Chapter 11 - THE SLAPBethany pressed charges against me.
Or rather, she made a complaint.
The prosecutor decided what happened next.
Video showed exactly what I did.
Bethany had made the statement.
I stepped toward her.
I slapped her once.
She was not attacking Rosie at that moment.
It was retaliation.
Emotionally understandable did not make it lawful.
My lawyer, Grace Patel, told me:
“Do not build a moral defense around this.”
“I’m not sorry I confronted her.”
“That’s different from saying the slap was justified.”
I hated that distinction because it was correct.
Bethany’s attorney suggested I was dangerous.
That angered me.
Grace said:
“Control your face.”
“I’m sitting.”
“Your face is not.”
Eventually I accepted a misdemeanor diversion arrangement.
Anger-management sessions.
Community service.
No further incidents.
The charge could be dismissed after successful completion.
Some relatives called it absurd.
“You were defending Rosie.”
No.
I defended Rosie when I removed her.
I defended Rosie when I shielded her from the glass.
The slap was mine.
May you like
I did not give it a better name.
That mattered later when Rosie was old enough to ask.
Related Stories
