The Mediation, Friday, November 9th, 2012

Anton sat at the large oak table in the mediation services office. He had already been there for twenty minutes. He was fifteen minutes early and eager to get this over with. He already knew that she wasn’t going to agree to anything. If Karin thought he killed it at the first court date, wait until she sees what’s about happen here.

Twenty minutes later, Karin came strolling in stinking of booze and sex. He couldn’t believe how reckless her behavior had become. This wasn’t the woman he had fallen in love with. What happened to that woman?

“Sorry I’m late, I couldn’t find my keys this morning.” she informed Anton and the mediator. “I can save us a lot of time right now.”

“How’s that?” asked the middle aged woman chosen to be their mediator.

“I don’t agree,” Karin’s tone quickly turned into a whine that almost sounded like a toddler being sent to bed. “I don’t agree with anything this loser says. Can’t he just leave me alone and let me live my life? He’s abused me enough.”

“Mr Heft, what’s going on? Are you abusing and harassing this poor woman and your child?” scolded the mediator.

Anton sat calmly with smug look of vindication dominating his crooked grin. He raise his right hand and put up his index finger signaling for a moments time. Just as quick as his finger went up, Karin was at it again.

“See, he’s pure evil and I don’t want….” she began another rant.

Anton completely ignored her antics, reached for a manila on the table in front of him. He opened it slowly, just to add a flair of dramatic effect. He produced a piece of paper and handed to the mediator. As she read it, Anton was producing another one. After the second piece of paper, the look on the mediators face distorted to one of confusion. After the third piece of paper it twisted to on of concern. Six pieces of paper, all six seemed to effect the mediator’s perception.

After reading the sixth one the mediator handed the paperwork back to Anton with an overall impressed look. There was a moment of silence before she spoke. As she spoke, both Anton and Karin were getting sympathetic looks. The look Karin got, though, spoke the loudest.

“Mom, you may want to reconsider your decision on compromising. If you don’t, you’re not going to be happy with the end result. Unless you compromise. Dad will win this case, easily,” she warned Karin.

“Ha ha, yeah right,” Karin scoffed. “Not likely.”

“Mom, I promise. You are not winning this if the judge has to decide,” she warned.

“I’ll take my chances,” she chuckled.