the best way possible. Belinda is pretty cool.

Judge Carson: Yes, she is.

Judge Carson rises.

Judge Carson: Adam, it was a pleasure to meet you.

Junior: I liked meeting you too, Maggie. Am I in trouble?

Judge Carson: No. But if I ever see you in my court again because you’ve done something wrong, I will be very disappointed. And I’ll have to get you in trouble.

Junior gets up.

Junior: Okay.

Judge Carson: Just okay? Or I won’t see you in my court because you’ve done something wrong?

Junior: You won’t see me because I’ve done something wrong.

Judge Carson: Good.

Judge Carson extends her hand to Junior. Junior shakes Judge Carson’s hand.

Judge Carson: I should only be a few minutes more. Could you tell the people in the courtroom?

Junior: Sure.

Judge Carson: Thank you.

Junior: Bye, Maggie.

Judge Carson: Good-bye, Adam.

Junior goes to the door.

Junior: Door open or closed?

Judge Carson: Closed.

Junior leaves the room and shuts the door behind him.

Tarnished Armor Index
Part One Hundred and Forty
Part One Hundred and Forty Two