Chapter 17 - MY DIVERSION
My anger-management class lasted twelve weeks.
I expected stupidity.
I got uncomfortable accuracy.
One exercise:
List what you wanted the punch to accomplish.
I wrote:
Stop Robert.
Protect children.
Make him feel powerless.
Punish him.
End humiliation.
Then:
Which goals required violence?
Stop Robert physically?
No. He was speaking.
Protect children?
No. I could leave.
Punish him?
Yes, but punishment was not mine to administer.
That one sat badly.
I apologized to Robert through legal channels.
One sentence:
I was wrong to strike you. Your treatment of my children does not justify my assault.
He responded:
Then drop the charges against me.
I laughed.
No.
Accountability is not barter.
Diversion completed.
Case dismissed under program terms.
I never called myself vindicated.
The punch remained wrong.
May you like
It also remained understandable.
Those can coexist.
