Honor Thy Mother & Thy Father Ch. 13

"Thank you Alan; Cassandra is in the kitchen."

Cassandra saw Alan walk in without Callum, and asked where he was.

Susan told them that Callalily and Harold had Callum for the week. Harold was 10 years older than Callalily, and he never had to deal with children running around him all day and night. This was a practice session to get him used to the idea. If he really wanted to marry her, he had to get used the idea of having children. Callaway wanted a family, and that was a deal breaker.

As they sat down for coffee and cake, Alan offered to help serve. Cassandra took the coffee to the table, as Alan plated the cake, and served everyone. Before he sat down, he reached into his pocket, took out a small cloth tape measure and a marking pen. He walked over to Sergeant; put the tape against his jaw and measures up to his right temple. He marked that spot with a yellow X. The women looked at him and asked, "What are you doing?"

Alan smiled and said, "I didn't want to miss the spot I am going to hit him when your baby is born. He fractured my skull on the day Callum was born. I am going to return the favor."

Sergeant replied, "With your puny hand, you couldn't break in egg."

"I didn't say I was going to use my hand, but a 5 pound sledgehammer will do the job nicely."

Susan said, "Boys, stop it this instant, or I will put you both in timeout."

Alan looked at Susan, stamped his foot like a child, and said, "Mommy, you never let me have any fun."

"Boys, they grow up to the men, but they always remain little boys."

Cassandra said, "I married your cousin, do you think I haven't realize that by now?"

"No, you married the prime example. I love him to death, but sometimes I think I should have shot him years ago. He can handle anything that comes at him, as long as it is not wearing a skirt. The only person that can walk into his office unannounced is Amanda. She walks in there, tells him what to do, and he does it. She runs that department, not him. He takes care of his men. He fills out the forms she tells him to, and then brings them back to him to correct his mistakes. When she is satisfied, she makes him out an original, and has him sign it. It may be a man's world, but women run it."

Cassandra said, "There is one more piece of news to celebrate tonight. Sarge is finally turning in his retirement forms. I am going to have him all to myself from now on."

Alan applauded, while Susan got up from her chair went over to her cousin and hugged him. "It's about time you got your priorities straight. Alan and I have a surprise for you. We were going to wait until next week to tell you, but now seems to be the perfect time. First, cousin, I want you to know that this was Alan's idea, and I wholeheartedly agree with it. We are going to build you a house on our property. This house is too small for a baby. There is no room for it to grow up and play in. Next week, after your sonogram, when we know if there are 6 babies, or 10 inside you, we will have an architect come out and look at the land. Then we will decide where to put your home, and have the architect draw up plans that fit the area and your dreams. Sergeant knows that money is not a problem. We have not touched it in so many years, it has grown exponentially. We are going to love having you as neighbors."

Cassandra was so overwhelmed she started to cry. Susan comforted her and told her, "Crying is no good for your baby; only smiles will do. Starting next week, you will know how many times you have to multiply those smiles by."

58. Payback is a Bitch!

Callaway's father, James Hammermann, had been released from jail, on $150,000 bail. One the provision of the bail agreement was he could not leave Cottonwood, until his trial was over. No date for the trial was set, because he wanted to obtain his own attorney. In order to obtain the money for his bail, he signed the deed to his property, as surety, to Patricia's lawyer. She owned the mortgage on his home and no liens on the property were allowed.

Just as Patricia knew he would, James Hammermann left the confines of Cottonwood, and drove to Sedona for a weekend of partying. There was an altercation in a nightclub, and even though he was not involved, the police took his name address, and driver's license number. They ran it through their computers, found out he was out on bail, and his restrictions. They arrested him and put him in jail, until he could be returned to Cottonwood. His bond was revoked, and he lost his home in Texas. When his trial date approached, he had no funds for his own attorney. He accepted a plea agreement that gave him a minimum and maximum amount of years he would serve in prison. His lawyer told him if he went in front of a jury and they showed the pictures of his wife's battered body, from their divorce decree, he could do much worse. It would be up to the judge to set the actual years he would have to serve in prison.

On the day he stood in court before the judge, he was told what rights he was giving away, and wanted Hammermann to tell him why he was standing in front of him today.

In the front row of the courtroom sat the entire Callaway family. Behind them sat every friend the Callaway's had in Cottonwood and the surrounding area, plus many patients Callalily attended at her hospital. The courtroom was filled to overflowing, and the judge could not understand why all these people were here for a simple elocution by a man who was charged with abandoning his family after a divorce.

After 1 hour and 15 minutes listening to this man talk about his crimes against his family, and what he had done in his business dealings in Texas, the judge had a better understanding of this man's lack of character. He set aside sentencing for 30 days, to give the Department of Corrections, his court-appointed lawyer, and the prosecution time to give him their recommendations for sentencing.

What he received surprised him. The Public Defender asked for maximum of eight years. This was a domestic crime, not a criminal case. No lawyer would ever ask for that much time for his client in a case like this.

When he saw the recommendation from the prosecution, he nearly fell out of his seat. They requested 18 years in a maximum-security prison. Who did they think this man was; 'a serial killer?'

There were 213 letters, from friends of the family, requesting that he subject Hammermann the maximum amount of prison time allowed by law. Some letters requested the death penalty for what he did to the family. They explained how the family had to exist on the charity of others in the community, or they would have starved, because he left them with nothing. He emptied their bank accounts, he took their car, and he didn't even leave them enough money to buy food. It took them months to get on public assistance, and even that was not enough to feed three mouths, pay the rent, and have a telephone.

The judge read every letter; some were from local attorneys, who knew the family, and had aided them during their time of need. They were the harshest critics of all, although their language was more eloquent. When he finished reading the letters, he had to remind himself that the state had no death penalty, because he was furious. He thanked the Congress of the United States and the State of Arizona for having sentence guidelines that he had to use as a reference to sentence this man. At least it tempered his judgment, when the time came to send this man to prison.

The judge scheduled James Hammermann's sentencing for 3 PM on a Friday afternoon. It was the last item scheduled on the docket for that day.

The lineup for seats in the courthouse started at 11 AM, and the police had to stop people from getting in line by 11:30 AM. The courthouse could not handle any more. The Callaway's went let in first, with Alan, Susan, Sergeant Cassandra, and Harold. After that the police let 10 people in at a time until the courthouse was filled to the legal limit.

James Hammermann was brought in in handcuffs along with his attorney. As soon as he was settled, the judge entered the courtroom and called everyone to order. He asked James Hammermann if he had anything to say before he passed sentence.

He responded, "No Your Honor, I have nothing else to say."

The judge looked at the Callaway family and asked if anyone would like to say anything, before he passed judgment.

Claire, Callalily's older sister, said, "Yes Your Honor, I would like to say something for my family."

The judge said, "I know this is going to be very difficult for you. You have the option of talking directly to me, or turning the podium and talking directly to the man who was your father. The choice is yours."

"Thank you Your Honor." She turned the podium and looked directly at him.

He avoided her eyes, and looked straight ahead.

"Look at me you chicken shit son of a bitch."

The crowd roared, but the judge pounded his gavel to bring the court to order.

"Miss Callaway, watch your language, please."

"Yes Your Honor. I was seven years old when you abandoned us. I had four dresses, three pair of slacks and three blouses. You were supposed to feed us, and pay mom every month, until we turned 18 years old. You were supposed to pay for our medical expenses, and mom never saw a dime. Callie was three years old, 3, and you didn't give a damn. You hit mom for no reason, and I remember every time you did it. I remember the black and blue marks on her arms and on her face. What was her crime; dinner wasn't ready on time. It didn't matter that one of us was sick. It didn't matter that something had gone wrong in the house, and she had to fix it, because you couldn't be bothered to fix it yourself. You wanted dinner on the table when you got home, and nothing else mattered. Mom suffered and you couldn't care less. Divorcing you was the best thing she could have done, and the courts agreed. We showed them the pictures of her bruised body, and they wanted to throw you in jail. Mom said to them, "If you throw him in jail, there will be no one to help pay our bills." So they let you stay out of jail, because of mom. How did you repay her kindness? You ran away with everything. She worked two jobs and we still couldn't make it from week to week. If it wasn't for our neighbors and friends, who are here with us today, we would be dead. Where would you be now; living in your mansion in Texas, with your 14 McDonald's restaurants, adding to your millions of dollars in hidden money? Well, now you have none of it. Mom owns your businesses. A friend owns your home. The money is spread out between the three of us. Thanks to all these people here today, we are still alive to watch this happen to you. There is only one thing that I wish I could do that I never learned because of you. I still can't cook. Why, because all the years after you left us, we lived out of cans. Three of us shared a can of tuna fish. Three of us shared a can of cold chicken noodle soup. Three of us shared a can of this or that. I was 16 years old before I learned to cook an egg, and I burned it beyond recognition. It was inedible. Nearly all my food is inedible, because I never got a chance to learn how to do it properly. I hope, when the judge sends you to prison, someone picks you as their girlfriend. I hope he keeps you for a very long time, because you deserve to be fucked, just like you fucked us."

The judge broke his gavel, because he could not stop the people in the courtroom from screaming, and applauding Claire's speech. Her husband, Doctor Ted Vincennes was the first to kiss and congratulate her when she returned to her seat. Her mother, Catherine was next, and she had tears in her eyes, because her daughter was so eloquent. Callalily was next. She hugged her sister and held her closely. She said, "I will never complain about your food again."

The judge said, "Mister Hammermann, please rise, I am ready pass judgment."

"Mister Hammermann, it is my opinion that if I set you free, at this moment, you would not be able to walk out of this city whole. I don't believe you have a friend here, and each person in it would want a piece of you, before you depart. What you did to your family is an abomination. I saw your divorce decree, but I did not see the pictures of your wife's battered body. I will take your daughters word for it. Spousal abuse is one of the most detestable crimes I can think of. For a woman with two small children at her hips, and a husband who hit her senselessly, that would be enough for me to send him to prison for 20 years. However the sentencing guidelines will not allow me do it. That is how the government in its wisdom has made the playing field level for all criminals. It takes the anger away from the judge's judgment. I have read more than 200 letters from the people in this city, some of them from very influential people. They have asked me to throw you in jail for the rest of your natural life. I have never seen an outpouring of sympathy for one family and hatred for the accused in all my years on the bench.

Your crimes are very serious in the eyes of the law and in the eyes of God. I can only take care of what the law says. God will take care of you in his own time. Mister Hammermann, this Court finds you guilty and sentences you to a minimum of 15 years in prison, and a maximum of no more than 25 years. The sentencing guidelines allow me to do that, and I have. The Department of corrections will decide in which prison you will spend your time. This court is adjourned."

The courthouse erupted in applause. James Hammermann looked over his shoulder at his former family, with an evil smile. As the court officer was taking him away, he said, "I hope you all eat shit and die."

Furious, Callalily ran around the front rail and went after him.

Susan yelled, "Stop her Alan."

Alan was at the end of the row. He stepped into the aisle and lunged at her as she went charging by. He hit her, and she went down. He rolled onto the floor, as the rest of her family went to control her.

Alan was on the floor, groaning in pain.

Doctor Vincennes went to him and said, "Great tackle Alan, where does it hurt."

"I think I broke my neck."

"Don't move I will call the paramedics. They will be here soon."

Doctor Vincennes went over to his sister-in-law and said, "Nurse, stop fucking around; you have a patient."

"What patient Doctor?"

"The man who saved your damn license is lying on the floor, with a possible broken neck."

"Alan!"

Susan turned her head and saw her husband lying on the floor, writhing in pain.

Callaway was up instantly, and was by Alan's side in a heartbeat. She said to him, "Didn't they teach you how to tackle, when you were in grade school."

Alan groaned. "Yes they did; but I did not have to tackle a runaway train. Leave me alone Callaway; I want a different nurse. Every time I see you something bad happens to me."

"You would not know what to do without me as your nurse, shit face. Your days would be boring. Whose cold hands would wake you up in the middle of the night to take your blood pressure."

"I don't know how Harold puts up with you. He must be a vampire and does not feel the cold at all."

"Does it look like my neck has any fang marks on it?"

"You could be covering then with makeup."

"Okay Alan, stay still the medics are here. They will put a brace on your neck and take you to the hospital. If we are lucky we will only have to take your head off."

"I just want you to know that I left Callum a note in his 'Memory Box.' He is to open it when he is 13 years old. It contains a lot of memorabilia about his birth, and other things that I need him to know just in case I am not around. There is one thing I had to make sure he know. I knew you wanted him to know it too. I told him from that year on that he was allowed to have sex with his godmother. She would be more than happy to train him, because of his size."

"Tell me you didn't do that Alan, or you will not make it onto that backboard."

"I am in such a vulnerable position right now Callaway. With a simple twist of my neck you could get rid of me forever. Why would I lie to you? My son, because of his tremendous gifts, will need the best training available, and you are an expert in that field. I'm sure Harold wouldn't mind sharing you with him."

Callaway was getting ready to scream, when a paramedic moved her aside, and began positioning the brace around Alan's neck.

Susan saw the redness in Callaway's face, and said, "What did my husband do to you this time?"

"He told me he put a letter into Callum 'Memory Box'. He tells Callum that it's fine to have sex with me anytime he wants after he is 13. He tells Callum, I will be happy to train him."

"Naturally you believed him."

"He said he was in such a vulnerable position that with a simple twist of his neck I could get rid of him forever. Why would he lie?"

"Callaway, at what age did you stop growing up? You are easier than my three-year-old to fool. Alan has your number and can pull your chain anytime he wants. Callum has no box."

"Callum has no 'Memory Box!' Are you sure? If you are, you are going to be a widow tonight Susan, because I am going to kill your husband."

"My husband saved you from losing your license."

"Damn that man! He gets my blood pressure up, and then he does something nice for me and I can't get even.

Susan said, "Give yourself a little time Callie, you will think of something."

Alan was still in the emergency room when Doctor Vincennes came in to give him the verdict. He said, "Good news Alan, you did not break your neck. You broke your clavicle."

"Can you give mine to Callaway and give me hers?"

"No Alan, you would look a little funny that way. It's a pretty straightforward procedure, because of its position. I have to go in there, put a sleeve around it and a couple of pins in to hold the bone in place, until it heals. Then I use a soldering iron and a flamethrower, and I'm done. Due to your advancing years you should be fine in two or three decades."

"Just don't let Callaway near the flamethrower. She will aim a little bit lower than necessary."

"We will do this first thing in the morning, I'll give you some pain medication, and something to help you sleep through the night. You will be home the follow morning. I will get you away from your antagonist as quickly as possible."

"Why Doc, she is so much fun."

"Don't let her hear you say that, she will not talk to you for a week."

"We can't possibly have that happen, can we?"

"I can't wait for her to have a baby. I want to see which one acts worse. It will be very close but my money is on Callie."

"There's the problem Doc; there will be no takers. Everybody's money will be on Callaway, unless we get some fool, from out of town to take the bets. At one year old the baby will be more advanced than her mother."

"I heard that Alan."

"Oh shit, she's here. Run for the hills Doctor, I bet she talked to my wife already."

"You bet your ass I did Alan. Memory Box my ass, you are dead man."

"Doctor, can I have my sleeping medication now. If I'm going to die, I would rather do it in my sleep."

"I could give her sleeping medication and put her in bed with you."

"I would die of hypothermia by morning. She is the coldest bitch I know."

"Alan, you are pushing your luck too far."

"I am going to leave you two children alone. I have to go home and try to eat dinner. I have a surprise for my wife."

Callaway said, "Why Doctor, the medication finally worked? You are able to get it up again."

"Getting it up Callaway has never been a problem. It's getting it in to the Callaway icebox, and keeping it up it is the problem."

"I am going to tell my sister you said that Doctor."

"I wasn't talking about my wife Callaway. I was referring to what Mister Robbins was telling me about hypothermia, and a certain female Irish nurse I was going to put in bed with him."