Free Forged by Fire by Sharon M. Draper Page A

husband, and he says he’s Angel’s daddy, but he’s no father of mine!”
    â€œWhat kind of father is Jordan?”
    â€œNo kind! He smacks me and punches me all the time. I got cuts and bruises all over me. But that ain’t the problem. I can deal with that. It’s what he does to Angel that I can’t stand.”
    â€œCan you explain?”
    Gerald looked at Monique. She was looking at Jordan, whispering “I’m sorry” across the room. Gerald looked away in disgust and glanced at Mr. Washington. He still couldn’t believe that a busy man would take the time tocome and be with them. Mr. Washington smiled at Gerald in encouragement.
    Gerald took a deep breath. “He goes into Angel’s bedroom at night. He’s messin’ with her and it makes me sick!”
    â€œHave you ever seen him touch her in an improper way?”
    â€œWell, no, but I know he does.”
    â€œDid she ever tell you?”
    â€œShe was really scared, but yeah, she told me about it finally. So I got help and the police found him in her bedroom.”
    â€œThank you, Gerald.”
    The defense lawyer asked only a few questions. “Gerald,” he began, “Mr. Sparks says you are lying. If you have never really seen him doing anything to Angel, how can you sit there and accuse him with no proof?”
    â€œI see how scared Angel is and I see how Jordan likes to touch her hair and put his hands on her back. I am
not
lying!”
    The lawyer shrugged, checked his watch, picked his nose, then said carelessly, “No further questions.” Gerald sat down gratefully.
    When Angel’s name was called, she almost fainted. Gerald walked with her and helped her sit in the witness chair.
    â€œI’m only going to ask you a few questions, honey, okay? Don’t be afraid. Just tell the truth.”
    Angel nodded, barely able to breathe.
    â€œTell us your name.”
    â€œAngel Sparks.”
    â€œDo you understand that everything you say here must be the truth?”
    â€œYes, ma’am.”
    â€œWhat grade are you in?”
    â€œSecond grade.”
    â€œWe’re going to use this doll, okay? You just point to the doll to help you answer the questions, all right?”
    Angel nodded again, and hugged the doll the prosecutor gave her.
    She asked her about Jordan and what life was like with him. Angel whispered her answers, but she told the truth.
    â€œAre you afraid of him?”
    â€œYes, ma’am.”
    â€œCan you tell us why?”
    â€œHe yells.”
    â€œIs that all?”
    â€œHe hits.”
    â€œDoes he hit you?”
    â€œSometimes. Mostly he hits Gerald and Mama.”
    â€œDoes he ever hurt you?”
    â€œSometimes.”
    â€œHow?”
    Angel hesitated. “He makes me play games.”
    â€œWhat kind of games?”
    â€œBad games.”
    â€œCan you explain what kind of bad games? I know this is hard for you, but we’re almost finished.”
    â€œTouchy-feely games.”
    â€œCan you show me on the doll?”
    The doll was really helpful. When the prosecutor asked Angel where Jordan had hit Gerald, for example, Angel pointed to the doll’s back and face. And when she was asked about where Jordan had touched her, Angel was able to use the doll to show what he had done.
    When the prosecutor was finished, the defense lawyer whispered to Jordan, started to get up, then sat back down. “No questions, Your Honor.”
    â€œThank you, Angel,” the prosecutor in green said. “That’s all. You and Gerald can leave now. You were very brave.”
    Angel and Gerald walked out of the courtroom together. Neither looked at Jordan. Monique refused to look at them. Mr. Washington took them both to lunch, but Angel couldn’t eat.
    It took the jury less than an hour to decide his fate that afternoon. He was found guilty on all counts, and the judge, sentencing him immediately, gave him six to ten