“He told me last week,” Colin replied. “At the same time that, he was bugging me to polish up my dissertation “Crime Prevention in Schools and Colleges” so he can shove it through and get it published.”
“Published where?” Joshua asked.
Colin grinned down at him as he wound up the vacuum’s long cord. “Law Review maybe. Or maybe even ABLJ.”
“Which is...”
“American Business Law Journal.”
He pulled Colin down onto the couch beside him. “Is that a big name?”
“According to Merritt, yeah.” Colin shrugged. “I don’t care, but he’s all over me about it and I owe him.”
“But Colin,” Joshua said, grabbing Colin’s arm and shaking it, his voice edgy with excitement.“Chief Justice of the Supreme Court!”
Colin wrapped an arm around Joshua’s neck and laughed. “Honey, we’ll be sitting in our own living room in front of a computer screen. We could be in ourunderwearfrom the waist down, and no one would know.”
“We’ll both be insuits!” Joshua informed him tartly. “And all our friendswillbe here.” He paused as if thinking. “Maybe our mothers too.”
“Oh god, Josh, don’t drag them here for this! It’s a ten-minute thing, I don’t care if it’s in front of the president of the United States!”
“Well, I do!”
* * *
Despite Colin’sinsistence that this legal rite of passage was not a big deal, when the moment finally arrived he was dressed in his best suit and pacing with nervousness. He had managed to talk Joshua out of inviting their mothers to Charlottesville for the event, but nothing could keep their four best friends from being in the room as witnesses. And, since all law students were required to have a sponsor who nominated them for admittance into the profession, Professor Merritt, Colin’s sponsor, was also in attendance.
Dan had wanted to take the oath with him, but his father had arranged for a judge who was a family friend to administer Dan’s oath in a private ceremony.
As the time for the ceremony drew near, Professor Merritt and their friends gathered around the dining room table where Colin’s computer waited. On the screen they could see various judicial luminaries milling around the chief justice, shuffling for position. Colin stood in front of the computer bouncing on the balls of his feet while Joshua hovered near him, holding a copy of the Torah which had once belonged to his grandfather, Samuel.
“Damn!” Colin muttered, fidgeting at Joshua’s side.
Joshua laid a hand on his arm. “Relax and enjoy it.”
As an official court function the ritual began with the call to order. “All rise,” the bailiff intoned, and as the words echoed through their home Joshua heard Colin blow out a quick, nervous breath.
The Chief Justice offered his congratulations to the applicants and spoke briefly about their duties and responsibilities as attorneys. He asked them to raise their right hand and repeat after him.
Colin placed a trembling hand on Samuel Abrams’ Torah, and Joshua heard his breathing grow unsteady.
“I, Colin Michael Campbell-Abrams,” he repeated, his voice shaky but perfectly audible, “do solemnly swear that I will support the Constitution of the United States and the Constitution of the Commonwealth of Virginia, and that I will faithfully, honestly, professionally, and courteously demean myself in the practice of law and execute my office of attorney-at-law to the best of my ability, so help me god.”
Joshua’s eyes never left his husband’s face, and as Colin spoke the words that sanctified his admittance to the practice of law, he saw Colin’s eyes grow misty with tears.
The chief justice once again offered his congratulations to the newly appointed attorneys and reminded them that their certificates would be mailed to them over the next few weeks.
As the proceedings ended, Colin half-turned and collapsed into Joshua’s arms. “Jesus, Josh,” he stammered out. “I didn’t expect it to feel like this.” He pressed his face to Joshua’s shoulder and sucked in a deep, trembling breath.
Overhearing, David smiled and laid a hand on his shoulder. “How did youthinkyou’d feel, Irish? This is a solemn moment. Almost as solemn as your wedding. You just took a lifelong vow to wear the white hat.”
“He always wears the white hat,” Joshua muttered, his arms tight around his husband. “Congratulations, my darling,” he whispered in Colin’s ear. “I’m so proud of you.”
“Break out the stout!” Trent called. He slapped Colin on the back then strode to the kitchen, emerging only moments later with a large ice-filled bowl containing cans of Murphy’s Irish Stout. He sat the liquid refreshments on the table next to the cake that Joshua had ordered from a local bakery, a three-tiered chocolate confection covered with an inch of cream cheese icing. Atop the cake were the scales of justice and the words ‘Congratulations, ADA Campbell!’ written in kelly green.
Professor Merritt shook Colin and Joshua’s hand then said his farewells after reminding Colin that they would be meeting the following week to go over his dissertation. Colin saw him to the door while Joshua headed to the kitchen to grab a plate of sandwiches.
“Thanks, Professor,” Colin told his sponsor. “I appreciate your help this past year.”
