Last evening Laura called me to let me know that the jury trial won't be until June. Of course, this is ridiculous to have a jury trial over something so trivial. Remember that it all began with a rat on a woodpile.
Laura went on to tell me that she spoke with her case manager, Jen, from the Department of Human Services who told her that Goneral called her. Jen was shocked when she realized who it was, but quickly regained her wits and told her that some people on Dickey Mill Road need to mind their own business. Goneral hung up on Jen.
To go or not to go -- Laura wants me, Jen and Richard to go to the District Attorney to tell him what's really going on. If it turns out that such a move would not only be helpful but would be allowed, I will be happy to do it. This has to stop somewhere and Goneral obviously is going to try to keep it up for as long as she can.
The more I tell people what is happening, the more unbelievable it sounds. I started going to court with Laura last fall because I couldn't believe the triviality of Goneral's complaints. As you know, I've found that it's quite true. Steve, like most hearers, could hardly believe it either, and had the same conclusion; Goneral and her husband don't have enough to do with their time! We remarked again on the fact that our tax dollars are paying for all this -- Laura's fines, her time in jail.....
At the end of the day, it comes back to the sad fact that Laura, when she was at the bottom of her down and out period, stole a sandwich. I've spoken to her about choices, trying to point out how she could do some damage control even now by making better ones. She comes up with a million buts, but is finally starting to get the message. Jen repeats it as well so Laura gets it from both sides.
The rest of the problem is that Laura was going to pick up some belongings she had stored in the town where she once lived -- someone was apparently storing them for her if I understand correctly, but in an area that was abandoned. She took some fellow named Claude with her to "help" her. He helped her all right. He helped himself to things belonging to the other people and as Claude is apparently not the sharpest knife in the drawer, he got caught. Unfortunately, Laura was implicated as well and she didn't speak up about it. Claude had disappeared and left her holding the proverbial bag and called her later with some sob story that she fell for. She took the rap. Older isn't necessarily wiser. Now she pays.
How do women get themselves into such fixes? Especially us older girls who should know better. I certainly hope that the next generations are getting more confidence in their own worth so they would not even conceivably allow themselves to fall into such traps. However, from what I see in my work, there's still a problem here. But that's another blog entry.
Jean, Somewhere in Maine
