The Lost Boy

perfectly upright as I strained to remember everything Lilian and Gordon had fed me. I nodded to Lilian, who sat behind me, and I smiled to her. As I turned away from her, I saw Mother sitting to the right of me in one of the front-row seats. I closed my eyes for a moment to make sure they weren’t playing tricks on me. But when I opened them, I could see Mother cradling Kevin in her arms.
    My feelings of confidence evaporated. “She’s here!” I whispered to Gordon.
    “Yeah, and remember, keep your cool, ” he warned.
    Moments later my case number was announced. I squirmed in my seat before stealing a glance at Mother. My lawyer, whom I had met only a few minutes earlier in the outer chamber, stood up, rattling off dates and other official-sounding numbers and statements so fast that I wasn’t sure whether everything he stated was about my case or someone else’s.
    The judge acknowledged my lawyer after he returned to his seat. From my right, another man in a dark suit cleared his throat before he spoke. Gordon leaned over and tapped me on the knee. “No matter what he says, keep your cool. Don’t smile, don’t move and don’t show any emotion.”
    “Your Honor, on or about the week of January 10, the minor, David Pelzer, after extensive premeditation, did knowingly commit arson and attempted to burn a classroom at the Monte Cristo Elementary School …”
    A slow panic began to consume my body.
    “The minor, Your Honor, has an extensive history of extreme rebellious behaviour. You have the brief from the minor’s psychiatrist, as well as statements from the minor’s teacher and staff members of Monte Cristo Elementary. I have statements from the minor’s former social worker, who also claims that ‘while David’s naivete can be rather enchanting, he does, at times, require close supervision. While residing under the most liberal foster conditions, David has displayed
aggressive behavior toward others
and
has,
on occasion,
been argumentative and disruptive
while in foster care.’”
    I sank into my seat. The same building that had granted me freedom would now be my doom. After an eternity the other lawyer thanked the judge before taking his seat, then nodded to Mother.
    “Did you see that?” I asked, nudging Gordon.
    “Shh, ” he warned, “don’t blow it!”
    “Rebuttal?” the judge, sounding bored, asked in my direction.
    “Your Honor, ” my lawyer chuckled as he stood up, “Ms Gold’s statement is taken totally out of context. I submit that his Honor take the time to read the entire text. As for the charge of arson, the case has been founded on purely circumstantial evidence. While David was initially the suspect for the charge, I have in my possession statements attesting to the fact that David
stopped the spread of the fire set by another minor.
As for behavior reports while under detention, David has been, and I quote, ‘exceptional.’ As for David’s foster placement, the Catanzes eagerly await David’s return. Thank you, Your Honor.”
    The judge scribbled down some notes before nodding at the other lawyer, who sprang from his seat. “Your Honor, while no direct corroboration has
yet
been made, the minor
has
an established pattern of
extreme
dysfunctional behavior. In addition, I have a signed affidavit, from the minor’s biological mother, Mrs Pelzer, stating that the minor
has
set several fires in the basement of his former residence. Mrs Pelzer regrettably confesses that she could not control the minor under any normal conditions, and that the minor
is
extremely manipulative and harbors violent tendencies. Please review the order transferring custody, dated last March.
    “Your Honor, it has become dramatically apparent, for whatever reason, that the minor cannot be managed in his former home setting or in foster care. The county believes that the minor is an extreme burden to society. The county hereby recommends the minor to be immediately admitted to psychiatric evaluation for possible admission into a facility that can best support his needs.”
    “What does all that mean?” I asked Gordon, after the lawyer was through. Before Gordon could even hush me, the judge rubbed his temples and asked, “Juvenile probation?”
    Mr Hutchenson buttoned his coat as he stood. “Probation recommends continued monitoring and consultation from a different psychiatrist. I have seen nothing to make me believe that David is a threat to himself or to others. I recommend replacement