“I’m betting that sort of thing goes over you all the time.” Mark nodded, but Mitch was pretty sure he thought the judge was being sympathetic and not a smart ass. Yeah, he thought, you are a liar, that’s for sure.
The judge and the man who had brought the video were taken to the back offices as the rest of them sat there. His lawyer, as well as the one for the Bruces, were asked to join them almost as soon as the door shut behind them. Mitch took the time to look around the room at the men seated now, thanks to the judge, and wondered about them.
Several of them were in suits. A few more were in only jeans and shirt, no tie or jacket. There were three that looked like they were dressed for something other than a courtroom, and more like they were headed to the gym afterwards. Each of them had a haunted look about them, and most of them were not looking in the direction of the Bruces. The few that were looked as if had they had a gun, both of the people who had cared for them would be dead.
Connie sat down next to him when he looked over at the couple as well. “They’re not dealing with this well, are they?” She laughed her little laugh, and he had to smile. “I know you can’t speak to me without having them look at you as if you’d gone over the edge, but I can tell you a bit about the men there. Not all of them, but some.”
He looked at the man she pointed out. He appeared well-dressed if a little haggard. He was a large man, with big hands and chest. Not fat, but big all the same. He was one of the few that were glaring at the Bruces.
“When he was younger and living with those people, he vowed if he ever got out alive he’d make sure that no one had to go through what he had as a kid. His home has seen more than five dozen children go through there, and all of them still call him Dad and his wife Mom. They gave those children a chance at life as well as a hand up when they went to college. He has devoted his life to helping those who could not have made it without him.” He wondered if there was a way he could help as well, and made a mental note to ask Vinnie what they could do. “The man sitting next to him has been helping the kids on the street. He’s a surgeon. He and his office staff go to the streets twice a month to help those that need it. Kids that have nowhere to go and no one to turn to. He also has a friend who is a dentist that goes with him, and they offer free dental exams as well as any surgeries that need to be performed.”
As she pointed out what each man was doing to come to terms with what had happened to him, he realized he’d done nothing. Not one thing to help those that might have been going through what he had. When he felt Vinnie’s anger, he sat up higher in his chair and started to reach for her, but she was speaking before he realized her anger was at him, not something with her.
You dolt. Mitch might have laughed at the old word had he not been a little afraid she might have come to him and murdered him. What do you think you do every single time you help one of the lost people? You think that had you been killed any night you were with those people that any of the ones that you help would have gotten your help? You think they would have been able to have closure or anything else they needed had you not been what you are? Or doing what you do for them?
I’m pretty sure that Steele or any of the rest of them would have been able to— Vinnie told him to shut up and listen. He did, thinking she was kinda scary when she was pissed off.
Yeah, you think that that boy you just helped, you think that they could have done as good a job as you did? I don’t. You could feel his pain because you’d lived it. You were able to be there for him as none of the rest of them could. He didn’t say anything but listened to her now. Those other boys you’ve helped. They needed you, not Steele. Though I think he’s a good man, he doesn’t have the kind of experience you have in dealing with those kinds of pain. You helped them because you knew what they were feeling. She paused to take a breath, and he smiled. But you and I can do much more than we are now. I think your idea of opening a shelter for them is great. I have just the building we can use, too. We can bring in more doctors and help. Offer some scholarships if they need it, along with some mental health counselling.
I think that’s a wonderful idea. He looked around the room, seeing the people for what they were. Men who had not just risen above what had happened to them, but also had gone on to make sure things were better for those that followed. And so had he in a different sort of way. Ten minutes later the Bruces were asked to join them in the chambers, and Mitch started to get nervous.