exclusion of all else. I’m sure we’ve all thought about how we want to be avenged. I know I have. You aren’t being judged, dear. We’re simply asking questions to better understand so we can finally get you the justice you deserve,” Myra said.
They all started to talk at once. Myra picked up her gavel and banged it three times on top of the polished table. “One at a time, sisters. It’s important for all of us to understand right now that each person’s idea of vengeance and retribution is different from someone else’s. I want each of you to tell me what you think would be a fitting punishment for the men who attacked and raped Kathryn. In the end, it has to be Kathryn’s decision and we will all abide by that decision. Let’s be clear on that. Isabelle, tell us what you think.”
Isabella cleared her throat nervously as she fiddled with the long braid hanging down her back. “I’m real big on an eye for an eye. I agree with Kathryn. I have to admit, I cheered that Bobbit woman.” She looked at Kathryn. “I think your punishment is just.”
Yoko clapped her hands against her cheeks. “What about their families? What if they have wives? Maybe the wives don’t know their husbands. . . do . . . things like that. It will be like you are punishing them also for something they did not do.”
Nikki responded in Kathryn’s defense. “Obviously they weren’t thinking of their wives when they attacked Kathryn. We have to stay focused and remember that our issue is with the criminals, not their families.”
“Alexis, what’s your opinion?” Myra asked.
“You play, you pay. Kathryn is right. They didn’t think about their families or their wives. They were out for a good time and the hell with everything else.They goddamn well violated her and they should be made to pay for what they did. I agree with Kathryn. Let’s slice their balls off and pickle them. We can send them their balls anonymously. Yeah, yeah, I like that,” Alexis said vehemently.
Charles straightened his tie as his gaze swept across the ceiling. A smile tugged at the corners of his mouth and did not go unnoticed by Kathryn.
“Julia, what do you think?” Myra asked.
Kathryn jerked upright at the doctor’s cold, deadly voice. “I’ll do the operation. I’ll use my dullest surgical knife. I will place all testicles in formaldehyde and will label each. However, I think we should use Ziploc bags. They’ll be easier to mail. I will even volunteer to mail them. Does that answer your question?”
“Yes,” Myra said. “Yoko?”
Yoko looked first at one woman and then another as she struggled to find the words she wanted. She stared at the shoebox in the middle of the table.
Kathryn leaned over and pinched Murphy’s ear. The huge dog reared back and stood up. “What’s your damn problem, Yoko?” Kathryn said as her foot pressed against the dog’s foot to make him turn around until he was facing Yoko. “You should be champing at the bit to go after these guys. Wasn’t your father just like them? Your history says he was.”
“Well . . . I . . .” Yoko’s eyes filled with tears.
Kathryn jabbed her finger in Yoko’s direction. “You’d better not turn out to be a weak link, sister. I’m not putting my ass on the line and I don’t think these other women will either if you have to sit and ponder everything and then weasel out when the going gets tough. I think you’re too wishy-washy for my taste. I’m going to keep my eye on you. This dog of mine is going to do the same thing. Now, what the hell is your answer?”
“I apologize if I don’t think fast enough for you, Kathryn. I feel you are justified in wanting revenge. What you propose is drastic. You said yourself you are alive and well. Perhaps not mentally well, but well just the same. I am most sorry about your husband’s death. Your grief is palpable. I understand this. I will vote no this time because I do not know these men.”
“You know Kathryn.
They all started to talk at once. Myra picked up her gavel and banged it three times on top of the polished table. “One at a time, sisters. It’s important for all of us to understand right now that each person’s idea of vengeance and retribution is different from someone else’s. I want each of you to tell me what you think would be a fitting punishment for the men who attacked and raped Kathryn. In the end, it has to be Kathryn’s decision and we will all abide by that decision. Let’s be clear on that. Isabelle, tell us what you think.”
Isabella cleared her throat nervously as she fiddled with the long braid hanging down her back. “I’m real big on an eye for an eye. I agree with Kathryn. I have to admit, I cheered that Bobbit woman.” She looked at Kathryn. “I think your punishment is just.”
Yoko clapped her hands against her cheeks. “What about their families? What if they have wives? Maybe the wives don’t know their husbands. . . do . . . things like that. It will be like you are punishing them also for something they did not do.”
Nikki responded in Kathryn’s defense. “Obviously they weren’t thinking of their wives when they attacked Kathryn. We have to stay focused and remember that our issue is with the criminals, not their families.”
“Alexis, what’s your opinion?” Myra asked.
“You play, you pay. Kathryn is right. They didn’t think about their families or their wives. They were out for a good time and the hell with everything else.They goddamn well violated her and they should be made to pay for what they did. I agree with Kathryn. Let’s slice their balls off and pickle them. We can send them their balls anonymously. Yeah, yeah, I like that,” Alexis said vehemently.
Charles straightened his tie as his gaze swept across the ceiling. A smile tugged at the corners of his mouth and did not go unnoticed by Kathryn.
“Julia, what do you think?” Myra asked.
Kathryn jerked upright at the doctor’s cold, deadly voice. “I’ll do the operation. I’ll use my dullest surgical knife. I will place all testicles in formaldehyde and will label each. However, I think we should use Ziploc bags. They’ll be easier to mail. I will even volunteer to mail them. Does that answer your question?”
“Yes,” Myra said. “Yoko?”
Yoko looked first at one woman and then another as she struggled to find the words she wanted. She stared at the shoebox in the middle of the table.
Kathryn leaned over and pinched Murphy’s ear. The huge dog reared back and stood up. “What’s your damn problem, Yoko?” Kathryn said as her foot pressed against the dog’s foot to make him turn around until he was facing Yoko. “You should be champing at the bit to go after these guys. Wasn’t your father just like them? Your history says he was.”
“Well . . . I . . .” Yoko’s eyes filled with tears.
Kathryn jabbed her finger in Yoko’s direction. “You’d better not turn out to be a weak link, sister. I’m not putting my ass on the line and I don’t think these other women will either if you have to sit and ponder everything and then weasel out when the going gets tough. I think you’re too wishy-washy for my taste. I’m going to keep my eye on you. This dog of mine is going to do the same thing. Now, what the hell is your answer?”
“I apologize if I don’t think fast enough for you, Kathryn. I feel you are justified in wanting revenge. What you propose is drastic. You said yourself you are alive and well. Perhaps not mentally well, but well just the same. I am most sorry about your husband’s death. Your grief is palpable. I understand this. I will vote no this time because I do not know these men.”
“You know Kathryn.
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