Chapter 16 - My case
The prosecutor offered me diversion.
Misdemeanor assault.
Millicent had a bruised knee and a strained wrist.
No fracture.
No head injury.
Keira’s video ended before my shove, but witnesses saw.
I admitted.
Context mattered.
Millicent had just shoved Silas.
I had just learned she broke toys.
She reached toward his backpack.
Could I claim defense of another?
Maybe partially.
Did I need to push her face into the mud?
Probably not.
I accepted diversion.
Conflict-management course.
Community service.
No unlawful contact.
Dismissal after successful completion.
Silas asked:
“Why do you have class?”
“Because I pushed Grandma.”
“She pushed me.”
“Yes.”
“Then you pushed her.”
“Yes.”
“So even.”
“No.”
He looked offended.
“Why?”
“Because life isn’t turn-taking with hurting people.”
He thought.
“Could you stop her?”
“Yes.”
“Could you push her away?”
“If I thought she was about to grab you or hurt you, I could use reasonable force to protect you.”
“Then?”
“I was angry too.”
He stared.
“Was the mud part because you were mad?”
“Yes.”
Silas nodded.
“I liked it.”
I almost laughed.
“Do not tell my instructor.”
He smiled for the first time during that conversation.
I continued:
“You’re allowed to like that I defended you. You’re also allowed to know I should have handled part of it differently.”
“Two things.”
“Exactly.”
He groaned.
May you like
He hated two-things-can-be-true parenting.
Too bad.
