How did I get to this point in my life

Chapter 3 Melt down

Dad was sitting in the chair next to me. Charlie the attorney was out in the hall still going on about civil rights, and human rights violations. I had my head leaning against dad's chest. I was trying real hard not to cry and was winning I thought. That is when dad took his handkerchief out of his pocket and wiped my face, hugging me more, then kissed my forehead. I was shaking a little, probably the scaredest I had ever been in my life.

That is when I realized I had to pee still. I said the first words I had said since the police arrived on the seene a the store, "Dad I need to use the bathroom." He immediately said well come on, and got up to go to the door. I started to get up, and was immediately stopped. That is when we both realized that I was still handcuffed to the table. Dad went to tell Charlie about it.

A few moments later I heard from the hallway, "my client needs to use the bathroom, has he been allowed access to restrooms. What about medical care. Please tell me about the food he was offered? He has been here now for over 3 hours and it is past 6:30 at night." His voice was getting louder as he said each word. As he started saying this, 2 police officers and the Lieutenant came into the room. The officers took the one cuff from the table to my handcuffs on my wrist off. Then they grabbed my left and right bicep to stand me up. I winced and kinda jumped from the pain from my biceps. My dad and Charlie both saw that and said "what was wrong Joshua" almost in stereo.

I didn't say anything, I just went to the door and tried to just go to the bathroom. Charlie took me towards the bathroom. He obviously knew where it was and had been here before. The officers and the Lieutenant were following me, followed by dad. Charlie held open the door for me, that is when he realized I was still handcuffed. He said "what is wrong with you, he is a 13 year old minor child. Are you afraid he is going to beat up 6 grown men? Come on, you're tougher than that arent you? I said get these cuffs off of him." I turned around to face everyone, the two officers just looked at Charlie and didn't move. Charlie opened his mouth and started to say "Do I need to get....." when the lieutenant interrupted Charlie and said "CUFFS OFF NOW." They un-handcuffed me and I started to go into the bathroom. Charlie followed me then the police tried to come into the bathroom. Charlie started again "this is an attorney client meeting, WTF this bathroom has no windows, no other way out, do you think you are going to be allowed in the bathroom while a minor child accompanied by his father and attorney are supervising him....." Charlie was in rare form and just standing at the door and still getting louder with every word being said than the last.

I was beyond the point of caring and ran straight to one of the urinals while this whole scene was unfolding in the background. I don't know how long it was but it was sometime when I finally realized it was quiet in the bathroom, not a word being said the only sound was me still going to the bathroom.

When I finished, I flushed and washed my hands. I turned to go towards the door to leave, dad stopped me and said "Josh, are you in any pain?"

I just shrugged my shoulders because I wasn't really sure if I was in physical pain or not. I knew I was in a lot of emotional pain and really freaked. I was trying not to cry and knew I had not succeeded because dad wiped my face with his handkerchief earlier. I never thought anything could be as scary as this situation was. I had been through a lot of stuff but don't think I was ever confronted by this many people at one time trying to be intimidating at the same time. I was really wishing that I could just go home and hide in the basement.

Dad said "come here Joshua'', and I walked over to him and stood in front of him. He started to pull my school dress shirt up.

I jumped and said "dad what the ...."

He said "Josh you were in a fight, and I saw the way you winced when they touched you, I know you're in pain. I assume because your mother followed the police from the store the whole way here. They never stopped for medical care for you. You know when I was in the Navy I received basic 68 whiskey training, I have treated many of your scars. So I am going to check you out and if needed we're going to get you to a doctor. So take your shirts off".