I hear the Judge, but I’m lost in my thoughts. Two days ago I had to back up my grocery cart and I heard a man’s voice behind me. He touched me in the small of my back. His hand stayed there for a while as there was a three-way cart pile up. The touch sent me off. I have been touched for 39 years. Held, hugged, squeezed, wrapped around softly, gently, and it made me long to be touched again. I turned to look at the small, little old man. He will never know how wonderful his touch felt.
I miss being married. I have no business being here. This can’t be happening. My attorney, Heidi, said nothing. There was more silence.
Then suddenly AFM flipped out! She spit words at the Judge like a staple gun, talking about Nick as if God had sent him from Heaven.
SWACK the Judge got everyones attention again making good use of his gavel. “QUIET!” Judge told AFM. Things happened very quickly after that. The Judge said, since I did not work as I was a housewife, (all the years of working side-by-side I never took a paycheck) the fact that Nick didn’t show up in Court, the Judge considered him Guilty. And Nick was the only bread winner, all of the Bills would be his responsibilty!
The Judge warned that this was going to be complicated. I had better find some money fast, so he suggested that I go to Displaced Homemaker School Program and Financial Aid and that this was all temporary… until the next and final trial date on MARCH 21. One Year From Now.
The Judge shook his head. He slowly looked up and said, in a nasal droning voice one more word.
“NEXT.”