Outliers 13A Tiffany
“I don’t want this one.” Tiffany protested.
“I’m sorry, but that’s all that is available right now.” Becky said.
“I’m sure there’s something better than this.” Tiffany said as she pointed to a shabby two bedroom home next to a freshly tilled field that smelled of manure and fertilizer. “I mean look at this place, it’s filthy.”
“Most of the abandoned places are. They take a little work to get them back up to speed.” Becky said, trying to be patient. "It's better than the shanties next to the commons.
Tiffany looked to the man that was sheepishly standing behind her, “Really. You brought us all that way out here, for this!”
He didn’t say anything at first, then he said, “If we stayed in Seattle, we would be dead by now.”
“As compared to what, this.” Tiffany complained again.
Kent finally turned to Becky, “We’ll take it.”
“What!” No.” She looked around frantically. “What about that place over there?” She pointed to a larger home at the South end of the field.”
Becky had had enough of this, “For one, that one is not available to you.” She turned to leave. This conversation was over.
“What does that mean?” Tiffany protested.
Becky turned, “It means that you get this one or you can live under a tree.” Becky knew she took that too far. She was normally a very nice person, but this woman was too entitled for someone who had nothing just a few days ago.
Kent quickly said, “We will be fine. Here.” he stepped between the two women and then turned to Becky, “We will make it work.”
“It stinks here.” Tiffany protested.
And despite herself Becky said, “That’s the smell of next year's food.”
Mr. Laurance asked, “Was that your only run in with Miss Tiffany Langstrum.”
“No.” Becky responded.
“Please, for the court. Tell us of any other incidents where the defendant acted in an offensive manner.”
“Objections, he’s leading the witness.” Brian said loudly.
“It’s his witness.” Alan said. “He’s allowed to do that.”
Mr Laurance turned back to Becky, “Please share with the court.”
“Well.” Becky was nervous. She didn’t really want to be here and this whole thing was going to be unpleasant, but she didn’t cause this. She collected her thoughts and said, “We were in the commons. I was serving some mixed vegetables, I think.” She was recalling the day. “Tiffany and her little girl showed up. They got in line and were giving Cheril her credits, but she didn’t have enough. Cheril tried to be nice, but Tiffany instantly raised her voice and said that was all she was paid. And that had to be enough.”
Mr. Laurance, “And what happened next?”
“Well. Cheril said that she could get half a ration and eat.” Becky remembered that awful reaction of Tiffany, “She” Indicating Tiffany, “then turned to the crowded room and said that Cheril was not going to let her daughter eat. That’s when Cheril told her, No Mama. You misunderstand, your daughter will be allowed to eat, but you won’t. And the crowd approved.”
Tiffany was furious, “That’s not what happened!” She yelled out.
“We will have order!” Commanded Kan.
Tiffany protested, “But she's lying!”
“You will have your opportunity to speak, Miss Langstrum.” Stated Alan.
Tiffany’s advocate tried to talk to her, “If you don’t follow procedures, I won’t be able to help you.”
“You haven’t been much help so far.” Tiffany winded.
“No, Miss Langstrum, you’re not helping yourself.” Brian said firmly.
That did not seem to help. Tiffany sat down, but she was still mad at everyone and it showed in her posture and her face.
Alan spoke to Mr. Laurance, “Please proceed.”
Mr. Laurance spoke to the crowded room, “I can parade a hundred witnesses here today. All of which will tell us the same story.”
“Mr. Laurance, we are not interested in your opinion of the defendant. Please bring forward your witnesses so that they can give us first hand knowledge of the offenses of Miss Langstrum.”
Turning towards the judges bench, “I was just trying to save us some time.” Mr Laurance said apologetically.
“In a proceeding like this, time is less important than getting everything in perspective. We do not take it lightly when we have to consider an explosion. As that is just short of a death sentence in these days.”
Kan, Mike and Walk approved that statement by shaking their heads “Yes.”
Mr. Laurance bowed his head in compliance, “Mrs Becky, please step down so I can call my next witness.”
Becky was glad to leave.
“I will call to the stand, Mrs Cheryl Lithnic.” Mr Laurance announced to the room.
Cheryl stood and made her way to the stand. Which was just a chair in the middle of the basketball court at the local school. The judge's bench was nothing more than three plastic tables to the left of the stand, with black cloth hung over them and three chairs behind them. Both the Advocate and the prosecutor had a card table with a single chair. The audience sat in the bleachers. To say that it didn’t look like much of a courtroom was an understatement.
As Mrs. Lithnic made her way to the Stand she mouthed, “I’m sorry.” to Tiffany.
Tiffany did not react.
“Mrs. Lithnic.”
“Please call my Cheryl.”
“Okay, Cheryl. You know why you have been called here today.” Mr Laurance asked.
“Yes.”
“So, in your own words.” Laurence looked at Alan, “Please tell the court about your interactions with the defendant.”
“All of them?” Cheryl asked.
Mr Laurance smiled, “I’m aware that you have had many interactions with the defendant, so just limit your testimony to what is important to this court.”
“Objections, he’s leading the witness again!” Brain yelled.
Alan repeated, “It’s his witness, you can cross examine when it’s your turn.”
“You didn’t give me an opportunity to cross examine Mrs. Becky.”
“Then call her back during the defense portion of this proceeding.” Alan said. He then turned to Allison, his wife, and the stenographer for the court, “Remind me to have written procedures and a clerk that will keep us on track with them. We don’t need stupid procedural mistakes to throw off the court's authority.”
“Okay Cheryl, please tell this court how many times you have had to correct Miss Langstrum about what she could and could not purchase at the commons.” Mr. Laurance said.
“Well, there have been so many.. Times.. Where.” She was very uncomfortable talking about someone else, especially when they were in the room. “Well, you see…” she stammered and looked at Tiffany, “She’s just not a nice person when you have to correct her. And it seems she just doesn’t get that stuffs not free.”
“I need you to be specific, Mrs.. I mean Cheryl.” Mr Laurance prodded.
“Well, She doesn’t ever seem to have a lot of credits and yet she always wants more than she can buy.” Cheryl looked at Tiffiany again.
“Cheryl, just talk to me..And the court.” Laurance said to her.
“Okay. So.. I would tell her that she needed more. Then she would protest that she needed things and that it was so unfair for her to have to work so hard for them.” Cheryl tried not to, but she looked at Tiffany, “I feel sorry for her, but we all work so hard to have what we have… and she needs to learn to do the same.”
“Objections, that’s an opinion, not fact.” Brian complained.
“I’m afraid Brian is right. Cheryl please stick to the facts of what you saw and heard during your interactions with the defendant.” Alan stated.
“Okay.” Cheryl said. “I’m sorry.”
“You’re doing fine, please continue.” Said Mr Laurence.
“I haven’t kept an actual account, but at least two to three times a week she comes to the commons with her daughter for evening meal, and she doesn’t have enough for both of them to eat. And each and every time that happens she protests and says that it’s unfair.”
“And please share with the court what you witnessed after giving her the food for her daughter.” Mr Laurance asked.
Brian stood, but Alan motioned for him to sit. He reluctantly did so.
“Well.. She ate most of it.”
“Who ate most of it?”
Cheryl pointed at Tiffany.
“So, you are saying that Tiffany ate the food that was meant for her three year old daughter.” Mr Laurance clarified.”
“Yes.”
“That’s not fair. I need to eat so I can work!” Protested Tiffany.
“Order! Yelled Kan and Mike at the same time.
When things quieted down, Mr. Laurance asked one more question, “Cherly, what did you and your staff have to do to ensure that the food was eaten by the child.”
“Well, we separated them. Let the child eat. Then we would give the leftovers to her. We always made sure there were leftovers…” she said sheepishly.
“Being generous is not a crime, Cheryl” Mr Laurance said.
There was a Harumph from Tiffany. Then she said, “Generous my ass.”
Brian tried to get her to stop, but she only got more agitated and stated, “This whole damn thing is a joke.”
Alan stood with his hand up to indicate to Mr. Laurence, indicating that he needed to interrupt. “Brain, please approach the bench.” he then signaled for Mr. Laurance to do the same.
They did.
“Gentlemen, I’m going to ask for an adjournment for the purpose of allowing Brian to coach his client on proper courtroom behavior and to make sure that we are following procedures ourselves.” Alan explained. He then looked at Brian, “I’m going to meet with Laurance to write up some procedural items and have a clerk keep us in check. Is that acceptable to you?”
Brian shook his head yes. Laurance also agreed.
“I’m afraid this trial is going to a very dark place. So, we need to make absolutely sure we do everything correctly. I want to make it clear that we will do everything by the book and to ensure that we have clear grounds to either enforce accountability or to pass judgment over the defendant.”
Brian could not argue.
“Thank you.” was all Mr Laurance said. He was a former prosecutor and never liked the Eldership form of government, but sat on the Elders board, if only to keep them in check. He and Alan had numerous arguments during those meetings. And it was said that they would never be friends, but they have. Somehow, these two opposing forces have found their middle ground and mutual respect.
“Okay, so we will start this up again in two days. And Brian, she needs to understand if she loses here. She's out.” He looked sternly into Brains eyes, “And her daughter too.”
Laurance was about to protest but Alan shot him a look that said, “Not here.”
With that they left the table. Alan spoke to the rest of the Elders sitting judgment over this procedure. He then addressed the room, “We will have an adjournment for two days while we polish up some of our procedures.'' With that, he packed up his documents and started towards the door with Allison.
Laurenace raced to meet up with Alan. Once they were far enough away both Allison and Laurace stopped him and asked, “Really, the girl too.”
“No, I really don’t think I could do that.” Alan admitted.
“Then..”
“My hope is that she loves her daughter enough to rethink her place here.” Alan admitted.
“She ate her daughter's food, for Christ sake.” Laurance protested.
“We can’t discuss the case, just procedures.” Alan reminded Laurence.
“Well I can.” Allison said, “That woman! well I think we need to remove her daughter from her care until this is over.”
“That’s a bit extreme.” Alan said, “Has there been any issues or reports that she’s abusing the girl?” Alan asked.
Laurance chimed in, “SHE EATS HER FOOD!”
If you want to read more about the Remnant Series see the links below.
Bood 5: Chaos coming soon to Amazon.com
Book 6: Obsidian Arrows
You can Leave a comment. Or follow us on Facebook. Or hit the subscribe button to get updates on new chapters or books.Thank-you
R. A. Legg
R. A. Legg
R.A. Legg © 2016. All Rights Reserved.
Comments
Post a Comment