Here Come the Judge

My Day in court was very interesting to say the least.

I was totally awed by the magnitude of people

with traffic citations and the orderly speed with

which they were handled that morning. 
Most of them were minor;

registration, insurance, tail-lights out, etc. etc.

and each took a matter of seconds with

1 of the six D.A.'s present.

I intended to request "prayer for judgement"

on my 21 MPH over the limit speeding ticket and

had to appear before the judge.

I calmly waited, with my definitive goal in mind.

Then came the judge. My name was called.

I confidently strode to the front.

Within minutes the judge had asked several questions

that immediately made me doubt my intentions.

"Do you have a Lawyer? Are you a Lawyer?

Who advised you to seek Prayer for Judgment?

Prayer for Judgement is not typically given for

this magnitude of offense.

Do you realize your license may be revoked today

if I do not agree, once I hear your reason for speeding?

Do you wish to continue without counsel?

How do you plea?"

SHUUWEE!

Ok! Backbone a little less rigid now but I plead,

"Guilty with prayer for judgement"

I explain my mother's condition and the weekly

travel from Raleigh to Columbia, the intent to keep

all the balls in the air by spending less

 time than necessary in the car...aka speeding.

I'm sent back to my seat to await my fate.

My mind is whirling now:

He won't revoke your license, that's unusually harsh!

What if he does, how will I get home?

Well, I didn't really give him much choice,

he'll have to grant me prayer or he is 

the meanest judge in the universe.

Prayer for judgement?!?! He thinks I'm either 

the stupidest defendant ever

or the smartest! The worst that will happen

is 4 points on my license and I'll pay through the nose.

Back to the front.

"Your case is stayed. Pay the court cost of $130.00."

Woohoo! Yipppeee!

I'm a free woman again!

Hello cruise control!
Where have you been all my life?