After Before and After

Phase 4: Chapter 78

July 8, 1993. 3:51 PM.

It was disturbing and almost creepy, Ralph Langley thought, how there's so much truth to the saying 'someone is always watching.' At least, that's how felt to the boy currently at the center of the trial. His every move in the past was observed by others, his every decision a noteworthy memory passersby kept stored in their minds for a rainy day like today.

Over the past four and a half days, witnesses came forward to share their observations and opinions on Jack Merridew and Ralph Langley's friendship at the academy. They were at the top of their training group and then their squadron, competing for the top rank. And in spite of this, they were best friends. Teachers and officers noted how unusual it was. Most often, boys in competition with one another for spots in the rankings didn't make friends with one another. They saw each other as an enemy, as someone to beat, not someone to watch movies with, or sit with at lunch, or run around at night with.

Barnes prompted her witnesses to consider aloud that his friendship with Jack Merridew slowly eased Ralph into feeling more comfortable making poor decisions. Overtime, his friendship with the lifelong delinquent transformed Ralph's sense of morality. He slowly became more comfortable with misbehavior, something that set him up to do what he did to Simon at the feast on the island.

Barnes finished interviewing Ralph's former classmates, teachers, and others who came through the doors of Bainbridge Military Academy between 1988 and 1990 that Thursday afternoon. There was only time left for one or two more witnesses that day. Ralph squeezed his father's hand tightly beside him, a gesture indicative of not wanting to let go because he knew that he would soon have to.

"The prosecution calls Jeffery Langley to the stand" Dana Barnes announced.

Ralph pinched his eyes shut, squeezed his father's hand, and then let go. Jeffery rose from the seat, stepped out of the aisle, and walked quietly up to the gate. Ralph felt tears welling in his eyes as his father pushed the gate open and found his way up to the witness stand.

It was hard to watch the bailiff swear him in before the floor was handed back to Dana Barnes. Until now, Ralph's family and Dana Barnes existed only on opposite sides of the little brown gate that separated the attorneys, judge, and witness from the gallery where they sat everyday for seven months. Now, Jeffery was on the other side; Dana's side. It was a strangely surreal thing to see, knowing that at least for the next hour or so, Jeffery would stay on the other side of the gate, which might as well have been the other side of the world, Ralph thought.

"State your name for the record, please" Barnes requested. For her, it was just another day in court. For Ralph, it was heart stopping.

"Jeffery Langley" his father answered. His voice didn't sound like his voice, Ralph realized. It sounded like a distorted version of it. This wasn't real.

"Mr. Langley, what is your connection to this case?" Dana Barnes asked, as she asked all the parents at the start of the questioning period.

"I'm Ralph's father" he answered unnecessarily. Everyone in the room knew who he was.

"Ralph being Ralph Langley, number sixteen on the defendants roster?" Barnes sought to confirm, once again, rather unnecessarily.

"Yes" Jeffery answered simply. He was calm, collected, his voice steady. Ralph doubted that he himself would maintain his composure up there when it was his turn to take the stand. Perhaps, he wasn't as much like his father as he always believed he was.

"How would you describe Ralph? Tell us about him, as you know him" Barnes requested.

Barnes asked all the parents this question, all the way from Larry down to Maurice. It was her way of releasing the tension from the witnesses bodies and minds. Nobody would be more determined to protect their child than their parent, so it was necessary to relax them before asking them any questions that would put them on the defense.