Foster’s Porn Story: Of Loves Lost and Friends Past Chapter 5

Of Loves Lost & Friends Past

Chapter 5: This Is It

Ms. Foster, please state for the court, in your own words, what you witnessed on the night of November 14, the social services lawyer asked.

Frankie was dressed in a black day suit. Her right arm was finally out of its cast, but her legs still needed time. She reached up, almost gleefully, with her right arm and pulled the microphone down.

I was at home, out on the porch when Mac showed up, she answered.

Alright and what was his condition?

Frankie took a deep breath remembering what the lawyer had told her to say, Mac was severely beaten. His face was a pulp and he was covered in blood, I assume his own.

Several members of the jury shook their heads in disgust. This was a very important case and it was also a heinous one. The trial had just started, but already people were feeling uncomfortable. Mac was the first person to take the stand and many were teary eyed as he finished telling the tale of his many encounters with Terrence.

The lawyers name was Sasha Gorden. She wore a black skirt suit and spoke with a slight accent. In the days leading up to the trial she had done her best to prepare Mac and the others for what they might experience, but even with preparation, being up on the stand was a difficult thing.

Alright, Frankie, you can step down now, Sasha said politely.

Frankie wheeled her way past the stand and stopped next to Chris. He took her hands in his and leaned closer to her, assuring her she had done a great job. He was up next.

He stepped up to the stand and felt his gut clench. This was how it always started, soon hed be stuttering and sweating uncontrollably.

The bailiff produced a Bible, Raise your right hand. Do you swear to tell the truth, the whole truth, and nothing but the truth so help you God?

Chris took a deep breath, I do.

Then please be seated, the judge said.

Alright, Mr. um what is your last name? the opposing lawyer asked.

You can just call me Chris, he answered.

The judge turned to him, Son, youll need to state your full name for the court.

Im sorry, your honor, but I dont really have one, Chris said turning to the judge.

Would you care to explain? the older man asked.

WellIm a uh Im an imaginary friend, Chris explained.

Very well then, Mr. Spencer, begin your questioning, the judge ordered.

To the judges right, the court stenographer clicked away on her pad. The audience was quiet and yet at the same time Chris could feel them eyeing him up like he was crazy. They didnt believe for an instant that he was imaginary.

Okay then, Chris, explain to us your relationship to young Mac Burns, the man said.

Chris looked the man in the eyes and saw cold, uncaring eyes stare back at him. The man was short, fat, and balding and his voice was hoarse from smoking for so long and Chris had taken an instant dislike to him.

I recently met Mac, about two or three weeks ago, Chris said.

And when you met him, did you see anythingwrong or amiss about him? Spencer asked.

Chris looked to Mac and recalled how they met, When I first met him, no I didnt see anything wrong or amiss about him, but

Thank you, Spencer said, cutting him off, And on the night of November 14?

Its the same thing, Fran Ms. Foster said, Chris answered.

Id like to hear it from you, if you dont mind? Spencer replied.

He took a deep breath and cleared his throat, On November 14, I was sitting out on the porch of Fosters Home For Imaginary Friends, when Mac collapsed on the lawn. Rushing to help him, I rolled him over to see that he had been severely beaten. His face was covered in blood and he looked like someone had really worked him over.

Spencer stood and walked towards the stand with his hands in his pockets, Have you ever seen Mac like this before?

No, I cant say I have, but thats not to say he managed to say before being cut off again.

Well, if you havent seen injuries like this before, what made you think that Mac needed to be removed from his home? Spencer sneered.

Chris began to get angry and his eyes flared slightly, I explained to you that I only just met Mac, but he has told me about things his brother has done to him numerous times and

So, you think hes telling you the truth, that his brother beats him and his mother turns a blind eye? Spencer interrupted again.

Well, why the hell would he lie? Chris demanded as his eyes glowed red.

The judge slammed his gavel down, I suggest you calm down, son, youll get a chance to explain.

Chris took a deep breath and closed his eyes, I do believe that Mac is telling the truth about the way his so-called family treats him.

Uh huh, Spencer stated turning his back to the witness, and yet, you have no physical proof, no evidence, no first hand knowledge, that he had been repeatedly assaulted, do you?

Angrily Chris answered, No.

Thank you, Spencer said sitting down next to Macs mom.

Sasha stood and approached Chris, So, as you previously stated, you do believe that Mac has been repeatedly abused.

Yes thats correct, Chris replied.

And though you yourself have no proof of this, youve been told, not only by Mac, but by others, that there is a history of abuse? she continued.

Yes.

Okay, and you believe that he would be safer if placed in anothers care?

Yes, I do believe so, Chris answered, steadily calming down.

Would you please explain to the court why you think Mac should be removed from his present residence? Sasha asked leaning against the witness stand.

It was obvious Chris was uncomfortable, but now he really started to sweat, II think Mac should be placed in another home because of several things I have both witnessed and been informed of, he stopped to take a breath, The first thing, several weeks ago, I cant remember the date, sorry, but several weeks ago there was an incident that resulted in Ms. Foster being hospitalized after being hit by a car

Objection your honor, relevance! Spencer spouted angrily.

The judge looked at him and cruelly stated, Overruled, please continue.

Ms. Foster had pushed Mac out of the path of a car. Both had been hospitalized, but despite my calls to the Burns residence, no one came to the hospital to find him except for residents of Fosters.

Really, even after you called, neither his mother nor brother came or returned your call? Sasha asked.

No, there was no contact with either of them until Mac went home. He has told me that his mom didnt seem in the least bit interested in his hospitalization and instead chose to punish him. Mac said she grounded him for a month. Another reason I think hed be safer somewhere else is because of the repeated beatings hes received from his brother, though I dont have any proof of these, he stopped, looking over to Terrence who hadnt taken his eyes off Chris since his testimony started, And lastly, when Mac had to be hospitalized because of injuries received, his mom didnt make an appearance until Mac was about to be released. If she really cared about him, she would have been there waiting with the rest of us.

Sasha was impressed, Chris remembered everything they had talked about, What of the reports that Mac had assaulted his brother with adesk lamp, was it?

Its my personal belief that Mac was defending himself, Chris stated, He has told me, he just told the court, that if he hadnt done what he did, his brother would have killed him.

Thank you, Chris, just one last question, Sasha paused looking at her notes and then back up at him, where do you think Mac should be placed?

Chris took a deep breath and released it, I dont mean to sound biased or anything like that, but if Mac should be anywhere its at Fosters. Hes happy there, there are people who care about him, hes practically family.

Alright, you can step down, Sasha told him.

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The trial went on for hours as the assembled friends and witnesses told their tales. Wilt and Bloo in particular had stories about having to save Mac from his brothers wrath. The whole time Mac sat between Madame Foster and Frankie, dreading what the turn out would be. Would he get stay with the Fosters or would he be sent back to the hell he called his family? Finally, the trial came to a close. All that remained was the ruling.

Im going to call a short recess before ruling, the judge said standing and leaving the room.

Sasha exhaled heavily and turned to Mac and the others, seated in the stands behind her, Okay, weve done the best we could, all that remains is the jury and judges decision.

Frankie wrapped her arm around Mac and pulled him close to her. She couldnt stand to have him taken away, not after all they had been through. Especially recently. Madame Foster shook hands with Sasha and thanked her for her help.

Chris and Wilt had stepped outside to get some air. The tall red friend wore the top of a business suit and red tie. It didnt match his sneakers, but they couldnt find a pair of shoes in his size. Chris was in a black suit with a red tie and he couldnt have looked anymore uncomfortable. He scratched at the tie as Wilt told him he had done great. The man looked up at Wilt and shook his hand. They had both done everything in their power to help Mac, now it all came down to this ruling.

Behind them unseen stood Terrence. He could take this chance and wipe both of them out or he could wait to take out the whole lot of them. The muscles in his arm spasmed at the thought.

No, he said to himself, Not yet, not until Im ready.

The bailiff stuck his head out through the doors, The judge is ready.

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Mac stood surrounded on all sides by his friends, hand in hand with Frankie as the jury made their way back into the court room. The judge cleared his throat as the bailiff handed him a slip of paper. The judge opened it and then folded it over and handed it back to the bailiff who returned it to the head juror.

Madame Foreperson, have you come to a decision? the judge asked.

Macs breathing became heavy as she responded, Yes, your honor we have.

The room was deathly silent as the judge replied, On the charge of criminal negligence how do you find the defendant Mrs. Laura Burns?

We find the defendant, guilty, your honor.

The air sizzled with excitement, they were close.

And how do you find the second defendant, Terrence R. Burns? the judge continued.

For the charge of assault with intent to kill we find the defendant, the juror took a deep breath and let the room tense up, guilty on all charges.

The audience erupted in cheers and applause at the ruling only to have the judge slam his gavel down hard enough to nearly break it, Order! Ladies and gentlemen of the jury, thank you, you are excused. Mrs. Burns, please rise, the woman did as she was told, I hereby sentence you to three years in a minimum security prison. Your sons will be placed in foster homes and the families will have restraining orders against you.

The woman appeared to only care about the jail time she was about to serve as she cursed and swung her arms as the bailiffs removed her.

Terrence R. Burns, stand up, the judge said angrily, Now, since you are still a minor, you cannot be sent to a federal prison, but you can rest assured that you will be serving time in a juvenile institution until you are deemed ready to be released back into the public pending a psyche review. I sentence you to five years and five hundred hours of community service. You are going to learn what it means to be a constructive member of society, young man!

Terrence howled with rage as the bailiffs dragged him off. His plans would have to wait. Hed bide his time, for now, but he would have his revenge. His eyes flared red at Mac as the door was slammed shut.

Now then, Mr. Mac Burns, please rise, the judge asked reverting to a kind attitude. You are going to be remanded to the custody of Madame Foster, where you will live for as long as she will have you. Is this what you want?

Mac looked up at the judge, Its all Ive ever wanted! he yelled jumping for joy.

Very well then, Madame Foster, you may take your boy home, the judge finished, rising and then leaving via his entrance.

Behind him he heard cheers and praise as the boy leapt into the arms of his friends and family. They had won. He was finally free of the tyranny of his older brother and mother. He was going to get to stay with the people he loved and who loved him. Together the group, along with their lawyer, made their way down the steps of the courthouse and through the crowd of reporters that had assembled. It would only be one short ride home and then it was all over and Mac could start his new life with his new family.

To be continued

Ah, got ya! You thought I was gonna put something dark and ominous at the end didnt you? Well, not this time. I thought that Id give you guys a happy ending, at least for now. Okay, so, Mac gets to stay with the Fosters and Terrence and his mom are going to prison, what more could you ask for? Well, as things are in real life, good things are followed by bad things so be ready for that fight Ive been promising you. And whats the deal with Terrence? His imaginary friend is about to make an appearance in a big way, so be prepared. Later all.