CoolLaw

It was fine when it first started, things were still normal.

I was normal.

A fresh college grad, my dream job working as a lawyer in my father’s firm, I mean life was good. Smooth. Life had me on a euphoria of glee. Sheesh, I was young too, boy! Twenty-five years young, and I was super fly. I had these Banz, thin, black, wired framed with dark lenses, as dark as I could get them! Wore them every day, along with my black leather jacket, fitting for a young man with a bike. I’m talking about a fast bike too; yeah, she was something alright. 1.8 Turbo, candy apple red paint job, self-driving, and Xbox gaming in the helmet! Yeah man, your grandpa was fire!

Eventually, I had traded in my jacket for a black suit, and my bike for a candy red mustang. But the Banz… Aaaw maaan, you know I couldn’t let go of the Banz! They became my signature after a while.

During the 27’ trial, Nelson Bowe vs. Dillan Rose, I made the News because of those Banz. It was a quick trial; Nelson was suing Dillan, his employer, for back wages for the past ten years. Dillan was the CEO of Tesla Industries, which as you could imagine for the time was huge. Nelson was a loyal employee, who worked by his side for ten years. He helped him build up Tesla from a car brand, to having a hand in every single mode of self-driving transportation that there is in the world today. Never was paid, anything, and never complained.

Had turned out that, they’d grown up together, and had been developing the idea of self-driving vehicles since they were kids, back in the late 10s. But you see, Dillan was a natural bully, and Nelson is a very giving guy. Sheesh, he offered to tip me, for working long hours! Offered me rides to court, you name it! Super sweet guy, always in a giving mood too.

Anyway, once the money started pouring in, Dillan started changing into the asshole that he is, excuse my Texan. Snuffed him out of all the funds, and when Nelson asked about them, Dillan threatened to kill him, allegedly.

So, we’re in court, case is solid, and I have Dillan in the chair. I’m standing tall in my suit, hair slicked back. I just stared at him for a second. He was a pink faced man, dirty blond hair was cut short, revealing his slightly receded hairline. I stared him right in those deep green eyes, and he squinted them peepers at me too.

“Now Mr. Rose, I believe it’s about time we wrap this case up now, what do you say?” I declared, holding my right palm out towards him in a friendly motion. He just stared, a thin grin slowly taking form across his face. He sucked his teeth and shook his head.

“Oh ok,” I said dropping my hands into my pockets, “We can do this the hard way then Dillan.”

I pulled out those Banz right there boy! I swear your grandpa was something! Oh, the court made their little gasps, and the JudgeBot raised its gavel. But before it could start to lower, I started in on him!

“Your honor, I have video surveillance of Mr. Rose threatening my client on the night in question,” I said pulling a thumb sized white remote from my pocket. It only had one button, but one button was all I needed.

Displayed on the white wall behind the JudgeBot, was Dillan and Nelson speaking in what seemed to be Dillan’s office.

“I’ve been a valuable part of this company Dillan! You can’t deny that! I deserve to be treated with respect, as your partner, and Co-CEO of Tesla Industries!” Nelson exclaimed, nervously fixing his round glasses and brushing back his brown hair with his fingers.

“Nelson, buddy listen, you are valuable, but let’s face it. I AM Tesla Industries! I’m the face, the voice, the muscle and the brains of this goddamn company!” Dillon’s face started to get red now, “If you aren’t satisfied with our current arrangement, I’m sure I can come up with another one for you.” Dillan quickly grabbed Nelson by the throat, and Nelson fell to his knees gasping for air.

“Now listen, buddy,” Dillan said, that same grin back again. He sucked his teeth, looking down at Nelson, holding him up by his neck, “Tesla has tons of intelligent engineers that would be happy to take your place. So, I guess, I don’t really have much use for you. Maybe, I was only keeping you around because you’re my oldest friend. But I won’t hesitate to end our relationship pre-maturely.” Nelson gasped continuously, his face turning purple. Dillan dropped him to the ground and Nelson began coughing and crawling away from him.

“I hope you can find a way to be more comfortable with your current position. I don’t want to have to have this talk again,” Dillan said, walking behind his desk and out of the shot.

JudgeBot booked him right there, and the PressBots were all over me. They called me, CoolLaw. And CoolLaw became me. I never took the Banz off; every case, every meeting, I wore them Banz, and the PressBots ate it up every time. The people loved it too, boy! Had crowds outside the court rooms, waiting to get a glance at CoolLaw in action! They always had to double security when I was on the case. Even my meetings were being recorded by Fan Drones, and my condo was shortly discovered by them too.

Anyway, this is around the time I met your grandma, Cristine. She was so beautiful, her caramel skin, her dark, curly hair, her blue eyes. She had a mole under her left eye, and gentle freckles just across her nose and cheeks. You will meet her one day, many lifetimes from now, but she was God crafted. Intelligent too she was! Made Detective the earliest anyone has made it in 50 years.

When I met her, she was already working on becoming the Chief of Police. My father called her personally, to ask for help in aiding my secure relocation, from my condo, to my new house. She was the top of the line, and she agreed to help. When I first saw her my heart nearly fell from its chest, singing all the way down to the floor. She used to say that she felt the same way that day.

We married after six months and had your mother, Anna. Everything was fine, normal, amazing.

Then one day, we were out together shopping in the new, celebrities only, shopping mall in central Los Angeles. She wore a knee length dress, with orange floral print; some said that she was old fashioned that way. Her hair, held back with a clip, and a few free curls hung along the sides of her face. It was my fault really; I wasn’t paying her much attention. She wanted to go to Coach, and I wanted to get my Banz upgraded to the newest model.

“Just go on to Coach and I’ll meet you there after I’m finished,” I told her kissing her cheek after. She nodded.

“I’ll see you soon then babe,” she said kissing my lips; hers were soft and plump, “Love you,” she said softly, gazing into my eyes.

“Oooh, no need to get all touchy darling, I won’t be but a moment,” I replied quickly shuffling away to the Banz store.

Everything was supposed to be quick, but when I got to the Banz store I ran into an old client, Mrs. Crumb. She was a younger lady, still had a little spring to her step, see. Her hair was a bouncy blond, with bleach highlights. She came up behind me, her heels clicking along the way.

“Mr. Bennet, getting some new Banz?” she asked her voice harmoniously echoing in the small store. I turned around swiftly, and boy, your grandpa had a moment. One of those moments, where you consider cheating on your wife for a younger woman; every man has at least one in their lives. I couldn’t go through with it though. Once she started to talk about her husband being out of town for the week, I knew that I had to dissolve the conversation.

“Mrs. Crumb, my wife is waiting for me, I should – “

And that’s when I heard it, the boom of the gun shots. I spun around towards the door and saw the crowd running past us. All the celebrities were running for their lives out of the mall, and there I was standing frozen.

I had already been inside for about 45 minutes.

Cristine could be anywhere now. I must go find her, I thought to myself as I found my feet again and quickly made my way out of the store. Sweat formed above my eyebrows, as I pushed through the crowd. I finally made it through to see a group of security guards’ in line, sneaking into Coach. I slowed my pace, and lower my stance, squatting behind them, following the group into the store.

“Lower your weapons!” The security guard in the front yelled out into the store. The group slowly moved forward past the giant glass doors and entry Mannequins.

“Help, please!” she yelled from the back of the room. I knew her voice as soon as I heard it, and stood up and ran to her, “Cristine!” I yelled. And there she was laying on the floor, her hand over her abdomen, blood dripping from behind it.

“Someone call an ambulance!” I yelled, sliding down to my knees at her side. I scooped her into my arms, as warm tears started to roll down my cheeks. “Cristine, I need you to hold on baby! Please! Just hold on to me!”

She looked up at me with those big blue eyes.

“Love you,” she whispered.

Those were her final words, before she passed.

I was depressed for a long time; started drinking and before I knew it, I was drunk everywhere I went. Wasn’t long before I was fired from the firm, lost my house, and my car. All I had left were my Banz and my condo.

This condo.

You asked me, why I don’t leave this condo, and that’s why son! I’m still hurting, even after all these years of drinking, and drinking; I never healed. I should’ve just stayed with her. Shouldn’t have stopped to talked to Mrs. Crumb. If only I was a little faster, a little less distracted, a little less… CoolLaw.

That day, was my last day of happiness in over 30 years. I never took the time to be a real grandfather to you, because, you’re the spitting image of your grandma! You act just like her too! You even do that little snort she used to do when she laughed too hard. I am still healing, son, and I’m sorry for not being man enough to heal faster.

This is my final letter, after all I am an old man. I have drank myself into sickness, and I don’t want you to remember me as the man who yelled at you, for being too young to buy him a drink. I was a always a dumb drunk, Cristine used to say.

Your grandma always wore this heart shaped locket, it was incredibly special to her. When she died, I locked it in a box under my bed.

When you find me, and this letter, boy, I need you to be strong, you hear me! I need you to be the man I couldn’t be.

Take the locket out of the box, and treasure it. Keep it close to your heart, son. Grandma would’ve liked that. I love you boy, I know it’s too late to say, but I’ve always loved you.

Until our next life,

Grandpa