Chapter 12 - My Slap
The district attorney offered diversion for misdemeanor battery.
One slap.
No prior record.
No serious injury.
I had self-reported.
Terms:
Anger-management evaluation and course.
Twenty hours community service.
No unlawful contact with Marjorie.
Six months no new offense.
Dismissal on completion.
I accepted.
My friend Marcus said:
“You slapped a woman trying to kidnap your kid.”
“No.”
He looked offended.
“She had a ticket.”
“Yes.”
“She forged documents.”
“Yes.”
“She was going to take her.”
“Yes.”
“Then?”
“The travel had been stopped. Dad had passport. Ione was behind me. I slapped because I was furious.”
He stared.
“You’re impossible.”
Maybe.
But Ione needed clean categories.
Protection.
Punishment.
Not same.
I explained.
She said:
“Grandma worse.”
“Maybe.”
“So you good?”
“No.”
She groaned.
“Why adults make everything complicated?”
Because simple moral stories are addictive.
I said:
“I was right to stop the trip. Wrong to hit Grandma after you were safe.”
She thought.
“Both.”
May you like
“Yes.”
There.
