The Good Judge Holds Court

I take some good-natured ribbing at times about stretching the corners of my stories for entertainment value but I would like the record to show that fishermen and hunters give me a run for my money.

One day a group of men were standing around the John Deere store reminiscing about hunting trips gone by when Judge Allen and his wife had dropped in to do a bit of business. Once they had greeted everyone the talk resumed, and being as it was on hunting, they had an easy time getting the good judge’s full attention.

Soon he was front and center, regaling everyone with tales of his wild game hunts in Africa. His wife stood there quietly, although she did roll her eyes, and once she mentioned that they had come in after a play tractor for a grandson who was turning five the next day. “At this rate,” she said, “he’ll be six before he gets his present.”

The judge smiled at her and continued to warm up his audience. Once he had ‘em where he wanted ‘em he began to describe one particular incident when he came face to face with an angry elephant. The way the Judge told the story, the two of ‘em, man and beast, locked eyes—Tarzan style, until the big mammal finally backed down and walked away.

Mrs. Allen huffed and rolled her eyes, “Oh, really,” she said, “That’s strange. I’m not familiar with that story, honey, but I do remember when you called home and told me that your guide had to blow the jeep’s horn to protect you and the rest of the group from a curious elephant that wandered too close to camp.”

Judge Allen smiled kindly at his wife, ‘Yes, dear,” he said. “The incident was one and the same but I couldn’t have you worrying your pretty head about me clear across the ocean, now could I?”

Hugs, Shellie