Chapter 13 - THE TONGS CASE
Edwin’s child-battery case moved separately from the trust.
Important.
No judge should punish fiduciary conduct by inflating an assault case.
The video showed:
Calloway near grill-side serving table.
Edwin says something.
Calloway reaches.
Edwin picks up tongs.
Throws underhand but directly.
They strike shoulder.
Could Edwin claim he meant to toss them onto table?
His body angle made that weak.
Then child interview.
“Beggars learn faster when it hurts.”
Clear.
Prosecutor offered:
Plea to misdemeanor child battery.
Twelve months probation.
Anger-management.
No unsupervised contact with Calloway for six months.
Restitution for medical expenses.
No jail.
Edwin rejected initially.
He wanted diversion with no guilty plea.
Prosecutor declined because deliberate use of object against child.
Negotiation continued.
Then Edwin said through counsel:
“If Shepherd supports probation instead of no-contact, I’ll accept.”
I refused to bargain access.
Prosecutor decides sentence recommendation.
Family court/parents decide contact separately.
No trade.
Then Calloway asked if he had to speak in court.
No.
Recorded forensic interview.
Medical records.
Video.
No need.
Good.
Then my case.
I accepted diversion.
Eight sessions.
$430 restitution.
No contact with Edwin outside legal channels during program.
No conviction after completion.
Edwin mocked me through counsel:
“Shepherd admits assault while pretending to be protective father.”
Naomi said:
“Do not answer.”
I listened.
Then anger class.
We studied escalation.
Trigger:
Child hurt.
Interpretation:
My father sees my son as less human.
Impulse:
Make him feel same humiliation.
Action:
Throw bowl.
Consequence:
Calloway sees more violence.
Legal exposure.
Evidence against me.
No safety improvement.
Simple.
Painful.
Then instructor asked:
“What do you do next time?”
“Remove child.”
“Then?”
“Call police if needed.”
“Then?”
“Document.”
“Then?”
“Do not throw cookware.”
Class laughed.
Fine.
Humor can carry lessons.
Then Calloway found the cleaned dog bowl in my garage.
Why did I have it?
Police had returned property after evidence processing to Edwin? Wait it belonged Edwin. I shouldn't have. Better Calloway sees Duke's new bowl on next? Not allowed contact. Avoid.
Instead he sees a similar bowl at pet store.
He freezes.
I notice.
We leave.
Later Dr. Renee helps.
The object had become trigger.
No need symbolic destruction.
No need buy.
Just ordinary therapy.
In two weeks, the fear lessened.
Then Edwin sent Calloway’s revised apology.
Calloway chose to hear it.
Dr. Renee read.
He listened.
Then asked:
“Does sorry mean he comes?”
“No,” she said.
Good.
“Then what sorry do?”
“It tells you he knows something he did was wrong.”
Calloway thought.
May you like
“Okay.”
That was enough.
