The jury assembly room was full of good citizens, in their various states of commitment to do their civic duty. The line was long to register, get our badges, fill out the requisite questionnaires. It took me thirty minutes to navigate the bureaucracy and settle down for the long wait.
I went out on the patio, got a cup of coffee and lit a cigar. I had brought two books with me, a mystery novel and Pliny's
Natural History
. I pulled out the mystery and went at it.
After I was seated about ten minutes a young girl came up to my table. I looked up and she smiled at me, a smile I returned as I sized her up.
"Hello. Mind if I share your table?"
"Not at all," said, motioning to the empty chair.
"This is my first time. How long will we have to wait?" She asked.
"Depends. Could be an hour, could be all day."
"Great. How boring!"
I laughed. "It can be. But I'll try to keep you entertained."
"Deal." She held out her hand. "I'm Dinah."
I took her hand. "I'm Joe. Nice to meet you."
"What do you do when you aren't here?"
"Retired young and enjoying life. You?"
"Just graduated college. I'm working at a daycare for now."
She took out a notebook and started scribbling, giving me a chance to just look her over. She was a pretty brunette, with an obviously Jewish nose that hung out like a beak. Her breasts were small, but sat high and firm on her frame. She wore a white shirt and I could see the outline of her bra underneath. She wore a little too much eye makeup and her big brown eyes didn't need the distraction.
We passed the morning making chit chat until eleven when we were all called in and told we could go to lunch. I offered to buy her lunch, and she quickly accepted.
We found a café down the street from the courthouse and ordered.
"So, do you have a boyfriend?"
"No, not since college. We broke up right before graduation."
"I'm sorry."
"I'm not!"
By now I could tell she was flirting with me, as I was with her. She laughed at my lame jokes, took every opportunity to touch my arm while we talked. Several times our eyes met and held the glance. After paying the check we walked out and I took her hand, holding it was we made our way back to the courthouse.
Just as we got to the door, I leaned in and kissed her on the cheek. She looked up at me with a delicious smile. Then she stood on her toes and pressed her lips to mine.
"Maybe jury duty won't be boring after all!"
We passed through the metal detectors just in time to hear an announcement for all jurors to report to the assembly room. As they called out names we sat entranced with each other, hoping we wouldn't be separated just yet.
Both of us were called in the same pool. We walked up to the courtroom, barely heard the judge talk about the case. Neither of us were called before they empanelled the jury and we were dismissed and thanked along with everyone else.