Broken (Edited edition)

Court House

Mark explained that he was in court talking to the judge about bringing me in to talk about my Mother. Turns out there is going to be a case against my Mother, due to her Lawyer saying she wasn't abusive. Her Lawyer also wanted me to attend, and speak for her." I'm not going to speak for her!" I scream. We're still in the Grump Station, and Mark is showing me papers and forms." You don't have to, you can tell the truth. You aren't chained to your Mother anymore, you're with me." He says, and I look down at the ground." Do I have to go?"

"Your required to Lyca, everyone who's met your Mother is required to attend the Court." Danny says, and I realized most of the Grumps, Jack, Bob, Wade, Mandy, and Molly have to attend with us. They've all met my Mother, Jack knows her better than the rest of the others beside Mark." I...I'm scared." I say, and sit down on the couch. I've never been in a Court house, except for when Todd had to go pay a ticket. Mark sits down beside me, and wraps his arm around me. He kisses my forehead, and brushes his fingers through my hair." Lyca, I'm going to be there with you every second during it. Don't be afraid, you're not going to be alone." He says, and I sigh." That's not the reason Mark, I promised myself I would never be in the same room as my Mother again. Now I have to be in a court room with her for hours at a time." I say, and I crawl onto Mark's lap. He wraps his arms around me, and kisses the top of my head." Hey listen to me, I'm going to protect you from her no matter what. And they've already figured out how to keep her away. There are security dogs and service dogs all over the court room, and she won't be able to stand without the dogs growling." Mark says.

I look up at him and he hugs me tightly." Everything's going to be okay." He says, and I nod." You better be sure about that." I tell him, and he grins." I promise it'll be okay." He says, and I lean my head against his chest. I just want to go home, fall asleep, and get this shit over with as fast as possible.

The next morning I wake up at six, the court date is at nine o'clock. I take a long shower that lasts almost an hour, and it relaxes my tense muscles for the day to come. I'm so nervous of facing my Mother again, she's been waiting for her court date for almost a month now. It's finally happened now. I dry off, and pull on fresh clothes. Black skinny jeans, gray hoodie that covers my hands, black beanie, and red converses. Mark said yesterday that I didn't need to dress formally, that I can wear anything comfortable. I brush my hair before putting it up in my beanie, and I walk downstairs. The house is clean, and there is fresh food in the fridge. I make myself toast with melted butter on each piece, and eat it on the couch while watching cartoons. I take out my drawing pad, and draw the characters on the TV show. I also draw the sky from outside the window.

Mark comes down about fifteen minutes later. He's taken a shower, and he's still dressing up. His dress pants are on, his belt is wrapped around his waste but not buckled, his white dress shirt is on but not buttoned, he has his black jacket on his forearm and so his tie. His hair is dried and fluffy, and I hop off the couch to help him. He sits down on the couch, and I button his shirt while he brushes his hair so it isn't as fluffy." You okay?" He asks, and I nod." Better than I expected." I tell him, and put his tie around his neck." Where did you learn to tie a tie?" He ask, and I grin.

"My Grandfather always had to go to special events with his friends, and he asked me to tie his tie all the time. He showed me when I was only three, and always asked e to tie it for him. It was just a tradition for us, and I loved it every time we did it. Because it showed how much he cared about me." I say, and start smiling even more. I finish with his tie, and go to get his dress shoes. He puts his feet into his shoes, and I tie them." I not handicapped." He says, and I smile." I know, but I like to help." I tell him and we stand up. It's about eight thirty now, and we hear a honk outside." That's Danny, let's get going." Mark says, and we leave the apartment. I hold my notebook in my arms, and walk fast down the stairs. I see Danny sitting in the driver's seat, and we get in the way back of the mini van he's driving." When did you guys get a Van?" I ask as Danny starts driving toward the Court house." We got it when Arin's car broke down, so we could Carpool together." Danny says, and I see Suzy helping Arin with his tie.