Chapter 7 - The Inner Lining
I watched in utter confusion as Toby began to unbutton his favorite shirt.
He had guarded that piece of clothing fiercely for four months, refusing to let me put it in the dryer.
Judge Leonard watched with intense curiosity as the small boy worked his way down the buttons.
The judge asked softly, "What kind of proof are you talking about, son?"
Toby slipped his arms out of the sleeves and held the navy fabric up in the air.
Toby explained, "My dad always thought I was not paying attention when I visited his big new house."
He added, "He would talk on the phone, or yell at his friends, and think I was just watching cartoons."
Welch stood up slowly, looking between his terrified client and the boy holding the shirt.
Welch nervously said, "Your Honor, I must formally object to whatever this stunt is."
The judge snapped, "Overruled."
Toby took a deep breath and grabbed the collar and the hem of the shirt.
With one swift motion, he pulled the fabric completely inside out.
I gasped aloud, entirely stunned by what I was seeing.
The entire inner lining of the shirt was completely covered in tiny, neat handwriting.
It was written in thick black permanent marker, completely covering the white inner seams and backing fabric.
There were dozens of dates, times, and long paragraphs squeezed into every available inch of space.
Toby told the judge, "I started writing things down so I would never forget the truth."
Russell looked like he was about to pass out, his skin turning an awful shade of gray.
Welch desperately shouted, "This is madness, it is just a child's scribbles!"
Judge Leonard stood up from his tall leather chair, leaning all the way over the desk to see.
The judge dangerously whispered, "Those do not look like simple scribbles to me."
He gestured for Toby to hand the piece of clothing up to the bench.
Toby suggested, "Read the very first one, Your Honor."
He added, "It happened on the second weekend in October, right after he bought his new sports car."
The judge adjusted his heavy glasses and squinted at the neat black lettering on the fabric.
As the judge read the words silently, his jaw tightened, and a look of absolute disgust washed over his face.
May you like
He slowly lowered the shirt and stared directly into Russell's terrified eyes.
The judge whispered dangerously, "Mister Davenport, you have a lot of explaining to do right now."
