About three months ago, I was climbing the courthouse steps with Amelia, going to sign the papers for my guardian transfer; now I'm climbing them to fight for her as my mom.
Inside the courthouse were many sophisticated, official looking people rushing around in business suits with brief cases in their hands. A few officers were standing buy, talking to pedestrians, some other officers were pulling away some men in orange jump suits, who had cuffs wrapped around their wrists. I hear handcuffs are very uncomfortable.
Anyway, Ash and I walked into courtroom 654. It smelled like pen ink and hot paper fresh from the printer. A few people I recognized, such as friends of my parents, filled the benches. My cousins, aunts and uncles also filled the benches, some on my mom's side looked at me with despise. Who could blame them though? My parents sat at the prosecutor table with Shagra. She didn't seem too pleased to be taking this case.
Ash and I sat on the bench just behind the defense table, if you haven't guessed already, we're the defensed. I really hate law, like I hate liars. Lawyers often lie to manipulate the victims into making false statements. Amelia walked in with another woman who was slightly over weight, most likely her lawyer. They took a seat at the table in front of us.
Nine on the dot, a security guard came to front of the room.
"All rise!" he announced, just as a door next to the stand opened and a woman in a black robe came out. Everybody stood up for her. She was a strawberry blonde, looking to be in her late forties. Her face remained emotionless. I wonder how many cases she's taken on.
"Honorable judge Ruth Pratt presiding!" Everybody sat back down.
"What happens first?" Ash whispered to me.
"I don't know," I replied.
"Alright then. Case 4248, Tess and Charlie Stern vs. Amelia Pond over legal custody of Courtney Stern. Ms. Benghal, please start with your opening testament," Judge Pratt said. Shagra stood up and came to the front of the court, she turned to face the jury.
"Ladies and gentlemen, today is a case this family court has never before seen, which is why you as the jury must take extra precautions with the outcome," she started.
"Nineteen years ago, Charlie and Tess Stern were eager to have a baby, and requested the services of high school teacher Amelia Pond to be a surrogate mother for eighteen-year-old Courtney Stern. Ms. Pond did live up to her promise and delivered the child to the Sterns without a fuss. However, three months ago, Courtney had decided to spend the rest of her senior year with Amelia. Last week, a child social worker made a surprise visit to see Ms. Pond, only to discover a up to seven pounds worth of crystal methane, heroine, and marijuana in her house. These drugs were found while a child was present in the residence. Ms. Pond is known for having alcohol and drug abuse in her past, and she did sign a legal contract that stated if narcotics like these were found in the residence, than she would no longer have legal custody of Courtney Stern and would be claimed to be unfit as a mother. I have known the Stern family for many years, and let me tell you that Tess and Charlie are very suitable parents for Courtney. I do hope today you'll consider my clients' side of their story, of a rebellious teenager who is just wanting to move out early and be treated like a young adult," hey! I was told a lie! I wanted the truth.
"What? That-that's not true!" I hissed.
"Just shush, she's just making up a story to impress the bored looking people over there," Ash whispered.
"Thank you counselor, Ms. Julian, your opening statement," Judge Pratt said. Amelia's lawyer stood up next.
"Ladies and gentlemen of not only the jury but also this entire courtroom, I assure you that my client: Amelia Pond; is a responsible, loving, well-rounded, suitable parent for Courtney Stern. Over the course of these past few months, she has provided Courtney with healthy food, drinkable water, a roof over her head and quality education at a school that she herself teaches at; this allows her to keep an eye on Courtney and keep her out of trouble. Now I do agree that my client did sign a surrogate contract with Tess and Charlie, but that does not mean that she doesn't get as much of a chance as they do at being parents of the child. And may I remind you all that according to my client's health records, she has been narcotic free for eighteen years. I highly doubt that she would out of the blue just start up again now. My client has worked her hardest to become a clean, well-respected woman and mother to Courtney, she would not just start making herself into a bad example for a child who may I also add counselor is almost eighteen," she scowled at Shagra. Shagra gladly returned the death glare.
"And studies show that at Courtney's age, she is highly unlikely to start drinking and smoking right when her guardian starts. Courtney is practically her own person and is not going to start snorting cocaine if my client does. Knowing Courtney, if anything she would try to get my client to quit," she said. Yes, yes I would.
"My client is not guilty of any charges pressed against her. We have found the evidence, but we have not found the story. Thank you," and she sat down. I almost had the urge to clap at that speech.
YOU ARE READING
Like Mother Like Daughter
Teen Fiction"Anybody can be a mother, but it takes somebody special to be a mom..." They said everything happened for a reason, and seventeen-year-old Courtney Stern had a weak belief in that. She was normal, artistic, and happy; except for her family. Her fath...
