mother-in-law from hell

A family friend of ours came this afternoon. Nani and Rudy is Uncle Scott 's son. This uncle helped us with farming years ago.  We know almost every relatives of Uncle Scott. His late younger brother was my father's best friend.

Nani is in a big mess. His wife left him and their daughter. Nani has to take care of their daughter.

This happens when Nani let his mother in law stay with them. His mother in law is a bully. She even persuades her daughter (Nani's wife) to leave him. She accused Nani of neglecting his wife, abusive and 'useless'. She even threaten to bring him to court.

Poor Nani is worried. What if his 'monster in law' really hire a lawyer. He is desperate for money if he need to hire a lawyer.

His brother Rudy is as cool as a cucumber. He told his younger brother not to worry much. We all knew Nani from childhood. A small stature and quiet. Never saw him lose his temper. He's no angel but he wouldn't hurt somebody. So it's quite hard for us to see him to abuse his wife physically, or even verbally.

To calm him down, I asked him if he really hit his wife. He answered us honestly.

"Yes, once. I slapped her. But I never hit her. Never would hurt her."

He also admits that after that, he asked for apology from his wife.

"Well" I said. "If it's true, you don't have to worry much. There's no evidence of abuse. How can her mother bring you to court because of this."

He is still worried. He had not enough money to hire a lawyer. I'm not sure if there's such thing as pro bono in this region, but to make him less agitated, I told him, if she (the monster in law) dragged you to the court, you'll need to be represented by a lawyer. If you can hire one, maybe the court would ask somebody to represent you for minimal charge (public defender). You cannot not have a lawyer to represent you.

Rudy, my mother and I have the feeling that the monster in law is just trying to make Nani to back off by saying all the 'legal jargon*'. Nani never finished his school. He can't read. The monster in law is just manipulating him.

Well, I wish him all the best. May God help him. He have to take leave from work to look after his daughter. His mother in law is making false accusation.

At that moment, I wish I were a lawyer. I never wish to be a doctor in my life. But this time, I really wish if I were to study law and help this friend of ours.

*by legal jargon, I meant sue, court and lawyer. It's something to be afraid if somebody said these words to you... a threat.