The Greatest Lie Part 12

Tran met for a last time with Nora, and nodded in agreement as Nora bullied the words she wanted out of Tran’s hesitant mouth, and warned her against feeling comfortable or friendly toward Olson.

"He’s going to try to trick you into saying what he wants you to say. Just keep it simple. Don’t volunteer anything. Make him work for everything, especially that you were a boy when Father Tom started to abuse you. Give me a chance to object before you answer anything. If you don’t know what to say, then say that you don’t understand the question. If you want me to ask for a recess, then, I dunno, drum your fingers on the witness stand. Got it?"

"I think so. But I am nervous. There is so much to remember"

"Do you know any yoga?"

Tran shook her head. "OK, well just try this. Take a deep breath after every question, and before you answer."

"OK, I’ll try."

"You’re going to be fine. I’ll take good care of you."

Tran emerged from her last session with Nora downcast and apprehensive. "I don’t think Nora likes me. She thinks I’m stupid."

It’s not that," I said. "She’s just naturally impatient, and she doesn’t like transsexuals."

"She is so gross, she looks like a fat old man. I guess I just don’t like lesbians." Then she smiled sexily, winked and said, "Except transsexual lesbians," and we kissed.

We spent the night seeking comfort in one another’s arms. After we awoke from our nightmares we dressed in the chic silk blouses and blue suits, which we had just bought with Alec’s Visa, and went to the Ramsey County Courthouse. Grimly, I mused at how proud Alec would be of our conservative attire, and how shocked he would be at the strange coincidence that had placed us at odds with his future bosses.

The Court was packed with lawyers, clergy, press and witnesses. Olson glared at me and smiled at Tran, as he rose to the podium. Maestre’s legal arguments emphasized the differences between the case of Ms. New and those of the other plaintiffs in Doe v. Archdiocese, and argued that each plaintiff had been affected, if at all, at different times and in different ways.