Chapter 6 - My Consequence
I received diversion for misdemeanor battery.
The prosecutor considered the context.
No prior record.
Maude had bruising, no serious injury.
I had immediately admitted.
Terms:
Ten anger-management sessions.
Twenty hours community service.
No unlawful contact with Maude.
Restitution for a minor urgent-care copay.
Dismissal after completion.
Some friends were outraged.
“You were protecting Elspeth.”
I corrected.
“I had already helped Elspeth up.”
“She reached toward her.”
“Toward the chair.”
“You don’t know.”
“Exactly.”
I did not need to become my own defense attorney.
Then I told Elspeth.
“Mom has to take a class because I kicked Grandma.”
She stared.
“But Grandma made me fall.”
“Yes.”
“So?”
“So stopping someone is different from hurting them because I’m angry.”
She thought.
“Did you want hurt?”
“Yes.”
Honesty.
Her eyebrows went up.
“Wow.”
“Yeah.”
“Are you bad?”
“No.”
Then I stopped.
Too easy.
“I made a bad choice.”
She nodded.
“Grandma bad choice?”
“Yes.”
“Bigger?”
I smiled sadly.
“We don’t need a scoreboard.”
She sighed.
“Adults hate scoreboards after they lose.”
May you like
I had no response.
Six years old and already lethal.
