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101 Word Short Stories

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Mel, for the Defense

May 3, 2024 9 Comments

By David Sydney

Attorney Mel Franken addressed the jury in his summation.

–You see my client there. Does that look like a criminal to you?

From the affirmative nods, he decided on a different approach.

-Look at him, with his head on the defense table. Is that a guilty head, ladies and gentlemen?

Mel was on the wrong track. A number of the jury, from their expressions, appeared to think Rocco Cranley, his client, guilty.

–All right. The prosecutor has called Rocco a very shrewd criminal. But I ask you, members of the jury, would a very shrewd criminal choose me to represent him?

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Reader Interactions

Comments

  1. Cathryn says

    May 3, 2024 at 7:45 am

    Hello David ,
    Good one! Loved the lawyer’s quick-witted ending remark.

    Reply
  2. S. says

    May 3, 2024 at 11:39 am

    Witty. This is the kind of short that I like to read!

    Reply
  3. julie turland says

    May 6, 2024 at 5:26 am

    I enjoyed this story great ending

    Reply
  4. Dan Graves says

    May 8, 2024 at 4:30 am

    The opening grabbed my attention and the ending made me laugh.

    Reply
  5. Eli Ehrenpreis says

    May 8, 2024 at 8:36 am

    Great set up for the punch!

    Reply
  6. Emma says

    May 8, 2024 at 9:01 am

    Love it! Well written.

    Reply
  7. Paul Scott Wood says

    May 8, 2024 at 10:32 am

    Loved the story. Reminds me of Jake Bergance’s closing statement in the movie “A Time to Kill” describing what the defendants did to the little black girl, “now imagine she’s white.”

    Reply
  8. Sue says

    May 8, 2024 at 12:24 pm

    Love this. Thanks for the laugh.

    Reply
  9. Marie says

    May 9, 2024 at 6:13 pm

    Well done!

    Reply

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