They continued going to the Methodist church. It's distinct smell and green carpet are clear in Her memories. She was part of the children's choir. It was something that took up Her time - practice. Her younger brother went to preschool there.
School started again. There isn't a lot that stands out about the year. She remembers some writing that the teacher wanted to submit for an award, but not what it was about or the outcome. She does recall polling her female classmates at least once during the year; once, regarding a hair cut. The Girl had always had very long hair and bangs. She'd been growing the bangs out, and She ultimately decided that She'd cut her hair. And cut it was - chin length. Quite a ways different from the waist length hair She'd had. She was 11.
Some time during that summer and fall, the court stuff must have gone on. The Girl remembers no details, only what She learned as She got older. She wasn't present. Apparently, her father plead guilty to the charges. The lawyer that his parents paid for bargained the court down to 10 years probation and First Offenders Status. That last bit meant that if he successfully completed probation and counseling requirements, his record would be expunged. He was allowed supervised visits for the duration of the 10 years. With the family still operating under Her expressed want of things eventually returning to "normal," The Girl, brother and mother began attending another church with her father. He also came to the family home to do his laundry - She remembers having to fold it. Usually they had lunch on Sundays after church, and that was the extent to which She saw him for quite some time.
Again, nothing stands out in her memory about that year. She was part of an Alleluia concert at the Methodist church, and graduated from Elementary school. She loved the Sunday school class at the new church they were attending. The whole thing was very laid back and not "churchy." The Girl was more at ease in these surroundings, because being in a traditional church setting made her feel panic.
The following summer, She and her brother spent lots of time at her Aunt Sue's home. She was the wife of her Uncle Kyle - her father's brother. There was lots of swimming, jumping on the trampoline and going to the movies with her older cousin. Lots of happy memories are what She has of that house, yard and people. They, along with Her mother, were what kept The Girl anchored. They had all three realized that something was Wrong before she confessed her secret. They asked questions, assuming She was being bullied at school. More than once, She startled so badly when Uncle Kyle touched her that He was afraid that He was hurting her in some way. Her Aunt, Uncle and Mother knew that something was wrong, but not what. And She wouldn't talk for such a long time.
During the same time, her parents decided to divorce. The Girl would move, along with her brother and mother, to the next state over. The family would move in with her mother's parents whom she called Grandma and Grandpa. For awhile, her father called weekly and and spoke to The Girl and her brother. Over the months that followed, The Girl started refusing those phone calls.
******
It was 1994 when She revealed her story. That same year, the Jacob Wetterling Act required all states to pass legislation that would require sex offenders to register with registries created by each state. Two years later, Megan's Law would be enacted - this required all states to create legislation mandating public notification of these registries. The states had until 1997 to make these changes to their Law, with an available two year extension for a "good faith effort." The State that The Girl resided in enacted the registry in 1996. However, these laws were not made retroactive. Offenders that were convicted prior to their enacting do not have to register.
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