Chapter Three

Order in the Court Zone

Stacy worried that the storm might cause her to miss going to court for her boyfriend's trial. She and Skip had been living together for eight years. Skip had gotten his fifth D.U.I. and he was facing a long prison sentence. Stacy wanted to be at the trial to support his plea of innocence.

The rain was pouring. The sky was dark and gloomy. Stacy finished putting on her make-up, grabbed her raincoat and umbrella, and headed for the bus stop. Her car had been wrecked in Skip's D.U.I. accident, so she had to rely on the city bus for transportation. She took the bus to court. The storm got worse on the way. As she climbed the steps to the courthouse doors, a gust of wind snatched her umbrella out of her hand. The umbrella blew furiously across the courthouse lawn, smashed into a tree, and destroyed her protective defenses as she entered....the Order in the Court Zone.

Her loving albeit self-imposed task was to get the judge to listen to her legal and clinical defense of her boyfriend. If only the judge knew how hard Skip tried to stay sober. Once, he had stayed sober for a whole month. Skip did not feel comfortable in A.A., so she had been acting as his sponsor. It was really her fault that he got the D.U.I. because she was not at home that Saturday. Her mother had taken her to the mall to do some shopping. If only she had said no to her mother, she would have been home and she could have stopped Skip from driving. Stacy made a mental note to herself: just say no to outside activities.

The lights flickered in the courtroom. The storm was getting worse and worse. Stacy could hear things blowing around outside. Thump! Bam! Boom! It felt like there was a storm inside the courtroom. Then Stacy heard the judge call her name. "Docket Number 11032003, Stacy Nocar." Stacy was puzzled. Why was the judge calling her name? Shouldn't he be calling Skip's name? The public defender turned toward Stacy and motioned for her to come forward. Stacy approached the judge.

"How does your client plead?" asked the judge. "Guilty as charged, your honor," answered the public defender. The judge looked directly at Stacy and began questioning her. "Ms. Nocar, whose fault was it that Skip was arrested for his fifth D.U.I.?" Finally, Stacy was going to have her chance to speak on behalf of her boyfriend. "It was my fault, your honor. You see, my mother and I went....." The judge interrupted her, "By the defendant's own admission, it was her fault that Skip was arrested for his fifth D.U.I. This court will hereby acknowledge the defendant's criminal offenses and determine a sentence."

The judge continued his oration. "Ms. Nocar is hereby convicted of extreme co-dependency. Ms. Nocar allowed her alcoholic boyfriend to stay in her house for eight years. She allowed him to stay without any expectation of counselling or A.A. involvement. She allowed him to stay even though he was intoxicated much of the time and incapable of a satisfying relationship. She allowed him to stay after each of his four previous D.U.I. convictions. In summary, Skip has never experienced the full impact of his alcoholism because Stacy Nocar continued to allow him to stay."

"The court has therefore decided to treat Skip's fifth D.U.I. in a different way. Instead of sentencing Skip, the court will sentence Ms. Nocar to ten years in the state prison. Her home will be impounded. This way, Skip cannot stay in Stacy's home any longer. Skip will be forced to face some personal consequences, such as not having dinner made for him each night. Skip will not be allowed to stay in prison or to stay in Stacy's home."

Stacy could not believe what she was hearing. She wanted to defend herself, but she had come prepared to defend only Skip. She was at a loss for words. She had never been at a loss for words in all her life. She did not know how to speak on her own behalf. Ten years in prison! Five D.U.I.'s! Eight years with Skip! Ten years without Skip! Oh, my!

Suddenly, a bolt of lightning struck above the courthouse. Zap! The lights went out. The courtroom was enveloped in musty darkness. Stacy heard the judge announce, seemingly from nowhere, "Order in the court! Since we have no electricity, we will not be able to start today. Court is adjourned until 8:00 a.m. tomorrow morning. Please drive home safely." Everyone got up to leave. Stacy, confused, got up from her seat in the back of the courtroom. Nothing had happened? And, yet, so much had changed.

The public defender walked over to Stacy. "Too bad we weren't able to try Skip's case today. Hopefully there will be light tomorrow. Will you be in court again tomorrow?" Stacy stared. She still had that feeling of wordlessness. She managed to squeak out, "Um, no, I don't think so. I can't take another day off work. I need money to buy a new car. I'll let you handle Skip's defense. Besides, I guess Skip needs to go to A.A. and get some counselling before our relationship can grow. Maybe I could use some counselling, too. Life has been too weird lately."

"Counselling sounds like a good idea," replied the public defender, "would you like a ride home?" Stacy thought for a moment. The storm was clearing. She would not need her blown-away umbrella for protection. She could see sunlight peering over the clouds. It had seemed like the sun would never shine again. Funny, how even a few sun rays from the sky could light up the whole earth.

"Yes," Stacy smiled brightly, "I'd like a ride home. I can use all the help I can get." The public defender smiled back, "Can't we all!" (Written 11/11/03 - Reprinted 12/01/10)