Date: Fri, 9 May 2003 18:28:07 -0700 (PDT)
From: LZ
Subject: Never Say Never, Nothing is Forever Chapter 11

     My nervousness over Wednesday's court hearing built
over Monday and Tuesday. Monday, sensing my concern,
Cholito, my true dear friend, suggested we visit the
basement again. The closeness and comfort more than the sex
got me through Tuesday morning. By the afternoon, thoughts
of not going to court were again entering my head. Mr.
Martinson brought me back to earth with reassurances that
with his letter, which he promised was very positive and
contained information on the expulsion of Ostrowski from
school 111, the hearing would be brief and I'd be home by
afternoon and back with him in class Thursday.

     So, wearing the best I had, a green checked button
shirt, black khakis, a pair of Jack Purcell shoes I bought,
but told mother my biological father had, and the winter
coat Hoolihan had paid for, I sat with my mother in the
waiting room listening for my name to be called. Oscar
Ostrowski waited standing in the hall with his parents and a
man who was speaking quietly with them. Both parents were
well dressed. It made me feel powerless, outnumbered.

    Around ten, I saw Miss Peters, our school counselor
pass through. Minutes later we were called in. It wasn't
really the courtroom I had expected, just a large office
with lots of seats and a man in a suit sitting at a desk
near the door. Miss Peters and another woman I didn't
recognize sat together in front. Ostrowski, his parents and
the other man sat behind them.  An obviously Latin woman
with a small briefcase sat apart from all.

    The judge, a younger man than I expected, introduced
himself, smiled at me then turned to Oscar Ostrowski and his
parents. After learning that the man with the Ostrowski
family was their lawyer, he asked Oscar exactly what had
happened. The sixth grader lied claiming that I had bumped
into him and called him a punk even though he had tried to
apologize. He claimed to have said nothing to me that
afternoon preferring to stay as far from me as possible.

    The judge asked me the same question. I told him that
Ostrowski had run into me and called me names, that he never
apologized, that he had given me the finger and laughed that
afternoon before I chased him. He didn't seem impressed.

    Miss Peters was next. She read from her folder. I was
repeating fourth grade due to a lack of attention in class.
I was always getting into fights and couldn't seem to get
along with my peers. I had sexually molested a seven year
old girl a number of times. There was little or no control
or help in the home as my mother was working in a bar until
late each night. She recommended I be tested by a
psychologist and that the home be investigated and I be
considered a PINS. I had no idea what that meant though Mr.
Martinson later explained that it was a Person In Need of
Supervision.

    The judge asked, 'Regarding the sexual molestation,
what happened?'

    'A little girl reported that Ray had fondled her
several times and one day took her to the boys room where he
went much further,' answered Miss Peters.

    'Ray, is this true?'

    I didn't want to talk about it.

    'Ray, I'm asking you a question.'

    'She wanted to go an' it was three years ago.'

    'Miss Peters?'

    'Yes, it was but.'

    'So the girl was seven and Ray was eight?'

    'Yes, but.'

    'Have there been any similar incidents since?'

    Miss Peters sighed. 'Not that I know of.'

    The judge asked mother about her work schedule and my
behavior in the home. He called her 'mother'. He smiled and
explained that he understood her difficulty with English so
she could testify in Spanish and the woman with the small
briefcase would translate.

    My mother explained that my father had left her before
I was born and that she had four daughters too. She worked
as a bartender but was home by eight, that almost sixteen
year old Brenda was always home after school and supervised
us until our mother arrived. In addition, our grandmother
helped feed us, a considerable exaggeration but who was I to
complain. She said that in the home I helped with the
laundry and cleaning house. I had been in fights before but
lately there hadn't been any problems. And, I had lots of
friends. She glared at Miss Peters when she said that.

    We all waited in silence while the judge read from a
folder on his desk. After reading three different papers, he
looked at Miss Peters.

    'I have letters here from two teachers, a Mrs. Tyler
and a Mr. Martinson. Mrs. Tyler says she witnessed the
altercation and that Oscar', he looked at my accuser,
'knocked Ray down and said some things she couldn't hear but
his facial expression indicated they were disparaging
remarks. Mr. Martinson, Ray's teacher, tells me that Ray has
greatly improved in his studies and behavior. He mentions a
special friendship he seems to have with a boy named
Cholito, also fourth grade, and how he is now playing well
with the children of Cholito's class. Finally, he says that
Oscar was expelled from another school, 111 on the block
where he lives, for being a bully.

    'I've got to wonder, Miss Peters, why this case is
before me. Ray shouldn't have chased Oscar all the way to
his house but this is a matter for the school, not Juvenile
Court. The rest isn't worth discussing. This case is
dismissed.

    And that was that. I was stunned. Everybody was right;
my biological father, Mr. Martinson, Cholito, everybody who
had said not to worry.

    Miss Peters gave me a dirty look as she whisked by,
folders held tightly to her chest.