Read part 1 here, part 2 here and part 3 here.
When I saw Cory and mom on Monday they both gave me a big hug. Mom told me that she had got a temporary restraining order against Dad and that he had spent the weekend in jail.
NOTE: I would find out later that Grandma (Dad's mother) had left harassing phone calls for Cory's mom and then Grandma had bailed Dad out Monday morning.
Mom left and Cory and I went on with our school day, both confident that Dad was locked away.
I had recess duty at 2:30 that day. Dad didn't know that Cory's confession had all gone down at the school because he showed up at the school about that same time to pick up Cory. He went to the office asking for Cory and even signed his and Cory's names in the book we have for taking a student out early. The office staff was shocked and let him know that that would not be happening and they told him they were calling the cops.
He must have known that this was recess because he took off, running, out of the office, heading for the playground, but not without the assistant principal, the janitor and a male teacher taking off after him too.
Meanwhile, Cory and I were on the playground, totally unaware of what was about to happen....
....I sprung to attention when I heard Cory screaming my name and running full tilt in my direction. Looking past her I saw a man (I didn't know it was Dad, but I think I assumed it was...) running toward us. I didn't wait long enough to see the other men behind him. I was told later, by other teachers, that it was quite a sight to see me swooping up Cory and running toward the building, while three men tackled the dad to the ground.
I ran with Cory to the office and I told them what was going on. They had me hide with Cory in the principal's inner office. The cops showed up about 10 minutes later and mom very soon after that.
Dad was arrested (the bail was revoked). The teacher's on the playground, the men who tackled Dad, the office staff and myself all gave statements. It took quite some time to calm Cory down, but eventually she stopped shaking and went home with Mom. (A bunch of us would later testify in court about what happened.)
Cory did eventually come back to school (about three days later). Mom and she started going to counseling. Dad was not given bail again and we all lived through the trial.
I tried to keep things as normal, as possible, for Cory. If she wanted to talk I let her, but otherwise we didn't discuss things. I let her take the lead on that one. Mom came in about once a week to see how she was doing and seemed to be coping quite well. She said she knew she had to be strong for Cory and that is what was keeping her sane.
The rest of the year (except for the trial), thank God, was pretty uneventful. Cory would end up moving out of state that summer. Mom called me to tell me they were leaving. We met for coffee. She thanked me for all I did. I game Cory a little teddy bear and we all cried as we said our good-byes. I never heard from them again.
Cory would be 28 years old this year. I can only hope that she has a family of her own and is happy, healthy and enjoying her life to the fullest.
I know I touched her life....I only hope she knows how much she touched mine.
