It's Your Choice, Young Man

            Butch was awakened then he was escorted to the shower so he could shower and shave. His mother had received a call from the Sheriff’s Department to let her know about her son being in jail. She was also informed that he would be appearing in front of a Judge at 10:00 am today. She cried after she hung up the phone.

            At 9:40 am, Butch was cuffed. Two officers escorted him as they left the jail and walked across the street to the Stearns County Court House. When they entered Butch’s mom was standing there with tears in her eyes. Butch said, “Officers, stop for a minute because she’s my mom.” She stepped forward and hugged him as she said, “William, I was afraid of this. I knew it would happen someday, I just knew it. William, how much trouble are you in?”

            He shrugged his shoulders, “Ma, I don’t know yet. We’ll be finding that out after I face the Judge. Ma, if it’s Judge Henning that I have to face it probably won’t turn out for the best. He’ll probably put me in prison for awhile.” She began to cry again.

            The parents of the guy he beat up came into the court room. They had filed a complaint at the jail earlier and they were anxious to hear the outcome of the hearing. They scowled at the young man as the two officers entered the court room escorting their prisoner to the front table just past the railing. Butch was seated but the officers remained standing. Butch’s mom walked in and sat down in the front row just behind her son.

            At 9:55 am, the clerk of the court and the bailiff appeared. The bailiff remained standing as the clerk sat down to the right of the Judge’s bench. At 10:00 am, the door to the Judge’s chamber opened and the Judge appeared. Butch lowered his head and muttered, “Shit, it would have to be Henning after all, damn!”

            “All rise!” shouted the bailiff. Butch and the other three stood up. The Judge sat down and nodded to the bailiff. “Be seated!” shouted the bailiff. The three of them sat down but Butch didn’t because one of the officers told him to remain standing. The Judge looked over the paperwork and then he looked at Butch. He told the officers to bring him forward. They escorted Butch until they stood in front of the Judge.

            Judge Henning, a man in his sixties with thick gray hair said, “Mr. Bormes, the last time you appeared in front of me I told you that if it ever happened again the consequences would be severe, did I not?”

            Butch nodded, “yes, sir, but, sir, I didn’t start the fight, he did.”

            The Judge frowned and replied, “Mr. Bormes, regardless of that you almost killed that young lad according to this report. A little overkill one might say and it’s not the first time that it’s happened. Mr. Bormes, this police report says that you had also been drinking at the Blue Moon Bar in Holdingford. Is this report correct?”

            Butch lowered his head and mumbled, “Yes, sir.”

            “Mr. Bormes, this report says that you are still a minor at age seventeen. Is that correct?”

            Butch nodded, “Yes, sir.”

            “Mr. Bormes, because of this incident the Blue Moon Bar will be serving no more minors because I’m going to have his license revoked. Mr. Bormes, why do you enjoy fighting so much?”

            Butch shrugged his shoulders, “I’m not sure why, sir. They always seem to just sort of come my way. I think it’s because of how small I am compared to the guys that wanted to fight with me just like the guy last night.”

            The Judge paused as he pulled on his chin while looking Butch in the eyes. He finally spoke again, “Mr. Bormes, I have just decided what to do with you. You are a menace to society right now and we need to do something about that. We need to remove you from society around here and send you elsewhere.” Butch lowered his head because he knew he was about to wind up in prison. “Mr. Bormes, you can either spend three years in the St. Cloud Penitentiary or you can spend three years in the United States Marine Corps. It’s your choice, young man; you decide which would be your preference.”