Mrs. Bastian's Appeal

"I'm terribly sorry, ladies and gentlemen, but the vote absolutely must be unanimous. We have one dissenter. Would the individual who opposes the exhumation of Mr. Bastian please approach the bench."

A woman in the back slowly stood and walked towards the front of the courtroom. All eyes followed her as she approached the judge.

"Mrs. Bastian. Would you please tell us why you oppose the motion to exhume your husband? Please remember that everyone in this room approved your exhumation. Many assumed your husband would easily follow. Please explain..."

She wiped her eyes and turned slowly to face the crowd. She was a petite woman with brown hair and glasses. Over the past month she had regressed from her 70's to her mid-40s, taking well to the therapy. She paused for several moments. She took off her glasses and began to speak...

"Your honor, friends, family, loved ones...I must say...I am deeply, deeply moved by your decision to exhume me. I never imagined living in such a time and under such...well, unexpected conditions. I could never have expected. I was filled with joy to meet my great, great grandchildren for the first time. So many of them! Reuniting with each and every one of you has been wonderful. I have only begun learning how to live again. I love you all so much..."

A voice erupted from the front row..."We love you too, Mom!" Others shouted similar sentiments with various titles..."grandma," "Betsy," "Mrs. Bastian."

She smiled. Then slowly brought her hands over her face. She choked back tears and then seemed to sob, turning toward the judge...

"Mrs. Bastian, we can call a recess if you'd like."

She paused for a moment, collecting herself...

"No, your honor. I can do this now."

She continued...

"But today, I regret to tell you that you are all making a terrible, terrible mistake."

The crowd gasped collectively, then chatter filled the room. A gavel struck several times to quell the commotion...

"You are all right. My husband loved me until the day he died. Indeed, he loved all of you too. He was a good man by every estimation. But, I'm sorry, I cannot accept his exhumation."

The room exploded in a cacophony of inquiry. No one expected this.

A man in a suit stood and addressed the court...

"But Mrs. Bastian, we have been counting on your husband's skills to rebuild. He was a great architect. He was a respected member of the community and a competent businessman. No one who knew him has shown the slightest disagreement with Mr. Darbin's exhumation request. Indeed, he is a necessary part of our restoration plans. We don't know what we will do without him. Please tell us what could possibly prevent you from insisting life be restored to your husband."

"Robert, I thank you for your confidence in my husband. And might I say, you have grown up to be a dapper young gentleman. He was all you say and more. He was the kindest, gentlest, loving individual I have ever known, and I thank Mr. Darbin for making the motion. I do approve of the technology, and encourage its use. But, for very personal reasons, I must insist you leave my husband in the grave."

The judge quickly spoke..."Mrs. Bastian, we acknowledge your intimate relationship with your husband, and the things that only you could know, but you must explain to the jury your reasons."

"Alright, your honor, if you must know, I am not in love with my husband. I have never loved him."

The courtroom was silent.

"You see, my poor husband was madly in love with me. Smitten. Oh, he wouldn't miss an opportunity to remind me. For decades I alone was the reason he woke up every morning, the reason he went to work. He loved nothing more than my smile, my happiness, my grace and charm. Yes, he was a shameless and hopeless romantic. Being the sweet gentleman he was, I'm sorry, but I simply could not bring myself to break his heart...not in our 20s, 40s, 60s, or 70s. He would tell me things like I was the light of his life. What terrible woman takes the single joy out of this man's life? I'm sorry. I do not have the heart for such cruelty. I simply could not live with myself knowing I had done such an awful thing. If you allow this exhumation to proceed, I will be forced to brutally shatter his heart. Then he will be crushed. Crushed completely, utterly, and eternally. His soul with wither into a haze of sorrow, a life of scarce and fleeting happiness. I'm sorry, but I cannot approve this dreadful scenario. For his own sake, please leave my dear husband in the grave."

The courtroom was silent.

Through the silence a young woman stifled a chuckle. It could almost pass for a sneeze.

Just then, several more women could not restrain themselves, and pressed their hands against their mouths.

Within moments the rest of the courtroom erupted into uproarious, hysterical laughter.

Mrs. Bastian glanced at the judge through the corner of her eye. She walked confidently and seriously toward the back of the courtroom. A gavel struck the bench and the judge bellowed:

"We appreciate your appeal, Mrs. Bastian, but I'm afraid your request is unequivocally denied. The exhumation of Mr. Bastian will begin immediately."