September 23.

It's a Friday, but that's a day off in my work week.
From 8:30 to 10:00 in the morning, I wait at Youth Court to testify about an incident at the library. The holding area is Courtroom 1. An ancient metal detector and matching deputy guard the stairwell. One of the principals fails to appear. We reschedule.

October 14.

Another Friday.
At Youth Court from 8:30 to noon. A family with 5 children under the age of 9 sit on the front row. All 7 have wracking coughs and raspy breathing. We are all pretty sure the youngest girl needed to be in the hospital. I would swear the pews are from the same batch that's in the First Baptist Church. Obviously, the graffiti is different.

The case I testify in is called at 11:30. I move to the witness room, which I share with the victim and the assailant's brother. We have a good jaw about multi-lingualism in the school systems of Georgia, Mississippi and Jordan. We touch on the price of meat in Jordan (12 dollars for one pound!) and the difference in societies and economies around the world.

One interesting tidbit:
"I am not married at home, but here, I am married."
"Is she Jordanian?"
"No, she is from Alabama. Birmingham."

The brother and I are called in for the judgement and everyone is dismissed.

The incident occurred in June.

--

I've received one rejection and one suspiciously long caesura for William the Goat.

I've abandoned three different approaches to my Variations piece. I still think my piece is strong. But I may not be writing it or revealing it correctly.

We've battled fleas (again), eyeteeth coming in, learning consequences (the play-table goes away if you climb on it after a warning), a rash of exhibitionists in the library (srsly!) and seasonal dissatisfaction.

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And, to end on a high note and as proof that I am a Mississippian, a few pictures.

Here I am after some amateur tree-removal.
Taddy and I had fun.

This is Baby and I on our neighbor's four wheeler.