here comes the judge

HERE COMES THE JUDGE
this weekend
amongst other things we did

like the walk to end alzheimers in little rock arkansas
to honor my brothers fight with alzheimers disease
and
my moms and my fathers
and

we even did the cornmeal festival there
tasted a lot of cornbread for an hour
still full is what i am
then
we went back in time like a time machine we did
to the late 1800s
we drifted there after eating a home style meal at the
old tavern
at old washington park in arkansas
near hope
thats where bill grew up

when i say home style i mean home style
getting a history lesson from the waitress as we ate
she was good a real good one
a 30% tip type of waitress

the old tavern is where people stopped when they traveled
from the east to texas to seek their fortunes

after we ate that home cooked meal full like a tick i was
we took the stroll over to the courthouse the old one
from the early 1800s

when we walked into the door into the courtroom
we suddenly drifted back in time 100 then 200+ years
there was the sheriff showing us where to sit
back where all the observers sit
just like in a trial on tv
except
we all got a ticket which was later drawn from a hat
the winner got to be on the jury all 10 of them
to decide if the guy was guilty

at the beginning the lawyer stood up out of character
gave us the historical perspective that lead up to the
trial
the guy on trial killed his best friend over an argument
over the mans wife

in the 1830s in old washington this trial took place
called
trial by jury

it seemed like a switch got turned on
all the actors went into character

then all stand please is what the sheriff sat
we all stood and looked towards the back
down the steps from upstairs came the judge
first his legs and cane then his full self

dang he sure looked familiar didnt he
ok hes my judge brotherinlaw in character
but
dang he looked like the real thing as he walked in
sat down at the judge seat
hit the gavel
heck he scared us all when someone in the audience
was talking
he abnoshed those in the audience to be quiet
or get outta my court
he was about to send the sheriff over there to
escort them out

the jury was selected
5 of the 60 folks there selected were my relatives
my 9 year old great nephew was selected
was he so ever thrilled

the jury trial then went on for an hour
we heard all the evidence
the jury then broke away into a recess
and deliberated

the judge said
do you foreman have a verdict
yes your honor

not guilty
the audience clapped and seemed to agree

then the actors broke character
and
discussed the trial

the real trial jury said he was guilty
he was hung until he was dead in the courtyard later

trial by jury
times have changed havent they

here comes the judge
ment

the organicgreen doctor