If It Please the Court

The woman stood bundled in several layers of winter clothing outside the 7-Eleven at 17th Street and Pine one afternoon last week. Beside her a shopping cart overflowed with her worldly possessions. Most of the homeless people I encounter at this location ask me for a buck. Instead, she chose to make a plea to the court of public opinion concerning the estate of her late uncle. Being the only one within earshot at this particular moment, I became both judge and jury. As she continued addressing the court, I sipped my coffee and walked with deliberation quickly across the parking lot, deciding that court had already been adjourned for the day.