After Before and After

Phase 4: Chapter 80

July 9, 1993. 9:07 AM.

Friday was Family Day at the Chatham County Juvenile Courthouse. The family in question was that of Ralph Langley; most of who were set to take the stand before the end of the day.

After Jeffery was Barnes' final witness yesterday afternoon, it was no surprise to Ralph or anyone else in the courtroom that Laurie was up first the following morning. Court was brought into session as usual, with all the usual opening proceedings. Ralph just wanted it to be lunch. He knew how stressed out his mother was about testifying. He overheard Kelly Brooks talking to her a couple weeks back, another mother promising her that it wasn't nearly as bad as she was expecting. It would be over quickly, and all she had to do was tell the truth.

It didn't feel quick to Ralph now though. In fact, it felt like time was moving in slow motion as he watched his mother make her way up to the stand. It was a type of grief; watching her move to the other side of the gate. Part of his mother belonged to Dana Barnes now, even if only temporarily. It made Ralph's blood boil a little, his hands sweat, his heart rate pick up in pace.

"State your name for the record, please" Barnes began as she usually did.

"My name is Laurie, Laurie Langley, I'm Ralph's mom" she spoke softly. Ralph couldn't think of a more sympathetic witness than her. That had to count for something, right?

"Mrs. Langley, is there anything you'd like to add to the description of your son given to the court by your husband yesterday?" Barnes began.

"Just that if you all knew Ralph as well as we do, you'd know it too; that he isn't capable of hurting anyone, much less one of his best friends. Ralph's the brightest light in my life. Even after everything he's been through over the last few years, he's still full of love and light, he still believes in hope, and he still wants the best for everyone he meets. These aren't just the words of a mother who wants to believe she raised her son right. I've watched Ralph grow up, and he chooses everyday to be good and see good in others. That isn't me, or Jeffery, it's all him. Ralph loved Simon. They were friends for two years. He wouldn't have done this" Laurie spoke weakly and quietly. It was a version of her Ralph hadn't seen before.

It was the version of her she turned into when Ralph was lost on the island.

"Those are heartfelt words, Mrs. Langley, and I can tell that you truly believe them" Barnes insinuated.

"I do, and I know my boy better than anyone does" Laurie reminded her, and the court.

"I'm sure you do" Barnes responded, "and I'm sure you were relieved when your son was rescued from the island back in 1991, is that right?"

"Of course it is" Laurie showed no reluctance before answering. "He was missing for five months. Finding out he was out there and he was okay... I can't even begin to tell you what that was like" she cried a little, and dabbed at her eye with a kleenex she had stored in the pocket of her blazer, just in case.

"I assure you I can't even imagine" Barnes agreed, somewhat sympathetically. Ralph could tell that her empathy was at least partially fake. He knew better; Barnes didn't have an ounce of sympathy for the boys and their families. It was her job not to. "Tell me, Mrs. Langley, was your son different when he came home after being out on the island?"

"In some ways, yes" Laurie answered. "He had a hard time at first. He didn't like sleeping in his bed. I guess he was just used to sleeping on the ground..." Laurie sniffled emotionally. Ralph already knew she wasn't going to last long without crying. "He didn't like foods that he did before, he couldn't stomach much besides fruit and water. He didn't want to talk about it, or even about anything as much as he used to. It was harder for Jeff and I to get him to open up to us about how he was feeling. But it's gotten better. Recovering from something like this, it takes time. We just wanted Ralph to get better."

"That's understandable" Barnes claimed, "was Ralph different in other ways, Mrs. Langley?"

"I'm not sure what you mean" Laurie honestly responded.

"Did Ralph's behavior change in other ways? Did he start sneaking around, or lying to you, or doing questionable things he never did before?" Barnes questioned further. "Remember, Mrs. Langley, you're under oath."

"All kids do things like that every now and again" Laurie argued nervously.

"But not Ralph" Barnes interjected, "according to you and your husband, he was a perfect kid."

"Even kids like Ralph have bad days" Laurie combatted, her demeanor unsteady.

"And did the number of bad days Ralph has increase after he came home from the island?"

"I suppose so" Laurie was forced to admit.

"Did Ralph stay friends with any of the boys he survived the island with?" Barnes shifted.

"Yes, a few" Laurie reluctantly answered.

"Specifically, who?" Barnes pressed.

"The twins, Sam and Eric. And Jack" Laurie responded, anxious and afraid.

"Jack Merridew?" Barnes sought to clarify.

"Yes, that's right" Laurie confirmed.

"Did Jack and Ralph spend a lot of time together after the island?" Barnes asked.

"Sometimes, on weekends mostly."

"So it would be fair to say that they were pretty good friends then?" Barnes assumed.

"At the time, yes" Laurie answered.

"Up until the start of the trial, you mean?" Barnes guessed.

"Yes" Laurie nodded anxiously.

"As you can probably guess, we have the physical evidence that proves Jack did help kill Simon" Barnes insinuated before pausing.

"Um, --is that a question?" Laurie wondered.

"No, but this is: if Ralph didn't help to kill his roommate, why would he stay best friends with someone who did?" Barnes proposed in the dramaticized way she often did when she was seeking to make a memorable point.

"I-I.. he.. they were friends before the island. None of them meant... none of them meant to hurt Simon" Laurie stumbled nervously through her words, her stress levels clearly spiking.

"How could you possibly know that, Mrs. Langley? You weren't there" Barnes pointed out.

"Because I know Ralph, and Jack too... and the rest of them, they're all just kids. It doesn't make sense. It was an accident, it had to be" Laurie cried.

"You knew them before the island, and you know them now. But you didn't know them on the island, Mrs. Langley. It's a different world out there. The Ralph you know isn't the Ralph that spent every night for almost five months out on that island. And you wouldn't be the same either, Mrs. Langley. Do you contest that?"

"'Maybe, no... I-I don't know" Laurie struggled to answer. She was flustered, even the other kids in the room could see that.

"That's exactly my point, Mrs. Langley" Barnes sighed heavily. "Nothing further" she decided.