Chapter 11 - Ruby’s Day in Court
Ruby was seven by trial.
The case took nearly a year.
Her left eye no longer needed bandage.
She wore protective glasses with lightly tinted left lens.
Vision remained limited, shapes and color, little detail.
She had learned compensate.
She read.
Ran.
Bumped less.
She hated people asking.
The judge cleared unnecessary spectators during her testimony.
No television cameras.
I sat where she could see me, but not coach.
Mr. Buttons in lap.
The prosecutor began:
“What's your teddy bear’s name?”
“Mr. Buttons.”
“Does he have a last name?”
Ruby frowned.
“No. That’s weird.”
A few smiles.
Then:
“Do you know difference between truth and lie?”
“Yes.”
Then cake.
Grandma permission.
Vanessa.
“She called me disgusting little thief.”
Then hair.
Ruby touched back of own head.
“She grabbed.”
“What happened next?”
“My face hit table.”
“Did you trip before she grabbed?”
“No.”
“Did you choose to put face on table?”
“No.”
Then prior arm bruise.
“She squeezed.”
“Did you tell Mom?”
“I said swing.”
“Why?”
“Grandma told.”
“Why did you listen?”
“Because Grandma said Mom would get mad and we couldn’t come back.”
Then threat.
“Did Vanessa say something scary?”
Ruby looked at my sister across courtroom.
Vanessa stared down.
“She said if I touched stuff again, she’d kill me.”
“Did you think she meant it?”
“I didn’t know.”
Then:
“Did anyone tell you what to say today?”
“No.”
“What did Mom say?”
“Tell truth and say don't know if I don't know.”
Good.
Then defense.
Gentle tone.
“Ruby, Aunt Vanessa was angry about cake?”
“Yes.”
“You were climbing down chair?”
“I was down.”
Video corroborates.
“Could you have slipped?”
“No.”
“Did Aunt Vanessa say she meant to hurt eye?”
“No.”
Important.
“Did she ever say she wanted you blind?”
“No.”
Then:
“You still love Grandma?”
Ruby looked at judge, confused.
The prosecutor objected relevance.
Judge sustained.
Defense moved.
“Did Grandma ever hit you?”
“No.”
“Grandpa?”
“No.”
“Aunt Vanessa?”
“Yes.”
“How many times?”
Ruby thought.
“Table. Arm. Hair hurt.”
“Hair brushing?”
“Yes.”
“Did she hit you with hand before table?”
“No.”
Precise.
Then:
“Sometimes you tell imaginary stories?”
Ruby smiled faintly.
“About dragons.”
“So you make things up.”
“Dragons aren't real.”
“Do you ever say things that didn’t happen?”
Ruby thought.
“Sometimes when playing.”
“Are you playing now?”
“No.”
That line landed.
Then defense showed bruise from school? The judge limited irrelevant.
Then Ruby asked if done.
“Yes.”
She stood.
Vanessa whispered:
“Ruby.”
The judge immediately:
“Ms. Walker, do not address witness.”
Ruby froze.
Then walked out.
In hallway she threw up.
I held hair.
She cried:
“I did bad.”
“No.”
“Aunt Vanessa looked sad.”
“You are not responsible.”
Then:
“Will she go jail because me?”
“Court decides because of what adults did and evidence.”
She repeated:
“Evidence.”
May you like
Then went home with Amy so I could return trial.
My testimony next.
