Chapter 18 - THE APPEAL
The appellate court reviewed grandmother’s convictions two years later.
My daughter was seven.
One issue:
The intimidation charge.
Defense argued some notebook evidence was improperly used to prove coercive purpose beyond charged dates.
Court agreed partially.
Intimidation conviction vacated and remanded for narrower consideration.
Core child-abuse and endangerment convictions remained.
Sentence reduced modestly.
Headline:
GRANDMOTHER WINS APPEAL.
My daughter heard a classmate mention it.
I told her before rumors grew.
“One court part changed.”
“Is Grandma getting me?”
“No.”
“Did they say I lied?”
“No.”
“Then what?”
“One law was applied too broadly.”
She frowned.
“Still freezer?”
“Yes.”
“Still no food?”
“Yes.”
“Still wrong?”
“Yes.”
She nodded.
“Okay.”
No panic.
Good.
My wife read opinion.
She said:
“The court was right.”
I looked at her.
“Hard to say?”
“Yes.”
“Good.”
Justice that only works when it hurts enemies is not justice.
Then grandmother eventually became eligible for supervised communication after release? Not yet. No-contact remained under family court separate. We can keep no contact through child's adolescence perhaps.
Her lawyers requested modification.
Denied initially.
Reason:
child therapy.
Grandmother continued minimizing.
No evidence relationship currently beneficial.
Good.
No automatic grandparent redemption.
Then my slap record.
Diversion completed long ago.
Civil settled.
I could stop talking about it.
But I didn’t erase from family story.
At seven, daughter asked:
“Did you hit Grandma?”
“Yes.”
“Why?”
“I was very angry after I got you out.”
“Did it help?”
“No.”
“She fell.”
“Yes.”
“Did you say sorry?”
“I accepted responsibility and paid for damage. I did not become her friend.”
She thought.
“If I hit someone who hurt bunny?”
“You still get rules.”
She rolled eyes.
“Rules annoying.”
Universal child conclusion.
Then:
“Would you hit again?”
“I hope I would get you safe and call help.”
She stared.
“You’re not answering.”
“I don’t know what I would feel. I know what I should do.”
May you like
That was honest enough.
Children deserve adults who distinguish intention from certainty.
