Chapter 14 - MY ASSAULT CASE
The hospital video made my slap easy to prove.
No jury needed.
I did not contest the factual act.
My attorney negotiated diversion for misdemeanor assault.
Conditions:
Anger-management course.
No unlawful contact with Adrian.
Restitution for his documented emergency evaluation.
Damage to the overturned cart?
Hospital insurance handled the cart because Adrian struck it after I hit him; my civil attorney later settled the hospital’s small property claim attributable to the incident.
I paid.
No conviction after successful completion.
Men in my organization laughed nervously when they heard I had to attend anger-management class.
Then stopped when I attended.
The instructor was named Calvin Reed.
Fifty-two.
Former probation officer.
Unimpressed by my suit.
First session:
“Why did you slap Adrian?”
“He pushed my daughter down stairs.”
“That explains anger.”
“Yes.”
“Why did you slap him?”
“I wanted to hurt him.”
“Good.”
I stared.
“You approve?”
“I approve of accurate sentences.”
Fair.
Then:
“What could you have done?”
“Stand between him and Lucia.”
“He was on the floor?”
“Afterward.”
“Call security?”
“Already there.”
“Police?”
“Already coming.”
“So?”
“Nothing.”
Calvin nodded.
“That word bothers powerful people.”
It did.
Then:
“Sometimes the safe action after danger ends is nothing.”
May you like
I hated that sentence.
I wrote it down.
