heartbreak,
it
The story begins and ends with creatures sucking sweet blood
like a
vampire roaming and lusting for virgin brides.
The first week of David's arrival tragedy struck at Pacifica House.
Microscopic creatures were hosting a fiesta on David; an army of small
creeping night crawlers on the prowl for human flesh and fresh blood.
Diana visited the chamber house shortly after David's arrival. It was a
gorgeous day. The sky was lit and strut like a peacock with fine white and
green lines. Scents of an ocean breeze circled and a light mist hovered
between the guest area. Diana was relaxing with David underneath a large
umbrella tree, when suddenly a six foot stocky fellow showed off his chest.
His skin looked like a bumpy road filled with red and purple gravel.
Apparently, he scratched his skin raw. His wife took photo shoots of his
purplish reddish skin. David gently pushed up his long sleeve shirt, and
Diana's jaw dropped and her eyes bulged out of her sockets.
"I would not believe it if I did not see it," Diana exhaled slowly tightening
her lips.
David's arm looked like a valley of broken red and purple gravel stones
and pebbles. Staring at Diana he pushed his long sleeve neatly in place,
and whispered," Bed bugs. I can't do anything about it. I am scared to say a
word. I am scratching all the time."
1
Diana rushed to Rite Aid and bought large cans of Raid to exterminate the
huge army. David was scolded when he gassed the bugs underneath and top
of his mattress. The cans were confiscated and Diana was asked to butt out
with the alien invasion.
Everything had to be done in secret in this place. The scene was disturbing
and disconcerting that Diana contacted Mr. Sheetz the following day. Mr.
Sheetz is the assistant to Judge Cohn, in the courtroom.
"Hello, Mr. Sheetz, this is Diana."
"Who," Mr. Sheetz responded.
"I am David's friend. The lady who brought him to Hawthorne," Diana
replied.
"Yes," Mr. Sheetz responded.
"Mr. Sheetz, David has marks on his arms and neck. Bed bugs large as hail
stones. I am concerned." Diana replied.
"Are you his mother?" Mr. Sheetz responded.
"No, I am not. I am a long time friend." Diana replied.
"David, has to take care of himself. Don't take away his opportunity. He
must fit in." Mr. Sheetz responded.
" David, has many disabilities. Sleeping with crawling bed bugs might
disturb my friend," Diana replied.
"Don't take away his opportunity. He needs to fit in," Mr. Sheetz
responded.
"Mr. Sheetz, I shall follow your advice. Thank you." Diana hung up the
phone.
"Well, I don't think Mr. Sheetz knows his mental illness. These bed bugs
might have a lasting impact." Diana mulled the bed bug fiesta.
One day, David shuffled and walked to the bathroom. He took his hand
from his mouth and heaved yellowish green fluid. David drank a little
water and spit the bitterness from his mouth and crawled in a fetus holding
a cell phone he had borrowed, and petrified he dialed Diana.
"Diana, I have to whisper. If they catch me, I'll be punished. I am shaking
all the time. I am so scared," David whispered.
2
"What is going on?" Diana asked
"My head hurts. They are pounding my head. Help me," David lamented.
"I'll talk to the counselor and see what is going on?" Diana responded.
"I'm scared. My stomach hurts. I feel like worms are eating me," David
cried.
"I'll talk to the counselor tomorrow," Diana said sweetly.
"This is a torture chamber." David whispered.
"I can't hear you," Diana said.
"I have to whisper. They are spying on me. If I get caught, I'll get punished.
I am scared. The bugs are eating me. I can't go to sleep." David whispered.
"Okay, I'll call the counselor tomorrow," Diana said.
"I have to go. They are listening at the door." David whispered.
This was one of many phone calls David made. The clients were treated
like inmates; a jailhouse had more freedom. In jail, you could wrap, but in
this place isolation was the golden rule.
The chamber house evoked a strong emotion of sadness for David, like a
haunted melody; the clanging of iron doors and the thunder of client's feet.
Dropping of a pin is like a jet passing through. Everything had an echo. The
chamber house was a former convalescent hospital. Large doors swung
back and forth; the halls were long. Scratched sheets of tile compliment the
coving around the walls. The vocal cords of the client would sometimes
resonate, and when a group of clients laughs it was like a perfect thunder.
The chamber housed mostly hard core lumber jacks dropped from the Big
House. Most of them are tattooed: Ladies with bare breast and butts
scrolled on the huge biceps. Diana chuckled when they showed their
biceps. One lumber jack wiggled a bare butt lady and smiled happily
underneath his parrot nose and thick moustache.
" How did you do that?" Diana asked.
Diana told David that the mind is the ultimate environment. Diana felt at
ease with tattooed lumberjacks and star gazers like Stephen Hawkins and
Carl Sagan.
3
"All of us are evolved from star dust." Diana pointed out.
Diana said the prisons were jammed, and needed a program to unload
lumber jacks. Diana calls them lumberjacks. For them, Pacifica House was
like Paradise. A place where iron bars and the clanging of doors were
replaced by halls paved with gold shimmering like diamonds. For David, it
was a perfect place to spiral through hallucinations.
One day, David walked slowly to his counselor, and the counselor handed
him his meds.
"Grant, all those meds ain't doing you any good," The counselor laughed.
"I have a slip requesting a Dentist." David took his meds.
"Well, when I get around to it. I don't know when, " The counselor poked
fun.
"My tooth is aching. I am in pain." David bowed his head.
"Grant, you always have excuses," The counselor shook his head.
"Ron, this is my fifth request. I am hurting. My tooth is aching,” David
said
softly.
"Grant, are you hearing voices. Is the voice telling you to see the Dentist?"
The counselor laughed.
"No," David said very softly.
"Take your meds and go," The counselor said loudly
David asked the counselor seven times to have his tooth treated. The tooth
never got treated at Pacifica House. Diana took David to the Dentist to
have the tooth extracted. The Dentist apologized and said only a bent and
forked crowbar can do it. It was out of his field. The Dentist handed David
the X-ray and David put it in his pocket. The X-ray is under lock and key at
the Jailhouse.
Everything had to go through Ron. Ron belittled David with numerous
comments of hearing voices. The clients were silenced if they resisted the
counselor, and the counselor's jabs could not be challenged. The clients
were chained like prisoners in Plato's allegory, "The Cave." The shadows
on the walls were realities at Pacifica House. The clients could not
challenge the Sun-rays flickering as shadows on the walls. To challenge
moments of clarity was strictly forbidden. For David, it felt good to be
hidden and tucked at the bottom of the cave.
4
The counselor was a feisty fellow and responded to David in an irritable
and touchy way. David felt sorry for him and despised him: His limping
swaying back and forth, the twitching of his eye, and constant chattering of
his heroic deeds. David is a passive fellow. A meditative kind. Every time
David left his counselor, he was more confused. David did not understand
the counselor's chatter. It was never about David but his own battle with
life. It was like a broken record. Not one time the counselor sat and chatted
with David. Diana was puzzled why the counselor never used his
counseling credentials?
The day after a bed bug raid by the Health Department David called. He
rattled on and slurred when the creeping vampires were invaded by bombs.
David was very up set because he had to change rooms. The intoxication of
the bombs altered his mood into Dr.Jeckle and Dr.Hyde. Changing is not
good for David, and Diana was concerned over his mood change. Perhaps,
he is off his medication? The Health Department would have made sure the
bombs were set off properly. Being concerned Diana contacted the
Counselor Ron. It was a busy day at the chamber house and after a few
attempts, the counselor was on the phone.
"Hello, I am calling for David."
Diana introduced herself.
"David is disturbed. Is he taking his medication?" Diana asked.
"I can't give you that information. Who are you? David's mother?" the
counselor spoke loudly.
"I am not his mother but a long time friend. I need to know. Did he take his
medication?" Diana repeated.
"Lady, I said I can't give you information," the counselor responded.
"David called, and I find him in great distress." Diana replied.
"Well, this place should give him distress," The counselor laughed.
"What, did you say?" Diana raised her voice.
"Lady, I said. This place should give him distress," the counselor replied.
"Listen, I am holding you responsible," Diana agitated.
"Lady, He is here because of the law. There is nothing you can do," The
counselor replied.
5
"Is that so," Diana replied.
A moment later Diana heard a click and a dial tone. Diana is an interesting
sort. She is a bit overweight. Brown hair, hazel eyes, and a huge forehead.
Last year she showed David her new driver's license, and David made a
comment that between her eyes, there is a bright light bulb. She told David
that is the mark of meditation. Diana would rise at four o'clock in the
morning and meditate. She sits and meditates for two, three, or four hours.
She writes poetry and short stories about all sorts of injustice and throws
seeds in the Universe. The people close to Diana can't grasp her
communion with the Cosmos.
"A sky sown with stars," Diana wrote.
Diana never shared her secrets how seeds are sown but strangely the
Cosmos always respond.
David spent three months in treatment at the chamber house, and the
constant drilling and pounding of all sort of things made this place like a
guerrilla warfare. A squad team employed sabotaged techniques to modify
behavior. David frequently lamented that the squad team constantly
hammered his head into a frenzy.
Diana visited the chamber house every other week-end for support. She
wanted David to be successful and complete the program. After three
months, David had a mandatory Court appearance in San Bernardino.
Diana brought David to Court and waited outside the court building like a
roasted duck in the hot sun. Magnificent Evergreens graced the court
building, and luscious thick grass carpeted the area of all sorts of flowers
in fitful splendor. Diana preferred to remain outside.
"Nobility is outside the court building." Diana pointed to the trees.
A few hours later Judge Cohn ordered David to return to the chamber
house. David made a long mournful high pitch cry and uttered incomplete
sentences. He could not return for another round of interrogation.
Diana took David to the train station and waved her hand. David waved
and walked towards the stations slowly dropping his head.
"The train to Auschwitz should arrive soon," David said very softly.
The image of the interrogation from the guerrillas triggered a moment of
hallucination and hysteria. A man with black leather boots to his knees and
some sort of cap walked in the train lobby. David's heart pounded and
feared the Nazi. The train to Auschwitz has not yet arrived. David panicked
and his alter ego emerged, grabbed him, pulled him, and ran from the train
station. David's alter ego sent the squad team and the guerrillas
on a mission.
6
The counselor at the chamber house called Diana at about 9:30 p.m. Diana
picked up the receiver at the third ring. The counselor was on the line.
"Hello," Diana answered
"This is Ron. Where is David?" he asked.
"David should be there." Diana responded.
"Well, if David is not here soon we will kick him out of the program." Ron
replied.
"What, it is your job to find him. Look for him. How far is the train station
from the treatment center," Diana asked.
"That is not our job to look for him. If he does not show up he is out," Ron
replied.
"Listen, what kind of operation are you running. David took the train at
3:30 p.m. I am worried. Can you look for him please?" Diana pleaded with
Counselor Ron.
"Lady, that is not our job. It is his responsibility to be here. He is a man,"
The counselor agitated.
"Of course, he is a man. What has that to do with it? I am concerned about
his welfare. I am really worried. He may have a panic attack. His feelings
become overwhelming and uncontrollable." Diana responded.
"Can you please look for him." Diana pleaded.
"Lady, I told you. We do not look for anyone. He had better been here
soon." Ron continued his chatter.
"Please, call me if he does arrive. I am troubled." Diana asked softly.
Diana was troubled. "Where is David?" she whispered.
A hard knock on the front door woke Diana. Diana looked at the clock. It
was 2 o'clock in the morning. Who is at the door?
"It is David." David cried.
7
Diana opened the door. David was scared stiff. The alter ego left him rigid.
All of a sudden, huge drop of sweat ran down his face, and tears flowed
like Niagara Falls. David and his alter ego spent a few hours at an Inn. The
Inn was very Hamish and comfortable. A shot of Vodka, Rum, and Heroin
to ease the pain.
"David, why are you here," Diana asked.
"I can't go back. The squad team, interrogators, the guerrilla's.
“Three months of pounding. I can't take it." David lamented.
"David, you have to go back. Judge Cohn ordered you to go." Diana
responded.
"I am so scared. I couldn't help myself. The alter ego took over. I wanted to
fade out. To feel nothing. No more guerrillas. No more squad teams,"
David lamented.
"David, David. Relax. Sleep on the couch. Tomorrow, I'll have Maria and
Don take you to Hawthorne. I can't take you." Diana took a couple of
sheets, a light blanket, one pillow, and laid it on the couch.
Diana returned to her bedroom and slept with one eye open and a pillow
propped. In a frenzy David helped himself to paper and a pen. He
scribbled six pages of stuff to Ron begging for a plea bargain. After the six
page plea bargain David walked a marathon, back and forth, pacing the
narrow halls outside of Diana's bedroom. Near dawn, David cried like a
raging waterfall, and slowly the tears flowed into a fine silvery stream. At
dawn, he passed out. His alter ego left him like an abandoned lover.
Diana let him sleep to ease the Heroin. Heroin, the architect who achieved
continued success. For decades David's attempt to defeat his Master, but
alas, the Master put a Joker in the deck to deceive. The Joker was always
amusing and eccentric tucking at David's cravings. His Master won each
time. David feared that eventually one day he has to pay his Master. David
realized there is no redemption for his Master, and often his Master will
commit the final insult.
Diana arranged for transportation to take David back to the chamber house.
Diana hid the six page plea bargain. Ron would have laughed at David's
scribbled plea bargain.
"A good laugh," Diana whispered would be detrimental.
Diana contacted Pat, the Public Defender, and said that David was on his
way to the chamber house. She told Pat about David's panic disorder, and
that he could not figure the train's code of red, blue. and green lines. That
was a cover up: The
8
red, blue, and green lines. Diana did not dare to tell Pat about the Hamish
and comfortable Inn. Diana never met Pat in person but had a contact to
keep her up to date. Pat had hundred of cases. Pat told Diana that David did
not want to go back. David never had a real chat with Pat. David could not
manage to edge a word in the Courtroom. Pat had hopes for the chamber
house treatment. However,....she did not know David's Master and the
Joker. Diana knew the enemy well.
Diana loved Pat's innocence. Diana always talked about Pat. Pat this and
Pat that,
"I love talking to her. She is great," Diana would boast.
Pat believed the treatment center could do inexplicable things and
possessed magic to conjure tricks to heal her client instantaneously. Pat had
a passion, but sadly her humanitarian effort was in vain pursuit. There was
no magic or a silver bullet. David's affliction was clearly the work of
Heroin. How could Diana tell Pat that there is no cure for David and dash
her hopes? Diana tried to kill David's Master and the Joker for decades.
Diana rounded up Maria and Don to take David back to the chamber house.
Maria was an elderly lady of seventy years young. She was spry and
markedly brisk and active. Maria lived with Diana. Maria's face lined like
a road map with soft creases, and one crooked valley on her left cheek.
Diana told Maria that God made little things closer to perfect than He ever
made big things.
"Small compact women are God's favorite," Diana said.
One day, Diana placed Maria's hand into her hand. Her hands are so small,
blue veined, gaunt, and awkwardly knuckled. Diana teased her gently about
the smallness of her hands lost in the shadow of Diana's when they pressed
together palm to palm to measure.
A few days ago, Diana and Maria were basking in the sunshine on a stone
bench. Together they watched the morning traffic at a park nearby: dog
strollers, baby carriages, winos, and kids. Nestled in a corner are the
homeless. They spread out on the grassy banks of the hollow and pretend to
read books. Diana and Maria were two peas in a pot. Diana communed
with the Cosmos, and Maria communed with Christ.
Diana asked Maria to chaperone David to the chamber house. David loved
Maria. Maria was always prepared to have in hand a magic wand tapping
pearls of wisdom on David's shoulders.
"Maria, you are so wise. I hold tightly to every word. Why can't you be my
counselor? I can't take the guerrillas and the squad team. The place is
tortured. Please go and to talk for me. I am so scared." David pleaded with
Maria.
9
"Yes, I'll go in and talk for you," Maria said sweetly.
Don was appointed to be the driver. Maria could not drive. Don was
Diana's ex-husband. Together they had two sons, and after a forty year
absence Don decided to drop in. It was a hot summer day and Diana sweat
streamed off her face. She went outside to sit underneath a Weeping
Willow for shade and saw a man opening a car door with his thumbs. The
knuckles of both his hands were split, and bending his fingers would open
the scabs. One was already leaking a little and sweat poured streamed his
face blanketing his oversized shoes. Diana walked to him and offered help.
"Are you okay?" Diana asked.
"Are you Paul's mother?" The man wiped his greasy face with his hand.
"Yes, I am,." Diana responded.
"Don't you recognize me?" The man gasped for air.
"No, I don't. You need to sit down." Diana offered him a seat.
Diana took the man in the bridal chambers. He gasped for a second round
of air.
"I am Don." The man wiped his leaky hand on his pants.
"Don, the man I was married to?" Diana's eyes were wide as marbles.
" I can't make it in New York. It is too cold, and I can't make it another
winter. Can I stay?" Don asked.
Diana gave him a pad to stay. For a week, his nourishment came from
meatballs that Diana chose to toss into his mouth.
"How dare, he parachutes after forty years." Diana disgruntled.
" Alas, a spirit of atonement is a good omen. Elizabeth loves her grand-pa."
Diana murmured.
Diana was aware that Don's time was short. His lungs were inflamed by
prolonged inhalation of asbestos fibers and both feet ballooned like
oversized pumpkins. The asbestos and diabetes ravished his existence, but
Diana made his pad cozy and asked him to take David. That was Don's first
atonement.
Don packed his car with water bottles. He was not used to the heat. David
10
helped him and found him easy to get along.
It was a hot humid day, and Don was dripping like a running faucet. Maria
up front and David in the back and within fifteen minutes the green old
jalopy with New York license plates bounced like a rubber ball out of the
parking lot, and the trio set off on a long road trip. Diana waved and
pondered how the rickety car ever made it from the Big Apple.
Maria spurred David to talk. She wanted David to be at ease.
"David, Diana told me you have a daughter. How many children did you
have?" Maria turned to David from her front seat.
" Yes, I do. Her name is Shannon. I have three grand-children. She does not
want to see me. You know, my condition," David said softly.
"She should. She should. You are her Father," Maria in her grand motherly
tone.
"Diana told her to connect. However,.....Shannon does not want to
be....with me." David said shamefully.
"Maybe after your treatment you can try." Maria encouraged David.
"Diana told her where she can visit. However; ....she never bothered,"
David said tearfully.
Maria stopped questioning. David became very upset. Maria swiftly
changed her course and started a conversation with Don. Don was
chuckling praying the rickety car would make it without heating up.
The road trip took two hours. David pointed the chamber house.
The chamber house was loaded with cars. It looked like a used car lot.
Maria looked very curious and said,
"Is this the treatment center? It looks like a used car lot."
David had a ghost of a smile when he entered the chamber house.
Maria was very faint and weak on the trip. Together they opened the door
and found the chief staring at Maria and Don. Mr. Salcedo was the chief of
the chamber house.
"David, you're back. You are late; nevertheless,...you are here."
Mr. Salcedo fired Maria a line off questions: Where was David? What did
he do? Where did he sleep? Did David use? Maria was exhausted, but
Salcedo's suspicious demeanor made her swift to respond.
After an hour Maria and Don were dismissed. Don quickly went to the
men's room and injected insulin and Maria scrambled to the car.
11
Don started his car and stepped down on the gas pedal with his right foot
and sped away like he was a super stud car racer.
David's first relapse and escape were at the train station. Diana
complained often about that hot August day.
David started the program in late May. The treatment program was
supposed to be for three months but the counselor had a plan.
After David's relapse, the counselor put David on a non-movement order.
David was confused because he had to find a sponsor and do meetings
outside the chamber house.
"How can he find a sponsor outside if the chamber house has him on a non-
movement order?" Diana pondered.
As the interrogation flared up the hallucination spiraled. David was under
constant watch. David secretly hid in the bathroom to become invisible.
The yelling from the squad team struck a blow to David's confidence, and
he changed into a zombie lacking the ability to think and feel. David's
muscles became rigid and his limbs trembled. The guerrillas sucked his
life: His face lifeless, a monotone voice, and a slow shuffling walk. The
chamber's behavior modification treatment worked. Every little bit of
dopamine-producing brain cells was siphoned.
On October 08, David had to re-appear in court for a progress report but
Ron had something else in mind, "A final solution." Counselor Ron wrote a
bad wrap to retain David because Judge Cohn was not going to let him go,
unless the Judge received a letter of completion. The Judge wanted David
to complete his program because the County collected thirty pieces of
silver from the State for each drug offender upon completion.
"David did not do this. David did not do that," Ron vindictively murmured.
Ron was completely wrapped up in David's demise.
David became unsightly, ugly, and hideous. The chamber house succeeded
in sabotaging David with their "behavior modification treatment;"
however; the treatment boomeranged.
"It is time to punish this hideous awkward man." Ron clenched his teeth
and dipped his pen.
Diana received dozens of phone calls. Diana knew it was David. The area
code: 425 popped. David's phone calls distressed Diana.
"Diana, this is David." David gasped for air.
12
"I'm being punished. I'm so scared. I'm shaking. I can't sleep. I can't eat.
The bugs are scoping me out. Everyone is watching me. What can I do?"
David asked
Sunk in despair Diana lamented. Where was David's support? Public
Defender, Pat Mueller was supposed to represent him.
"David, listen. Call Pat and talk to her. She must know what is going on.
She is your attorney. Write down the number," Diana said softly.
"I don't have anything to write with." David cried.
" I'll call Pat and have her call you," Diana said softly.
"I can't make any phone calls to anyone. I have to go. They are listening
outside." David whispered.
Diana contacted Counselor Ron and after a few attempts the operator
connected Diana to Ron.
" This is Diana. I am very worried about David. He sounds fearful and says
he trembles and shakes all the time. What is going on? " Diana asked.
"Lady, He is on non movement. I don't know. I can't talk to you," The
counselor spoke loudly.
"I am worried. I want him to call his Public Defender, Pat Mueller.
He has a right to speak to his attorney." Diana gave the number to Ron, the
counselor.
"That won't do any good. The law does not interfere. They put David here.
Why should they question us?" Ron replied.
"I'll give you a lot of reasons why I want David to call. He is in despair.
He is spiraling out of control. I find this place abusive and a threat to his
overall physical and psychological health," Diana said.
"Lady, Do not call here anymore," Ron raised his voice and slammed the
phone on the receiver.
Diana was very distressed and telephoned the Public Defender for
consolation.
"Pat, I am very concerned about David. He said he is in a torture chamber.
I am very worried. He calls and I find him in despair," Diana said.
13
"Oh, David is fine. You
should not be accepting any phone calls from
him. He has to finish his treatment. Don't worry. The only hole is in jail."
Pat responded.
"Pat, can you call him and at least talk to him." Diana asked.
"No, I can't. I do not interfere. Moreover, you can get yourself in trouble by
talking to him," Pat said firmly.
" I find him desperate; in despair," Diana lamented.
"Nonsense, He is okay. We do not have another place for him. This is his
last stop." Pat responded.
Pat hung up and Diana was left on her own.
"This was David's last stop?" Diana mulled.
Diana's recourse was to write a letter to the Mayor of San Bernardino who
used to be a Judge at the drug Court, and Diana knew him well.
Diana sat and wrote the Mayor. That was on September 17. The letter was
a petition and plea detailing David's symptoms: despair, angst, slurring a
word, trembling limbs, shaking, and heaving. The list was intensive. Diana
kept the bug fiesta a secret. That would have been too bizarre for Mayor
Morris.
Diana petitioned the Mayor to intervene and spread a few words to Judge
Cohn. The Mayor bowed out gracefully. David had no oversight committee.
Judge Cohn, Mr. Goss, Pat Mueller, and Probation were intricately woven.
The flawed system triggered Diana to take up the mantle and be David's
oversight committee and his sacred canopy.
Diana frequently engaged in deep meditation. Diana believed in an parallel
universe. Diana said in meditation time, and space cease, and the mind can
move beyond the physical, and convert dense matter into pure energy like
converting waste into useable fuel. At the bottom, there was only one
consciousness: the consciousness of creation.
One night she meditated into the deep. Diana shifted and a tingled sensation
erupted from her center, and steamed sweat poured from her pores. The air
around her swelled and she felt it pressed all over the body. The world
around Diana began to shimmer, then fade. Music had been replaced by
stark silence. The lush foliage was being replaced with dirt and dry brush.
And the calming mauve sky transformed into a menacing dark blue. David's
lamenting crashed into Diana's mind with a grinding force. Diana's body
was writhed with pain.
14
Diana was soaking David's latent and murkily dark energy. It was a gloomy
scene and a dispiriting atmosphere, and an hour into the meditation Diana
hovered inside the chamber house. The dark atmosphere began to invade
Diana's vision. The pressure became intense, pushing from the outside and
the inside. Diana could feel invading her nostrils, mouth, and eye sockets.
The stagnant odor of the chamber house assaulted Diana's nose, and the air
was hazy and unclear. Diana felt her stomach roll. Her mouth watered, and
she felt like vomiting. A throbbing sensation was growing each second.
The throbbing became quaking and Diana's body shuddered.
"It is chilling and provocative. The final solution is being prepared." Diana
took deep breaths.
The great magnitude of energy produced by the shift pushed her breath out
of her lungs. She looked up and saw that it was a night in this novel reality.
Diana was buoyant and floating, and gathered her inner strength and
dispelled feelings of anxiety. Diana opened her eyes and found herself
looking at a twilight treeless sky. Two large yellow moons stood side by
side in the sky and the air smelled like sweet wildflowers; it was beautiful,
yet completely uncanny. Diana blinked several times while her heart
hammered in her bosom. She squeezed her eyes shut to the strangeness she
had seen.
The shift took surprisingly a turn into the courtroom S20. Cases piled, and
the monotonous aggregated the courtroom's face into granite stone. A
sledge hammer couldn't break it. Judge Cohn's concern was completing
programs. Silk blinders kept the Judge in the dark. The District Attorney
was overly respectable and the Public Defender was totally mesmerized
with the method. S20 could not stop the final solution.
Diana's stream of consciousness ended abruptly, and she shifted the
imagery of beautiful sandy beaches. She felt her body calm. Feelings of
love and peace radiated in and around Diana. When she opened her eyes
the clock read 5 a.m.
A few days later, Diana received a phone call from the chamber house.
David was rambling about two train tickets. Diana was perturbed with the
order from the counselor. She called the counselor to find out why Chief
Salcedo could not fork out the money. In a flash Diana was on the phone.
"Hello, David told that I have to come and pay in advance for two round
trip train tickets. Is this true," Diana asked?
"Yes, we do not advance money for train tickets," The counselor
replied.
"It is your responsibility to make sure David is in court," Diana said.
15
"Lady, we don't do that," The counselor replied.
"What if I don't come; he will be in violation with the Court," Diana
responded.
"Lady, that is not our problem. If David does not have the money then there
is no train and no court," The counselor replied.
"Okay, I'll drive tomorrow and give him the money for the train tickets."
Diana responded.
"Yep, that is what you need to do," Counselor Ron agitated.
Diana woke before dawn and watched the gray day break. Slow and half
opaque, Diana listens to the water drip of her kitchen
faucet. She felt cold like the ashes of the underworld which
bore on the bleak and temporal winds to and afro in the void; by a breath,
trembling, and brief despair Diana left for Hawthorne.
Diana arrived at the chamber house one half hour passed noon. Her bag
was filled with smokes, candy, and men's stuff. The clerk at the desk blazed
up the loudspeaker. Three minutes later, David walked to Diana, and Diana
labored in breath holding tightly to the desk counter. The guerrillas took the
life out of him. David bowed his head and his left hand was trembling. Pale
as a ghost and tears dampened his sunken face. David displayed an
intoxicating blend of fear and submission.
"Fear brings clarity to the brain." Diana mustered.
"But but a blending of fear and submission brings fog to the brain." Diana
philosophized.
Fear tactics were sugar coated as behavior modification. Lumber Jacks
could handle stress from the squad team. Lumber Jacks are brawn and not
laid back like a West Virginia Chippawa. A Chippewa found safety in
submission, withdrawing, and being invisible.
Diana left the chamber house, and everything was paling away into the
murk. The segments of the road were draped by dead trees. Diana was
looking for anything of color. Diana was profoundly affected by David's
pale look.
"Have you a neck by which to throttle you? Have you a heart? Damn your
counselor had you a soul? Oh counselor," Diana whispered.
On October 08, David and James took the train. David called Diana at 8:30
a.m. and asked to go to S20. Diana went to the
courtroom and told the bailiff. An hour later David and James appeared in
court.
16
Judge Cohn ordered David back to the chamber house. David did not finish
the program. David read the wrap and lost the letter on the train. David
came to court empty handed. Judge Cohn needed completion, and the
Public Defender sat comfortably while the Judge slammed his gravel. This
was the day that the Earth stood barren, silent, and godless.
Diana brought David and James to the train station. Diana's site of David
cut through Diana's heart and down the knuckles of her spine. David was
having a mental breakdown. Ron's plan worked. The devil had the bad
habit of making use of carnival tricks in order to confuse the unwary.
"S-20 rolled up David's life like a scroll and put it away somewhere."
Diana had a strange feeling.
David and James with tickets in hand sat and waited for the train; but
David flushed and excused himself from James to the restroom. At the
restroom David was on the edge. He relieved himself quickly and bolted
like a racing horse, leaped like a leopard, and sprinted like a greyhound
through alleyways dodging the guerrillas to the Cuckoo's Nest.
The day was a cloudless and one star was so hot it showed, bright and
blue, in the empty sky. Diana sat in front of an open window gazing at the
star and clicked the internet. Diana got goose bumps when she read the
minutes of the Court.
"This is not true," Diana weary.
Five minutes later Diana sat with paper and pen in hand. The letter was
two pages defending David and bashing the chamber house.
"What did David do for two months? Where is David's oversight
committee? The chamber house is like dust in the wind," Diana wrote
passionately.
The certified letter was sent to Judge Cohn the following morning. Mr.
Goss, Mrs. Mueller, Counselor Ron, and Mr. Salcedo were also showered
with tidings from Diana. A copy of the letter was sent to David, but he
never received it. Diana was not aware that David took a leap in the dark.
In the afternoon following the deposit of the letters, Diana got a call from
Pat the Public Defender on the answering machine.
"David ran away from the train station. We have a warrant for his arrest
17
He is now a fugitive," Pat said softly.
Diana had an uneasy feeling but the news was a total nerve bender,
"David, a fugitive?" Diana disturbed.
Diana waited patiently to hear from David. David had places where he can
become invisible. The last time was at the Inn, a very Hamish and
comfortable sort of place.
Several days later Diana received a phone call from the Cuckoo's Nest.
"Hello," Diana answered after the third ring.
"It's me, David," David said softly.
"What are you doing at the Cuckoos' Nest?" Diana looked at the caller
identification.
"My brain caught on fire and I splintered into a million pieces." David
trembled.
"What do you mean? Your brain caught on fire?" Diana asked.
"My last night at Pacifica House thousands of bugs was crawling on the
walls and around my bed," David said very persuasively.
"Every night they came closer. That night they were very close. I can't go
back because they will eat me alive. The bugs became huge and one of
them jabbed me. I can't sleep. I shake. I tremble. I throw up my food. The
bugs are growing bigger each night. Like real life monsters," David said
softly and trembling.
"Did you speak to the counselor?" Diana asked.
"I tried, but Ron laughed," David said.
"What happened at the train station," Diana asked.
"My brain broke into a million pieces. I ran and walked. I couldn't find the
psych. ward, but....., but finally I found it. When I found it, I wept," David
said tearfully.
"Everything is good. How long will you be at the Hospital?" Diana asked.
18
"I don't know. My meds was all screwed up. The Doctor had changed all
my meds," David cried full blown tears.
"Okay. You rest. I'll come and visit. David, did you use." asked.
"No. I didn't," David said.
"Good. I am glad." Diana responded.
Diana calmed David with encouraging words. Diana was surprised that he
was at the Cuckoo's Nest. David had an history at had a rap sheet since
January, 1994. The last time David was there the psychiatrist prescribed
him a pharmacy of meds.
An hour later, Mr. Salcedo from Pacifica House called,
"Hello," Diana looked at the caller identification.
"Ms. Adams, I received your letter," Mr. Salcedo said.
"Well, you finally did it. David had a nervous breakdown. I knew this would have
happened." Diana disgruntled.
"What happened," Mr. Salcedo happened."
"Mr. Salcedo, What did David do for two months at Pacifica House? He
got a bad wrap from Ron. What did David do for two months? Diana
asked.
I don't know." Mr. Salcedo replied.
"You don't know," Diana responded.
"No, I don't." Mr. Salcedo replied.
"Mr. Salcedo, did you know that David was sick? He could not hold
anything in his stomach. He was trembling all the time. For months, he was
bitten by bed bugs. Do you know all this?" Diana perturbed.
"No," Mr. Salcedo responded.
"Do you keep records?" Diana asked.
"Yes, we do." Mr. Salcedo responded.
19
"Good. I want you to send me a letter detailing David's activities for the
last two months: All class attendance. Attitude with peers.
"What, you must be kidding?" Salcedo responded.
"No, I am not. I want to know about the non movement order, and detail the
denial of privileges: when, what, where, why, and how David was denied.
I need dates. David asked to see the dentist. His meds was all screwed up.
How often did David speak to a counselor? I need the dates when David
agonized: when he cannot not eat, shaking his limbs, and extreme anxiety.
Can you send me a detailed letter?" Diana pleaded.
"Can you fax me your request," Mr. Salcedo said surprisingly?
"'ll do it today. I'll send a letter along with David's approval." Diana
thanked Mr. Salcedo and hung up.
Diana rattled details to Mr. Salcedo like a loaded machine gun tapping and
rapping. Mr. Salcedo was flabbergasted, sealed his comment, and decided
to agree. Diana sent the fax the following day. Two more letters followed
but Mr.Salcedo took the null and void, and chucked David as history.
The mental ward kept David for two weeks. The shrink successfully
chased the demons who were running a muck twisting and turning in
David's skull. The shrink was not only an exorcist, but he had to perform
skills like a rodeo cowboy: lassoing, bronco-riding, calf-roping, and steer-
ranging bi-polar moods and psychotic episodes. Than, the shrink had to
round up splintered schizoid thoughts like a herd of cattle, counted,
branded, and housed them in a pen. After fourteen days, David the demons
slouched and recessed.
On October 22, Diana took David from the hospital to the court. Diana had
to monitor David's alternate ego from any dare devils act. The court was
having a lunch break and would not return until early afternoon. Diana and
David waited outside. Fifteen minutes later, the bailiff called David in the
courtroom and David was detained.
Diana heard a loud noise. Ram-bam-bam, and all of a suddenly the dreary
stony grayish antechamber quivered. Out of the miasma an Amazon woman
approached. She was notably tall, physically strong, and appeared strong-
willed.
Diana looked at the fellow sitting next to her; a greasy type in his mid
twenties. He wore a torn-up leather jacket, slouched about a toothpick in
his mouth. He looked at his steel boot toe and then at a girl who was sitting
next to him. The girl had a sort of oaky hair that the sun and salt had been
bleached, done up in a bun that was unraveling,
20
She held her head so high her neck, and coming up out of those white
shoulders she looked like a baffled Swan.
"Hey, it is her. She looks mad," the girl said straighten her blouse.
"Oh, She always looks mad," the man said tucking at his boots.
Diana looked at the young man bewildered and whispered,
“ Who is that?"
The girl surprisingly touched Diana on her shoulder and smiled.
" That is the Public Defender, Pat Mueller."
Diana gasped, "That can't be Pat. Pat's is dainty and petite."
Diana had pleasant phone chats and imagined her wearing dainty slippers,
eating a dainty morsel, and dainty in manners.
The thumping became louder with each step. Diana flustered and blinked
hoping the woman warrior who fought the Trojans would transform into
Cinderella wearing glass slippers.
Pat's left foot plopped and her right foot landed standing next to greasy
fellow and the girl with the sort of okay hair. They chatted. Diana stood
humbled beside her tallness and waited patiently.
"Ms. Mueller. I am Diana. David's friend. I have David's hospital record
and dismissal from the Hospital. He was very sick. David had a mental
breakdown," Diana said softly.
In a twinkle, the warrior woman transformed into a wicked mother whose
magical and wonder powers were used malevolently. Pat bellowed and
yelled in a high pitched screeching tone,
"David, is going to jail. The DA is talking about prison." Pat bellowed.
Pat's bellowing resonated and Diana stood calm like a Zen monk.
"Ms. Mueller. David is sick. It took two weeks to stabilize him.
Pacifica House was abusive. Their method boomeranged." Diana handed
her David's health record.
Pat shook her head and stormed towards the door of the courtroom.
"David is going to jail. David is going to prison." Pat yelled and elevated
the pitch.
21
Pat walked in the courtroom and her piercing, high pitched cry like that of a
siren or jet engine thundered throughout the antechamber.
"The wicked mother is having a field day yelling at her fallen step-child."
Diana whispered and gave the bailiff David's health record.
David was sitting in the holding area like a mischievous convict. His lips
were tightly buttoned, his hair like a tornado. His eyes rolled like fallen
dice. His hands gripped like he was on some roller coaster ride. Pat's high-
pitched grating cry was like the screech of an owl and a nerve bender for
David. Even his eyebrows twitched. David was relieved when the Sheriff
handcuffed and hauled him out of the courtroom.
One half hour passed and Ms. Mueller popped her head out of the
courtroom.
"David should have stayed in the mental institution." Pat screeched and
closed the courtroom door. The stomping and bellowing was an
enlightening experience for Diana. The experience put Diana immediately
in a Zen mood.
"Pacifica House is not a mental institution. Pat is mistaken. Pacific House
task force of guerrillas misfired. Why is everybody up tight? The trio knew
that David was a refugee at the Cuckoo's Nest. His brain caught on fire and
broke into zillion pieces.
David needs a gladiator to snatch him from Caesar's arena." Diana
contemplated.
Diana fumbled through the yellow pages and contacted a handful of
gladiators. Diana was not pleased with the outcome. After an hour in
meditation Diana walked to her desk and picked up the mail.
"What is this? An advertisement from a gladiator," Diana held a flyer.
The flyer was yellow and orange like a bright sunset. The advertisement
was to recruit bums or hobo's who violated some law. The brightly colored
flyer was addressed to Richard, who violated pushing a grocery cart.
Richard was a high ranking officer in the Navy and killed thousands of
gooks, When Richard retired his brain was totally fried. Nightmares of his
killing spree took a toll. One day he had a flash back of burned flesh
scattered like shattered glass. A bomb exploded. Human flesh blown,
skulls cracked, and brains dripped pools of blood. Bones scattered and
flesh torn apart thrown like a tornado. Shards of glass flying through the
air, and broken glass became thousands of tiny debris flying through the air.
Brick buildings crumbled like bread crumbs. The charcoal of flesh burning
set off a foul odor like burnt liver. The scent was nauseating and sweet, and
putrid or something like leather being tanned over a flame.
22
Diana respected the hobo that gave twenty five years to his country. Diana
offered a shower or two per week with soap and a towel. Diana knew that
Richard could not forgive himself, and the killings manifested all sorts of
ghost and demons. The following day, Diana dialed the gladiator and
scored.
"Hello, my name is Diana. I like your flyer. Did you write it?" Diana
asked.
"Yes, I did. I thought I would help the down-trodden and make a
reputation." Patrick responded.
"Yes, you'll be pleasantly surprised what you find in a field of weeds. I
received your flyer addressed to Richard. I know him well. Richard was a
high ranking military officer armed with an advanced degree and a medal
of valor," Diana said enthusiastically.
"Really," Patrick replied.
"Yes, Richard is like a tumbleweed. Vietnam took a toll. His spirit
withered from it, roots and his wounded wings blown about by the wind.
He pushes his grocery cart and sleeps under bridges like a vagabond
alienated from his country." Diana replied sadly.
Diana found her gladiator. Diana made an appointment the following day.
The office of Patrick was carved from a Lebanese wood. Outside, the
historic jewel was graced with green umbrella canopies perfectly tailored
to the thin frames. The foyer was sprawled with thick carpets and the side
of the wooded square doors detailed with scrolls. The wood was imported
from Lebanon, carpets from Saudi Arabia, and the ceiling from Italy. Diana
sat on a lavish Victorian couch and filled out a form and a request for one
hundred dollars for consultation.
Patrick walked out to greet Diana. Diana's eyes fixed on Patrick's golden
tie, which perfectly complimented his pressed white long sleeved shirt and
pleaded black slacks. Diana glanced at Patrick's shoes, and his shoes
shimmered like diamonds.
"Hi, I am Diana." Diana reached out her hand.
"Hello, I am Patrick Silva." Patrick smiled. Patrick took the form, cash, and
Diana to the office.
Patrick was the gladiator Diana was looking for; young and six packed. His
almond eyes, his parrot nose, his shiny bald head stood out like a honed
Eagle soaring unpredictable skies.
23
Diana discussed the case and Patrick agreed to be David's gladiator. His
fight was to snatch David from Caesar's arena and pluck him from feline
claws and saber tooth chops. The court date was set for November
nineteen.
The Court was decorated with tan tarps and tripled scaffolds. Diana loved
the Evergreen trees with large flowing ferns fanned on thick hunter green
grass. Diana took a deep breath. The scent of pine whiffed and curled
around the Evergreens. Nature’s perfume soothed Diana into a meditative
zone. Diana walked slowly to the entrance between two paths of packed
pink, lavender, white, and yellow flowers in bloom. Diana traveled lightly
and placed one key in a little brown basket for security screening. Diana
passed security and walked through stretched walls of faded tan concrete
and dirty blonde masonry. Between the craftsmanship and skillful
handwork was an instilled sense of exuberance, hedonism, and prosperity
of the roaring twenties.
Diana walked through large solid oak doors. The bailiff was nestled on the
east side. The Judge sat in the west corner on a high platform. Next to the
Judge was a pile of dark tan folders. The Public Defender and the District
Attorney sat upfront. The stage was set. There were no other gladiators
except for Patrick. It took gold to retain a gladiator and most of the
prisoners were copper poor.
The courtroom was packed like sardines. Diana sat in the back hoping the
Judge had a good night sleep. The Judge took a seat. The Judge was
dressed handsomely in his black robe and little strands of hairs neatly
sprouted to form a beatnik beard.
“The Judge does not look conventional. He appears more artistic. The
Judge should be careful that callous judging doesn't cut down creative roots
and leave a stump like the Babylon King Nebuchadnezzar." Diana focused
on Judge Cohn.
The prisoners were clad in bright orange suits like Tibetan monks. Each
prisoner linked and shuffled into the courtroom. David shuffled slowly, and
bright metal links of chains were tied around his feet, hands, and wrapped
around his waist. The metal stood out like a Halloween ornament against
the orange backdrop. David tucked on his chain and eyed Diana. He
remembered Diana's words.
“David, what would a Monk do? Thousands of Tibetan Monks were hurled
and chained by the Chinese. Physically, they're bound but psychologically
the links had no effect. The Monks were prisoners but psychologically they
were mighty warriors. Use the chain link as a meditative warrior,” Diana
said insightfully.
.
24
Diana was puzzled,
"Is this court real or mocked?"
Patrick lost his Gladiator status. Like a Kangaroo, Patrick leaped back and
forth cutting deals. The last deal was spontaneously, and for delivering a
judgment. One in which an associate's fate was decided. Sprinting to the
cuckoos nest was contrary to David's well being and legal code. David’s
fate was pre-determined.
The Courtroom was like a Mardi Gras: costumes, parades, and balls. The
last act was the doctrine of predestination. Patrick was skillful and
precarious to perform a variety of tasks at the same time. It was like
juggling coffee and a plate of sandwiches in one hand.
After three hours of cutting deals Judge Cohn slammed his gravel and
ordered David four months at the County Jail and three years probation.
David was ordered to take the "inroads program" for two months to treat
his heroin disease. Patrick stuck his business card in David's shirt pocket
and bid him farewell. That was the only contact Patrick made with David.
After the order, Patrick graciously knelt on one knee, smiled, shook the
hand of Goss and Mueller and left the courtroom.
Patrick was too embarrassed to look at Diana and like a roadrunner
sprinted the courtroom. Diana dashed out of the courtroom and followed
Patrick.
"Patrick, you gave your client a death sentence; three years on probation.
Pacifica House is responsible for his violation and a flawed judicial
system. Two months to treat Heroin?" Diana lamented.
"Ms. Adams, I am more mentally ill than David." Patrick chuckled.
"What happened to the Vickers hearing," Diana asked.
"Goss wanted sixteen-month State Prison. Do you want that?" Patrick
responded.
"No, I want Truth. The Court should be held accountable for placing him in
a guerrilla environment infiltrated with an aggressive squad team and
microscopic creatures lusting for human flesh. The court forced David to
return to a hostile environment. It was our goal to be transparent and hold
Pacifica House accountable.
"That is all we can do," Patrick leaped and left Diana stranded.
Diana stood like a cement land post for hours and returned home. Diana felt
betrayed by the judicial system that swept transparency and accountability
under a legal threshold.
25
For two weeks Diana meditated like Shiva, the Hindu God of destruction.
Diana's goal was tri- fold: sow seeds to hold Pacifica House accountable,
provide an oversight committee, and shed transparency on Heroin.
Diana whispered,
"Sit quietly doing nothing; spring comes and the grass grows
by itself."
David was sent to San Bernardino Glen Helen Detention Center. Diana
was saddened by the verdict, but satisfied that Patrick saved David from
Pacifica House. Glen Helen seems more civilized and equipped:
psychiatrist, doctors, nurses, and dentistry.
"The added three-year probation was the Court's final humanitarian effort
to nail David's coffin. David has a taste for Heroin, a thirst for spirits, and
a death wish. The fear of State Prison would be an unbearable Cross for
him to shoulder; instead, David would treat himself to an extra dose and
fade silently into a state of being completely forgotten," Diana mulled. The
invisible forces of Nature stirred a passion that Diana faxed Jose Salcedo,
the director of the Chamber House, another request to sent Diana the letter
he had so promised. Mr.Salcedo had until the end of February to respond,
or face Diana's compassion and fearless determination. Diana walked to
the drawing room and sketched a sign with black and red ink. The sign was
simple, but a real attention getter.
ABUSES AT THE PACIFICA HOUSE
"I HAVE A STORY TO TELL"
"DAVID"
Diana looked at the sign an approved her initiation tool demanding
accountability, transparency, and the promised letter.
"I will hold this sign until Salcedo gives me the letter which he promised.
How long do I have to hold the sign? It could be one day or one month; but
the invisible forces will nourish compassion to go forward," Diana mulled.
Diana waited for a response from Salcedo after she faxed her fourth
request.
26
Mr.Salcedo considered David's case was closed, but the invisible
forces
leading Diana were not satisfied and at rest.
Diana visited David once per week and put money on his books for snacks
and coffee. The Jail house was jammed packed, and the State had a
difficult time to manage the prison in a recessed economy.
Diana was David's cheerleader: cheers, smiles, and compliments. David
achieved seven certificates: parenting, living skills, reading improvement,
substance abuse prevention, writing improvement, cognitive skills, and
anger management. Diana promised seven beautiful frames for each
certificate, but her cheerleading skills were short lived. Diana felt David's
pain, angst, and despair. After each jail visit, Diana would shake the dust
off her clothes and re-experience the visit in meditation.
"The Master and his Joker are tucking at David's craving for Heroin and
raising havoc being penned at the Jailhouse. How can I destroy the Master
and his Joker? What is the answer? This Jailhouse is no match for the
Master and his Joker. Compassion is no match; death is the ultimate answer
and only nature can destroy the Master and his Joker," Diana cried.
"Yes, death is the ultimate answer; only death can end David's Master and
his Joker. There is nothing to do but to trick David's Master and his Joker
until Nature takes it all." Diana whispered.
David counted the last seven days before his next court appearance. On the
day of the hearing, the sun shined brightly with a wavering light on the
Evergreen Trees. The rays moved in different directions; one way and then
another touching the weeping ferns. Diana stood in a long line waiting for
security to check and scan her body from head to toe. The courthouse was
under construction, and many sections were draped with faded white-water
washed canvas. Diana arrived at David's courtroom, S-20, and stood
against the North wall when she noticed a well dressed man carrying a
black suit case. Diana recognized the bald-head Eagle, and perceived a
change in his manner and style. Diana found bald men very attractive
because of her relationship with Buddhist Monks.
"There is something different today. Patrick looks like he is prepared to
win and close the case. He doesn't look like a leaping Kangaroo but a
conquering Gladiator." Diana pondered.
Diana was in a Zen mood and greeted Patrick quietly,
"Mr.Silva." Diana whispered.
"Hello," Patrick responded.
27
Diana ignored Patrick and waited for the Bailiff's signal; fifteen minutes
later the bailiff opened the courtroom door and yelled,
"Anyone talking or looking at inmates will not be permitted in the
courtroom and be arrested."
The inmates were linked together like a rail-road gang with chains
wrapped around their feet, and dressed in bright orange shirts and pants.
The chain-gang shuffled one by one passing through narrow halls and
water-washed canvas walls. The inmate's chains were beating the concrete
halls like a jackhammer tool breaking up paving. Diana's eyes lit up when
David led the chain gang into the courtroom. The inmates sat to the side of
the courtroom, and shortly the bailiff ordered the public to enter. Diana
walked in the courtroom, and she was so attentive and her eyes were
focused like an Eagle. Pat, the Public Defender sat next to Goss, the
District Attorney. Judge Cohn's sat in the corner, and his seat was encircled
by a high wall like an arena of an ancient amphitheater. Patrick took a seat
behind the Public Defender and the District Attorney.
Judge Cohn was handsomely dressed and walked graciously in the
courtroom wearing a long black robe. Diana was surprised how his
beatnik-beard grew covering his upper-cheeks. A large stack of cases laid
neatly on his platform desk. Judge Cohn took quickly a seat, and swiftly
reduced the stack of cases. The atmosphere; however, was significantly
different opposed to David's appearance in November. The courtroom was
gentle, mellow, and the inmates were treated as humans and not mere
objects.
Judge Cohn asked one inmate a question because the inmate could not hear
well. Pat approached the inmate, and walked slowly to the inmate and
passionately helped him. Pat was dressed in a sweater and pants, and over-
sized boots. Five minutes later she stood by another inmate and spoke
gently to the inmate; Diana's heart melted when she helped the inmate with
his plight.
"Pat loves her work, and she does have compassion. I forgive her yelling at
David. She looks so beautiful singing lullaby's to the inmates." Diana
pondered.
When Judge Cohn called David's case, the courtroom was so quiet that the
smallest movement was a distraction. Patrick took charge and confidently
point out David's excellence at Glen Helen. Judge Cohn complimented
David on his achievement and smiled.
"Excellent work, Mr. Grant," Judge Cohn said.
"Thank you," David replied.
Patrick took the initiative and announced the three year probation was
"completed" since January 19, 2009.
"Yes, David's probation is over." Mr. Goss responded.
"Yes, his probation finished last month." Pat affirmed.
28
Diana was bewildered and excited that Pat agreed to the termination of the
three year probation.
"The coffin is left untouched, and only David can nail his coffin. David has
a clean slate." Diana smiled.
Patrick closed the case with the Public Defender and the District Attorney.
David was a free man. Patrick gathered his papers and placed it neatly in
his brief case. Diana extended her hand, and Patrick accepted her hand and
motioned to come outside the courtroom.
Outside the courtroom, Diana thanked Patrick for his effort to discourage
the court's deadly humanitarian deed, and surrendered the task to David.
The court set him free, and it is up to Diana to trick the Master and his
Joker until Nature has run its course.
"The case is closed." Diana sighed with relief.
