Chapter 34: "If that's what's bothering you ... you're fired!"

"All rise," announced the bailiff as Judge Thatcher left the courtroom.

"Oh my God, thank you," said Lisa as she hugged Harold and gave him a kiss on the neck.

After she had released her embrace the prosecuting attorney came up to Harold and offered his hand. There were no hard feelings. Each had zealously represented their clients.

"Congratulations," said Meredith as she gave Lisa a kiss. "I knew you'd win."

Venera was there as well. She hugged and kissed her, "I told you that there were people helping you along the way."

After they broke their embrace, Harold said, "Lisa, if you're not doing anything right now, Annabelle has prepared a little celebration back at my office if you'd like to come?"

"What?" Lisa said, still a little stunned from the court's decision. "Oh, yeah right. No, I have nothing planned."

"Great. You're all invited to come. What do you say?"

They all followed Lisa and Harold to his office.

Harold was the first one in the office. Annabelle, his secretary was sitting at her desk, typing away on her computer.

"Well, how did it go?" she asked.

"I have good news and bad news. Which do you want first?"

"Give me the bad first."

"We probably won't be seeing our favorite client here much any more."

"Obviously, you're talking about Lisa. What's the good news?"

"The good news is we got a 'not guilty'. And a few more people will be coming over here in a little bit."

Soon they were all there. "There are wine, cheese, bread, cold cuts and even some beer in the conference room," said Annabelle to all the guests that had arrived.

When everyone was happily enjoying the moment Harold cornered Lisa, "Hey, I'm going to dip out of here for a minute and contact the school board and notify them that you're cleared of all charges. Get that back pay you're owed."

"Yeah, cool," said Lisa. "I almost forgot about that. Thank you."

"Sure, maybe get your old job back too."

Lisa just nodded as Harold walked away. "My old job," she thought.

"Penny for your thoughts?" asked Meredith as she sipped a glass of red wine.

"I was just thinking about my old job," she explained about what Harold had just told her.

"Oh, OK," said Meredith who was hoping Lisa would choose to do something else.

"I was just thinking that I've really enjoyed my time up at Sunny Acres. I love teaching in a nude environment. I'm just kind of conflicted right now. I don't really know if I want to go back now. I mean it would be great to have a job at a public school now. But Sunny Acres is nice."

"Well, one thing that we've learned from this experience is that you never know what the future holds."