Sergio De La Pava - A Naked Singularity

Okay.

Turns to shit.

I understand. And believe me, I’m not normally a big fan of putting people in the grand jury either but your instincts about a possible defense were generally right so I feel that perhaps maybe possibly you might if—

I don’t want to, please.

Then you won’t. That’s all. You certainly don’t have to. It’s your decision to make. Do you have any questions before we go in front of the judge?

You think I’ll get out?

Maybe.

If I have the baby inside, they take it.

I know. Anything else?

No, just thank you.

Okay, you can step out.

Robert Coomer?

Yes!

Close the door behind you Robert.

You have before you a completely innocent man and my question to you sir, if I may call you that, is this: what… am… I… charged… with ?

Robbery.

I’m innocent.

David Sanders is saying you pulled a knife on him about two months ago and forced him to give you two hundred dollars.

An outlandish accusation.

Who is he?

Who is you?

My name is Casi, here’s my card, I’ve been assigned your case. Now who’s David Sanders?

It’s a long story young man so what I’ll do is give you the condensated version.

You’re charged with Robbery in the First Degree, a B violent felony with a minimum jail sentence of five years in prison, so I think you should tell me at least the medium-length version.

As you like it young man. Now I met Mr. Sanders, a.k.a. The Colonel, about eight months ago at the park.

What park?

Morningside Park. Now at this park many of us congregate to play chess. Everyone knows that any day of the week you can find Robert Delano Coomer there playing chess.

Who’s that?

That’s me.

Oh. Sorry, go ahead.

I mean geez.

All right continue, where did you live at this time?

I lived in the park that’s why I was always playing chess there. Anyway I noticed that this man, Mr. David Sanders, would come and observe on quite a few occasions and so we got to conversating.

You became friends.

Now don’t go jumping the gun that’s the problem with you youngsters nowadays. We didn’t become friends at all in fact we were in constant disputation.

About what?

Well the fact is I done come up with a new chess opening. And the truth is that this chess opening has confounded the grandmasters and dumbfounded the neophytes.

Great, so where’s the problem?

Well the further fact is we had irreconcilable philosophical differences respecting just how good my opening was.

What’s the opening?

You really want to know?

Sure.

And you won’t tell anyone?

No.

You sure?

Yes. Even if I wanted to, the attorney-client privilege would prevent me. I would lose my license to thrill.

It’s a queen’s rook pawn opening.

Certainly unique but it seems like you would have a big problem with development.

You see that’s exactly what he said! Whose side are you on anyway?

I’m on yours don’t worry. I’m sure it’s a good opening I just can’t visualize it, keep going.

Damn straight it was a good opening, the best! Sixteen hundred years they been playing this game and it took a homeless brother in the park to come up with the perfect opening. Well I become very protective of my creation and whatnot and that done led to some argumentation between us. Anyway, after awhiles we reconciled our differences behind us, and he started letting me stay with him once in a while. Then I moved into his place for good.

Were you two involved?

Meaning?

Were you his boyfriend?

No, nothing like that, we was just friends. I ain’t gay nor nothing. He was letting me live there while I tried to get back on my feet you know?

Were you working?

No he was working and would pay the rent. What happened was I came into some money by way of my brother. He’s some kinda rapper though all I knows is growing up the boy couldn’t rhyme cat with hat . So anyway David seen me dropping bills left and right and he felt I should have been directing some of that his way since I ain’t never been paying no rent. Anyway, one day I come home and he’s all in my shit taking out my money. We got into it and I hit him in self-defense but I never pulled a knife on him and I did take back the money but it was mines anyway. The truth is we both hit each other and the only thing that ended the fight is that we both started bleeding and he kinda panicked because I’m positive and he hasn’t had the balls to get himself tested; ignorance be bliss that’s what he say. So I moved out like that night and I moved in with another friend of mine who liked my rook opening a lot more than David.

When was that?

That was like two months ago.

Who did you move in with?

Warren Holliday but that didn’t work out neither cause he’s like a known felon and shit.

What does that mean?

Well he’s a felon and it was knowed.

Why was that a problem? Everyone’s a felon.

He just done crazy things that’s all.

You seen David since you moved out?

Two days ago he came to visit me in the hospital.

Yeah why were you in the hospital?

I was on a roof with the professor smoking crack when the cops rushed up. I got a running start and tried to jump on to the roof of the building next door like in them action movies only I didn’t make it. I fell three stories and shattered both my legs see?

How did David know?

Somebody must’ve told him. When he showed up I was shocked man. Cause this was like my nemesis you know what I mean? But he was saying he still loved me and that he didn’t want me arrested and that when I got out of the hospital I could come and stay with him again since the apartment I was staying in is now a crackhouse and’s been condemned to death. Anyway when they were going to release me from the hospital the police were there and they arrested me saying that David had filed a complaint against me like two months ago but they wouldn’t tell me what for. I don’t think he’s going to impress the charges is what I’m saying.

Well if you’re right and he doesn’t testify in the grand jury within six days you’ll be released.

I think that’s what will happen because two days ago he was telling me how much he loved me and all.

I thought you two weren’t involved like that? Well?

Okay I lied, we were, but I wouldn’t want that to be common knowledge throughout the community and whatnot.

Don’t worry, both your opening and this other secret are safe with me.

Any questions before we go in front of the judge?

No, I understand.

Good then, but actually, I have a question.

What?

Professor?

He’s a guy from the neighborhood who’s always getting good rock… he once took a class in college.

I see, we’re done.

Terrens Lake?

yeah.

Go in there… here’s my card Terrens, don’t lose it. My name’s Casi, I’m going to be your lawyer. You’re sixteen?

yeah.

Cops are saying you sold drugs to an undercover.

na, i don’t sell drugs. TNT just came up and swept a bunch of us up i wasn’t doing nothing.

Who was selling there?

tons a guys be selling out there, it’s a big spot.

What were you doing out there?

just hanging out with a friend.

Who?

we call him Boop.

What’s his real name?

i d’know, just Boop.

Where does he live?

d’know, think downtown.

Anybody else there that you know who saw what happened?

na, yo i got a question though.

Yeah.

in the van they were saying to each other that i was a JD lost and shit. what up with that? if i’m a what do you call lost subject, what am i doing in the van right?