Portrait Of Words # 8

Jeff (A Word in Edgewise POW) has started up this monthly challenge, derived from a previous challenge from R.E.H.'s "Picture Fiction Challenge". Do pop over to Jeff's to read the other entries, you won't be disappointed. You can get the portraits for this month's challenge here.



The object is to:

Write a story of any length or style. Long or short, comedy or tragedy, fact or fiction, etc,etc... it's up to you.

Use each of the picture representations in your story. (one from the wild card options)


Main Character:
Your story can be told through or about this person, i.e. first or third person. Either way, his involvement in the story should be a focal point. Feel free to have as many or as few additional characters as you wish.

 
Backdrop:
This will create the setting for your story. It can take place at the location depicted, be a destination to it, or be a journey from it.

 
Purpose:
This is what drives or motivates the main character to action. It can also be viewed as the objective of the story.

 
 
Item:
This object should have a significant value to the main character, backdrop or purpose of the story.

 
 
Wild Cards:
Writers choice here. Choose *one* of the three options to use in your story anyway you see fit.

Photo Credits: Attribution-NonCommercial-ShareAlike License

(From Flickr.com/creative commons,)
Main Character- Laurl
Backdrop- TravelingMango
Purpose- Jamarr
Item- romorebianco
Wild Card #1- Daniel Y. Go
Wild Card #2- flowers & machinery
Wild Card #3- frightenrabbit


Here's my story:
 
 
Jacob Abby sat in the sweltering courtroom. Beads of sweat peppered his brow and dark stains of perspiration were seeping through his shirt under his arms and down his back.


Jacob waited patiently for the electric fan to waft some air his way as he listened intently to the evidence, trying not to give anything away, keeping an impassive expression. He made notes as the prosecutor presented the case. The evidence and photographs of the victim’s injuries were horrendous.

The victim had smashed up the bar belonging to the defendant during a bar-room brawl. However, the defendent lost all reason and instead of calling in the police he decided to punish the man himself.

He and a friend had picked the man up and had taken him to an out-of-the-way lock up where they tortured him by drilling through his hands and feet before shooting him. Had he not involved his friend he probably would have got away with it, but his friend had a big mouth and had blabbed, it wasn’t long before the police picked him up and matched the evidence to him. His so-called friend had done a deal with the police, he told them everything, he wouldn’t be prosecuted for murder.

During the trial Jacob noticed some jurors were shaking or nodding their heads and made notes of that too. He could probably guess which way they were going to vote. Some of the women jurors held handkerchiefs over their mouths when they were looking at the photographs of the victim, he had to admit they were gruesome. Jacob was annoyed when he noticed a juror pretending to take notes, when in fact he was doing a crossword concealed in his notepad. The least they could do is actually pay attention, he’d have to mention that later.

The defending lawyer tried to discredit the informer without success. He wasn’t as persuasive as the prosecutor and the evidence was overwhelming anyway. The trial only took a couple of days, which was a blessing in a way as the weather was forecasted to get hotter and he wasn’t sure how much more heat he could stand.

The jury retired to consider the evidence. How long would they take, guilty or not guilty?

“Members of the jury, have you reached a verdict on which you are all agreed?” asked the judge.

The foreman stood “We have your honour” he replied.

The clerk gave the name of the accused asking “How do you find the defendant, Guilty or Not Guilty?”

“Guilty” the foreman answered.

Jacob smiled. He had no doubt the man was guilty and he’d persuaded those jurors who weren’t sure to vote guilty too, to ensure the unanimous decision the judge required. He’d also reported the juror who had been doing the crossword, he deserved to get into trouble , being a juror was a big responsibility and should be taken seriously!