Unbelonging
Publisher: Historium Press
Pages: 270
Genre: Historical Fiction
Praise for Unbelonging:
"Just a great read and anyone who picks it up is guaranteed to learn a thing or two: from Guadalcanal to local labor disputes."
~ Mr. K, Amazon 5* review
Excerpt
“Mrs. Novak,” Judge Long said at last. “Police took your daughter, Natalie, and five other youth into custody last night in Volunteer Park. They violated the ten o’clock curfew for children under sixteen. Two adult males were also arrested. Most of them appeared to be intoxicated. Did you know the whereabouts of your daughter last night?”
“I didn’t know anything until a juvenile officer called me, your honor. Natalie wasn’t home when I returned from work. That’s when I called Holy Names, and learned she’d skipped school.”
“You work at Boeing, I understand.”
“Yes, your honor.”
“Mrs. Novak, I have tremendous respect for defense workers. They’re doing a great service in this country’s battle against tyranny. I’ve also come to accept, although reluctantly, that many women need to work these days. Unmarried women, divorced women, women who depend on a paycheck for rent and groceries. But I’m having a hard time understanding why you work. From what I can tell, your situation is far from desperate. You own a home in a nice neighborhood. Your children attend private school. Your husband is a commissioned officer in the Navy. He likely sends home most of his monthly paycheck. What do you need that is more important than your children?”
Joanne said nothing, looking at Judge Long. There’s that question again. One her mother made a point of asking almost daily. The fact is, I’m not sure anymore. Initially it was about patriotism, my love for this country, and a desire to support my husband. But I work now. I love it. I’m good at something besides cooking pork roast and cleaning house.
“Mrs. Novak, are you okay?”
“Yes, your honor, sorry.”
Long sat back and folded his arms across his chest. “So I ask again. Is money so important that your children have to return from school to an empty house?”
Why does he think this is about money? Yes, I earn more than most women. But it was never about money. This is another kind of need, a deeper one that I can’t fully understand, let alone explain to a judge. Some internal force is pulling me away from the life I always wanted or thought I wanted. It was enough at least for a while, until I discovered the world outside. Until I saw the endless possibilities waiting to be picked like apples from a tree. The transformation has altered the landscape of my life. It is like the eastern winds that blow down the Cascades every summer, stirring the dust, bending the poplars. How can I explain that to this judge?
“Mrs. Novak! I haven’t got all day,” Long snapped.
Joanne looked at the judge and around the courtroom. How long had she been standing there?
“Again, I apologize, your honor. I choose to work because. . .”
“Mrs. Novak, I don’t care why you work. My chief concern is for the welfare of your daughter and the dozens of other youth I see in here almost every day. Whether you want to buy a new dress or pearl necklace. . .”
“Your honor! I’m not buying . . .”
“Don’t interrupt me, Mrs. Novak. You have a fine daughter here, why are you letting her out at night, getting into the backseat of cars with boys, or should I say men? She’s a minor and . . . “
“I know how old my daughter is, your honor.”
“The facts say you don’t. When you’re at work, your children are coming home to an empty house. Some people think older kids don’t need as much attention, so it’s okay if Mom gets a job. But young people – these so-called eight-hour orphans – need someone to talk to about their day. They have problems at school, and need help with their homework.”
“I help them with their homework, your honor. They’re good students and good kids.”
“I’m sure they are, Mrs. Novak, but this recent event is troubling. “
Long returned his attention to the report, tapping his fingers on the desk while reading through the facts one more time. “Mrs. Novak,” he said, looking up. “As this is Natalie’s first offense, we’re going to drop the charges and hope we don’t see her in here again. Meantime, I suggest you rethink your priorities. Natalie will be released to you in about an hour. You’ll need to take her to the doctor to be tested for VD.”
VD? Did she hear that right, venereal disease? The words wouldn’t register. “Your honor, Natalie is a good Catholic girl. She’d never. . . “
“Mrs. Novak, do you know how many good Catholic girls I see in this courtroom? VD doesn’t care if you’re Catholic or Jewish, or where you worship. There’s practically a VD epidemic raging in the city. For your information, when police arrived at the park, Natalie was in the backseat of a car with an adult male. He’s now sitting in King County jail. Police waited until Natalie dressed before she could exit the vehicle. See a doctor, Mrs. Novak.”
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