Instructions for the Court

Note - here is a link to the Challenge:

Notes for proper behaviour in the courtroom:

1. No smiles.

Why did he have to give me such a ridiculous list? And why start with the obvious? I know that the 'court of public opinion' - such a ludicrous phrase - has already decided that I am guilty. I could not keep up the charade of tears and weeping all day long now, could I? When I saw him bloviating and gesturing, it just came out. At least I look good (such a fine artist).

2. Scan the room.

Again, not really that hard to do. I am in the centre of this Hall of Justice (is that what they call it?). Every day has been another test of my character and a close look at my private life. Thank the lord that my mother did not live to see all of this. Only ones I recognize here are neighbours that never liked me, anyway. Five years of their hard eyes and ugly stares and now they are enjoying themselves. But I will keep looking...

3. Only speak when spoken to.

And when would I speak? I have not been giving speeches between testimonies and questioning from these barristers and prosecutors and those ridiculous gendarmes they thought would intimidate me. This rule was far too easy to follow.

4. No tears, unless you have to.

Again, I have no tears to give, and I am not a machine that can produce them at will like a child's doll. When my beloved's body was found, the tears were very real. I was shocked. And...this is the worst of it, I am...innocent. Can anyone believe that?

5. Show respect to the court.

I think that I may have to work on this one. That ridiculous one in the middle does not seem to realize that his wig shakes every time he scolds the room for creating noises and 'interrupting these very important proceedings'. His underlings do not help at all, especially that thin one that looks like a walking nose. Monsieur Nostril, I call him (I will not make any eye contact with him when I am being 'grilled' - nice word for it). I will try...

6. Accept their verdict.

Again, I understand that I have to accept what the court decides, even if that judge is clearly making my smile impossible to hide, as is Monsieur Nostril, certain members of the jury, and the gallery glaring at me. The worst of it is knowing that I am innocent...and he did not want to know the truth. My own défenseur would rather just play his role than find any real justice out there. If they do find that weapon, I know that my name will be cleared. But I made a promise to keep that to myself. Love is love; family is family. We all have a role to play...

Please rise...

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