Questions flooded my mind, and the upcoming answers would determine my future. But first, someone had some official business to tell the judge. What were they talking about anyway? Then the charges against me and Tony were read.
The charges were brief, accurate, and damning. I don't think, however, there was any mention of the police car I damaged. In today's world, similar offenses would take three minutes to read and would include violations, crimes, infractions, and breaches I had never before heard.
Today, it's a felony with a long prison sentence to assault a police officer. To even defend one's self against a psycho-cop is to risk a long stay in a federal prison.
During the reading, I watched the judge. His eyes were closed and his hands formed a steeple he placed against his lips.
After the reading, a hush had overtaken the courtroom, and I held my breath.
Slowly, the judge's eyes opened, and they looked deep and straight into mine.
"Young man," the judge said to me, "if you were in my shoes and I were in yours " what judgment would you render?"
"Sir, I'd render a decision of extreme leniency."
The courtroom broke into laughter, and I froze. Had I just made the biggest mistake of my young life? Had I just made a laughing stock of the judge?
But, my judge was a big man, far bigger than most judges today. My judge smiled and asked another question.
"Do you boys belong to a fraternity?"
"Yes Sir," I answered. "We're ATOs."
"ATOs? Who's your housemother?"
Oh my God " our housemother was Mother Shiver, who disliked me and absolutely detested Tony. Did the judge plan on getting character references from Mother Shiver? If so, Tony and I were in big trouble.
"Mother Shiver, "I timidly answered.
"Who?" asked the judge.
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