2747. A sensible story for once © Bruce Goodman 7 June 2023

It was fortuitous that the judge in Tom’s case was stone deaf. The judge was able, in the main, to follow the case by lip reading and there was also a sign language facilitator in the court room. The judge however was none too good at reading sign language, especially since the sign language facilitator had the shakes. Of course the sign language facilitator was a fat lot of use to Tom who was blind. However, he could hear the proceedings. The case being brought before the judge was to do with noise emanating from Tom’s abode in the middle of the night. He would play music full tilt and it would keep the neighbourhood awake. The judge said he could hear what they were trying to say, and Tom said he thought he could see their point of view. In the end the entire proceedings broke down when the sign language facilitator got stomach cramp and bent double in excruciating pain. The judge was able to lip read what the sign language facilitator mouthed in excruciating pain and the judge wasn’t impressed. He sentenced the sign language facilitator to four year’s community service for contempt of court. Everyone was happy with the outcome and they went out of the courthouse and across the road to a café where each ordered a nice mug of hot chocolate. Contact Author Back to Index Next Story Previous Story