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Dallas County Jury Duty – Part Four

June 11, 2013 By Talya Tate Boerner

before reading, catch up with my Dallas County Jury Duty saga here…
Dallas County Jury Duty Part One
Dallas County Jury Duty Part Two
Dallas County Jury Duty Part Three

Being fair and impartial is a difficult thing, even for the fair and impartial.

As I walked into the courtroom, the defendant was easily identifiable. He sat next to his attorney in the serious suit. White, about my age, he could have been a friend at our last neighborhood porch party.

My first thought…I wonder what he did?

My first thought should have been…I wonder what he is accused of doing?

I carry my history and experience with me. I reminded myself to set that aside and listen before judging. I reminded myself he was innocent until proven otherwise.

Before the trial began, jurors talked. Overly Eager juror had already made my head spin. When she took a bathroom break, Lucille Ball took her place. “Well I can’t believe he was indicted in 2009 and is just now getting his trial!

“I thought everyone was entitled to a speedy trial?”

“That’s not speedy.”

“That poor man…”

I found it difficult to take her seriously in the pink and black polka-dot cat glasses.

“I think the State is stalking him. They don’t really have anything on him. If they did, they would have gone to trial sooner.” She continued.

I looked for a hidden camera. Maybe this was not a trial at all. Maybe we were on a reality television show.

I hoped my dark roots weren’t showing.

I stared at the red button on the wall used to summon the bailiff. Should I push it? Should I summon the bailiff and confess Overly Eager knows the Judge and Lucy already feels sorry for the defendant?

stay tuned for Dallas County jury duty saga part five…

talya

Television

June 10, 2013 By Talya Tate Boerner

Yesterday I returned from a one week writer retreat. One week of retreating into my writing with like-minded people.

No television.

No traffic.

No laundry.

No cooking.

No responsibility except to write and even that was optional.

Yesterday I returned with fresh focus and stories to scrawl on paper before they disappear.

Yesterday I returned to the ATT Uverse man. He worked on our spotty cable connection. “In all my years, I’ve never seen this problem before,” he said. He looked all of twenty-five.

On a Sunday night he worked changing out remotes, checking lines, switching boxes, and adjusting cables while the Spurs handed the second playoff game to the Heat.

This morning as my first cup of coffee brewed, the morning weather forecast resonated into the kitchen. “Sunny with a high of 95 degrees.” The weatherman’s voice boomed.

The floor vibrated under my bare feet.

I never watched one minute of television at my writer retreat.

I never missed it.

“Not only is television annoying, it is distracting from life itself. “
― R.K. Cowles

Hemingway Connection

June 7, 2013 By Talya Tate Boerner

Waiting to board the plane, we stood nearly touching. Everyone queued up in typical Southwest Airlines kindergarten style, according to boarding pass number order.

I was B1.

He was B2.

B3 and B4 stood directly behind us wearing matching orange travel pillows around their necks like life preservers.

Is Little Rock your home? B2 asked B3.

Yes, thank goodness. We will never ever EVER go back to Austin. It was just too weird!

Yes too weird. B4 echoed.

B2 glanced at me and shrugged.

I rolled my eyes and noticed the time. The flight was already thirty minutes late leaving Dallas.

The Austin haters yammered on oblivious to other B-numbered boarders standing single-file. They clutched paper sacks of Dunkin Donuts like carry on bags. Sugary sweetness mixed with the awkward closeness and made me nauseous. Plus I had consumed too much coffee.

Is Little Rock your final destination? B2 asked while scanning his iPhone for text messages. Scruffy facial hair, maybe two days’ growth, gave him a relaxed yet cool appearance.

No, I’m headed to Piggott.

Piggott? He had dimples.

Yes, Piggott.

What’s in Piggott?

The Hemingway-Pfeiffer Museum. I’m going to a writer’s retreat.

As in Ernest Hemingway?

Yes. Ernest Hemingway’s second wife was from Piggott, Arkansas. After they married, he spent time there and even wrote a portion of A Farewell to Arms in his barn studio.

Really?

Yes, really.