The Brooch

It Nearly Destroyed Me!

Mrs. Lexington did what she did best, she commanded the attention of the room. There was not one sound. Not one rustle. Except for what was happening on the outside. However, even. the afternoon wind, seemed as if it wanted to sway in utter silence, and the roar of the thunder rumbled no more, as everyone in that room anticipated what on God's green earth could she ever reveal to clear the tainted reputation of Mama Woods. But the rain still danced upon the windows as it began to water the ground..

There was no calming the storm as the gray skies grew darker by the hour. Nonetheless, what little light that managed to shine upon and in that room, shined right upon, Mrs. Lexington as the bailiff placed that delicate brooch in her hands. Almost as if that brooch had a voice and it was telling an untold story. A hidden one at that.

Nonetheless, Mrs. Lexington's tired, yet piercing eyes, gazed at that apple crumb brooch in silence. She held that brooch as if it were the first time...

"Hmph! Beautiful, just as I remember." She whispered gazing with an enchanted smile. In that moment she reminisced as her voice became more audible for all to hear. "Oh how my love, obsessed over such a small thang as this. Can you believe this exquisite, and no doubt, frangible article nearly ruined our world? I knew the first time, I ever saw this, it would he the death of him, if he ever truly possessed it. And it is why I rejected it. I had despised this brooch as it took a major place in my husband's heart! And a piece from me. And to dismay, from my daughter as well. You see, with all my being I truly despised it! So I much so I wanted to desperately destroy it. And I almost did." Mrs. Lexington remarked still holding that brooch in both her hands like it was light as a feather. "Truth be told, one day when my husband was in the back of his shop, counting his treasures of the day, while I snuck away. And do you know whut I did? Why I delicately removed his most prized treasure... this here brooch from its pedestal that my husband has placed before all the jewels and valuables in the store. From the place for all eyes to see and revere. And I held it in my hands, just like I am now... I gazed at it through my tears. I found my anger and jealousy rising as thunder does right before a storm. I just stared at it and all its beauty. How could such a beautiful thang be nothing but terror and torture in my eyes? To that not only of me, but my loves." She uttered glancing at her daughter. "Hmm such a small delicate thang, I thought. And before I knew what was happening... as if it were no will of my own, I smashed that brooch!" She cried! I smashed it in two!" She spoke as the tears began to escape from her eyes.

Her hands began to shake...

"Umm.. Mrs. Lexington? Are you alright?"

"Never better." She quickly replied to the judge as she continued on.

But her eyes and her hands told a different story. She trembled uncontrollably, but she refused to end.

"You see as small, and delicate and beautiful as this brooch is, it nearly destroyed everything I loved. And it is still trying till this day." She mumbled staring once again at her daughter. "But I won't let it!" She spoke wiping her tears. "Before I knew it, that day, the had blood dripped from my hands. Shards of glass stabbed at my stinging palms. But I did not care." She smiled through her tears. "I destroyed it! Or so I had thought...

Suddenly, Mrs. Lexington sat motionless. No words dripped from her silent lips.

"Mrs. Lexington?" Judge Bloomfurd spoke.

Mrs. Lexington did not rustle. She stayed mum. Just gazing at the brooch as if she were in a trance...

"Mrs. Lexington?" He spoke again.

No words danced upon her lips...

The judge cleared his throat. "Umm, perhaps it is time for a recess."

"No!" Mrs. Lexington abruptly interjected.

Before all knew what was happening, as if it were in slow motion and a movie happening before their eyes, she smashed that brooch as hard as she could. Just as she described that she did many years before. But this time, she not only split that brooch in two.. she shattered, Maple's heart as if it combusted right then and there! And very stunned Maple out roared in utter shock as if it were her own heart that Mrs. Lexington had smashed upon that courtroom stand!

Uproar and shock filled that room with a clamorous shrill! Even the thunder seemed to roar in ire and the lightening flashed like it were dancing in Mrs. Lexington's eyes. Almost as if she had gone mad! Maple nearly jumped out over her seat with an uncontrollable rage. It was all that Uncle Jeffy could do to hold back a riled up Maple from dashing towards an expressionless Mrs. Lexington.

The judge did his best to tame the wild room. But his efforts seemed moot as Maple's screech and the hiss of the room only grew like an ticking bomb ready to explode! This time the judge had no control.

But one did....

"Maple..." A soft voice was suddenly heard.

And just like that... Not only was Maple momentarily mum, but the courtroom became just as hushed...

Like many times before, there was tranquility in that voice that was almost like a sedative to soothe the ire and outrage in Maple... and all around her.

Course it was Mama Woods whom had suddenly stood up and spoke as she turned around to her infuriated child. With a touch as only a mother could, she tamed the rustling roar in her daughter's eyes. Along with whimper in her voice. And the pain that stabbed at her aching heart. With just that one touch she spoke. "It is alright." She said walking up to her daughter and wiping the tears from her eyes.  "It's alright..."

"But Mumma__"

"Shhh..." she murmured with a calm in her eyes that neither Maple, nor Jeffrey had ever seen before.

Mama Woods gently kissed her daughter's forehead as she pleaded for her daughter to return to her seat.

"No!" Mrs. Lexington quickly interjected! "Let her come."

"Mrs. Lexington, you have caused enough!" The judge hissed! "I should hold you in contempt for destroying evidence and causing such an outlandish outroar!" He fussed.

"Do as you will." She courageously replied!

"Do not tempt me, Mrs. Lexington!" The judge growled.

But Mrs. Lexington would not back down!

"Maple, young lady return to yo seat!" He demanded! "And as for you...." He fussed as he focused his fury on Mrs. Lexington as his ears flamed in crimson red... "Sandford!" He hollered! "Remove Mrs. Lexington from this stand and take that brooch back into possession!

"Sandford! Stay where you are!" Mrs. Lexington boldly demanded!

"How dare you?" The judge yelled in an uproar!

"I dare... because of this!" She said picking up the fragments of that brooch in both hands!

Mrs. Lexington stood as strong as sturdy as she could with the pieces of the brooch still in her hand.

"What you have failed to see. And Maple, her mother, and all who have possessed this brooch has failed to see... Even my daughter... was the truth!" She remarked, fearlessly staring at all. "Look at it judge." She demanded.

"Mrs. Lexington__"

"I said look!" She boldly ordered. 

The now crimson faced Judge Bloomfurd, began to argue and gripe and Mrs. Lexington in an outrage! But all of a sudden as soon as he started... his words became mute...