Hey There, You with Scar on Your Eye

Monday, April 11
Carl over-dressed for such a warm day. Although it was colder in the morning, it would be in the 70 by noon. A full lay day ahead. In addition to the bi-weekly Probation Report and meeting with his Civil Lawyer, Carl promised Ver Klempt and Clara to move their belongings to their new abode. 8:40 am. On the elevator to the sixth floor Carl recognized someone from the Community Service crew, N-----, the young woman who returned from vacation (vacation?).

"Hey, N-----, I knew I'd run into one of you here one day." I said. "Hey how are you, baby? Funny running into someone from the crew here." she said as she grabbed my arm and giving it a firm squeeze. A probation officer in the elevator rolled his eyes and mumbled "Good Lord." We walked through the metal dector, signed in and took our seats. I found out that she has 76 hours of Community Service. I have 70. "When do you think it'll be over?" she asked. I shrugged my shoulders. "Your guess is as good as mine." She complained about her PO, who was always arriving late and giving her misinformation. "You know she almost wouldn't let me go to my cousin's funeral? She wanted me to bring the tickets to her that day? She crazy? I had to catch a plane the next day!" she looked at her watch "She need to get here on time!" Mr. L--- called my name from the list. "See you Saturday." N----- is a pretty gril but she has a slight scar by her right eye. I noticed that most people on the crew have scars and bad teeth. One young man has a large burn mark behind his ear.

"Carl, so what's new?" He asked as we walked down the hall around the cubicles. I showed him my Anger Management diploma and he took it to make a copy. I explained that the parent company, Day Top Village, will be faxing him all transcripts. Another brief meeting. He logged me in and asked about the Children's Garden, I said I was still on Commuity Service so I will not be teaching this Spring. He nodded and gave me the next Probation Report day, April 28. "Did yesterday count as a home visit?" I asked. He nodded as he punched me into the database. "I take that as a yes."

I headed down to DUMBO to Ver Klempt's apartment. It took a few hours, but with just we three, we packed a small Uhaul truck to capacity. "Which box are spears in?" I wondered as I ran boxes up the ramp. Isn't it odd how you can sum up one's life in boxes and crates. In teh end that's how we summed up my father: boxes, folders, bags of bills, etc. I told them that I couldn't help them unload, I had to meet with the Civil Lawyer. He said Gobarth and some others would arrive later to help them. Probably not Mz. Vickers though... not after Ver Klempt's pencil bonking episode. ("Don't you ever call me stupid, you little theif!"... bonk!) I'd hoped that things had smoothed out along the way. We grabbed a quick lunch and parted ways. Ver Klempt reminded me about planning the new adventure after he and Clara settle in. I thought by adventure he meant Civil Court.

It was a beautiful warm day but I was choking and sneezing from the pollen from the linden trees. It felt as if I were flying, I got home and returned calls and e-mail, and re-booked two appointments around tomorrow's depostition. I caught my train to meet with W---, my lawyer, at his office. He wanted to go over my case thoroughly before my deposition tomorrow. We ran through the procedures and details. He said he'd like to get all of us deposed in one day. "Deposition is going to cost you a lot of money, I didn't want to remind you of that, but I have to." I nodded blankly. Luckily I still can't feel much, my emotions have no real highs or lows. Grey and cloudy on such a sunny day. Maybe it's not a bad thing.

"Get some good sleep, I'll see you tomorrow morning. Plan on being out all day."