Chapter 21

When the judge declared the court to be in recess for fifteen minutes, Bobbie took the opportunity to escort Cindy to where her parents were sitting and then all four moved to an unoccupied corner of the room. Bill and Kathy looked at Bobbie expectantly, while Cindy, who Bobbie was holding in her arms, appeared apprehensive.

"I didn't want to lose a moment to tell you what a delight Cindy is," Bobbie began. "Furthermore, I can't tell you how moved I was by her words on the witness stand this afternoon. Looking at you both together, I can tell that she is exactly right: Your trip to Heaven is truly assured."

Looking at Bill she extended her hand and said, "I can't tell you how overwhelmed I am by what you have suffered for our country, nor how proud I am to be able to teach your daughter. Not that she needs any teaching, though."

Bill took Cindy from her arms, gave the girl to her mother and then took Bobbie in his arms and kissed her. His kiss of the purest love almost destroyed the girl. When he released her she was dazed, but her eyes were glowing with love. "I didn't know the half of it, did I? Mr. Cartwright, you're unbelievable!"

"The name is Bill," he replied with a grin, "and I'm not nearly as unbelievable as you are! I can't tell you what it means to us to have Cindy coming home every day with her eyes just dancing with joy. Everything Kathy and I have tried to teach her, you reinforce. Beyond that, though, you introduce her to things that would never occur to us.

"Imagine! Our little girl, only six years old, talking about the City on the Hill. Mrs. Conroy, I cried! And Cindy was right, too. I almost never cry. But to hear my little daughter talking about America as a beacon shining to the world caused my heart to turn over. I never knew those words, but it was exactly why I never gave in! And my daughter understands! There are no words for us to thank you enough, except to say it made all the suffering worthwhile."

"The name is Bobbie, Bill. And thank you." Turning to his wife she asked, "May I give you a kiss, too?"

Pretending to be flustered, Kathy's green eyes flashed and she said, "Kiss? Me? You're not ... one of those strange women are you... ?" Then with a yelp she gathered Bobbie in her free arm and gave her a kiss exactly like Bill's. When she released the girl, she added, "And the name is Kathy, damn it!"

"Oh! Okay, Kathy-damn-it. I'll try to remember the next time."

Turning to Cindy, Bobbie held out her arms and said, "Okay, Imp, it's time for you to go to work!"

With a wink at the adults she carried Cindy back to the table. While she was being carried, Cindy snuggled her face in Bobbie's neck and told her how much she loved her. Before putting her down, Bobbie lifted the girl up so she could kiss her full on the lips. In an instant Cindy began to work her lips on Bobbie's the same way Andy did and communicated the same inner purity, love and goodness.

"I love you, Cindy," Bobbie murmured as she set the girl on the floor.

"And I adore you," the little girl replied with the warmest look Bobbie had ever seen.

Taking seats around the table, all the children sat up straight and looked at Bobbie attentively. The children all had notebooks open on the table in front of them and fountain pens poised ready to write.

Bobbie smiled at them warmly and said, "Kids, first, I want you to know how flattered and impressed I have been by your behavior all day today. You have been perfect ladies and gentlemen."

Then with a grin she said, "But how about if we get back to normal now, shall we? The name is Bobbie." The children all giggled and looked at Bobbie worshipfully. Then she said, "The subject today is the Constitution. Mike, what was the constitution for?"

With the judge's permission, the spectators had left their seats and were now gathered in a circle around the table. After hearing what Cindy Cartwright had said, the people had decided that these children were certainly worth listening to.

Mike Morris sat up even straighter in his chair and said, "The preamble of the Constitution says, 'We, the people of the United States, in order to form a more perfect union, establish justice, insure domestic tranquility, provide for the common defense, promote the general welfare, and secure the blessings of liberty to ourselves and our posterity do ordain and establish the Constitution of the United States of America."

They could hear gasps from the surrounding crowd at the way a six-year-old boy could casually quote from the document itself.

Continuing, "But really, Bobbie, it needs to be considered in conjunction with the Declaration of Independence. Cindy quoted Jefferson's words: 'We hold these truths to be self-evident: that all men are created equal, that they are endowed by their Creator with certain unalienable rights, that among these are life, liberty, and the pursuit of happiness.' Actually, Bobbie, in the first draft it said 'life, liberty and property.'

"Taking the two documents together, the Federal government was to provide national defense, and security to people and property. What our government provides is rule of the majority while respecting the rights of the minority."

Looking around at the spectators, Bobbie asked, "What did you all think of Mike's answer?"

"I think it was terribly incomplete," Kramer said. "He didn't talk about equality, for example, except very briefly.

"Perhaps it's because the documents don't, either," Bobbie replied. "In fact, the Declaration says it perfectly: 'all men are created equal', but the equality is in the sight of God and under the law. That is the beginning and end of equality." Looking around she asked, "Anyone else?"

"Yes, Mrs. Conroy," Judge Callaway said. "Michael Morris, I think it was an outstanding answer ... for a college student in an advanced course on constitutional issues. For a boy of six, there are no words to express my admiration for the way you answered the question. Young man, it was perfect."

Mike beamed at the praise and his mother, Judy, standing behind him whispered, "Darling, you have made your dad and me so proud!" The little boy beamed at the praise as his mother squeezed his shoulder.

Then Bobbie asked, "The Declaration came during the Revolution and the Constitution was ratified in 1789. What else happened in 1789, Susan?"

Susan Carlson had brown hair and warm brown eyes. But like her mother's, Susan's hair was sun-streaked in colors ranging from platinum blonde to brown. It was utterly gorgeous as was the little girl. Quickly she replied, "The French Revolution, Bobbie. That was the year the Paris mob stormed the Bastille."

"Okay, Sue. We had ours and they had theirs. Were the results the same?"

"No, Bobbie, they were not. Their revolution resulted in the king being beheaded. It was followed by the Reign of Terror with thousands of people losing their lives. That dissolved into the Directory and then came Napoleon. As late as 1810, there were guillotines in every town square in France with weekly public executions. In those days, to be executed it was only necessary to be denounced.

"A man might be denounced, for example, by someone who owed him money. It was an easy way to get out from under a debt. Even as late as 1800 the whole process would take less than a week. A man would be arrested, tried — if you could call it a trial — pronounced guilty and executed all in less than seven days."

"Why the difference between their revolution and ours?" Bobbie asked quietly.

"It was a totally different thing. The French Revolution was grounded on the principles of Jean-Jacques Rousseau's Noble Savage: the idea that man is naturally pure and good and only governments — or kings — are evil. Our revolution was grounded in the belief that men are flawed — we are not perfect. Since we are not, the Constitution is fundamentally a limitation on the powers of government. Moreover, it is set up with checks and balances among the three principal branches of government: the legislative that enacts laws, the executive that enforces them, and the judiciary, that interprets them.

"In France, because of Rousseau's legacy — since men were thought to be perfect, restraints were not needed — there was no limit on the power of government and it almost immediately became oppressive. As the man said, 'All power corrupts and absolute power corrupts absolutely.'" Looking at Barbara the little girl looked forlorn and added, "I am very sorry and I apologize, Bobbie. I can't remember his name, but I'll look it up tonight and tell you tomorrow if that's all right?" [Lord Acton]

"That will be fine, Sue," Bobbie said quietly with a warm smile. "Do you want to add anything?"

"Basically, Bobbie, it is as Mike said: the rôle of the Federal government is to defend our shores from external enemies and take steps to make the land safe for life and property. That's really all there is."

"Thank you, Sue," Bobbie said quietly. Then turning to Callaway she asked, "What did you think, Judge?"

"Wow!" Callaway exclaimed. "That's what I think: Wow!" Looking at Susan he said, "Young lady, we have not been introduced. Who are you?"

Rising quickly from her seat, Susan, who was wearing a lovely yellow pinafore with a big yellow ribbon in her hair, went to the judge, made another exquisite curtsy, smiled warmly up at him and said, "Judge Callaway, my name is Susan Carlson. I am privileged to meet you, sir."

"Susan, the privilege and pleasure are all mine," the judge replied. As he had done with the other girls, he took her extended hand, bowed, and kissed the back of it.

Susan blushing with excitement and pleasure, said, "You are so gallant, sir. I don't know what to say!"

Callaway looked at the girl closely and realized how incredibly beautiful she was. Dropping to his knees he enfolded the little girl in his arms and gave her a warm kiss. Sue returned it with the purest love. Back on his feet he looked at her with great warmth and asked, "In whose harem do you belong, Sue? Mike's or Charley's?"

With her eyes as big as saucers the little girl whispered, "I love Michael Morris, sir." Then she added, "Is that bad?"

"Are you Ken Carlson's little girl?" he asked rather than answering her question.

"Yes sir, I am. I am Ken and Kathy Carlson's eldest child."

"Are your parents here today, young lady?"

Ken and Kathy moved through the crowd to stand beside their daughter. The judge rose and said to the crowd, "Susan asked if it was bad for her to like Mike Morris. Folks, what you may not know is that, while Mike Morris, Sr., has a Medal of Honor for valor, Ken Carlson has two! Major Carlson is the most decorated military hero in the history of this country."

Extending his hand to Ken he said, "Sir, you cannot know how honored I am to have you in this courtroom today. I said earlier that I served in Vietnam. I vividly remember all the stories about Carlson's Rangers." They shook hands and then he looked at Kathy. "I also remember hearing all the stories about Kathy-grams. You're Kathy, aren't you?

"I hope you won't hold it against me ... or my daughter, Judge," Kathy replied.

He just shook his head and said, "Then there is Katherine Carlson. Aside from authoring Kathy-grams which were letters written in blue ink on blue paper and which inspired the most brilliant performance in military history, Mrs. Carlson personally rescued a man from certain death when a major sewer line ruptured. She did it by swimming in sewage and by using superhuman strength to free his trapped foot. Then she singlehandedly set his broken leg, an act that orthopedic surgeons rated as impossible."

Then he snapped his fingers and added, "Oh! I almost forgot. Kathy took up the game of golf. Within two weeks of playing her first round she enters her first small tournament — the LPGA Kapalua Open — which she wins by fifteen strokes over the finest golfers on the ladies' professional tour."

Looking back at Susan the judge said, "As the daughter of our country's greatest hero and one of the most remarkable women who has ever lived, yes, Susan, I think it would be all right for you to like Michael Morris. In fact, I think it would be great!"

He beamed at the girl who beamed back and then blushed red as a beet. Turning to her parents he said, "You must be so very proud! I absolutely cannot believe these children. Your daughter's answer was an 'A+' — for a graduate student in comparative governments! What did you two think?"

Ken Carlson picked his daughter up and held her in his arms. As soon as he did she nuzzled his neck and kissed him. "When I first met Kathy I dreamed of holding her in my arms and eventually making her my wife. Then I dreamed of her being the mother of my children.

"Frankly, Judge, never in my wildest dreams did I even dream of fathering a girl like Susan. All I can say is that I love her almost as much as I love her mother. Perhaps you can't fully appreciate what I just said, but I think Sue does. She knows that for me the sun rises and sets in Kathy ... and I love my darling daughter as much!"

"Oh, Daddy, I love you so very much!" the little girl exclaimed. Then with a look of apprehension she asked, "Did ... did you like my answer to Bobbie's question, Daddy?"

At that, to the amazement of everyone, Ken Carlson began to cry. "Did I like it? My darling daughter, I was utterly stunned and amazed! That a daughter of mine could be so smart! Honey, you must have gotten all of your brains from your mother, because I barely made it through school. You couldn't have gotten anything from me."

"No, Daddy, I got nothing from you at all," the little girl said loud enough to reach the corners of the court. "Just honesty, integrity, love of God, love of country and an appreciation for some of the truly incredible things you have achieved.

"For example, Daddy, if it were not for you, Tom Conroy might not even be alive and certainly his father wouldn't. If it were not for you, Karen Chan could not be alive because her mother would have been dead long ago. I could go on and on, Daddy, but I won't. You're just the finest father who has ever lived. I love you so very much and I so very much want you to be proud of me, sometimes, too."

At that comment, Ken began weeping uncontrollably while at the same time holding the little girl tightly. Susan had her arms around his neck and was hugging as tightly as she could. "Be proud of you sometimes?" he cried. "My darling daughter, I'm bursting with pride! You have honored your mother and me so very much. I can't tell you how proud we are to be your parents. Be proud of you sometime? Darling, we're proud of you all the time!"

Then pulling her away so he could look into her eyes he added, "Maybe we have both learned something very valuable today, too, Pumpkin. Maybe we should tell you more often how wonderful you make us both feel, how proud of you we really are, and how much we love you."

After kissing her softly he added, "My darling daughter, it would be utterly impossible for me ever to love you more!"

Then Kathy said, "Kenneth, can I get into this act, too? After all, I knew her before you did. She did spend the first nine months of her life in the intimate confines of my belly. May I hold her, too? And kiss her? And tell her how enormously proud of her I am? And tell her that if she loves Mike Morris, she has my permission to continue to see him? May I?"

With a grin, Ken passed Susan to Kathy who hugged the little girl tightly. Then she whispered in her ear, "My darling Susan, I have some warm milk in my tit waiting just for you. I can't wait to feel your mouth sucking at my nipple and drawing nourishment from my body into your own."

Pulling back just enough to look into the girl's eyes she asked softly, "Interested?"

"Oh, Mommy! I can't wait!" the little girl screamed and then dove back to nuzzle at Kathy's neck.

When the children were assembled again around the table, Mike Morris gave Sue's hand a squeeze and she melted him with the warmest, most loving smile he had ever seen.

Then Bobbie asked, "What about the second amendment to the Constitution? What does it say and why is it there? Casey, do you want to try?"

"Thank you, Bobbie," the black girl said quietly.

Then sitting up straight she said, "The second amendment notes that 'A well-regulated militia being necessary to the security of a free State, the right of the people to keep and bear arms shall not be infringed.'" Looking around at her friends, she continued, "It's a very interesting amendment. First, while most of the Constitution provides limits, particularly on Congress — 'Congress shall pass no law... ' — the Second addresses the whole nation: neither Congress nor the states may act.