Authors: Jennifer Grayson
Geoff didn’t have to say anymore. Jenny knew he was right. Although her father
was fair and honest in court, in his private life he was a snob and could be
cold, almost cruel. Certainly, a boy like Geoff, without money and coming from
a poor family would have no chance with him. They wouldn’t have a future
together if her father discovered their friendship.
“We’ll wait, darling,” she said, “but it will be so long.”
“I know, Jenny, but it will be worth waiting. Our love is true and it will find
a way. In years to come we will look at this time as just a blip in our lives.
When I’m in college studying for my degree, you’re father won’t have so much to
disapprove of.”
They kissed and clung to each other, drawing courage from each kiss and finding
hope in each whispered word. But things were about to change. Fate and poor
decisions were about to ruin everything they had and soon they would have
nothing.
GEOFF LOOKED AT
his watch. “Hey, it’s six-thirty. My shift at the
factory starts at seven o’clock.”
“Let me drive us there, Geoff,” Jenny said, suddenly. “Then I can take the bus
home.”
“But you don’t have a license, Jenny”
“But I’m a good driver. I’ve driven my father’s car around the estate. Besides,
the roads are practically deserted.” She looked at him with the same look she
used to use to get round her father. She knew it always worked when she was a
little girl. “Be an angel and let me drive.”
Geoff couldn’t resist her, “I shouldn’t do this, but I’m such a softie, I
can’t refuse you anything. But please, promise me you’ll drive slow and be
careful”
“Of course I will,” she said as she climbed behind the wheel.
She started off slowly, but her confidence grew with each mile and before long
she was speeding down the highway. She was way past the speed limit and the
excitement she felt made her deaf to Geoff’s warnings.
“You’re doing sixty, Jenny. Slow down.”
But she was enjoying herself too much. “Why should I? The roads all mine.”
Geoff was getting worried and regretting the fact that he let her drive.
“It’s such fun, Geoff. Like flying.”
“Slow down, Jenny. Please, I’m begging you.”
A few more hundred yards down the road, however, Geoff suddenly saw danger.
“Jenny, stop. There’s a kid on a bike.”
“I can’t, Geoff, The brakes won’t hold.”
Jenny panicked, took her hands off the wheel and covered her eyes. “I can’t
look.”
Geoff leaned across. “Give me that wheel.”
Paralyzing fear froze Jenny to her seat. Geoff did his best to avoid the boy,
but there was a screeching thud. Jenny kept her eyes covered, but she couldn’t
close her ears to the terrified scream and the final grinding of metal as the
car plowed into a ditch. Geoff jumped out of the car and ran to the boy. Jenny
finally managed to follow, but stood back, terrified at what she had done.
“Oh, is he . . . , is he . . . ?”
“I can’t tell yet,” Geoff said.
“It’s all my fault. I’ve killed him.”
“Stop crying, Jenny, he’s still alive.” Geoff grabbed hold of Jenny. “Now
listen to me. I’ll call an ambulance, you run back to the junction and take the
bus home. You’re out of this. Quick, before anybody sees you”
“But, Geoff . . . “Jenny started to say.
“Go on, now. There’s no time to argue.” Geoff ordered,” your father’s a judge.
You can’t be mixed up in this.”
Weakly she obeyed, too numb to realize she was letting Geoff take the blame for
what she had done.
WHEN JENNY FINALLY
got home she was trembling and terrified. She waited
hours for Geoff to phone, but he didn’t. She couldn’t sleep at all that night.
She realized the police must be holding Geoff, but he was innocent and if the
little boy died he would charged with manslaughter. What had she done? They
were so happy, but her foolishness had ruined everything.
The following day brought more torment. She was scared sick over Geoff. He
hadn’t phoned and there was nothing in the papers. But that evening her father
was home for dinner. He gave no indication of what sort of day he’d had and he
usually made some comment about it.
She tried to sound casual, matter of fact, as she asked her father. “Was there
anything new in court today, Daddy?”
He thought for a while. “Actually, there was,” he said. “Another young hoodlum
from the housing estate nearly killed a child last night. Some fool redneck, by
the name of Geoff something or other.”
Jenny felt the blood drain from her face. “Oh, what happened?” she asked. But
she knew. Her worst fears were being realized.
“I have yet to see the full police report, but I am going to throw the book at
this one if he is proven guilty. Geoff Hamlin that was his name. I’ll make him
an example to all the others who think they can flout the law.”
“But it could have just been an accident,” Jenny said.
He could see that Jenny was upset. She always saw the good in people and
couldn’t understand that some people were a menace to society. He came round
the table and put his arms round her. “Jenny, don’t waste sympathy on him, or
on others like him. Decent people like you don’t understand such idiots in the
first place.”
Jenny shuddered at her own guilt. ‘Decent youngsters,’ she thought. What would
her father say and do to her if he knew the truth, and what would his blind
prejudice do to Geoff?
“Now let’s hear no more about it. Finish your dinner, Jenny, you’ve hardly
touched it.”
“I’m not hungry. If you’ll excuse me I’ll go to my room. I have some studying
to do.”
He looked at her and her plate. “Is there anything wrong? It’s not like you to
leave your food. Are you worried about something?”
“No, I had a big lunch and I’ve got an important exam in a few days and I
want to study for it”
She was not hungry, not happy - just numb. The feeling of desperation and
desolation gripped at her heart and paralyzed her soul. She couldn’t even ask
her father for help. All she could do was wait – wait until Geoff hated her forever.
Now she felt even more alone than before.
THE NEXT TWO WEEKS
were a living hell. Jenny had no contact from Geoff
and the only news she heard about him was from her father and what was written
in the local papers. Her father was obviously biased and the reporters that
were covering the case seemed to have decided that Geoff was a guilty and
reckless delinquent. The only sign she received was a single red rose that had
been delivered two days previously accompanied with a card that just bore a
heart and the initial G. She hoped it was a message from Geoff confirming his
love for her, but it could have been a final goodbye note.
It was the day of his trial and she had made her mind up that she would go and
support Geoff in spite of the fact that he wouldn’t know she was there. More
than anything she had to see him even if it was from a distance. She had
initially decided not to attend court, but the desperation had gotten too much
for her and she had weakened now that the time had arrived.
The day was supposed to be a formality. Geoff had pleaded guilty, still
protecting her. Jenny had taken some solace from that, feeling that he was
still thinking about her. Perhaps he did still love her. He would be sentenced
today and the mood her father was in it would be the maximum sentence that he
could hand out – maybe even a prison term. He was determined to make an example
of him, even though the character witnesses had spoken of his exemplary
behavior in all things that he did.
There was throng outside the courthouse when Jenny arrived and she found it
difficult to struggle her way in. The case had captured the imagination of the
press, which in turn had led to the townspeople becoming interested in the
trial. Fortunately, a police officer recognized her and cleared a way for her
to get into the public gallery.
Jenny braced herself for when Geoff entered the court, but her resolve failed
as she caught sight of him. Her legs went weak and she almost fell. He was
looking gaunt, as if the pressure of the past few weeks were beginning to take its
toll and tears filled her eyes as she looked at him. She longed to rush through
the crowd of people, throw her arms round him and tell him everything was going
to be all right. But she knew it wasn’t.
The court fell silent as her father entered and took his seat on the bench. After
a few preliminaries Geoff was ordered to stand and Jenny’s father began to
speak, addressing the defendant.
“Young man, are you ready to hear your sentence?”
Geoff spoke quietly, ”Yes, sir.”
“Fortunately, for you, the child you so heedlessly injured survived and will
make a full recovery. But that does not diminish the severity of the crime you
committed. We cannot have young hooligans like you speeding along our roads
endangering other road users and pedestrians. Lessons have to be learned here.
Certain members of our society have to learn that we will not, as a community,
tolerate such behavior.” He paused for a few minutes, seemingly considering his
options. Finally, he continued speaking. “I have a responsibility to ensure
that you face the maximum penalty that I can give you.”
Geoff’s shoulders slumped and he put his hand on the table in front of him for
support. Jenny could take no more. She had to speak up.
“No, you can’t do that,” she shouted from the gallery. “He is innocent.”
The court usher pointed to her. “Be quiet, young woman and sit down,” he
ordered.
Her father looked up from his papers and recognized her, “Jenny . . ?”
“He’s shielding me, Father. Geoff wasn’t driving that night. It was me.” Jenny
could hold the tears back no longer. “He’s taking the blame because of me –
because of who I am. The daughter of Judge Lester. He is protecting me and
you.”
“Jenny, you can’t mean that.” Her father said.
“I can, Father. I’ll even take the court oath to prove that it’s true.”
The noise from the court rose and once her father had restored order he had no
alternative but to adjourn the case pending further investigation. Jenny could
see that in the last few minutes she had broken her father’s heart. He was
visibly shaken and for a while was confused. She knew that she had damaged his
reputation and he would never get over the disgrace – neither would Geoff and
neither would she. There was no hope of a future together now. She had
destroyed everything.