One Shot Randoms

Custody

The room felt like it was getting smaller and smaller as Carolyn kept pulling at her shirt collar; relieving herself from the small beads of sweat that circled around her throat. She felt herself grow more fustrated as the small box-like courtroom continued to grow more humid by the minute.

The room consisted of no windows. She was told by the receptioisnt that the a/c was broken and the only source of cool air came from one extremely small ceiling fan that hung 15 feet above her head.

Carolyn blew out short puffs of air as she tried to release the tention that was forming inside her temples. She focused her gaze back on the judge who stared directly at her, judging her every move. The only thing stopping her from walking right out of this courtroom was her five year old sister, Jazlyn. Jazlyn was Carolyn's heart and the only thing that made her smile nowadays. Her little sister gave her the strength to want better for herself and not subcom to her environment like her mother.

Like many children who grew up in Atlanta, she knew of the good and the bad side. The last 15 years of her life had mostly been surrounded by the bad. She went from a loving two parent household to having a druggie as her mother. Her mother being the reason she was in court in the first place.

She couldn't take Jazlyn living with her mother anymore. The woman only seemed to get worse and as the days went on. She had tried to sell her little sister for crack. Twice. And her new boyfriend made the situation no better. Not only was he a druggie himself but he was also a well known pimp in the streets.

If the judge couldn't see how unfit Diane was for a mother, she didn't know what she would do. All she knew was that Jazlyn was not spending another minute in that house.

"Miss Jacobs!"

Carolyn snapped her eyes to the judge that held an look of aggravation. She slowly began to wipe her sweaty palms over her polyester covered thighs as she granted him her full attention.

"Yes?" Carolyn said, as she cleared her throat.

The judge sighed as he watched a worried/frighten look take over the young womans face. He could tell how ready she was for this to end and he couldn't deny that want either.

"Would you please pay attention or else you will miss something important" he said, as his eye narrowed at her.

She nodded keeping her gaze on his.

The judge glanced around the courtroom before speaking, " Well I finally came to a decision. After watching and listening these past couple of weeks I decided that it is best to grant temporary custody to Miss Carolyn Jacobs."

Carolyn body slightly relaxed as she blew out a breath of relief and furrowed her eyebrows. She believed she deserved full custody. Had the judge not heard what her mother had done?

" I request that Diane Phillips attend rehab and counseling for three months in order to obtain visitation rights of her daughter. After obtaining these rights Diane would still have to continue the program for another three years or until deemed fit for release. If this action is not taken no rights will be granted and Miss Diane will be given full custody. If Miss Jacobs is deemed unsuitable to take care of the child during temporary custudy the child will go into the system or to a near relative. Court Dismissed" the judge said as he banged his gavel and got ready for his next case.

Carolyn and her lawyer turned and embraced eachother, happy at least to have her sister for the time being. There was no way she would mess up her opportunity. But there was also no way she would just settle for temporary custody.

---

She couldn't contain the tears as she walked out the courtroom and was met by small delicute arms that wrapped around her thighs. She beamed down and firmly hugged her little sister. But the moment was short lived by the clearing of a throat.

"Don't think you will have her for long. She is my daugter and there is no way I'm letting you get away with this" Diane said putting emphasis on my.

Carolyn hid her sister behind her as she turned and narrowed her eyes at the woamn she use to call mother. " There is no way in hell I'm letting you have her. You don't even care about her" she hissed as she grew pist off by  just looking at the woman before her.

Diane laughed as she looked at her disgrace of a daughter. "Mark my words. You are going to wish you never messed with me."

Carolyn lifted her perfectly arched eyebrow as she took two steps infront of Diane until they were face to face. "No. Mark my words. You are going to wish you never messed with me. If you do anything to mess up my opportunity. You are going to wish you overdosed on drugs by the time I'm done with you" she sneered and mentally smirked as she watched the fear take over her mothers eyes. She turned and walked away, grabbing her sister's hand.

'The old me is back and she is going to wish she stayed gone when I'm done with her.'