Double Or Nothing

Chapter 6 ~ Final Thoughts

It was the day of the hearing. I was as prepared as I could be. I had stacks of paperwork with various evidence of my fathers misdeeds. His violent outbursts, his drinking, and his recent obsession with me. I was beginning to realise that this was it. This could make sure I never saw him again.

Josh drove the three of us to the court, and I kept breathing deeply. I was beginning to feel nervous, and nervousness often led to anxiety.

Caleb and Josh stayed either side of me as we walked into the courts and I introduced myself at reception. They told me where to go. Caleb and Josh went with me as far as they could, until they were told to wait outside while I made some last minute preparations with my lawyer.

My lawyer, a Mr Lawrence Fiore, was a brilliant man. A genius in law. He had copies of everything I had, and had prepared them readily for the case ahead. He was incredibly prepared and even had a list of other cases he could cite to bring things to the courts attention. I thought they only did that in movies.

He was incredibly clever, and he was only 28. I was very impressed.

'You ready?' He asked me.

'A little nervous, but otherwise fine.' I nodded.

'Just breathe. You don't need to do any talking until they call you up on the stand, which I have advised against due to your anxiety. They may do it anyway, but the judge will probably ask them to keep it short, at the very least.' He told me.

'That would be helpful.' I nodded. 'I guess it's just one of those thing I just have to do. Stiff upper lip and all that.'

'Precisely.' Lawrence agreed. 'Now we're gonna go in there, and prove to people that your dad is causing issues for you.' He said, putting his hands on my shoulders and steering me toward the door to the court room. I felt like a boxer heading for a fight with my coach behind me.

I walked into the room and gulped. I felt like I was in some sort of cop drama. It was so strange. There were people filling the stands for the observers. Some friends, family members. Caleb and Josh were in the front row, sat directly behind where I would sit, to give me moral support, I guessed. Josh put his thumbs up and smiled at me as I walked in. Caleb looked like he was going to be sick.

When I sat down where Lawrence directed me to sit, Josh patted my shoulder affectionately. 'You'll be fine.' He whispered as everyone stood up as the judge came in.

'Please be seated.' The judge said, and everyone sat back down. 'We are here today to review the case of Green vs Green. The charges are trespassing, assaulting a police officer and disturbing the peace. The complainant has suggested a restraining order and will be providing evidence to suggest that this is needed.' He announced.

The judge seemed fierce and menacing, but as his eyes wandered the court he seemed to scowl at my dad, and then when his eyes passed to me, he gave me a small smile, reassuring me that he would be nice. To me at least.

'Would the side of the complainant please offer their opening statement?' He said, nodding toward my lawyer, who stood up and opened his arms wide as he faced the jury.

'Ladies and gentlemen. My client is here to provide information relating to the defendant in the hopes that you will see what his issues are, and judge accordingly. We will provide evidence and eye-witness testimonies over the course of this hearing to prove that the defendant has a history of aggressive, and sometimes violent behaviour. My client would like to ask for a restraining order, to be free from his fear of the defendant. We will be looking at evidence of previous convictions and complaints, as well as eye-witness accounts from friends, relatives and neighbours in order to allow you to come to a conclusion.' He turned away and sat back in his chair.