"Frank, your children don't want to see you" Tammy said bluntly. Frank had been calling Tammy's office almost daily wondering when he could see Eric and Frances. He had completed Anger Management classes. The instructor basically told the class that their anger is the root of their current problems and to release the anger in a healthy way would improve their situations. They should hold Frustration Management classes, that would probably be more useful; or Hostage Management classes, to teach people how to release family members that are being held hostage by family court.
Most times Tammy did not return the calls. Something had changed. Before, Tammy was always positive about getting visitation. Now, she is telling Frank that his own children don't even want to see him. Kat finally hired a lawyer. Tammy told him that she knew Kat's lawyer very well. She only practices family law; divorce and child custody and only in Delaware County, and has been for twenty-five years. Kat wouldn't rush out and do anything hasty, she took her time and found and aggressive lawyer who is also known as an insider in the courthouse. When Frank went to work at the phone store later that day he searched her name online, "Mulva Fargo". She has a web site; Frank clicks on it. Up pops her name and picture and a few paragraphs about how she's going to handle your case, or in other words, put the screws to your husband. She's plain looking. Beige hair, beige skin, beige suit, long narrow face with small eyes slanted downward giving her a tired, strained appearance despite the smile. Frank reads on, " I have narrowed my practice to the area of family law because I believe that families are the building block of our society." That seems ironic; she specializes in breaking families apart because they are the building blocks of society. Does that make her an anarchist?
Tammy set up another hearing in Family Court to try again for visitation at Frank's insistence. Tammy and Frank arrived on time and entered an empty room. Ten minutes later in walked Mulva Fargo beside Kat who was wiping tears with a crumpled tissue. "Wow, that's a good performance." thought Frank. "Just look what can be achieved with good coaching" he watched in awe, then glanced at Tammy. Tammy and Mulva nodded at each other almost imperceptibly. Frank caught it though. Mulva didn't quite look like her picture on the web site. It was probably taken a long time ago. She looked like an old, dried up scarecrow to Frank. Thinning, frazzled hair the color of straw, long haggard, pasty face and her body was so thin she barely filled out the discount store, pale gray polyester suit that hung loosely from her. The first time I met Mulva I noted that she's got the classic signs of an overactive thyroid. One side effect of hyperthyroidism is insomnia, which might explain how she thinks up all her devious tricks.
The hearing got underway and the Master was informed by Tammy that Frank had completed Anger Management successfully. Fargo interrupted and said that "due to the Plaintiff's anger issues the children do not wish to see their father at this time." The hearing was over almost before it even began. The Master said he needed to speak with Frances and Eric himself before deciding on any visitation.
There's another attorney fee, more time and money wasted, more time for the children to get used to not having a dad around; but worst of all, more time for Kat to work her Parental Alienation techniques on them.
Parental Alienation Syndrome is best described as brainwashing the children to hate one parent and become dependent on the other parent. The child usually lives most of the time with the alienating parent and does not have a choice but to participate in the behavior. If they don't go along they risk angering or betraying the parent that they depend on the most. In order to cope with the situation, the child will take the easiest route and take sides with the alienating parent. In severe cases, this parent will implant false ideas and stories into the child's memories by saying things like, "your father never did like you" or "your father beat you and I had to stop him." The more time the alienating parent can keep the child away, the less likely the isolated parent will ever be successful in having a relationship with the child again.
Frank got home and began ruminating over all the latest events and at the end, one thought remained; something is up with this Tammy. Frank wondered, how did Tammy know that he was going to be arrested while he was in Florida, and how would the police know to call Tammy? At that point they had only met a few times to talk about the divorce. Dave had represented him for the first PFA violation so if the police were going to call an attorney on his behalf, it would have been Dave. The other thing bothering him was that Tammy told him that Frances and Eric didn't want to see him. He didn't know how Tammy could have gotten this information before Kat's attorney sprung it on them in court. Then he remembered the look exchanged between Tammy and Mulva when they entered the courtroom, like they knew each other. Frank's heart started racing. He started pacing around the room. Did they think he was a fool? Nobody calls Frank Layton stupid without regretting it. All three of them are probably over at The Goalpost having a good laugh over a beer at how they got over on him. Wait, what if they're hurting the kids, they might be in danger. "How could I be so blind when it was right in front of my face" he was panicking and becoming more paranoid by the moment. Frank grabbed his keys and raced toward the door.
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