Julio – The Growing Years

 by: Miguel Sanchez

© 2006-2008 by the author

The author retains all rights. No reproductions are allowed without the author's consent. Comments are appreciated at...

Matt and I went out to the garage then hurried off to court. The drive took us about 30 minutes get to the courthouse and another 10 to find a parking place and get to the building. We went inside then we had to find Vikki. She was coming out of the ADA’s office and spotted us walking down the hall. She started waving towards us pointing to the courtroom. We met outside the door and she smiled at us. “Are you guys ready for today?”

Chapter 63

Matt was about to answer when we saw Barbara and Casey Miller walking down the hall. Matt ran over towards Casey. “Dad, why are you here?”

I was about to wonder the same thing when it dawned on me that Martha had entered into a plea and that Matt would then be free to be adopted. Casey picked his youngest up hugging him. I saw him look at Barbara then wink at her. “Well, it was because of a special young man but I guess honey, he has out grown us as parents already.”

I saw the look on Matt’s face and I had to fight to keep from laughing. “Huh? I don’t want, hey of course I still want you as my Mom and Dad.”

Cindy and I were in stitches. “He got ya kiddo.”

He wiggled down then ran over to me. I scooped him up into my arms. “Not funny Pop.”

I kissed him on the cheek. “The expression on your face was priceless.”

He finally realized he’d been had. “OK, ok, you got me. Now let’s get inside so you both can keep me.”

Matt went back and took Barbara and Casey’s hand and headed inside the courtroom. They looked good together as a family and it made me think back to the times when my boys were little. Sometimes it would be a race to see which of the 3 got to my hands first. For the longest time, they would always want to hold my hand when we went out. By the time we’d gotten to the states, they realized that they were now home and no one would ever try and hurt them again.

Martha Davis’ case was the first one on the docket so Cindy took her place at the prosecution’s table. “All rise, this court is now in session, the Honorable Judge Harold Warren presiding.”

We were all standing as Judge Warren came out of his chambers then took his seat. He banged his gavel then we all sat down. “Alright Bailiff, what’s our first case today?”

He picked up the top file then handed it to the judge. “This is The Commonwealth vs. Martha Davis.”

Just then Martha was led in from the holding area. Judge Warren looked at the file then up to Cindy. “I see a plea agreement has been reached, Ms. Wells?”

Cindy stood then looked at Martha. “Yes we have Your Honor.”

Judge Warren then looked at Martha. “Please stand Ms. Davis.”

She stood along with her lawyer. “Yes Your Honor?”

The judge looked at the charges. “You are charged with one count each of child abuse, child sexual assault and child endangerment. How do you plead?”

She looked over at Barbara, Casey and Matt sitting in the front row. I watched as she put a scowl on her face then turned looking back at the judge. “Guilty, Your Honor.”

The judge made a notation. “Now Ms. Davis you will tell the court how you went about making your son sick.”

Her head snapped over looking at Cindy who had a grin on her face. “WHAT?”

“You will allocute your crimes Ms. Davis,” Judge Warren informed her. “This is part of your plea agreement.”

She was still glaring at Cindy. “You think you’re smart don’t you?”

I could tell Cindy was laughing to beat the band inside but she held her professional demeanor. “It was right there in the documents you signed.”

Martha looked up to the judge, “No way.”

Judge Warren looked back. “Are you sure about this?”

Martha looked back over to Cindy who was pulling another file out of her briefcase. Martha remembered what Cindy had told her and realized she was in a no win situation. “Alright, you win damn it.”

Judge Warren took the lead. “How and why did you make your child sick Ms. Davis?”

Matt moved over and sat in between Barbara and me. “That kid of mine IS sick. He’d go around the house constantly touching and pulling at himself to the point I was fed up with it. Time and time again I’d take a ruler and slap him across the knuckles telling him that thing was filthy so one day I decided to put something I’d gotten for my diarrhea into his food. After a few doses he was plugged up tight. He started complaining so I went to the drug store and got an enema bag. He begged and pleaded with me not to but I told him that’s what he got for playing with that disgusting thing between his legs.”

I looked over at Matt and tears were streaming down his face. He looked up at me then buried his face into my chest as he continued to sob. I eased him onto my lap. “Why Papa Doc, why does she hate me so much?”

Judge Warren stopped her. “So what caused you to have to bring him to the hospital?”

Martha looked down. “He had gotten used to me giving him enemas and it was as if he was enjoying them so I started increasing the amount of medicine I put into his food and water. The last time he was doubled over in so much pain I couldn’t hold him still to shove the hose up his ass. Once Dr. Know-it-all got him cleaned, he started playing with himself right there in the hospital so it was time to teach him another lesson but I got careless.”

Judge Warren stopped her again. “I’ve heard enough. Ms. Davis, your actions are without a doubt some of the most reprehensible I’ve ever heard in all my years on the bench. According to the terms of the plea agreement, you also have signed away your parental rights and recommended that Barbara and Casey Miller adopt him.”

She started shaking her head no. “I’ve changed my mind about that.”

Cindy looked at her. “That’s part of the plea agreement Ms. Davis. If you refuse that then you refuse the whole plea.”

Again she knew she was between a rock and a hard place. “Fine, let them have the little bastard.”

BANG, BANG, BANG “That will cost you $100 Ms. Davis.”

Matt giggled when the judge issued the fine. I leaned down and kissed him on the side of his head. “Don’t get carried away son, even though it was funny.”

The judge looked out into the gallery. “Are Mr. and Mrs. Miller in the courtroom?”

Both stood. “Yes Your Honor, my wife is the Director of Social Services.”

The judge nodded his head. “It’s nice to meet you sir. Is Matt Davis present too?”

I helped him off my lap. “Yes sir judge, I’m here.”

The jurist smiled. “Mr. and Mrs. Miller, is it still your desire to adopt this young man?”

Before either of them could answer, Martha started showing her ass as he tried to exit the courtroom. “I’m not hanging around for this fucking shit, take me back to my cell now.”

BANG, BANG, BANG! “That will cost you another $100. Now, you will stand there until I tell you to leave, is that understood?”

She glared at him, “Yeah, whatever.”

Judge Warren had had enough. “Bailiff, gag her immediately.”

The burley bailiff came over and put a gag in the woman’s mouth as Matt stood there laughing. He was about to speak but I quickly put my hand across his mouth leaning down to his ear. “I know it’s funny son but you don’t want to get into trouble either.”

He looked up at me still giggling. “OK Papa Doc.”

“As I was saying, is it still your intention to adopt Matt Davis?”

Barbara stepped up. “Yes it is Your Honor. I do not see how anyone could not love this wonderful boy.”

The jurist nodded his head. “Matt, do you still wish to continue and have Mr. and Mrs. Miller become your new parents?”

Matt stepped over in between them. “Oh yes sir it is.”

The judge made another notation. “Very well then, Matt I would like to have a few words with you in my chambers.”

Matt looked up at Barbara and Casey and started to shake. “Umm, y yes s sir.”

Barbara leaned down and kissed him on the cheek. “It’s alright son, he just wants to talk with you; you’re not in any trouble.”

Judge Warren could see the fear in Matt’s eyes. “Matt, how about you come up here with me?”

He looked up at me and I just smiled. “It’s OK son, go ahead.”

Matt eased himself out then went through the rail walking towards the bench. He climbed the steps and stood beside Judge Warren. “Mrs. Miller is right Matt, you’re not in any trouble. We normally like to talk with children who are being adopted in private just to ask them some questions away from everyone. It lets them relax and we don’t try to put any pressure on them. I have a few questions I’d like to ask and we can do it in chambers or, if you’d like, we can do it right here.”

Matt looked out at us trying to search for an answer. “Matt, where ever you feel the most comfortable son.” I said hoping the judge wouldn’t fine me.

I could see him relax after he heard that. “If it’s all the same to you Judge sir, can we talk right here?”

Judge Warren smiled nodding his head. “That’ll be fine. Now, how did you feel when your mother was doing those things to you?”

Matt stared at Martha as tears started to roll down his face then he started shaking his head. “At first, I couldn’t figure out what I was doing wrong.”

“What do you mean son?” The judge asked in a fatherly tone.

“I mean sometimes when my thing itched and I went to rub it, she’d hit me telling me it was a nasty thing to do and that boys never ever touched it but it didn’t make sense. When I was in school and had to use the bathroom, other boys would take theirs out and hold it so they wouldn’t send pee flying everywhere. One time I saw her scratch herself and I asked her about it.”

“What did she say?”

Matt was beginning to openly sob now. The bailiff brought him a box of tissues so he could wipe his eyes and blow his nose. He then started staring at Martha. “She hit me across the face with the back of her hand. If you look close you’ll see a small scar.”

Judge Warren joined Matt in staring at the woman as he wrapped his arm around the boy. “What about when you couldn’t go to the bathroom, how did you feel when she started giving you an enema?”

The tome in Matt’s voice changed to one of pure hatred. “At that point I didn’t care because I hurt so bad.”

“What about when you went to the hospital?”

That brought a smile to his face as he looked right at me. “That’s when I met Papa Doc.”

“Papa Doc?” The judge asked questioningly.

Matt nodded his head. “Umm, well that’s what I call him now. I’m talking about Dr. Sanchez.”

“Why do call him Papa Doc?”

Matt giggled. “Well, when I met him the first time I was in a lot of pain. My stomach hurt so bad and he told me what was wrong and that he’d have to give me one of those enema things. When he said that I started crying and then SHE said she’d do it. I didn’t want that so I told Papa, I mean Dr. Sanchez, it was OK if he did. When Dr. Sanchez told her she had to leave she started talking real nasty to him but she finally did but not before reaching under my covers and squeezing me real hard.”

Now this was the first he’d ever mentioned that and I could see the look of shock on the judge’s face. “I know this might be embarrassing Matt but please tell us where she hurt you.”

He stood up so Martha could see then put his hand right on his groin rubbing it. “Right here, she squeezed my balls hard.”

Judge Warren made yet another note on the file then he wrapped his arms back around Matt’s waist. “I’m really sorry about this son. Please go on.”

“Well, after she left, Dr. Sanchez got this little bottle that didn’t look anything like what she used. He told me it would feel a little uncomfortable but shouldn’t hurt. I didn’t know weather to believe him or not but he’d been treating me really nice so I kinda believed him. He talked to me every step of the way and it didn’t hurt. After he gave it to me and I took a dump, I really felt better. The next day he said I was OK and I could go home.”

“How did you feel about going home?” Judge Warren asked.

Matt frowned. “I really didn’t want to. Dr. Sanchez treated me nice and I wasn’t hurting in my stomach but no sooner than was I back home when she started hitting me with the ruler again. Papa Doc, I never told you this but one time when I was in the bath, she saw me washing my penis. She got really mad and got the ruler. She told me to stand up and when I held out my hands, she told me to put them behind my head. She, she hit my p p.”

Matt totally broke down falling against Judge Warren’s chest. Martha turned around and had a little sadistic smile on her face. Judge Warren comforted Matt. “You just have.”

Matt interrupted Judge Warren. “When I was at the hospital the last time, Dr. Sanchez and I talked and he told me there was nothing wrong with what I was doing. He said it was perfectly normal. Do you hear that lady, perfectly normal. He got me into foster care and became my foster Dad, that’s why I call him Papa Doc.”

Martha ripped the gag out of her mouth. “You’re all sick and twisted.”

Matt stood and with a look of total disgust on his face spoke right to Martha. “I’m sick and twisted? Who was hitting who lady.”

“I’M YOUR MOTHER!” Martha shouted.

“MY MOTHER,” Matt shouted back. “You’re NOT my mother. Maybe you’re the person who gave birth to me but you’ve never been my mother and you never will be. In the short amount of time I’ve been with Barbara and Casey, Barbara has shown me more love, attention and affection that you have since I can remember. You’re the sick and twisted one lady and I use that term VERY loosely. Judge sir, YES I want Barbara and Casey Miller to be my new Mom and Dad. Now, I have a question, can I have my last name changed to Miller? Just saying the name Davis turns my stomach.”

The judge let Matt have his say. “Mr. and Mrs. Miller, do you have any problem with Matt’s name being changed to Miller?”

I watched as they looked at each other then Casey looked at the Judge. “It will be a little confusing with our eldest son also being Matt but we don’t have a problem with it at all. In fact, we’d be honored for him to have our last name.”

Judge Warren looked at Matt. “Do you have a middle name?

Matt nodded his head. “Yes sir, it’s Steven.”

Cindy reached into her briefcase and pulled out the adoption forms then approached the bench. “Your Honor, here are the adoption papers for your signature.”

The jurist looked them over then spoke. “I’ve looked the petition for adoption over and after listening to the defendant; it is the order of this court that Casey and Barbara Miller are the legal adoptive parents of Matthew Steven Davis. It is also the order of this court that his sir name be changed to that of Miller. His legal name is now Matthew Steven Miller.”

Matt ran down the steps straight for Barbara, “Mommy.”

As Barbara held her arms out, Martha looked over at Cindy. “Are you happy now?”

BANG, BANG, BANG! “Order Ms. Davis. I’ve read the plea agreement and according to the terms you will serve no more than 5 years. Martha Davis, you are hereby sentenced to a term of 10 years in the State Prison for Women with 5 years suspended and to then be placed on supervised probation for another 5 years. It is also the order of this court that you are to be fined the amount of $100,000.00, which MUST be paid in full before you are released from probation. For your contempt of court, I’m adding an additional 1 year to your sentence which means you will serve 6 years total. I am also placing an order in here that you are to have no contact with Matt until he reaches his majority providing that is what he wishes.”

“What?” Martha shouted. “That’s not what the plea states.”

Judge Warren banged his gavel. “Fines are not part of any plea as those are imposed by the court. Your mouth gave you an additional year which will be served in the city jail before you are transferred to a state facility to begin serving that time.”

She looked over at her lawyer. “Don’t just sit there on your fat ass, do something.”

Harry had had more than enough. “Look, every time you’ve opened your mouth, you’ve shoved your foot in it. I can’t do anything because I can’t have a contempt charge challenged. You did that all by your self now I suggest you sit down and shut up before you end up with even more time on your hands.”

Martha stood there with her mouth hanging open but then sank down into her seat. Judge Warren looked out at Casey, Barbara and Matt who were huddled close together. “Mr. and Mrs. Miller, I do hope Matt can have a happy childhood now. Matt, again I’m sorry for what you had to go through but you now have a loving family, I wish you all the best. Dr. Sanchez, this court thanks you for your diligence in finding the cause of Matt’s illness and bringing it to the attention of the authorities. Bailiff, take control of Ms. Davis and return her to a holding cell. This court is now adjourned.”

Martha was being led to the door when she turned and looked at Cindy. “Looks like you got your wish bitch. You took my faggot kid from me which is really no big loss. He’ll be out there shaking his ass for the world.”

“SHUT UP!” Matt screamed. “I’m glad I’m finally away from you. Now I have REAL parents who love me for me and would NEVER think of trying to hurt me. Just go away!”

Tears were falling down Matt’s face as Casey picked him up. “She’s out of your life now son. Let’s get out of here so you can start your new one.”

That brought a quick smile to his face. “Oh geez Dad, can I go back home with Papa Doc?”

Casey looked surprised. “I thought you’d want to come home with us son.”

Matt turned red. “I do Dad but Gerald is at Miguel’s and his Dad punched him hard in the leg. He’s got a nasty bruise on it so bad he couldn’t go to school today.”

Casey looked at me. “How bad is it Miguel?”

“Well he should be able to start school tomorrow. It started cramping him during the night and I had to give him some medication. He was still a little groggy this morning so I thought it best he take it easy. Matt and Joey are with him now.”

Casey set Matt on his feet. “OK son, you can stay tonight and ride the bus with Gerald tomorrow but I want you home after school.”

I could see Matt wasn’t too happy with that. “Son, school has to come first. The same thing holds true for Gerald but there are the weekends.”

The brought a huge smile to his face. “Can we?”

Barbara ruffled his hair. “That depends on if you have done your work during the week without us having to get on you. I’m sure Miguel will say the same about Gerald and his work.”

Cindy had her things packed into her briefcase. “I have another hearing to handle. I’m glad this case is now closed”

The 5 of us left the courtroom and we watched as Cindy headed for her next case. “Come on Matt, I want to get home so I can see how Gerald’s doing. Can you bring some school clothes over so he’ll have something for tomorrow?”

Barbara nodded as she leaned down to kiss Matt. “Sure thing Miguel, Matt, you will be going to school tomorrow weather or not Gerald is able to. Do we understand each other?”

I saw a little frown come over his face but he knew this was a battle he couldn’t win. “OK Mom, I’ll go to school tomorrow.”

Matt and I hurried home and when we arrived we didn’t see anyone in the living room but heard giggles coming from down the hall. We followed the laughter and there were Gerald, big Matt and Joey playing a video game. Gerald was still in his boxers. “Come on Matt, you can do better than that chump.”

Joey reached over and started tickling Gerald’s stomach sending him into a fit of giggles. Matt saw this and jumped in trying to rescue his boyfriend. “No fair turkeys.”

Big Matt grabbed his brother giving his some of the same torture. “Turkeys huh, then try this.”

Matt was helpless. “Help Papa Doc, I’m being molested.”

I couldn’t help but laugh. “You got yourself into it son, now figure a way out.”

I left the children to play while I went out to the kitchen to get some lunch made. Once that was done, I called everyone to eat. After lunch, Joey and Matt had to get home so I found a movie on the tube. The next day, Gerald was able to go to school so I drove him and Matt because I had to give the school my foster parent information on Gerald.

Gerald was an excellent student and he and Matt were in several classes together. They had math, science, history and PE together along with the same lunch period. About 2 weeks into the year, I got a call from the PE teacher. “Mr. Sanchez, this is Mr. Donavan, Gerald’s PE teacher.”

School was still going on so I was concerned that Gerald could have been injured. “What’s the problem? Was Gerald hurt?”

“No sir, nothing like that but I think we should discuss this in person.”

Now I was really worried. “I’ll be there right away.”

I grabbed my jacket and keys then hurried over to the school. I signed in then made my way to the boy’s locker room. I found the teacher’s office and was surprised to see Gerald sitting there as I went inside. “Pop,” Gerald shouted as he came up to hug me.

The teacher tried to reach for him but I turned putting myself in between him and my boy. “Now, what’s the problem?”

To be continued...

Posted: 07/25/08