Page 105

By Jack Joseph Smith

106 justify the courts decision to release the youngsters The courtroom had become busy during there conversation with uniforns carfing papers here and theres The Jesuit returned to his position below the judge, and I only felt sorry that I wasn't screaming my story to the worlds Those bastardss They have me frightened to deatlis I watched the judge open his narrowed mouth and speak like a dieing birds The court understands, that the parents of Michael Frost, have agreed to send him away to Military Schools The court is always willing to go along with the parents, when their desires to rehabilitate the child appear to be sinceres In this case the court’ accepts the parents willingness to place their own child in @ supervised and desiplined enviorhients A continual report will be sent to the boys probation officer for the period of one year, Next cases I'll be able to finish up at Saint Bernards, won't I Father? We were walking down the eal stairs and into the sun, My mother and father clung together as I looked up at the Jesuit waiting for an answers Yes; Michaels We will arrange that, But then you must go on to Valley Forges For how long? I'm not sures Wait until things are calm Thanks Fathers Sure, Michaels What did you tell him? A few seorets, you have a deep red mark way within your eye Michaels One of them must have caught you with a good ones Tf it wasn't for Joimson, I think they would have killed mes Were you afraid?

Original Scan

Page 105

AI Interpretation

GPT

The court accepts the parents' plan to send Michael to Valley Forge Military School, and outside the hearing the Jesuit confirms that Saint Bernard's will hold him a little longer before he is sent away.

Release arrives only by exchanging one institution for another, so the decision feels less merciful than managerial. Michael's question is immediately practical and local, asking first whether he can finish at Saint Bernard's before facing the larger exile.


Claude

The judge accepts the parents' willingness to send him to military school; outside on the sun-struck stairs the Jesuit tells Michael a few secrets, notes the deep red mark in his eye, and Michael admits without Johnson they would have killed him.