Beautiful [ficlet]
cross posted at Theatrical Muse
Yesterday.
Just beautiful.
"You should be talking to my clerk. I don't make a habit of speaking ex parte with counsel." Judge Resnick was fierce.
“Your Honor, respectfully, without an immediate rehearing, my client stands to suffer irreparable injury.” An advocate. Merits. People first.
“Goodbye, Mr. Chase.”
She completely shut me down, staring hard, then turning away, adjusting her bifocals, moving her eyes to her computer screen.
Picking up a framed photograph from her desk, I grinned - and counted to five. “You have a beautiful family, your Honor.” Off come her glasses as she trots out the withering look. "I'm curious, does that work for you with other judges?"
“Only the mothers.” The grin, the stance - just my own frame. The sincerity was genuine. She relaxed. Small talk. Her son’s success in his Pee Wee League. Her daughter wanting to be a rodeo cowgirl. She never once talked about the man in the picture.
“It’s still no, Mr. Chase.”
“Brad.”
She smiles, despite herself. I look at her family again. One, two, three, four -
“Brad.” She’s leaning forward now, a small hand tucking a loose strand of hair behind her ear, a hint of blush on her cheeks.
“I checked your calendar - the judicial conference scheduled for tomorrow has been postponed. You could squeeze in a hearing.”
Her sigh was like music.
That moment was beautiful.
Real beauty was waiting for me at home.
[with borrowed inspiration from Scott Kaufer]
Yesterday.
Just beautiful.
"You should be talking to my clerk. I don't make a habit of speaking ex parte with counsel." Judge Resnick was fierce.
“Your Honor, respectfully, without an immediate rehearing, my client stands to suffer irreparable injury.” An advocate. Merits. People first.
“Goodbye, Mr. Chase.”
She completely shut me down, staring hard, then turning away, adjusting her bifocals, moving her eyes to her computer screen.
Picking up a framed photograph from her desk, I grinned - and counted to five. “You have a beautiful family, your Honor.” Off come her glasses as she trots out the withering look. "I'm curious, does that work for you with other judges?"
“Only the mothers.” The grin, the stance - just my own frame. The sincerity was genuine. She relaxed. Small talk. Her son’s success in his Pee Wee League. Her daughter wanting to be a rodeo cowgirl. She never once talked about the man in the picture.
“It’s still no, Mr. Chase.”
“Brad.”
She smiles, despite herself. I look at her family again. One, two, three, four -
“Brad.” She’s leaning forward now, a small hand tucking a loose strand of hair behind her ear, a hint of blush on her cheeks.
“I checked your calendar - the judicial conference scheduled for tomorrow has been postponed. You could squeeze in a hearing.”
Her sigh was like music.
That moment was beautiful.
Real beauty was waiting for me at home.
[with borrowed inspiration from Scott Kaufer]