"What's Going to Happen
To Cassie?"

Cassie and the Attorney

By Corri and Bo
with help from Peggie and Cassie

Promptly at 9 a.m. on the morning of September 20, in the year 2000, the Courtroom in Division B begins to fill. The court will decide the matter regarding the People vs. Cassie the Border Collie.

Cassie stands accused of eating $40 taken from her owner, Peggy, and of eating shoes and assorted lingerie.

The courtroom quiets as the judge calls the room to order with a sharp whack of his heavy mahogany gavel.
The silk-suited defense attorney, tall with hair slightly graying in a distinguishing manner, rises to face the judge and jury. His client, a sweet-looking border collie with ears flipped just so and eyes pleading for mercy, sits primly to his right. 

"Ladies and Gentlemen of the Jury," he says, his soothing voice resounding across the room. "Look carefully at my client. Are these the eyes of a guilty dog? I tell you 'no'. Do not convict my client on the mere circumstantial evidence. Look into her eyes, and you'll know which way you should vote. Your Honor, the defense rests."

Now the prosecution takes a turn. Slowly and deliberately, the prosecutor approaches the defendant. A small plastic bag containing something dark swings slightly in front of her, suspended only by the very tips of her  perfectly manicured index finger and thumb. "The evidence," she says, smiling slightly, and holding the bag for the jurors to see. "Your Honor, I would like this bag to be marked Exhibit A."  

Now directly in front of Cassie, the Prosecutor's demeanor takes a serious tone. She holds the bag high so all again can see what closer inspection reveals. The droppings contain torn pieces of currency. Staring at Cassie, the prosecutor asks, "Is this YOUR doggy doo doo?" The question is met with silence.

Momentarily mistaking the silence for victory, madam DA turns to the judge and jury and announces, "Your Honor, the Prosecution rests!" 

But quickly the tables turn. Without saying a word, Cassie merely looks deeply up into the prosecutor's eyes and catches her gaze. Swayed by the moment and the unstoppable border collie stare, the stylish female prosecutor instantly finds herself nearly speechless. "Your Honor," she says, gulping slightly. "May I approach the bench?" 

Mumbled whispers radiate from the judge and D.A. as they bend their heads together at the bench with frequent glances at the comely defendant. All heads in the courtroom turn, with bodies leaning toward the bench, as spectators and jurors alike strain to hear the conversation. 

The judge slams the mahogany gavel to the bench, calling again for order as a low rumble begins across the courtroom. Scattered voices throughout the room repeat the refrain, "She can't be guilty. Just look at her...."

The judge speaks, "I will see both counsels in my quarters. Now!" 

The courtroom falls to a pensive silence while the attorneys, judge and court reporter make their way out the heavy oaken doorway to the hall leading into the judge's chambers. Cassie sits looking mournfully at first one juror, then another. Each drops his or her gaze, unable to meet the glance of the winsome lass. The jury box takes on a somber mood.

Three and a half minutes later, the negotiating group returns from chambers.

The judge again calls the courtroom to order. "The court will hear from the prosecution," he says in suitably stately tones. 

The prosecutor rises, "Your Honor, the state would like to drop all charges against the defendant. We have no evidence that the doggie excrement belongs to the defendant. I don't know what we were thinking! Just look at that face!"

The judge pauses a moment, and addresses the court, "In the matter of the People vs. Border Collie Cassie, all charges are dropped and Cassie will go free. Court is adjourned."

The courtroom clears as the spectators head for the doorway with an even louder rumble of conversation. Cassie jumps from her chair and rushes to Peggy, who has been sitting with a somber face behind the prosecutor. With a single bound, Cassie lands in Peggy's lap and righteously slurps up her owner's face with Bountiful BC Kisses.

Peggy, finally melting to the BC charm, hugs Cassie and is heard to exclaim, "I don't know what I was thinking! Just look at that face! "

Heidi, who followed the pair out of the room, later reported that Peggy mumbled to herself all the way to the car. "After all, it's only money. I can always tape it back together. The bank won't know where it's been. Who needs a bra and shoes to go to Dogstock 2001 anyway?"

The End...until next time? 

Epilogue to Cassie's Story

Cassie's Mum found out that a recycled $40 can be washed up, taped back together, hung out to dry and used to buy dog food. 

Cassie began dating her attorney's tri-colored border collie, Skye. They set a wedding date, and began planning puppies. When the wedding announcement appeared in the local paper, all the former jurors and the judge wrote asking for a puppy or two.  In the way of all trials, Cassie had already promised her first born pup to her lawyer to cover attorney fees.

The District Attorney stopped by an animal shelter while on the way home from Court one day. She later said she suddenly felt the need for doggy companionship, but wanted something more sheepish than a border collie. She adopted a silver toy poodle named Rudolpho. 

Rudolpho threw up on the brown leather seats of his new Mum's 1999 Beamer when they were just three blocks from home on his first trip there. From then on, he had to ride on a plastic seat cover which was not to his liking.

Copyright © 2000 by C. Gryting. All Rights Reserved.