Chapter 10 - Both Slaps
Police reviewed restaurant? It was our home, but guests and indoor cameras.
Our front hallway and living room had security cameras.
Dining room did not.
Several guests had phone video after first slap.
Witnesses agreed:
Chloe struck me first.
I later struck her when immediate threat had ended.
Chloe received a misdemeanor battery charge.
So did I.
Context mattered to charging decisions.
Neither had serious injury.
Neither continued.
Both had no record.
Both eventually received diversionary dispositions.
Anger-management course.
Community service.
No-contact order between us for six months except legal proceedings.
Cases dismissed after compliance.
Was I happy?
No.
Was it fair that I had consequences after being slapped first?
Yes.
I could have moved my children.
Called police.
Ended dinner.
Instead I retaliated.
Sophie saw.
Noah saw.
That mattered.
When Sophie asked:
“Why did Aunt Chloe hit you?”
I said:
“She got angry and made a wrong choice.”
“Why did you hit?”
“Same answer.”
“But she first.”
“Yes.”
“So you can.”
“No.”
She hated that.
“I don’t understand grown-ups.”
“Neither do I sometimes.”
Therapy helped more than moral lectures.
Children copy sequence.
She had seen:
Insult.
Hit.
Hit back.
Adults cheer internally.
We needed to break that before it became:
May you like
justice.
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