Chapter 11 - THE SLAP
Celina’s destruction of the violin and my slap were handled separately.
As they should have been.
She had reached toward Ms. Brooks.
I intercepted her hand.
Then slapped her.
The scissors? No scissors here. Bare hand.
Was I defending the teacher?
The initial hand interception, yes.
Was the slap necessary?
Harder to defend.
Security video showed no weapon.
No continued attack after I controlled the reach.
My lawyer advised misdemeanor exposure was possible.
Celina did not push for prosecution aggressively, but the incident had occurred in a public arts venue with witnesses and security reports.
The prosecutor offered diversion.
Anger-management counseling.
Community service.
No further violent conduct.
Dismissal upon successful completion.
I accepted.
No family fixer.
No judge called privately.
No men sent to ask Celina to “forget.”
May you like
My daughter had already watched one adult destroy something because feelings became entitlement.
I was not going to teach her the same lesson through my own exception.
