#ThimblefulThursday: Kangaroo Court

[aldersprig]

They'd grabbed a couple barrels and a door to make a "bench"; they'd hung a curtain, or at least a ratty blanket, over the room to make a "private" courtroom, and they'd pulled in five people to witness, Carter Westcott to serve as judge, and Ardell Aspen to serve as prosecutor.

There was no defense. I wanted to say something about that; I was one of the witnesses, because I hadn't moved away from the curtain quickly enough - me and four others who'd been loitering around, wondering what they were going to do with Barton after - well, after. But considering the mood of our little community of stragglers, I stayed quiet. I've regretted that for years. I didn't want to end up there, where Barton was... but still.

The prosecutor read off charges. Barton could hardly say he wasn't guilty - I mean, they'd gagged him, but that didn't matter when he'd grown feet three times normal size and big furry ears - but they made some pretense that it was a court and not a murder.

If I'd only gotten to him before they'd found him, maybe I could have helped in. Instead, I stood witness to his "conviction" in the most half-assed trial I'd ever seen.

And his would not be the last I'd witness, either.

---

This is written to today's Thimbleful Thursday prompt

Comments

[clare_dragonfly]

Yesterday's? o.0 You're in the same timezone as me--it's still Thursday!

That is sad :( Is the name Ardell a coincidence?

[aldersprig]

That's what I get for cutting and pasting.

And yeah, Adrell Aspen was a complete coincidence. Maybe 'cause I'm migrating Addergoole to Wordpress?

It is sad. something about prompts makes me write sad things.

[thnidu]

Ow. That hurts.

[aldersprig]

I'm sorry :-(

[thnidu]

Oh, the direction of the story was pretty clear from the prompt & the title. No blame to you.

[aldersprig]

Well, to be fair, it's my prompt site too <.