Read These Foolish Things for Free Online Page A

McCafferty. He has his own way of doing things. Usually, it’s ‘Thank
you. Next case’ and that’s that. I wonder what he’s up to.” This last on a
musing note.
    Liz looked towards the door to the judge’s chambers. “Maybe
he’s rummaging for a toothbrush for you.” She heard Ty laugh as the door opened
again and McCafferty re-emerged.
    “All rise.” They stood behind their desks.
    Judge McCafferty looked extraordinarily pleased with
himself. Smug, even. “Counsel, approach the bench.” Ty and Liz approached the
bench as instructed.
    McCafferty spoke, “There’s still the matter of Counselor
Hadley’s contempt of court. It is the decision of this court that Attorney
Tyrone Hadley will serve a sentence of one night…”
    “Your Honor!” Liz protested.
    “Silence,” McCafferty continued unperturbed. “Either in the
Suffolk County facility or in Attorney Gardner’s company.” He looked at the two
attorneys.
    “What?” It was said in unison.
    F.L. McCafferty beamed in a fatherly fashion at the two
astonished people standing before him. “You will, Brother Hadley, escort this
young woman to dinner and any other amusements she may desire this upcoming
Saturday or you can spend that night in jail. Your choice.”
    “Your Honor, I protest,” Liz said forcefully, “This is a
clear case of abuse of judicial power and a violation of First Amendment rights.”
    McCafferty blinked. “First Amendment?”
    “Freedom of association, which is also freedom from
association. You cannot use the power vested in you by the Commonwealth of
Massachusetts to force people together in a social setting.”
    Liz heard Ty mutter behind her. “Good argument.”
    McCafferty didn’t care. “Fine. Sue me. By the time it gets
to the Supreme Court, I’ll be dead and your,” he gestured at the two of them,
“grandchildren can argue it.” He addressed Ty, “What’s it to be, Counselor? An
evening out with the lady or a night in the slammer?”
    Ty looked at Liz. “Pick you up at 7?”
    “Address yourself to the court, Counselor,” McCafferty
snapped.
    Ty looked up at the judge. “Sorry, Your Honor. May it please
the court, I’ll serve my sentence with Attorney Gardner.” McCafferty nodded.
“Well done. Let the record show Attorney Hadley has received a suspended
sentence. Here,” he handed a disposable camera to Ty. “You will furnish proof
satisfactory to this court that you provided Attorney Gardner with a fine
evening of entertainment. Have someone take a picture of the two of you
together. And here,” he handed a piece of paper to Ty. “You will take her to
one of these restaurants. They’ll be expecting your call for reservations.” Ty
accepted the items without comment.
    Liz was aghast. Before she could say anything, McCafferty
rapped his gavel. “Court adjourned.”
    Liz found her voice. “Your Honor, permission to speak freely
and off the record?”
    McCafferty was rising from his seat, looked at her. “My
chambers. Let’s go.”
    Liz followed him into his chambers. She was fuming and
allowed McCafferty to remove his robe and seat himself before she spoke.
    “Go ahead, Counselor.”
    “Where do you get off? Ty didn’t deserve a contempt citation
and he sure as hell didn’t deserve to be forced into dating someone against his
wishes. What the hell were you thinking?” Liz snapped. She pointed to her eye.
“This was an accident that happened because he wasn’t going to ease up in
trying to score a run and I wasn’t going to let him do it.”
    “I know. Brad Rogers lost $100 to me on the game. I saw you
play. You’re tough.” McCafferty was smiling. “It was a close call. I was
surprised when you came up with the ball. So was Hadley.” He said, almost to
himself. “Rogers is due for a contempt citation next time he’s in here for
calling you a ‘big mama’.”
    “So, this whole contempt thing was a farce,” Liz was still
angry, “That was a rotten thing to do and humiliating