Chapter 24 – [February 19, 2002]
As the weeks flowed by, so did the urine each night out of the thirteen-year-old girl from Ballard. In contrast, her 2-year-old sister Jen and soon to be 6 year old sister Mindi (in just 3 days anyways) both had been dry every night for a month. As the quickly emerging lone bed-wetter in the house, Jordan began to wonder if she might indeed once again enjoy the comforts of her own room.
Maybe I might get some actual perks from this problem I’ve developed after all. She then thought about the wonderful time spent with her Mom each evening, morning, and sometimes in the middle of the night. Well, I guess maybe there might be a few perks.
Her mind then drifted off to the newfound illicit afternoon moments she had been spending alone with her diapers. Several times over the weeks that followed her first solo foray, because Her sisters each had childcare and daycare after school until their mom got off work, Jordan had done several repeated ventures in the solitude of afternoon school days. Although she felt ashamed out it still, it had been both thrilling and oddly fulfilling.
After having been up once at 2am to change Jordan and then again for good at 6am before rousing the other two girls for the day, Sally was exhausted as she rushed out of the house. Mindi and Jen had to be dropped off at school and daycare before she had to race for downtown Seattle to the King County Superior Courthouse on Third Avenue. The first hearing for her divorce proceeding with Ted was scheduled for 10am and she didn’t want to make a bad impression by being late. Unfortunately, by the time she arrived in the vicinity of the building, which takes up an entire city block, all the street parking in and around it had long been snatched up. Sally ended up in a lot down toward the waterfront about four blocks away.
The King County courthouse is an old stone building that is neither imposing nor regal. Utilitarian might best describe its U-shape and un-wasteful design. A simple park guards its south end and primary entrance. The surrounding streets of what is known as ‘old Seattle’ feel dense and overly close.
Sally hadn’t yet cried that Tuesday morning as she had been doing very often since she and Ted’s separation and she wasn’t even feeling particularly sad – just stressed. But when she sat down in front of the arbitrator and kitty-corner to Ted at the table in the scantily appointed room on the fifth floor, she felt on the verge of tears.
Although Ted’s lawyer wasn’t accompanying him, she could clearly see his influence. Ted had a large folder of files and resources in front of him as though he were going to present evidence against her. To make matters worse from Sally’s viewpoint, the arbitrator and Ted had appeared as though they had just finished a brotherly chat before she had entered the room. Immediately she felt behind the 8-ball.
I knew he had been meeting with a lawyer, but I didn’t think he’d be this hardball about it. I’m clearly not prepared.
The conversation between the three went on for about an hour. They discussed the nature of their marriage before Ted had filed for divorce, their children, their resources, their education, skills, and potential careers and abilities to earn a living after the divorce. They discussed the reasons for the divorce and the possibility of counseling and working things out. Sally had expressed a willingness and even an interest in pursuing that option – but Ted dismissed it flatly. That had been the first time since he had moved out in November that they had even brought up the idea in one another’s presence.
When the arbitrator moved toward division of their mutual possessions and resources, Ted had been surprisingly open handed Sally had thought. He told the sharply dressed and clean-cut man that he thought Sally and the kids should have the house, furniture, and the van and that he had already moved out and found other living arrangements. He thought that should stay as is. He defensively denied being a ‘dead beat father’ and admitted his inevitable financial obligations. He said that Sally should maintain primary custody of the children and that he just wanted to be involved in their lives and allowed regular visitation. His hope was that they could work that out without amicably between the two of them without a rigid court-mandated schedule.
Sally had nodded in agreement.
When the arbitrator looked to Sally, her mouth began moving and words came out that she hadn’t recalled thinking through clearly or rehearsing before entering the room.
“Well, I appreciate all of Ted’s suggestions and I fully agree. I think the girls will be the most stable in their home. Their relationship is the most firmly bonded with me. It’s also true that Ted has been the primary breadwinner and I’ve been a stay-at-home mom since Mindi was born 6 years ago…”
Ted and the arbitrator looked at her and politely nodded.
“…and so I think he should continue in that role for the girls; as the primary financial support.”
At that, Ted’s face had turned red. “NOW – I knew you were gonn—”
“Mr. Reynolds,” the arbitrator interrupted, “you had your chance, and now it’s your wife’s. Please let her speak.”
Realizing what she was doing – but also that there was now no turning back, Sally continued calmly but terrified under the angry gaze of Ted. “I think Ted should continue to support his children financially. And I think this should go above and beyond the minimum child-support that the State mandates…”
At this Ted’s head looked like a red balloon on the verge of popping. But he only mumbled and hummed.
Sally paused”Like I was saying. Jordan is well knit into her school culture at BCS, which is a private Christian school that is quite expensive. Because of her Dad’s connections through his career, she gets a significant discount. Mindi and Jen will be entitled to the same. But, in addition to continuing to provide that, I think Ted should continue to help pay the lions share if not all of the remaining tuition beyond that scholarship money. And I think he should do the same for Mindi and Jen as well as they move up through school. I think Ted should pay for all the extra curricular activities that go with their private education as well: trips, sports, uniforms, etc., just as if he were still in the home. Just because he’s moving out doesn’t mean they’re not his girls anymore. I don’t want his money. I’ve started working full time as a CPA again that’s fine; I expected that. But the girls deserve more than I’ll be able to provide all by myself with daycare and everything.”
The arbitrator was still nodding but Ted looked as though he was about to blow a gasket.
“Now Ted,” he said, “before you flip out, child-support is always part of any divorce ruling as you seemed to allude. You have to have anticipated that. And additional agreements like this are very common as well. What your wife is suggesting is quite typical, and in my opinion, it’s quite reasonable as well. I mean, these things are so much easier if you can go before a judge with an agreed upon plan – you don’t’ want to go to trial with lawyers and everyth—”
Immediately Ted blew off, screaming profanities at each of them. Accusing the two of collusion and screaming at Sally that she was an unfit mother. He threatened her with endless investigations as to her parenting abilities; he threatened to get the best lawyers involved, to drag her name through the mud at church, to make her daughters hate her. Everything he could think of to get himself off the hook.
Sally watched him in wonder, fear, and sadness. Tears came to her eyes and streamed down her cheeks.
As he stormed out of the office, he turned and hollered red eyed, “I’ll make you regret this Sally Reynolds! I GUARANTEE!! We’re going to court!”
She was stunned as was the arbitrator. It had not gone as she had planned.
“I’m not supposed to give out legal advice Mrs. Reynolds. But I’d suggest you find a lawyer….and a good one before you head to divorce court.” He got up and walked gingerly out the door.
This man is dangerous, she thought as her Nokia cell phone rang in her purse.
About 8 miles to the North, Jordan sat in a curious unscheduled all-school assembly that had been called hastily the day before. Although BCS had a fancy new facility, it still lacked a proper auditorium that could host the full student body or their families and so events such as this (or even graduations for that matter) always took place in the gymnasium on bleachers. Jordan sat uncomfortably in the upper 1/3 section on the right hand side awaiting the program’s beginning; apparently there was to be some speaker on tour from the East coast.
The principal got up for an introduction.
“Good morning Ballard Christian. Let’s give a warm welcome to Randall Davis, one of the program directors for NPR in Washington D.C.”
Jordan’s heart began to beat extremely rapidly as most students around her clapped ignorantly to what she thought might be about to happen. A few who were more aware of the recent events turned around to look at her with knowing smiles.
The girl’s face turned red immediately.
Mr. Davis began with a few funny short stories that had the little kids squirming and rolling with laughter before he began talking about how important stories are to human beings – about how they help us make sense of the world and our lives. As he talked, Jordan was zeroed in on him – not so much his mumbo jumbo about stories, but about the competition she knew he was going to bring up any second. She was so excited she thought she might pee her pants.
Wouldn’t that be a great coming out party! She thought to herself with a smirk.
Finally the speaker got to the point. “So today, I’m here not to tell you about stories or tell funny jokes – but primarily to let you know that a student from your school has become a finalist in a first annual national ‘Short Story’ competition created by NPR.” A gasp and cheer went through the audience.
He continued, “A couple months ago, many of you might know that a 7th grader from your school had her story read on local Seattle radio. It’s a really amazing short tale about a boy and his dad who travel to Mars. Well – that 7th grader has become one of the 3 national finalists and her story is gonna be recorded for national radio by the actress Natalie Portman. In addition, that 7th grader is gonna get to travel to D.C. for free during spring break to visit the studio. She’ll get to meet Ms. Portman and the other finalists as well as tour the city.”
The student body was giddy with delight and squirming with anticipation. Jordan, for her part, was seriously nervous but also beyond delighted that she had apparently won.
“Ms. Jordan Reynolds? Would you please come down here?” Randall Davis said.
An audible gasp waved through the bleaches once more before they burst into applause. Jordan gingerly got up, terrified she would somehow make a fool of herself by falling or peeing or some other ridiculous thing. As she made her way down the bleachers, kids began chanting her name and she felt tingles down her spine, unable to help but smile widely.
The tall brunette girl with sparkling hazel eyes, soft-spoken manner, hidden talents and secrets a many stood confidently in between her principal and the station programming manager as they congratulated her and handed her a plaque and certificate. A photographer was even there from the Seattle Times Newspaper!
Oh jeez, she thought, I wish I would’ve known. I would’ve made sure to have Alex and Cindy look over my hair and makeup. I hope it doesn’t get in the paper!
As soon as the assembly was all over and Jordan had hugged about 200 fellow students, she had had a chance to scamper off to the bathroom (luckily before any incident). She then immediately rushed to the office for the phone.
Looking out the window of the small conference room down toward Pioneer Square, Sally put the plastic device to her ear.
“Hello?”
“Mom?”
“Yes Jordan it’s me – what’s up?”
“Mom I won!”
Sally was confused – mind still churning from what had just happened between she and Ted and the arbitrator. “Won what honey?” She asked without any enthusiasm.
“Mom! I won the competition!”
“Jordan can we talk about this later?” Sally said almost just hanging up. She could feel herself getting increasingly depressed.
“MOM!! What’s wrong? Don’t you hear me? I won the story competition! The NPR one. I won! I’m a finalist!”
This had caught Sally way off guard. “Wa…wai…wai…wait…Wait. Now what? I though you already won what there was to win Jordie?” She said a genuinely confused.
Jordan had never really explained to her the full scope of the contest. It was something that she and Mr. Johns had done together at school primarily as far as she knew.
“Mom! I won the competition! The whole thing! My story is one of the top 3 in the whole country! And I got a free trip to Washington D.C. during spring break and that actress from Star Wars is gonna read it on the radio!” Jordan was jumping up and down, finally letting her excitement out.
Sally was speechless.
“Mom! The thing before was just the regional part. Now I wont the national part. I got a free trip and everything! Isn’t that AMAZING!” She enunciated the last word of the sentence and Sally could envision her twirling on her flat school shoes on the slick hallway, hair flying out behind.
“Jordan I’m so proud of you. Really. This is really wonderful dear…” Sally tried to gather herself. This wasn’t a good moment to talk or strategize and she knew with her new job, there was no way she herself could go on the trip in March and there was no way she was sending Ted on one either.
She couldn’t break that news to the girl right that moment. “We’ll have to celebrate real soon – maybe we’ll do something for it when we celebrate your sister’s birthday.”
“Ok mom – yeah that’d be great. I’m so excited. I just had to call and tell you. Love you!!!” The phone clicked.
What a day. Sally thought. What a day. It couldn’t get much better – and it couldn’t get much worse.
