Mediation

‘Where is this mediation?’

‘All the way over in Midnight Hollow. That’s where the prison is.’

‘Oh, wow. How long does it take to travel there?’

‘It’s a few hours. Can’t say I’m thrilled over this, especially on a Saturday, but oh well.’



‘So… what do you do?’

‘The offender meets with the victim and they talk about the crime. Obviously with an apology.’

‘Ah, I see... Do you think you'll accept it?’



‘Depends on what he says. It looks good to a parole board if they’ve reached out to try to make amends for what happened. So of course he’s going to try.’

‘Good luck, anyway.’

‘Thanks.’



‘Don’t worry, Charon, I’ll be back this evening. Sorry I can’t spend the day with you.’

‘It's okay. We’ll find something fun to do.’




‘…’



‘…Sorry. I know it’s wrong to be drinking at this time.’



‘Well, it’s not my place to judge…’

‘I don’t really want to be doing this either, but… it’s not so simple to adjust back into “normal” life after being out of it for so long.’

‘I don’t blame you, after everything you’ve been through… Its more than I can understand.’



‘Mmm. It sounds like you’ve been through a lot too, though.’

‘Yeah… But that's obvious as soon as you see me. Is that why you looked so shocked, when you came over for Christmas?’

‘Mostly, I was just taken aback to see you as a teenager instead of a little girl. Although… in part, yes, I was shocked over your burns. Sorry.’



‘It’s okay. I’m used to it. I get that reaction a lot.’

‘No, it’s because I was concerned about what had happened to you. Neither Aria nor Ellis mentioned it when they came to the shelter, so it took me by surprise. And of course, it’s horrifying to think about what you must’ve been through. But believe me, I get it.’

‘Thanks… Nobody else quite understands. I figured you would, but I thought it’d be rude to mention.’



‘I don’t mind if it’s you kids. Well, the incident itself, I don’t want to talk about, but I do know that you’re not being rude about my scars. Over Christmas, though, I did ask what had happened to you. I wasn’t sure if it’d be painful for you to discuss, so I went to your siblings. I’m so sorry for the way Tate and Sheri treated you.’



‘It hurt, a lot. The whole thing was horrible. I was in the hospital for months. And they just did nothing! Okay, they pretended, in front of the doctors. But when I came home, they had Ellis carry on changing my dressings. Fortunately, I didn’t need him to do it for that much longer.’

‘I am so sorry.’

‘Ellis and Ari both looked after me. They were really sweet.’



‘They are wonderful people, they really are. I’m so proud of the way they’ve grown up. I’m sure you’ve turned out to be equally lovely.’



‘I hope so…’

‘It’s better that you were allowed to stay here. God knows you didn’t need any more abuse. I’ll never forgive Tate for how he’s behaved towards you.’

‘It’s a relief to him. He didn’t want me over there any more than I wanted to go. Nobody wants the last reminder of their failed marriage hanging around, especially when she’s been made “ugly” and “unlovable” by scars.’



‘I know it’s easier said than done to believe this, but you’re not ugly or unlovable. Really, you’re not. You’re a pretty girl.’

‘Oh, thanks… I don’t feel it, though. I hate looking like this.’

‘Of course, just as I hate looking like this. But we tend to be our own worst critics. Nobody will look upon them the same way you do. Nobody decent, I mean. Don’t write yourself off. Particularly being so young.’



‘Yeah, I actually remember talking to Ellis about this before… According to him, boys start being more appealing at his age. He must’ve been what, seventeen, eighteen? I’ve got a few years to go, yet.’

‘Oh, goodness. Yes, you’re certainly better off waiting.’





‘Best behaviour, Cooper, alright?’

‘Sure thing.’



‘…Officer. Hello.’



‘Stanley.’

‘Do sit down.’



‘As you both know, you are choosing to take part in this restorative justice program in the form of mediation. The purpose is for the victim and the perpetrator to discuss the crime that took place, and for the perpetrator to try to make amends. In this case, the victim was Ellis Farrington, who was assaulted in the line of duty as a police officer when the perpetrator, Stanley Cooper, resisted arrest. He is currently serving a year long prison sentence, with six months minimum before eligibility for parole. Is that right?’

‘Yes, that’s right.’



‘Hey, I wanna say, thanks for comin’ all this way to see me. I know you had to take time outta your weekend. I’m grateful, I really am.’



‘Officer Farrington, did you have any questions to begin with?’



‘I just want to ask him, what does he want to say to me?’



‘That I’m sorry. I had no right to hit you. I don’t know what I was thinkin’. That ain’t like me at all. Man, I don’t do that shit.’

‘Well, evidently you did.’

‘I swear, I will never do anythin’ like that ever again. I ain’t a violent person, Officer. I just panicked. But it’s no excuse.’



‘Why were you burgling them in the first place? Surely you must have realised that someone like the Landgraabs would have stringent security measures?’

‘Well, I do now.’

‘People don’t just randomly target someone like them. Someone like you would have no reason to be in that neighbourhood in the first place.’



‘Shit, man, I’ll try not to be offended by that.’

‘It’s not funny. You were told to do it, weren’t you? As some kind of initiation. To prove yourself.’

‘Yo, is this mediation or an interview?’



‘…I don’t expect you to tell me the truth. Fortunately, I had low expectations coming into this.’

‘Look, man, I made those choices, okay? Shitty choices, sure, but it was all me.’

‘I knew you wouldn’t tell me anything. But that’s not the purpose of this, you’re right. I’m not investigating you. As far as I’m concerned, you’re facing justice right now.’



‘I totally agree. This was my fuckup, and I deserve to be punished for it.’



‘You know I have family? A son? I have to work nights and often not be there for him, so I really don’t like that I had to go home to him with a black eye. He didn’t need to see that.’

‘Damn… you’re right. I’m sorry.’

‘You might think we’re just cops. That we don’t matter. Well, you’d be wrong. I don’t really care how this makes me look, but we have feelings too. I’m not one of those hard-ass cops who hates everyone, but if many more people pull stunts like you did, I might just become one. You understand me?’



‘Hey, no, I get it.’



‘We’re people too. Just doing our jobs. Trying to clean the messes people like you have made. And by people like you, I mean people committing crimes, which could be anyone, before you think I’m stereotyping or being unfair. But even then, I don’t go out of my way to make life difficult for you. I just do my job and let the justice system deal with you. I don’t deserve violence for that. Now I know that it’s an inevitable part of my job. I knew what I signed up for. But face to face with someone who ruined my week, yeah, I’ll take the chance to tell you exactly how low what you did was.’

‘I won’t argue there at all.’

‘And not just me. The Landgraabs too. Being burgled is a lot more traumatic to someone than just potentially losing their possessions. They feel violated. Their home is supposed to be their one safe space, but you ruined that. You broke into their home. This isn’t a victimless crime. And it’s a fucking stupid one too, alright? They could have killed you over it, you know. People have been killed during attempted burglaries. And you know how everyone reacts? They’d think you deserve it. Make no mistake about it Stanley, had the circumstances been different, you could be dead right now, and the public would be celebrating your death and your family would be in pieces.’



‘…I know. I feel sick thinkin’ about it.’

‘So you should. You have family, right? I saw them at the hearing. Parents?’

‘Yeah.’



‘And you’re twenty-six, aren’t you? You’re only a year older than me.’

‘You’re twenty-five?’

‘Yes, I am. I just have an unfortunate face.’



‘Hey, I didn’t say-’



‘I know. Forget it. Just… make some better decisions and take back your damn life, once you’re out of here. You have a lot more than some people. A loving family. You’re young. You can do much better than this.’

‘I promise, I’ll never do anythin’ that stupid ever again. I mean it. ‘Cos you’re right. My parents were so disappointed in me. I let ‘em down. And I regret hurtin’ you, and the Landgraabs. You’re definitely one of the better cops out there.’



‘…Not that it’d have been okay if it’d been a shitty cop. Just sayin’, you seem nice.’

‘Thank you. I’m glad you recognise that.’

‘I woulda done this with the Landgraabs too, but they weren’t interested. I get that. But I’m glad you gave me a chance. I don’t expect you to forgive me, but I needed to apologise to you. It was the right thing to do.’



‘As long as you mean what you say when you tell me you’ll change. I don’t enjoy people ruining their lives. Prison needs to be constructive, otherwise why put you here in the first place?’

'Once I'm outta here, I don't ever wanna come back.'

'Good. If that ends up being the case, then I'll be happy.'



‘Is there anything else you think Mr Cooper should do?'

'Not really. Just complete his probation once he's out, and stay off our radar.'

'Are there any other questions either of you would like to ask?’

‘No… I think that’s it. I don’t have anything else to say.’



‘Me neither. I know what I need to do.’



‘Alright. Do you both feel this has helped?’

‘Depends on what Officer Farrington thinks.’



‘…Yes. I do think it’s helped.’