(no subject)

[kippurbird]

Previously on Touching Spirit Bear: Cole hates everyone. Cole burns his supplies. Cole goes swimming in the icy water at night.

So, Cole is swimming and he's getting cold. This is not surprising. He's starting to get numb. Perhaps his spirit bear will fall off. Moving on.

He flashes back to the fact that in the circle of justice there were a lot of circle named meetings. Talking circles, healing circles, community circles, bail circles, sentencing circles. Circling circles. Okay, maybe not the last one.

The particular circle we're concerned with tonight is called the Hearing circle. Notices were sent out so that everyone in the community could come and join in on the fun. It's held in the public library. A whole bunch of random strangers show up as well as Peter (the boy he beat up), and Cole's parents and the Lawyers.

The circle starts with a prayer and then there's the talking feather. It represents respect and responsibility. You can only talk if you're holding the feather. The Keeper, the leader of the circle says that Cole has "a long history of anger,growing more violent until you severely injured Peter Driscal. Even now, Peter continues therapy for injuries."

There are parents who want to make the community safer, people who want to change society for the better. Cole bullshits when it's his turn, saying that he screwed up and wants to make things better and he feels sorry.

His father is there to make sure that his son never causes problems again. His lawyer says what kids will be kids even if what Cole did was wrong, and Cole needs to be released on parole to his parents.

Uh-huh.

Then it gets to Peter. He says that he's here because he got beat up.

"His speech was slow and halting. His eyes darted around the Circle as he passed the feather quickly to his mother.

Cole studied Peter. Peter hadn't sounded like this before. Cole wiped his sweaty hands on his pants. It wasn't like he had meant to hurt anyone. Besides, this wouldn't have happened if Peter had kept his mouth shut."

Yeeeeeeeah.

Comments

[jacedraccus.livejournal.com]

Well, blaming Peter is consistent for this kind of scumbag. But... "never meant to hurt anyone"?

Oh, I get it! He thought he was being affectionate, trying to touch Peter's spirit bear!

[yattara.livejournal.com]

*is feeling so sympathetic towards Cole.*

And if you believe that, I've got a bridge I want to sell you.

[(Anonymous)]

I have a feeling that all the rest of the comments on this page are going to be about "touching" spirit bear.

[indescane.livejournal.com]

He's starting to get numb. Perhaps his spirit bear will fall off. Moving on.
That was a thing of beauty.

It's a very circular society, I see. And I always thought that the Native Americans were a disconnected and spiritual people who greatly worshiped spirit bears. *shot* But if I have to point out the bad pun then it's no fun any more D:

What I don't get is, if his parents are drunks, how they paid for him to go on a spiritual retreat to Alaska and why releasing him on parole to his parents would even be considered vaguely feasible. Granted, I know very little about the social support system in America, but I'm pretty sure child services would at least know something. It's hard to hide the magnitude of drunkenness Cole is suggesting his dad gets to.

[christinaathena.livejournal.com]

Perhaps his spirit bear will fall off. *snicker*

It wasn't like he had meant to hurt anyone. Bull. If that had read "He hadn't meant to hurt him that much" or something like that, it'd be believable, but "not meant to hurt" at all?

[lauramcvey.livejournal.com]

Bridge, heck. I've got some farmland in Flordia, very cheap . . .

[kippurbird.livejournal.com]

And instead, embarrassed at his homosexual desires went on to beat Peter to a bloody pulp.

[kippurbird.livejournal.com]

How much? :D

[kippurbird.livejournal.com]

>.> Why do you say that?

[kippurbird.livejournal.com]

What I don't get is, if his parents are drunks, how they paid for him to go on a spiritual retreat to Alaska and why releasing him on parole to his parents would even be considered vaguely feasible. Granted, I know very little about the social support system in America, but I'm pretty sure child services would at least know something. It's hard to hide the magnitude of drunkenness Cole is suggesting his dad gets to.

*coughs* Plot hole.

[kippurbird.livejournal.com]

Yeah. I know. The kid is delusional.

[reverie-shadow.livejournal.com]

Depends on what state you live in. In Oregon, Child Services won't do jack. Only if "the child's life is in danger" will they pull forth to effort to even try to take the kid away (don't ask me how they determine whether of not if one's life is at risk. I have no clue). S/he could have a bunch of bruises and marks and they won't lift a pinky.

That's what happened to my friend when her mother pulled shit like locking her in the garage in the middle of winter, and had to huddle in the boat they had in there with her two dogs to keep warm. Child Services still wouldn't do anything to get her taken away because her mother never left her any marks, or signs that her life was in any kind of danger.

As for the story, I think Cole has proved that he's more of a danger to others than anyone was ever a danger to him. I can't see how one could pull off any kind of reformation of this kid realistically. Chances are, it won't be, because the author's dug a really deep hole that proves Cole is just too much of a psycho.

Personally, his parents sound a lot better than the kind of parents the people I have known have. Despite having a drunken father. Boo fucking hoo.

[berseker.livejournal.com]

Circling circles, lol. I want a circling circle in my story too.

[kippurbird.livejournal.com]

It's a circle that just spins around and around and around and around... like a top!

[dryaunda.livejournal.com]

...bail circles, sentencing circles.

For real?

Speaking of dumb hippies, I've begun my own sporkings.

[faded-enmity.livejournal.com]

Does pity for him being such a horrid waste of life count as sympathy?

[dragonwhishes.livejournal.com]

His parents are rich.

[delphinapterus.livejournal.com]

This sending bulletins to all and sundry about dear ol' Cole and his circles . . . I don't think that's how circle justice is supposed to work. I do like that Cole is blaming that victim - at least he's constantly in character.